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Shopping Smart When You’re Short
Shopping smart when you’re short can be a tall order. If you
are one of the millions of American women who stand 5’4” or
under and wear a size 2 to size 14, you are a Petite customer.
You may not even realize that you would get a better fit in
Petite clothing because there is still a big misconception that
Petite means tiny. Petite sizing is based on height, not weight.
Petite refers to an all-over proportioning of the body from
head-to-toe, not left-to-right.
In her new book, The Petite Handbook, Kim Williams Dahlman
teaches Petite women how to flatter their proportions and dress
with confidence. If you are 5’4” or under, follow Dahlman’s Top
10 Petite fashion tips and you will never be short on style:
TIP #1: Shop for clothing with strong vertical lines.
Vertical lines make you look taller because they draw the eye in
an upward and downward motion. Vertical stripes and patterns,
zip or button-front styles, and ribbed knit tops work to create
the illusion of height.
TIP #2: Dress in monochromatic colors. Wear the
same color from head-to-toe ; you’ll always look taller.
Add height with solid or patterned suitings and soft 2-piece
dressing.
TIP #3: Put together outfits in tonal combinations.
Achieve the same heightening effect as monochromatic dressing by
wearing one family of color (shades of blue) or colors with a
similar intensity (all bright colors).
TIP #4: Wear unbroken lines of color on the body.
When putting together a 3-piece look, wear the same color to the
inside or to the outside. For example, create an unbroken line
of color to the outside by matching your jacket with a pant in
the same color or pattern and a contrasting blouse.
TIP #5: Divide the Petite figure at uneven points. To
avoid looking shorter, refrain from wearing silhouettes that cut
the Petite figure in half. Wear a shorter jacket or top with
pants or a long skirt. Pair a longer jacket or top with a short
skirt.
TIP #6: Choose a V-neckline or create the illusion of a
V-neckline. A V-neckline makes a short body frame look
longer. For an instant neck and body lengthener, simply unbutton
your
top button and flip your collar up.
TIP#7: Balance the horizontal line created by a round or
square neckline with something vertical. Since horizontal
lines can create width on the Petite figure, it is important to
balance a horizontal neckline with vertical details or vertical
accessories.
TIP #8: Keep the focal point high with eye-catching
details. Neck treatments, fun patterns, and special details
featured on the top half of the Petite figure will draw
attention upward for added height.
TIP #9: Use the “fist rule” to determine if a print or
pattern is right for you. Make a fist and hold it up to the main
pattern in a print. If the pattern is the same size or
smaller than your fist, the print is right for you. If the
pattern is larger than your fist, the print is too big for your
Petite frame.
TIP #10: Shop for soft, fluid lightweight fabrics. Stiff
fabrics with a heavy texture add bulk to your short body frame.
Visit
www.thepetitehandbook.com. for
more fashion advice and helpful tips especially for women 5’4”
and under.
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