Fashion Petite or Petite Fashions

In fashion perspective and shopping perspective, the grass always looks greener on the other end. Some taller women with larger bone structures put together wardrobe ensembles with the hope of appearing smaller. More thin and willowy women attempt to create the appearance of curves with their clothing choices and curvier women sometimes choose styles to intentionally downplay their natural voluptuousness. Women of a shorter stature, who are considered “petite” will often select their fashions with hopes of creating the appearance of a more elongated frame.

A common misperspective about petite fashions is that the word “petite” always equates to “small.” In reality, the term petite refers to height and not weight. Petite fashions generally come in sizes ranging from 0 to plus-sized. If a woman is less than 5’4, she is generally considered petite whether she has a slender, average or plus-sized frame.

That thought that petite women are always “little” has got many women frustrated with shopping. Women who are less than 5’5 often complain of having difficulty finding petite fashions that aren’t too high-wasted or “frumpy.” However, more and more designers are focusing on petite fashions and creating new styles with petite women in mind. Most major designers now offer petite fashions. These designers are focusing more on making petite fashions more classic and tailored, so that a woman can choose clothing options that accentuate the positives of her body type.

While more and more options are available, it is important for the petite woman to make choices that help her accentuate her style. Some petite fashions are designed to help a woman elongate her frame by using horizontal as opposed to vertical lines or using monochromatic color schemes.

The clothing now concentrates on accentuating the positive of a shorter woman’s frame. In general, petite fashions should avoid cuts, color schemes and prints that are better suited to a longer frame. Petite fashions often have higher waists, less length to arms and legs, and narrower shoulders. If print patterns are used in petite fashions, they tend to be smaller and avoid blocky or chunky appearances or radical color schemes.

Shorter women can also improve their fashion choices by following some simple style guidelines. Fashion experts advise petite women to avoid shirts that are longer than mid-thigh, and to avoid drastic color contrasts in tops and bottoms. Fashion experts also recommend that petite women avoid flat shoes or shoes with rounded or square toes, suggesting instead that a comfortable, stylish shoe with a gently pointed toe be chosen. Other tips include avoiding accessories such as bows or large buckles.