Keepin’ It Classy: $90 Off Lisa Curran’s Chic (Not Skimpy) Swimwear
Just because it’s swimsuit season doesn’t mean you have to resort to a barely-there bikini. Don’t get us wrong — you…Read More
Shop It Now5 Clever Tips For Dressing Taller
Your height is a product of genetics, nutrition, and — according to our mothers — whether or not you hefted all twenty pounds of textbook in your backpack throughout high school.
But, you can still stick it to Mother Nature if you're still dying to look just a little bit taller. While these tips won't actually allow you to see over crowds, they will create the illusion that you're working with a couple more inches. Here are our tips for dressing taller—no growth hormones necessary!
Photo: Via Topshop, Endless, Neiman Marcus
Photo: Via Topshop, Endless, Neiman Marcus
Petite-Friendly Suits At Any Price-Point!
We've tapped Jean W. from Extra Petite to help out the little women among us! Read on for her tips for petite-sizing.
For shorter or smaller-framed woman, suit shopping at mainstream retailers can be challenging. A suit should make one feel confident and powerful, but poor fits and generous cuts can make us feel anything but. Fortunately, there are several retailers out there that offer suiting sized for petite women, with shorter lengths and proportional armholes and rises. Whether you're seeking a first suit for that upcoming job interview or just looking to add to your professional wardrobe, here are some suggestions at a variety of price-points!
For shorter or smaller-framed woman, suit shopping at mainstream retailers can be challenging. A suit should make one feel confident and powerful, but poor fits and generous cuts can make us feel anything but. Fortunately, there are several retailers out there that offer suiting sized for petite women, with shorter lengths and proportional armholes and rises. Whether you're seeking a first suit for that upcoming job interview or just looking to add to your professional wardrobe, here are some suggestions at a variety of price-points!
What We're Wearing: Our Editor's Petite-Girl Style!
Petite girls, meet your master. Our Production Editor Lisa Dionisio is one of the most talented, hard-working, stylish, and—yes—petite-iest girls we know. Starting out as an intern four years ago, Lisa's climbed her way to the tippy-top of Refinery29's masthead AND best-dressed list. Lisa stands at 4'8" and might just be one of the craftiest, most strategic shoppers around. Check out her tip-sheet on how to shop and dress for petites, and swipe some inspiration from five of her stellar looks this week. Lisa—take it away!
Hey Shorty! Our Guide To Dressing For Petite Sizes
Our readers are wide and varied, and we hate to leave anyone hanging. For our shorter ladies out there, we've tapped Jean W. from Extra Petite to help out the Little Women among us. Read on for styling tips, fit resources, and where to shop for smaller sizes!
For petite women (and American fashion defines us as women below 5'4"), petite apparel does not have to mean matronly twinsets from Talbots and Liz Claiborne, nor does it have to mean being relegated to the kids' department. Standing at five-feet tall—if hair-teasing went well this morning—I believed for a while that these were my primary options. After years of trial-and-error shopping, I now know this is not the case. There are several modern retailers out there who cater to shorter and smaller-framed women, helping us look and feel as fabulous as we deserve to be.
Before I share my favorite stores, let's first chat about things to keep in mind when shopping.
1. Know your body type—Are you partly petite? I use "petite" loosely to mean short and/or small-framed. I know taller women who shop the petite section for tops because they have short torsos and narrow shoulders. On the contrary, I also know women who are broader on top, but shop petite bottoms specifically for a shorter rise and length.
2. Be mindful of fit and proportion—A common misconception is that petite women only require shorter length. Petite clothing lines are our friend because, in addition to shorter length, the overall proportions of the garment should be different (i.e., higher waistline, shorter rise, smaller armholes). This leads us to number three...
3. Know what is alterable and how much it costs—Being so short, I sometimes turn a blind eye to length because a hem job is cheap and easy. Taking in a garment will be costly and requires more skill, and some alterations are just downright risky if you don't have a reliable tailor.
With those things in mind, here are some of my tried-and-true, favorite places to shop for petite-friendly apparel.
For petite women (and American fashion defines us as women below 5'4"), petite apparel does not have to mean matronly twinsets from Talbots and Liz Claiborne, nor does it have to mean being relegated to the kids' department. Standing at five-feet tall—if hair-teasing went well this morning—I believed for a while that these were my primary options. After years of trial-and-error shopping, I now know this is not the case. There are several modern retailers out there who cater to shorter and smaller-framed women, helping us look and feel as fabulous as we deserve to be.
Before I share my favorite stores, let's first chat about things to keep in mind when shopping.
1. Know your body type—Are you partly petite? I use "petite" loosely to mean short and/or small-framed. I know taller women who shop the petite section for tops because they have short torsos and narrow shoulders. On the contrary, I also know women who are broader on top, but shop petite bottoms specifically for a shorter rise and length.
2. Be mindful of fit and proportion—A common misconception is that petite women only require shorter length. Petite clothing lines are our friend because, in addition to shorter length, the overall proportions of the garment should be different (i.e., higher waistline, shorter rise, smaller armholes). This leads us to number three...
3. Know what is alterable and how much it costs—Being so short, I sometimes turn a blind eye to length because a hem job is cheap and easy. Taking in a garment will be costly and requires more skill, and some alterations are just downright risky if you don't have a reliable tailor.
With those things in mind, here are some of my tried-and-true, favorite places to shop for petite-friendly apparel.
Tailor-Made Deals. Get Them Now!
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