Women’s Figure Flattery Guide: Petite

April 25th, 2005

• Items in the petites department: they’re proportioned for a shorter woman.
• Monochromatic ensembles.
• Narrow silhouettes.
• Drapey, fluid fabrics.
• Vertical lines and detailing: seams, closures, embellishment, etc.
• Princess and/or center seams.
• Small prints.
• Skirts are better than pants because they conceal the point where your legs begin, allowing you to create the illusion of longer legs by raising the waistline.

• Jackets & Coats

• Cropped styles.
• Styles with simple lines.
• One or two button closures.
• Narrow lapels that end above the natural waistline.
• Coats should be no longer than one inch above the knee.
• Empire-waist styles.
• Belts, if any, should be placed above the natural waistline.
• High necklines create the illusion of height.

• Tops

• Simple, fitted styles.
• High-waisted tops.
• Empire line tops.
• Cropped tops and sweaters.
• Tops in fluid, drapey fabrics.

• Pants & Jeans
• Straight leg pants with front creases.
• Longer cut styles work best; wear these with heels for a longer line.
• Classic 5-pocket jean styles.
• Natural waist styles to visually lengthen leg.
• Skirts & Dresses
• Above-the-knee and knee-length skirts and dresses.
• Tapered straight skirts.
• A-line skirts.
• Button-front skirts.
• Wraparound skirts.
• Slim dress silhouettes.
• High-waisted dresses.
• Empire line dresses.
• Wrap dresses.
• Semifitted to fitted sheath dresses.
• Off center slit to elongate legs.
• Vertical detailing: buttons, seamlines, trimmings, etc.
• Higher neckline for a taller look.
• Accessories
• Minimal accessories.
• Medium height shoes.
• Pointed toe shoes to elongate foot and leg.
• Shoes with a low vamp (toe opening is long and narrow) for a longer line for your foot and leg.
Run from…
• Stiff, tailored clothing.
• Baggy clothing.
• Big horizontal lines.
• Large prints.
• Excess detailing.
• Jackets & Coats
• Double breasted styles.
• Long coats.
• Voluminous styles.
• Styles with wide lapels.
• Tops
• Tops that hit at your natural waistline.
• Baggy tops.
• Highly embellished tops.
• Tops made of stiff fabrics.
• Pants & Jeans
• Pleated pants.
• Cropped pants.
• Low rise pants.
• Cuffed pants.
• Wide-leg pants.
• Flared pants.
• Skirts & Dresses
• Skirts that hit at mid-calf.
• Long, ankle length skirts.
• Hem detailing.
• Overly girly styles.
• Overembellishment.
• Extremely full skirts (think Cinderella).
• Accessories
• Very High Heels.
• Overembellished styles.
• Styles that disproportionately large for your frame.

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