The TRUTH About Petite Sizing: 4'11'' to 5'7'' You Could Still Be Petite - The 16th Bar (2024)

Posted by Frankie | lifestyle, style

The TRUTH About Petite Sizing:

4'11'' to 5'7'' You Could Still Be Petite

Many women believe that being petite means being a size 0. Many believe that petite just means being 5’3” or shorter. The truth is, petite is a proportion and not just a size. You could be 4’ll or you could be 5’7 and still be considered petite.

It’s a fact that a woman who is 5’7” could possibly need to wear petite tops or bottoms if she has a shorter torso or leg length. If you are taller than the “standard” petite height, don’t exclude yourself from these garments if your shirts or sleeves are too long, the length of your pants are too long, or if darts aren’t correctly laying on your body.

The problem with most retailers that supply “petite” garments are in the actual design process itself. Rather than correcting the proportions for a petite figure, they simply shrink down a regular size into an xxxs. Or they simply cut 2 inches off the hem and call it a day. This doesn’t solve the problem of the torso being too long, the sleeves being too long, the darts placed in the incorrect location, the waist not hitting correctly, the shoulders sitting too wide, there’s excess fabric everywhere, the issues go on and on.

There’s a reason brands do not offer garments in a petite tailored fit. It would be recreating the garment entirely from scratch in order to draft the patterns to the correct proportion in order to appropriately adjust the design and not destroy the aesthetic that unfortunately happens when you attempt to tailor a regular fit garment down for a petite frame.

This is why the petite “section” fails us. This is why tailoring isn’t an option.

This is why I decided to stop accepting things the way they were. Isn’t it time the industry started designing for us?

I thought so too.

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Blog Comments

The TRUTH About Petite Sizing: 4'11'' to 5'7'' You Could Still Be Petite - The 16th Bar (7)

shawnasi spatola, October 10, 2016 Reply

I liked this article because most stick to the 5’4″ and under rule. I’m 5’6″ and have almost always had to wear petite pants due to my shrimpy legs, or juniors. Regular pants drag on me and i’m not for that look. I’m also finding as I get older that I’m wearing petite shorts and skirts as well. With tops I can go either or, petite or regular. So thank you :)

[…] clothes to look professional and dress the part but cannot fit into clothes already made for the petite. Often, it’s more frustrating than driving and […]

The New Luxury | The 16th Bar, July 23, 2011 Reply

[…] how can we as petites step up our style without the options that women 5’5’’ and taller have all around the world […]

The TRUTH About Petite Sizing: 4'11'' to 5'7'' You Could Still Be Petite - The 16th Bar (8)

diana, January 18, 2011 Reply

What a great guide! I’m 5’7 and I’m still able to find clothes in petite sizing. This article is really helpful for people who has trouble finding their correct size.

The TRUTH About Petite Sizing: 4'11'' to 5'7'' You Could Still Be Petite - The 16th Bar (9)

Frankie Ortiz, January 18, 2011 Reply

I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Come back soon!

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The TRUTH About Petite Sizing: 4'11'' to 5'7'' You Could Still Be Petite - The 16th Bar (2024)

FAQs

The TRUTH About Petite Sizing: 4'11'' to 5'7'' You Could Still Be Petite - The 16th Bar? ›

The truth is, petite is a proportion and not just a size. You could be 4'll or you could be 5'7 and still be considered petite. It's a fact that a woman who is 5'7” could possibly need to wear petite tops or bottoms if she has a shorter torso or leg length.

What height is considered petite sizing? ›

What Height Is Considered Petite? Petite sizes are designed for women 5'4” and under, regardless of their size. In the petite category, sizes range from extra-small to plus-size. They also have a “P” label to illustrate a smaller and proportioned fit.

What length is good for petite? ›

The ideal length for women's petite dresses is mini or to the floor.

Do petite sizes run smaller in the waist? ›

Petite tops are made shorter from the neck to the waist to accommodate your smaller frame. The waist is also a bit smaller for a cleaner line. A regular missy size top might be too long and fit you like a tunic, so by getting a petite sized top you will be solving this issue.

Is 5'2" considered petite? ›

In summary, if your height falls anywhere less than 5'3” or 5'4”, you can proudly call yourself a petite lady. Also, if you find that most clothes you find are too large for you, with a little searching, you will definitely find a proper fashion store which has clothes that are a perfect fit for you.

Can a 5 7 girl be petite? ›

Many believe that petite just means being 5'3” or shorter. The truth is, petite is a proportion and not just a size. You could be 4'll or you could be 5'7 and still be considered petite. It's a fact that a woman who is 5'7” could possibly need to wear petite tops or bottoms if she has a shorter torso or leg length.

Can I wear petite if I'm 5'6"? ›

Women who stand about 5'4” and under often find that petite size clothing fits their frame well, sans alterations. But! With this limited definition, many wearers miss out. Depending on the measurements of your arms, legs, or torso, petite sizing may in fact fit you best even if you're as tall as 5'9”.

What length pants for a 4'11 woman? ›

Pant Project's Women's Size Guide, Get the Perfect Fit
HeightInseam How to measure Lay the pant flat with front and back aligned. Measure the length from the crotch seam to the bottom of the leg Close
4'1024
4'1125
5'025
5'126
19 more rows

What weight is considered petite? ›

Petite refers to stature not weight. Most people still think petite means skinny when in fact petite has nothing to do with weight. Petite is the term used in the fashion industry to describe a woman who is 5'3 tall or under. Petite women come in all shapes and sizes, whether they're a size 4 or 14.

Is petite shorter or skinnier? ›

Well, there's a giant misconception that petite women are skinny! Some petite women are skinny, but the petite label on clothing has nothing to do with weight. The petite label on women's clothing is entirely related to height – and corresponding measurements, like the length of your torso, legs, and arms.

How do you know if you're petite? ›

In the fashion world, "petite size" is a standard applied primarily to women who are under 5'4" (162.56 cm). It's important to note that petite sizing is not a reflection of weight; rather, it focuses on height and proportion.

What's the difference between petite and short? ›

Petite generally means resized to fit a slimmer shaped body. I am NOT petite - I am short. "Short" means exactly that - it's the same fitting as regular pants but just with a shorter length.

What leg length is petite? ›

Petite women are typically 5'3 and under, with a pants inseam of 27 inches or less. There's a common misconception that being petite indicates a certain weight. This is not true – a petite size is measured solely by one's height.

What does a petite body look like? ›

Petite means you have a shorter scale but you still have the attributes of one or more of the 5 body shapes, hourglass, pear, strawberry, rectangle or apple. The problems petite ladies find when buying clothes is sleeve length, trouser length and waistlines not being in the right place.

Is a 5-6 woman tall? ›

The average heights of women worldwide range from just under 5 feet tall to around 5 feet 7 inches. Female height (and height in general) is primarily influenced by genetics. Other factors that may play a role include nutrition, home environment, geographic location, medical conditions, hormones, and sleep quality.

Is 5'7" tall for a girl? ›

I think 5'6 to 5'8 is considered average height for women

So, no, it's not “small” in either of those places.

How do I know if I'm petite? ›

In the fashion world, "petite size" is a standard applied primarily to women who are under 5'4" (162.56 cm). It's important to note that petite sizing is not a reflection of weight; rather, it focuses on height and proportion. In the U.S., petite sizes usually start at size 0P or 2P, depending on the brand.

What is considered a petite body type? ›

Petite refers to stature not weight. Most people still think petite means skinny when in fact petite has nothing to do with weight. Petite is the term used in the fashion industry to describe a woman who is 5'3 tall or under. Petite women come in all shapes and sizes, whether they're a size 4 or 14.

Is 5 feet 4 inches short for a woman? ›

Based on the most recent available data, the average height of an American woman is slightly less than 5 feet 4 inches tall. The average heights of women worldwide range from just under 5 feet tall to around 5 feet 7 inches. Female height (and height in general) is primarily influenced by genetics.

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