Petite Clothing - How to Dress If You're Petite

Let's start with explaining what petite clothing is:

A woman 5'4" and below can be petite by fashion industry standards. A woman who is short will have shorter body proportions, and so she needs clothing with shorter proportions. Some of the proportions that are specially constructed for petite clothing include:

Shorter length of sleeves and pant legs.
Shorter length of tops and jackets.
Shorter pant rise.
Shorter neckline.
Shorter measurement from shoulder to waist.
Narrower shoulder.
Narrower hip.
Higher armholes.
Smaller details and prints.

So, how do you know if something fits you right or not? Here is a list of things to check out in the mirror before you commit to buying an item:

* Length - There are several lengths to check...
Sleeve - Are the sleeves too long? Sleeves should stop about half way down the hand, where the meaty part of your thumb is.
Inseam - Are pant legs too long? Pant hems should stop about half an inch from the floor. Make sure to take heel height into account.
Top Length - Is the top too long? Depending on your body type, certain lengths will look better or worse on you, but make sure a top isn't too long because it will just drag you down and make you look stumpy.

* Arm holes - Are the arm holes too big, wide, or low? Arm holes should fit close to your arm, without being tight. If you can see your bra through the arm hole, it's too big.

* Neckline - Is the neckline too low or big? Does the neckline fall off your shoulder? Is it so low that your bra peaks through if you're not careful? Would you need to hike it up all the time? Then the neckline is too big.

* Shoulders - Are the shoulder seams on the edge of your shoulder? Or are they running down your shoulder? If the seam is running down your shoulder, the garment is too wide.

* Waist Details - Are the waist details in the right place? Often on petites, they will be too low, and not actually at the waist, where they are supposed to be.

Some things to keep in mind while shopping for clothes.

* Prints and Details - Keep them in proportion to your frame. If you're slim framed, keep them small. If you're big framed, you can go bigger, but not too big...you are petite afterall!

* Fabrics - Keep fabrics thin and flexible. Thick, stiff fabrics won't drape well on your proportionally smaller curves.

* Heels - They always help right? But don't be a slave to them. I love a small kitten heel for when I have to do a lot of walking.

* Body Proportions/Type - Petite women come in all shapes and sizes. Learn what your body type is, and learn to dress well accordingly. Then throw in the above tips for petites, and you'll be looking good in no time.