Plus Size Petite Clothing

Plus Size Petite Clothing Concerns

Some areas of concern when shopping for clothes may seem obvious: pant and sleeve length, for example. However, other items of clothing that petite women will have to consider include:

• Jackets: Petite women are usually smaller in proportion than average size women, so the corresponding dimensions on clothes will differ. In jackets or blazers, not only will the overall length be shorter, but the measurements from shoulder to shoulder will be different. While curvy women may have more fabric in their clothes, the proportions need to be correct for short women so that there’s no unflattering bunching of material.
• Skirts: While fuller figures can look feminine in flowing skirts, petite women generally look better in skirts that fall above the knee. When wearing longer skirts, skirts that fall to the floor will help lengthen your frame. Skirts that stop mid-calf are usually not the best length because they cut off the line of the leg.
• Dresses: Again, when choosing a dress, pay attention to where the hem falls, but petite women must also make sure the torso portion of the dress is sized right. Otherwise, there will be too much material, which can cause unattractive bunching.

Finding Petite Clothing

Finding retailers who cater to the full figured woman and all of her plus size petite clothing needs shouldn’t be hard. Fortunately, the plus size market realizes that women of size want to wear trendy, stylish fashions and tries to accommodate by making beautiful clothes available. For the curvy woman who falls in the petite category, here are some online venues to check out for perfectly proportioned clothing especially for you:

• Big on Batik
• Avenue
• Soft Surroundings
• Generous Fashions
• Lane Bryant
• Plus Woman
• Woman Within
• Roaman's
• Jessica London

Alterations

Even among the petite clothes offered, some women may still require alterations for a perfect fit. If you’re handy with a sewing machine or know someone who is, you can save yourself a great deal of money by doing alterations yourself. At the very least, knowing how to sew a hem will help.

If you can barely thread a needle, however, make sure you find a tailor or seamstress who cares about your clothes as much as you do. Some department stores offer free alterations to card-holding customers; it may be worth having an account there if you know this is a service you’ll often take advantage of. Taking pride in your clothing and making sure that everything fits you as it should will go a long way toward ensuring you feeling good in your outfits.

Best Petite Styles

While fashion rules don’t always have to be adhered to, plus size petite women will find these styles more flattering to their shorter frames:

• Fitted slacks
• Knee length skirts
• Floor length, flowing skirts
• V-neck or scoop-neck tops
• Wrap tops
• Three-quarter length sleeves
• Low to moderate heels

Also, while black is universally upheld as a slimming color, don’t feel you have to dress like you’re going to a funeral if you prefer bright colors. Fashion should be fun and every minute of the day shouldn’t be filled with worry about how big your hips look. Much of your appearance can depend on your attitude, so if you feel like a million bucks in a floral print top and flowing, white skirt, then go ahead and wear it. Just because you’re a petite woman doesn’t mean you can’t stand tall.