Glam but first coffee
What are the fashion problems of Shorties Under 5’4? My petite woman problems have always been reaching kitchen cabinets, explaining to everyone that I am not a ten-year-old, and then when going shopping. However, today we will discuss the last one- how petite women receive discrimination in the fashion industry.
Not only that petite women forget about modeling for high fashion, but there are many other problems that only petite women will understand! Please free to share what problems you have had as a petite woman!
Petite women cannot model clothing
The first problem from all fashion problems petite women experience is modeling. Even when I was in the school, many model agencies would come and invite girls to join them! Petite girls could look and dream even though I have never wanted to be a model. However, I am sure that some petite women wanted to be a model. Especially at such a young age, it is very traumatizing, to exclude some girls only for their height- something they cannot change.
Agencies and brands should start to include more women, different sizes, shapes, and heights. Especially now that more categories show up, and fashion photography is very famous. Even though I am sure that petite women can find some modeling jobs, it is still somewhere hidden and not widely broadcasted or promoted. In mainstream fashion, only very tall skinny girls are encouraged. I have talked about this problem in my two articles. First, the fashion industry discriminating women with a bigger bust. Second, my interview with LDLA swimwear. However, I am going to talk about this more and more in the future!
I know women who shop and have shopped in the kids’ section. Can you imagine the shame they must feel from this experience? Shopping in the kids’ area was not an option because even though I am short, I have also always been curvy.
Tights and pants always too long
My biggest problem always was jeans. They never fit where they need to and how. Jeans were always too long; the ends were constantly ripped and dirty! I cannot even buy ripped-knee jeans because the rip would usually be below the knee and look ridiculous.
Let’s talk leggings! Know all those cute leggings with zipper detail on the ends? I could never shop for them because I knew I would need to fold the ends or cut them!
Always high-heels! Especially on a night out
Yes, I started to wear heels very early only because I was so ashamed of my height. It is just something that other people will not understand. Now I do not care; especially in Spain, no one pays attention to my height because women are short here.
Even in my late 20s, in Latvia, I was asked in supermarkets or clubs to show my ID. It almost does not happen in Spain! Heels made me feel more powerful, longer, and more confident. I felt like if I wore heels, then people would not see me as a ten-year-old! People do not realize how looks, like height that you cannot change, affect mental health.
Oversized make us look like an egg!
I have never understood why women with beautiful bodies wear oversized clothing. Now I see that it is usually just a trend, or maybe they feel more secure in oversize sweaters. However, for me, an oversize has never been a lot of an option! Nowadays, I sometimes style some oversize sweater with leggings. But in general, petite women can look like an egg or ball in their oversize clothing. For me, as I have always had curves as well, choosing oversize clothing is not the best option!
Crazy people in long sleeve tops
Whenever I shop for blazers or tops, I try to buy half-sleeved clothing. Most of the long-sleeved jackets, tops, and sweaters will have super long sleeves that will make me look like a crazy person from the hospital. I can even remember that my brother used to joke about that and try to tie my sleeves together!
Tripping over, no matter what you do
Petite women many times will buy those pants thinking they are only a little bit longer; it will work out. Then they put on shoes with platform and heels, thinking that this will do! However, in the end, they are going to trip over. It is just never our size; it will always be too long and not meant for short women.
I have tripped over many jeans in my life and even my big princess dress in graduation.
Midi skirt? Always end up maxi skirt
How jealous I am of women in a maxi skirt and beautiful maxi dresses. Whenever I need to choose a dress for a special event, I try not to look at maxi dresses. However, I love maxi dresses, especially with a split on the side. Maxi dresses give a much more particular feel to them and look very elegant. However, maxi skirts and dresses are usually way too long for me or do not sit right. Honestly, I do not even look at maxi skirts and dresses when shopping online. Usually, I look at midi skirts because they would end up as maxi skirts for me!
Knee-high and over the knee-high boots
I will rant on this one because the most significant ever fashion pain in my life has been knee-high boots. I have pretty big calves, and I have short legs. Therefore, finding good fitting knee-high or over-the-knee boots is such a pain! I do not have any long black boots right now. However, I plan to look around and search for some good pairs and let you know in the future! I have seen some good boots from Asos!
Shopping online is the biggest fear
Last but not least, shopping online is the biggest fear for petite women! I have shopped online, especially in the previous two years. However, it is always a scary experience, and I will rarely shop for pants and even long-sleeve tops online. Now many brands and pages offer particular petite categories.
Where to shop as PETITE WOMAN?
However, now you can get my brand list I worked hard on and shop fast, easily and with no returns!
Why retail industry still discriminates against petite women?
After reading the beauty insider article, I understood that we do not need to take it personally. Precisely what I learned from the LDLA swimwear interview about the plus size women in fashion. Also, in the petite section, it is just too much work and expenses. Petite style requires different designs, completely new cuts, and maybe even clothing. As for the plus size women, the same jeans will not sit the same because, on petite women, the dress will not fall the same way.
Conclusion
In the end, it is too difficult for every brand to create clothing for short women, tall women, curvy women, and more. However, I will still stick to my opinion, that some big well-known brands cannot use money as an excuse!
I see smaller brands use all their money and being all size-inclusive than I see big retailers. The question, why remains that I am not sure they are ready to give. Maybe, in the end, it is about stereotypes or ignorance.
The facts speak a lot, 50% of the USA population falls into the petite category, and 65 million are considered plus size. You can change the weight, but you cannot change the height!
What annoyed me was this sentence in the article of Business Insider: Petites aren’t entirely ignored in design school; they just aren’t given equal attention. And why should they? They’re generally not on runways; runways are about aspiration, and who aspires to be 5’2”?
However, I want to thank Asos, Amazon, and other retailers that offer a wide variety for petite women.
I have said and will repeat; if I had money to invest, I would create a brand that sells clothing for petite women of all sizes!
Are you in the petite category? Fashion problems petite women experience- did I mention all problems that petite women have? If not, let me know what I missed! I hope you enjoyed my blog post and kind of rant about the fashion problems petite women experience. My Youtube video of fashion tips for petite women you can watch here.
