How Is That Petite?
The model frame used is questionable. Therefore, what’s normal size clothing for most, we adapt and we rock this style!
We’ve all been there, stood in the changing room cubicle, hiding our misfortunate choices. Safe in the knowledge that nobody else can see, or even ever learn, how bad a pick been made.
‘How’s it going in there Penny?’
‘Auntie PP can’t get the trousers over the top of her legs!’
Nobody that is, until your 6yr old Nephew who insisted to come in with you, innocently announces to the entire changing room visitors and staff of your misfortune! Left feeling mortified, as though no curtain is there protecting you anymore and like no-one else in there has picked wrongly. The attendant, as you leave, still politely asking that question “Any good?” as though they had been momentarily deaf at the time of the earlier megaphone-like revealment. Why is it also, we still admit to our failings when we are so close to having it not be known (without the narrated announcement of course) by replying “No, it didn’t fit!” Trying to find the right size is a never-ending ordeal.
But what if, on top of all of that, there was another problem?
I’m in my late 30’s, 4ft 11. ¾ inches in height, therefore too big for children’s clothing due to my hips, bum, thighs, tummy and bosom, yet too small for the majority of adult clothing. What am I and others in a similar position as me supposed to do? I’m no good at sewing, so having the attitude of “I’ll just turn the trousers up,” or “I’ll shorten the arm length,” etc, isn’t an option. Yes I could pay someone skilled to do the alterations required. But why should I have to pay extra, on-top of the price of purchasing the item of clothing, just because I am shorter?
“There is a petite range!” I hear you saying.
Yes, some clothing companies do pride themselves in offering this. But who the heck do they use as a model outline and frame? Do they actually mean petite as in size zero, flat tummy, no bum, no thighs and petite for height being down to 5ft 1 inch! Claiming their range is for those 5ft 2 and under, but how far under do they actually mean? As it doesn’t ever seem to go lower than 5ft 1. I’m a petite heighted adult and expect a range claiming to be for petite people to mean trousers that don’t go past the end of the feet but actually stop where they should at the ankles, cropped trousers to be cropped to the knee not falling just above the ankle and knee length skirts to be at the knee, not lower shin!
So, as well as having to battle the gauntlet of what is one’s clothing company’s size 12 is another company’s size 16, which every person has to face no matter their height and size, anyone petite also struggle to find clothing that’s actually been measured and styled against petite people. In normal clothing ranges, you are often given a choice of regular length or short length regarding trousers. Why then is this not also offered in the petite range? It would help cater a bit for the shorter of the short. Plus, why are a lot of the petite ranges mostly so clinical, office-like wear and so different to normal wear? Why can’t it be the same that’s offered to everyone else, just smaller to fit the petite? Some of the normal isn’t even accessible for the shorter person, i.e. maxi dresses.
There will never be a eureka moment with clothing for anyone, no matter their shape, height and size. But surely, if a company is going to proudly announce they offer a petite range, then they should use models who are petite to help focus the sizing and to offer a spectrum too.
Despite my dismay of disappointment and frustrations, at least females are given an option of petite when a clothing range has it. I can’t say I’ve ever seen such a range to be offered to males. Shorter than average men exist, yet they have no alternative presented to them. What do they do?
It’s not all doom and gloom. There is normal adult clothing that petite people, be they male or female, do manage to get away with wearing, that fit not too badly but not as should. Our style is making average peoples sized clothing to look decent on us. We get away with it and pull off this feat, so much so that we rock this style!
The day I try on a pair of jeans labelled for petite and I don’t say to myself “How is that petite?!” will be a momentous day.
Or maybe I’m just not shopping at the right stores?