
A Fab reader recently wrote in asking us to start PetiteSugar. Since that's not on the roster (but you never know...) we decided we could do a Fab Body Guide dedicated to petites.
I lightly touched on the subject with Rachel Bilson, but here are many more helpful tips on how to elongate your silhouette, accessories dos and don'ts, and online retail shops with stylish fashions for petites.
Tips on elongating your small frame:
- Wearing similar colors, or monochrome, gives the illusion you're taller. It provides a continuous flow from one item of your outfit to the next.
- When you don't want to wear all one color, just make sure the silhouette of your outfit is lengthening. For example, if you want to wear a fuchsia blouse with white pants, make sure the hem of the pants sweeps the floor, even with your high heels.
- To avoid looking wide, stay away from horizontal stripes and colorblocking; you can certainly do skinny stripes though!
- Another style that makes you appear wide is anything overly billowy, a la Nicole Richie's tiered mini dress. If you must dabble with the trend, steer clear of tiers.
To hear more advice about petite fashion and to see some Fab outfits we put together, read more
- Speaking of creating continuous flow, make sure your shoes and tights are similar in color. A black outfit with a white shoe will chop up your leg and make you look stout.
- Avoid super long tunics, especially if you're wearing a long skirt or pants. With a skirt that hits above the knee, mid-thigh grazing tops are a more acceptable. Also be wary of cropped jackets and tops — they don't call them cropped for nothing!
- When wearing cropped or capri pants do like Sarah Jessica Parker and wear them with high heels.
Accessories Dos and Don'ts
- Do wear pointed toe shoes because they are more lengthening than round toe.
- Don't wear T-Straps, bows, or heavy buckles on your footwear because it creates a wide, chunky effect.
- Do wear flats, but keep your outfit silhouette slim.
- Do stay away from wide, colorful belts. If you're going to wear a belt, opt for a skinny one.
Petite Shops
- Shopstyle Petites
- Nordstrom Petite Shop
- Gap Petites
- Newport News Petites
- Banana Republic Petites
- Reet Petite
Fab Petite Outfits

















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My-Wardrobe.com
Is Audrey really a good example of being petite? I'm pretty sure she was 5 ft. 7 in.
1Yessss, please do a PetiteSugar!!! Luckily, I do most of these things anyway...
2Great tips. I'm only 4'11 so I need all the height I can get. I didn't know about the T-Straps. I have like over 10 pairs of them.
3Nice. I'm five feet short and while I usually dress in whatever style I want, there are some days where I need the "length"
4Great advice! We definitely could use a Petite Sugar, meanwhile I have this link: http://shopping.msn.com/content/shp/?ctid=4454
5I think PetiteSugar would be a little to specific. Every other body type would want one.
At 5 feet myself, I have discovered how much I love skinny jeans!
6I luv that you are giving advice on us Petite gals! I am 5'4 so I am between petite sizez and regular womens. It soo hard as well to have a pear shape with being short. Are u going to give advice on pear shape any time soon? We aren't all stick thin lol thanks so much Fab
7at 5'1" myself, I would LOVE a Petite Sugar...or even just a message board where we can share brands/stores with new lines, etc. that fit well
8Yay, thanks so much for this post! I'm 5'2" and weight 100 and it's so hard to find stuff that fits and/or flatters! Thanks again for the post Fab!
9Always, be careful of any heel with an ankle strap. If you're not careful with what shoe you choose, it can make you legs look super short.
10I agree that PetiteSugar would be too specific, but I do like the idea of giving advice on what would flatter different body types.
11I don't think petite necc. means you need to be short and thin, I think both really put you in that range.
12she may be small, but audrey was 5'7". how about someone a bit... shorter?
13Haha yeah Audrey was NOT short by any standards! But I'm always happy to learn about people who are the same height as I am (5'3"): Victoria Beckham and Natalie Portman, for example! One tip that wasn't on the list was high-waisted pants...they make the leg look longer so the whole body looks longer. But you know, I don't really focus that much on making myself look taller. I think if you love what you're wearing and you carry yourself confidently, you'll great even if you're a midget!
14thanks so much fab! and i totally think a petitesugar is a great idea!
15If you're going to have petitesugar, then there better be a tallsugar, a plus-sizedsugar, an hourglasssugar, pear-shapedsugar, blah blah blah. That's just absurd.
16I'm 5'3 but I have a 'tall person's body'--so I've been told. I don't know what that means, but whatever.
17Thanks for this Fab Body Guide. Do more, not only for petites but all body types. And thanks for the link to MSN, gabiushka.
18If a PetiteSugar is nowhere on the horizon, how about a weekly feature on FabSugar? We petite fleurs (as Clinton Kelly calls us) would truly appreciate it!!!
19I would love a PetiteSugar!!!
I'm tiny (both height-wise and weight-wise) like Rachel Bilson ...I always have to shop in the petite section for women's clothing. And I feel like so many styles look overwhelming on me. Great tips!
20me too, Greentea! I'm short--not petite. I'm in the height range, but petite clothes never fit. Pants are too short (even with flats) & shirt sleeves hit inches above my wrists. These tips are still useful for the most part. Except that if I fall in love with a round-toe shoe with a bow on it, I'm going to buy. I don't think it makes THAT much of a difference.
21If you guys really want a PetiteSugar, why don't you make a group for it?
22OH come on! I would love a Petitebighipsacnepronefablips Sugar!
23Hey, one nice thing about being short is that you can wear shorter skirts than everyone else and it's far less scandalous! I also heard this advice, for you gals that are shopping the petite sections--Marc by Marc Jacobs kid stuff. It's as pretty as his regular stuff, but petite and a fraction of the price!
24Thanks so much for this post. It's very insightful!! I'm a petite lady (5'3) and I loooooooove these suggestions. You're so fab, Fab
25I stand at a proud 5'2" and I'm always getting my jeans hemmed or getting clothes taken in, so I appreciate Fabsugar's guide to all things petite. There's a good shopping blog called Serafina (http://serafinablog.com/petitefashion/) that's dedicated to petite fashion.
26thanks!!!
27I highly recommend Japanese fashion magazines for tips on fashion for petites. The tallest professional models shown are no more than about 5'7" (at most), and many magazines also use "girl next door" types in the 4'11" to 5'3" range that's typical for Japanese women.
Japan's entire fashion industry is geared toward making clothes that fit and flatter petites. If you're short and slim, I think it's worth buying Japanese clothes online (from ordinary cheap brands like Uniqlo, not the international luxury ones) or bringing a lot of extra cash if you happen to visit.
28THANK YOU!!!!!!! I love it!
29Calvin Klein makes a petite line of bras! Finally someone understands that all our parts are scaled down! I totally recommend this line.
30Hi, I could do a petite post for you once a month if you like and then you could just add a link to my blog in return http://www.yo-shorty.co.uk I'm just starting out on this blogging stuff but I quite enjoy it!
31Ladies, I see that my blog serafina has been mentioned (thanks for the shout out SweetStanzy). I'm a petite chic myself and have loads of fashion advice and news on my blog. Check it out http://www.serafinablog.com. Its all about petite fashion for all body types. Feel free to email me, leave me comment or contact me through FabSugar. Go petites!
32Oh, I'm always happy to find more blogs/reads geared toward us petites!
33Hi ladies,
I too am petite. and I don't mean just little, but truly petite (my sister and I both are, poor thing will never be 5 ft or 100 lbs...) I am 5'1" and 103, and I have found that despite my mexican booty, I can wear designer jeans (specifically Seven for All Mankind) from the kids' department--half the price and they fit SO much better--plus, if you buy at Nordstrom, they hem them for free (at least mine did!)
and we all know we petites frequently need a good hem. hehe.
34Super Petite Fashionistas Poll Here! (University Research)
Only Participate In The Poll If You Are Female And 5'3 And Under Please!
http://www.misterpoll.com/polls/424451/results
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