Fall Update for Petite Fashionistas
It takes a bit of work to determine the fall trends and decide which ones are right for you. When you’re short and small, you’ve got the extra challenge of finding something that fits right too! So, to help you, here’s a look at some petite fall styles that have been styled just for you.
Green Sweaterdress
Here’s a gorgeous dress that’s an excellent choice for Petites for several reasons. First, this stunning Evergreen shade is the most popular new fall color. It’s dark, like black, so it’s slimming, which helps make you look taller. Plus, the cut of the dress follows your curves. There’s no extra bulk to drown your small frame.
Wear this dress with tall riding boots and a plaid scarf. Add a small bucket bag to balance things out, and you have a warm, cozy fall look that’s smart and sophisticated.
Romantic Ruffles
Ruffles have been trending this fall and are a great way to inject some softness and femininity into your wardrobe. Large folds can overpower Petites, and dainty-colored frills (such as pink) make a mature petite woman look too junior.
The solution is like this: a tailored coat in a deep, rich shade with a modest ruffle. The streamlined cut and the dark burgundy color help balance out the ruffle’s sweetness, so you still get a pretty feminine feel, but you don’t look like a little girl.
This is a great everyday coat over jeans and a pretty blouse. Suede booties with chunky heels help add some height and accentuate this coat’s lovely long, lean lines.
Statement Sweater
Chunky Knits, especially turtlenecks, are trending this fall, and this rust-colored one is a beauty. Maybe you’ve heard that if you are petite, you shouldn’t wear tops longer than your hipbone, or your legs will look short. There’s always an exception, and this sweater is it.
This is a petite-sized sweater, so it is cut to fit your tiny figure; see the slit. Even though the top is longer, it still shows much of your leg because of the slit. This optical illusion makes your legs look longer than they are. This is a great look to go with suede booties and a fringe bag. It’s casual but classy- a great weekend look!
These are beautiful outfits. Thank you!
Are we to wear the sweater dress and boots with no leggings even if we are Lilly white? ? I realize it is certainly an option but is it more “in style” to go bare?
Hi Lori,
You can certainly wear a sweater dress with tights, no problem. I wouldn’t wear one with bare legs. Because of their weight, knits look much better with something on the legs, especially if you have lily-white legs ( like me, too!).
THANK YOU for addressing Petites!
Great advice! Thanks for all the links to super cute clothes!
Thanks for the little advice on dressing for Fall. I enjoy fashion a lot, so try to stay current, and these ideas are perfect!
I am petite and always wear shirts longer than my hip bone. I often wear leggings or skinny pants and have always followed the advice that I need to make sure my bottom is covered. So do I not wear leggings or skinny pants anymore?
Hi Connie, I can only give guidelines as so many factors come into play when choosing the fitting tops for pants and leggings for your body type. When you are petite, you generally don’t want a too long top, or you will look swamped, and your legs will look short and stumpy. However, you need to cover your bottom/crotch with thin leggings. I would suggest with leggings you wear a top that covers your bottom. Instead of wearing one that comes down to mid-thigh, perhaps try to find one that covers your bottom + a touch more. It also helps to wear petite sizes because they are specially constructed with the right proportions to flatter your small frame. You can wear a shorter top with heavy jeans because jeans are more like pants. They are more severe and don’t reveal everything, so you are OK to wear them with a top that hits just below the hipbone if you like. I hope that has given you a clearer picture of your options!
Thank you for that post. It’s not always easy to dress when you’re petite and to find the right clothes.
Do you know brands or web stores that design special collections for Petites?
Thanks
Hi Cecile, Have you tried Banana Republic, Talbots, and Ann Taylor? They are great stores, and they all have Petites!
Thanks for the article on Petites – lots of great ideas :)