What is petite?


The above are Petite Celebrities. So what is Petite Size?

When people hear petite, most assume that it means small size. However, in the world of fashion, petite refers to a clothing size that is made to fit women who is 5'4" or shorter. Petite size is not a small size, but rather a proportion - it means jeans, shirts etc are made proportionally smaller to fit a shorter woman.

History of petite clothes: According to New York Times, Petite fashion first appeared in the late '40s, when Hannah Troy noticed that regular clothing was too long-waisted for shorter women. However, for years after petite sizing was introduced in the fashion world, relatively few designers took note.

Which stores carry petite sizes? Although today not all manufacturers offer petite clothing, an increasing number of them do sell petite garments. Stores such as Macy's, Nordstrom, and Bloomingdales offer many designer lines with petite sizes. Stores such as Express, Gap, Banana Republic, and Ann Taylor offer a large selection of petite clothes. Lane Bryant is a great source of petite clothing for plus sizes.

Petite Clothing Range: You can find the petite label on the back of blouses or jeans with label such as "P", "Petite", or "Short." Petite sizes are available in 00P-20P, and women's petite sizes come in 12WP-36WP, but most retailers only offer a limited range, and some don't carry any petite sized clothing.

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