Why are petite sizes different

Pants are shorter with a smaller waist and also a shorter rise. Shirts, blazers, jackets and the top portions of dresses sized for petite women have shorter sleeves, higher waists and less material across the shoulders than their regular-sized counterparts.

To truly flatter a petite frame, clothing embellishments are reduced in size along with the clothing pieces. Smaller print and floral patterns are used on petite clothing, as are smaller buttons and collars, and thinner belts. While standing up straight, use the tape to circle your waist like you would for a belt at your natural waistline. If you bend at the waist to one side, the crease that forms is your natural waistline.

Standing naturally with your heels together in a relaxed posture, measure the circumference of your hips at the fullest part. Make sure the tape is level so try to do it in front of a mirror. Wikihow — Determine your dress size. Wikihow — Measure your waist. Wikihow — Measuring for bra size. Remember me. Keep this in mind as you consider which petite clothing items will work best for you!

Women's petite tops are made to accommodate a shorter silhouette. They are generally shorter from neck to waist than regular sized clothing, and also feature more narrow shoulders. They will also have shorter sleeves designed to hit your wrist, reducing the need to continually be rolling up sleeves that are too long. From jeans and pants to a variety of skirt types, women's petite bottoms are all designed to fit your body better.

Petite pants will have a shorter rise in order to help them fit better, with skinny jeans and pants featuring a slimmer leg. Skirts often feature shorter hemlines to better accommodate leg length. Many stores and online shops have measurement information for their pieces. So which measurements do you need? We recommend at least having your chest, waist, and hip measurements.

Petite Features Petite clothing comes in cuts made to flatter a woman's shorter frame, including shorter sleeves and torsos. Style Considerations Designers of petite clothing often use fabrics with different patterns than they would for other sizes, like smaller prints or vertical stripes to make short women appear taller. References Blair: Women's Size Chart. How to Make Your Own Spanx.