Styling Tips for Petites: 14 Outfit Ideas
In this video and blog post, you will learn how to find well-fitting clothes, what to pay attention to, and what outfits will complement your petite nature. As an example, I’ve also curated a capsule wardrobe for the petite body type, just in case you want to see how it works in practice.
The hourglass body shape, pear body shape, apple body shape, inverted triangle, and rectangular body shape do not take into account your unique proportions. The Body Harmony Class will guide you through multiple measurements, examples, and styling tips so you can find the most flattering way to dress for your unique body and height.
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WATCH THE VIDEO
Petite Styling Tips: outfits ideas and capsule wardrobe example
In this video, you will see how easy it is to create a versatile fashion style for petites.
The Right Style Tips for Petite Women
I’ve noticed that most of the advice for the petite body type concentrates on making the petite woman look taller. I’d say that it’s a wrong strategy because clothes can’t change a petite frame.
Of course, there are a couple of tricks you can try that can help to visually add one cm to your height. Or you can wear high heels all your life so your petite figure seems elongated.
Petite dressing is not as easy as it might seem. Hopefully, these petite fashion tips will help you achieve what you're looking for.
Petite fashion tricks focus on making you look taller. Do you have to try that hard to look taller?
No, you don’t. Here's why.
How to properly dress your petite frame
I’d say that the length of the clothes you choose and how well they fit your petite frame is so much more important.
The problem is that it’s not easy to find well-fitting clothes for petite women or petite girls with a height under 160 cm.
And if you’re full-figured it gets really tough. I know this, because I have a lot of petite clients, and it’s always a challenge.
Not because of the styling, but because when it comes to short girls or similar body shapes, there is just almost nothing to choose from.
If you’re a slim petite, you have better chances of finding a good fit in shops with standard sizing.
To make sure the clothes you choose will fit you right, check the measurements of the items and the size charts before buying anything.
This goes for high-waisted pants, cropped pants, or any other clothing that is being advertised to you as 'for petites'. Do this even if you have your favorite petite brands.
How to pick the right coats, blazers, and tops for any petite frame
The width of the shoulders is important when you’re choosing coats, jackets and cotton shirts.
If it’s over 4 cm longer than your shoulder line it will look way too big for you.
Sleeve length: the sleeves will always be slightly too long, and that’s just something you should get used to.
Long sleeves mean that you will have to roll them up.
So when you choose a jacket or coat, check the lining inside. Is it cute? Does it look good if you roll it up? The cheap and glossy lining won’t look elegant.
How to pick the right blouses and trousers for petite women
Avoid items that have some design elements on the sleeves that won’t let you adjust the length.
The same rule goes for trousers. For example, the flared or wide-leg cuts can’t be adjusted or altered, because they will lose the original shape and look weird.
But if you have other cuts of jeans or trousers that are too long, it’s better to alter them than to roll them up. It just looks more accurate.
Learn how to interpret the advertised image
Watch out for the length of your clothes in general. Most of them will look longer on you than they were intended to by the designer.
Always check the photo of the model. Keep in mind that the models are usually around 175 cm tall.
If the coat ends for her here, for you it will end somewhere around here. The same goes for trousers and skirts, and everything else really.
Pay careful attention to the waistline.
For example, the yellow dress has an accentuated waistline. The model is 175 cm tall and it fits her perfectly. Now, if you’re around 160 cm, the waistline will fall below your natural waistline. Not too low, but enough to make your silhouette disproportionate.
Now, the red dress is high-waisted. If you’re around 160 cm it will fit your waistline just right.
Patterns and Accessories for your petite figure
If you love to wear prints, choose smaller ones. Big patterns will visually make you look shorter.
The same goes for all the accessories and jewelry, they all should complement your petite nature.
Of course, the best option for shopping is to look for clothes in stores that specialize in petite fashion. There aren’t many of them out there, unfortunately, but they provide a better fit for your body.
As for the styling, there are some special and important rules for the petite body shape that you can find in my Wonder Wardrobe Online Course.
How to play with the right proportions for this body type
No matter what size and height we are, we all have to watch out for the proportions and try not to ruin them with the wrong combination of lengths and shapes.
I’ve prepared a capsule that will fit a petite to show you as an example. I used stores with standard sizes but paid careful attention to the length of the items.
If you'd like to learn how to create outfits that complement your unique proportions, I suggest taking The Body Harmony Class.
This special class will guide you through multiple measurements, examples, and styling tips so you can find the best way to dress for your unique body.
You will experience the freedom of discovery, how to use precise tailoring, and what personal styling can do to your wardrobe and lifestyle.
Once you know what your vertical and horizontal body lines are, picking the right clothes and shoes will stop being a hit-and-miss and become exciting again.
This styling knowledge will liberate your fashion choices from arbitrary standards that don’t work, set by the fashion industry, like women’s body shapes.
Your body is unique and your wardrobe style should reflect this, instead of trying to conform to the predefined sizes of the hourglass shape, the measurements of the apple or pear, or the proportions of the inverted triangle body type.
Capsule Wardrobe Overview: 14 interchangeable outfits
My capsule includes 4 tops, 3 bottoms, 2 dresses and a jacket.
When I mix all these items together I get 13 fully interchangeable outfits.
The cream blouse fits as straight but will look oversized on petite, which is exactly what I wanted. The length is not that important because it is supposed to be tucked in all the bottoms.
The blue sweater fits as a crop top, but on a petite will look as regular.
Both of the dresses are short, but they will be longer for a petite - just slightly above the knee.
The skirts are the same length or maybe a little shorter. One sits on your waistline, another one is high-waisted. This will help to visually elongate your legs.
The pants might be way too long for a petite, but it will be very easy to adjust their length and make them perfect without losing shape or design.
And finally, I have a jacket. It will fit a petite right at the middle hip line, which is great, plus, it has an accentuated high waistline.
As you can see I chose 2 pairs of shoes, a nude pair and the black one. The nude ones fit every outfit. But if you wear black tights and shoes with these outfits, you will be able to elongate your silhouette.
I also have some monochromatic outfits, and not by coincidence. Using one colour also helps slightly elongate the silhouette.
This sustainable, interchangeable wardrobe was created for everyone who appreciates the simplicity and classic feminine silhouettes.
If you have a friend who is petite and struggling to find nice clothes, please share this video and the blog post with her too. I am sure she will be glad because the struggle is real.
