A Petite Girl’s Guide to Style

May 5, 2010 5:00 pm     Posted in Fashion, Style  Anna Rice g+ page


By Anna Rice

Shopping for your size and specific body shape can be extremely difficult, especially since fashion mags, advertisements, and even in-store displays usually push outfits that look great on girls who are relatively tall and skinny. For petite girls, it’s hard find clothes that are both flattering and stylish – especially when you don’t have the body of shorty celebs like Nicole Richie and Hayden Panettiere!

If you’re petite and need a little help finding the perfect pieces to complement your pint-sized frame, there are a few things you gotta keep in mind.

Tops – Pick tops that hit mid-thigh. Anything shorter or longer will emphasize your lack of height. You also want to steer away from things that are too loose, or you risk losing your body in a sea of fabric. Anything that is draped, asymmetrical, or has long ruffles will elongate your torso and flatter a petite frame. Here are some chic picks from the petite section:

From top left to bottom right: Petite Open Cardigan with Chiffon Trim $68 – Ann Taylor, Petite Ruffle Striped Tank $45 – Banana Republic, Nygard Collection Petites Petal Scoopneck Tunic $69 – Dillard’s, Filtre Knit Boyfriend Blazer (Petite) $88 – Nordstrom, Style&co. Petite Tunic, Sleeveless Two Tone $46 – Macy’s, Petite Skinny Strap Vest $50 – Topshop.

Jeans - Petite girls need to wear petite pants. It’s annoying, since so many of your favorite stores don’t carry them, but it’s just a fact of life. Hemming long pants often ruins them, since the cut of the pant wasn’t meant for a petite frame. And cuffing is just not acceptable (in most cases).

If you’re willing to splurge, Joe’s Jeans Provocateur are the best in the business for short girls – they have a higher knee break and shorter inseam for an elongating effect. If you’re on a budget, head to American Eagle Outfitters – if your local store doesn’t carry short sizes, you can order them to the store without paying for shipping.

J brand 3 Star Wash “Petite Pencil Leg” Jeans $119 – Bluefly, Petite Jamie Skinny Jeans $80 – Topshop, Joe’s Jeans Skinny Provocateur Petite Jeans $176 – Piperlime, ASOS Petite Iggy Indigo Skinny Jeans $47 – ASOS, Artist Jean $49 – American Eagle, Skinny Jean $49 – American Eagle.

Skirts and dresses – When dressing for your petite frame, the goal is always to make your body seem longer. Therefore you should go with extreme hemlines. Skirts and dresses that hit at the knee or just below will make your legs look stumpy (and your outfit frumpy). Obviously, when you’re dressing for work or a formal setting, a mini won’t do, but don’t go longer than 2″ above the knee to avoid the frump-effect. Here are some fab dresses that are on the shorter side.


One Clothing Dress Nautical Striped Mini $39 – Macy’s, Sequined Mini Dress $29 – Forever 21, Jack by BB Dakota Ollaberry Dress $58 – Boutique To You, Petite Poplin Shirtdress $69 – Ann Taylor LOFT, Petite Drape Collar Dress $98 – Ann Taylor, Petite Cascading Ruffle Dress $39.99 (on sale from $132) – Banana Republic.

Footwear – Opaque black tights + black heels = a petite girl’s best friends. For everything else, go for heels and flats that are low cut. Avoid ankle boots that cut you off mid-calf, t-strap or Mary Jane shoes, and other strappy heels (unless, you’re pairing them with same-color tights), because they’ll make your legs look stumpy. For boots, go for knee-highs (over-the-knees are tough to pull off, and shorter boots aren’t flattering). Here are some shoes, most of them on sale, that work.

Lifestride Alicia Platform Pump $39.95 – DSW, Bandolino Serece Platform Pump $44.95 – DSW, Etienne Aigner Amber Leather and Stretch Riding Boot $74.95 – DSW, Enzo Angiolini Women’s Rachey Bootie $99.90 – Endless.com, Helena Peep-Toe Wedge $98 – Banana Republic.

21 Comments on "A Petite Girl’s Guide to Style"

  1. A says:
    Wed, 5th May 20102:29 pm 

    I must say, being 5'3" I stopped wearing long tops because they made my torso look super long, I started to wear normal sized tops (end where pants begin) and my legs look like they are miles long, and it makes me look skinnier.

  2. Amber says:
    Wed, 5th May 20105:23 pm 

    I agree with the previous poster. I am 4'10 and I have NEVER heard or thought that wearing longer tops would elongate a frame, it often does the opposite unless pulled off correctly. Is this writer even petite? This excerpt is totally contradictory

    "Pick tops that hit mid-thigh. Anything shorter or longer will emphasize your lack of height. You also want to steer away from things that are too loose, or you risk losing your body in a sea of fabric."

    If a top reaches mid-thigh then isn't it by definition a "sea of fabric"? Hmmm…

  3. Emily says:
    Wed, 5th May 20106:06 pm 

    I agree. I also am wondering about the American Eagle jeans. I get the short length, but they are still way too long for me. I might have an exceptionally short inseam, but I'm not so sure.

  4. kim says:
    Wed, 5th May 20106:39 pm 

    I find the AE jeans in the short length are still to long too…then again at barely 4'11" most if not all "short" or petite length jeans are still too long for me.

  5. Kari says:
    Wed, 5th May 20109:41 pm 

    I'm 5'1, 120, inseam 30 and the tunic tops at forever21 are usually dresses for me! I wear tops that hit right below my hip bones, like the striped top or the black ruffled one in the example. I like that they cover my butt a little since ALL jeans tend to be low rise on me for some reason (even mid rise). The black dress like Nicole Richie has on is also a flattering style for a petite. You can just safety pin up skinny jeans and flares are good to proportion out a petite frame. V necks are AMAZING they really do elongate the frame. I find sheath dresses to be the MOST flattering of all since they fit close to the body and are easily hemmed. A-line skirts are a disaster because I get lost in all the fabric, pencil skirts are much better. All skirts I have found are either too long or too short (how a skirt can be too short on someone 5'1 is a mystery to me…makes me worry about average height women trying to wear them) If I put them at my waist my butt hangs out but if i wear them on my hips they are too long.

  6. liz says:
    Sat, 8th May 20109:10 am 

    Honestly, I think the easiest thing to do is to find a good tailor. Getting clothes altered isn't even that expensive. I found a great pair of jeans on sale that fit perfectly, except that they were about 5 in too long. It only cost me $10 to have them shortened, and now they are absolutely perfect. If I know I need to tailor something, I factor it into the price to help me decide if it is still a good/affordable choice, and it really is worth it to make your clothes fit perfectly. Of course, not everything can be tailored, but I've had jeans, dresses, skirts, and blazers taken in easily.

  7. kayleigh says:
    Sat, 8th May 20105:14 pm 

    american eagle jeans, abercrombie jeans, and just about every other pair of "short" jeans/pants out there are too long for me. i have yet to find a pair that fit me right. i'm 4'11" (and almost 22 years old :-P ) and most stores don't carry pants that fit those of us who are, ahem, vertically challenged. i don't wear tunic tops because i personally don't like the style, but most of them hit me around the knee, so they're more like dresses on me anyways. the closest thing i've found to pants/jeans fitting me correctly length wise is the ones sold at ann taylor loft. i just bought a pair of bus-cas capris there and they're like, the absolute most perfect fit EVER. if you thought buying normal pants were hard for a short girl, try buying capris to wear during the spring/summer. i bought a pair of ann taylor loft jeans on ebay (00 petite) and they're only about an inch or so too long (i think the inseam is around 28-29 inches). ann taylor and ann taylor loft have a petite section on their website and most of the stores carry petite sizes so its worth checking out if you're having trouble finding pants that fit at other stores.

  8. Becky says:
    Thu, 3rd Jun 201010:12 pm 

    im 5'4 and 96 pounds so its just hard for me to find anything that fits me well im a b/c cup and i just always have problems finding jeans that fit well on my thighs and waist i always have the problem of them fitting perfect on the waist but to baggy everywhere else i always suggest skinny jeans :) with a tunic that goes just below the hip bones or covers half of the but i think that it seems to work perfect bc the skinnys make your legs look long and lean while the tunic or just undershirt at that length helps make your torso look long and proportioned correctly hope this helps:D

    one thing i have problems with though is finding stores that have shirts that fit well any ideas??

  9. smishsmash says:
    Thu, 10th Jun 201010:30 am 

    It's so naive to assume that petites are uniformly petite. I'm short and short-waisted with a small bust and narrow shoulders, but I have a sizeable rump. I can't ever find dresses that fit – by the time they clear my hips, they're way too long up top. I hate separates and I don't wear jeans or slacks. I don't shop for clothes unless desperate. It's a soul-sucking experience. I have a vintage taste in clothing but no real choice in size with old stuff, so I just continue to swim in my old day dresses. The petite departments in Ann Taylor are too soccer mom, and in Macy's most of it's for old ladies and the style blind. Frustrating!

  10. Kate says:
    Mon, 14th Jun 20105:29 pm 

    I'm sorry, I cannot stand when I read articles on how petites should dress because they are usually all wrong. I'm 5'2" and weigh 105-110…pretty darn petite I'd say. This article suggests tops that hit mid-thigh…whhhaaa? This does nothing to elongate, in fact, typically a top this long will make a petite person look even shorter. I'd recommend sticking to tops that hit no lower than the hip-line. Anything with a v-neck is great too. For myself I like to stick to mostly form-fitting clothing- loose clothing does nothing for petites. As for jeans, skinny jeans with flat shoes do not look good on a petite person unless they are also a complete stick figure. I actually feel that this combo makes one look shorter. But, skinny jeans with a sky-high heel…well now we're talkin! I love dresses, but us shorties have a tough time in this department as most are made for the average height woman. Short hemlines and fitted silhouettes are your friends, but high heels are a petite girl's best friend. Dressing in one color from top to bottom- also a good trick. I have a lot of luck in the petite sections of the following stores: Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, LOFT, and have found that these stores regular sizes fit well (though still have to go for the "short" length in their pants): Express, American Eagle, bebe, The Limited.

  11. Kristi says:
    Fri, 9th Jul 201011:27 pm 

    Ok, petite women — we have some sad news. LOFT, one of the best shops for actually having Petites in the store (as opposed to online) has DISCONTINUED making knits in petite sizes. As a sales associate explained to me, they apparently just weren't moving enough product in Petites, so the designers decided that we can just hem our knit tops. Whaaaa?? I'm sorry, but the fit of the regular shirts IS NOT the same as the fit of the petites. I wear an XSP and the XS is simply too big, not just in length but in overall fit.

    I say we unite and write letters petitioning LOFT to BRING BACK THE PETITE KNITS!! Over 75% of the knits in my closet are LOFT and I'm not exactly sure where I'm going to shop now …

    Sad, dismayed and hoping we can raise enough ruckus that they'll bring back our Petites sizes,

    Kristi in Seattle

  12. Jess says:
    Wed, 21st Jul 201010:48 pm 

    I find that horizontal lines, especially repeated ones (read: stripes) don't flatter petites at all, since they draw the eye towards the lack of height inherent in such patterning. Nicole Richie's pulling it off cos she's stick-thin and the lines are irregular. She's also wearing black. Whenever I wear striped items I always try to break it up with a necklace or blazer over the top. And if it can be worn high-waisted and tucked into jeans or a skirt, it definitely is. Otherwise I end up looking not only short, but wider–not a good look!

    One tip I do agree on in this article is the tights and heels combo, best done in jet black or a very dark navy. Works wonders! And as for jeans, I have stuck with skinny/fitted jeans since discovering them. I can't even be bothered getting them hemmed, usually I just tuck the extra under, no one notices (to the best of my knowledge) and you really can't tell. High waisted jeans and jeans in dark colours are the greatest :D

    Power to the vertically challenged!

  13. Tanya says:
    Thu, 25th Aug 20114:20 pm 

    Ugh. I hate all of these articles that create "rules" for how petite women should dress. I'm 5'1'' and I don't care if I look short-I am short! And I doubt that wearing floaty tops will make me look 5'9''. If I want to wear t-strap heels or higher-cut TOMS, I'm going to! The only good piece of advice here is to actually look for petite-sized jeans and not just hem them. I'm sure many other petite women have the experience where the fading on the thigh ends up being mid-calf, which looks ridiculous. Petite sizes have the knee break and the fading in the right place.

  14. Mila says:
    Tue, 22nd Nov 20115:22 pm 

    Thank you! I am fully grown 4'11'' as well :)

  15. Mujaffar Ali says:
    Sat, 7th Apr 20124:16 am 

    anything looks good on skinny people.Hollister from those stores pretty much. That's what all the skinny girls I know wear. Skirts, short shorts, tank tops all that stuff.For more information about fashion visit at allysfashion website.

  16. Jessica Watkins says:
    Sat, 27th Oct 20121:50 am 

    5'0" – 110lbs – 32D Can't for the life of me find skinny jeans that fit right. I don't have a problem with the waist part, but the length! The shortest inseam I can find is 30" and that's longer than what I need for my regular flare jean. Any suggestions?! :(

  17. Sam says:
    Tue, 25th Dec 20124:47 pm 

    Wear ruffles? alot of these tips (besides the jeans) does not help me at all. this is all in assumption that shirt girls don’t have boobs or much of a figure. I’m sorry but I may be 4′ 11″ but I’m busty in my top and ruffles is something I keep far away from. I don’t need anything else added up there. typically ruffled tips and others aren’t good for me because I’m so busty they hang loose and you can’t even tell I have a figure or a small stomach. it practically makes me look prego. I have to find shirts that are tight just so I don’t look like I weigh 10extra pounds with my short torso and busty top.

  18. Maurissa says:
    Sun, 27th Jan 20131:46 am 

    PacSun carries short sizes. That is the only place I will buy jeans from because they actually fit, look good, and aren't designed for little girls. (I'm 4' 11", 96 lbs, 32DD)

  19. Choppy says:
    Mon, 11th Mar 20139:47 am 

    NOT good enough tips, they just make me feel as if you'd perfer if all people were tall. i dnt wanna look tall. i wanna look great and presentable

  20. lifeasart says:
    Fri, 24th May 20135:28 pm 

    I can't remember if it is one or both, but Delia's and/or Alloy carry 28" and I think even some 26"

Tell us what you're thinking...