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As a petite woman who struggles to find clothes, these are 9 spring buys I would actually invest in

Did you know that 50% of the world’s female population is under 5’4″? In fact, according to data (opens in new tab)the mean height of women in the UK is around 5’3″. Yet, sadly, clothing is rarely made for those of us who stand at that stature. 

Finding the best petite fashion buys can be quite the task, particularly as historically, petite lines have felt very few and far between. Luckily, in recent years it seems that more and more brands have heard our call and are finally launching collections created specifically with women 5’3″ and under in mind. 

From Reformation (opens in new tab) to Reiss (opens in new tab), and the Whistles collection, (opens in new tab)which launched just last month, petite women now have more choice when it comes to their wardrobes. With this in mind, I made it my mission to track down the best petite spring buys available right now and try them on to ensure the perfect fit. (For reference, I stand at the relatively tiny height of 5’0″, so I am also on the smaller end of the general petite spectrum.) 

When it comes to petite dressing, there is so much more to think about than simply the clothes you buy. How you style and tailor a look also needs to be taken into consideration. With this in mind, we spoke to designer and petite expert, Liza Belmonte, to understand the tips and tricks petite women need to know. Liza is the founder of the petite-specific brand, Kjinsen, (opens in new tab) which creates luxury womenswear in the UK for women 5’4″ and under. 

For expert tips on petite dressing and my favourite spring petite buys, keep scrolling.

Petite Dressing Tips You Need To Know

We tapped petite expert, and the founder of fashion label Kjinsen, Liza Belmonte for her top tips for styling and dressing as a petite woman. 

1. Prioritise fit

“The most powerful thing you can do for your wardrobe is prioritise a good fit,” Belmonte explains. “Invest in clothes that fit well or get clothes altered to fit you,” she adds. As a petite woman, there is nothing worse than having sleeves that are too long, and trouser hems that drag on the floor, creating a look that drowns you in fabric. 

“Slim and tailored fits will always be easier to style if you are petite but that does not mean you always have to wear fitted clothes. If you want an oversized look, don’t just go for a size up, choose clothes that have been engineered to be oversized on your petite proportions,” Liza recommends. “I always recommend getting your oversized clothes from a petite brand to avoid that frumpy look.  

2. Accessorise strategically

“Your accessories have the power to really transform how tall you appear so make sure you use them in your favour,” Liza explains, suggesting that a large handbag can shink your frame, while smaller handbags will work to make you appear taller. 

She continued, “A belt, depending on where it is placed, can dramatically affect your proportions. I have a long torso-to-leg ratio so I use belts on pretty much everything (dresses, blazers, etc.) to mark my waist higher than it is and give the illusion of longer legs.” 

In addition to this, Liza also said that jewellery, hair accessories and even scarves, have the ability to draw the eye upwards, while in the footwear department, nude tones and pointy-toe silhouettes can work to elongate your legs. 

3. Show some skin

While many say that ankle-length trousers will work to elongate your frame, Liza argues that it is actually more valuable to show off your wrists and neck. “Show skin around your wrists and forearms by rolling up your sleeves, and your neck by styling your hair up. They are the daintiest parts of anyone’s body and help create a balance of proportion,” she explains. “This is especially key when you are wearing oversized clothing. The Olsen Twins who are very petite use this styling trick regularly. As part of their signature minimalist style, they wear a lot of oversized clothing, yet their sleeves are almost always rolled up or pulled up.” 

4. Go for monochrome or a colour gradient looks

“A tried and proven way to use colour to give the illusion of height is to wear a monochromatic look,” Liza says. “It creates vertical lines and elongates the silhouette.” Liza continues that adding accessories is a great way to ensure your outfit still looks interesting. 

“If you are petite and love combining multiple colours or neutrals in your outfits, it is a good idea to create a colour gradient—for example, beige, to taupe, to brown—rather than wearing “blocks” of highly contrasting colours (like a white top and black trousers). The gradient will streamline the whole look and avoid creating harsh lines and blocks that cut across the silhouette.” 

Shop The Best Petite Spring Buys, Tried and Tested by a Fashion Editor:

Whistles Petite Annabelle Cape Sleeve Dress

(Image credit: Future/ @zoepopi)

Reformation Petites Mason Pant

Best Petite Fashion: Reformation Trousers

(Image credit: Future/@zoepopi)

Levi’s Wedgie Jeans

Petite Try On: Levi's Jeans

(Image credit: Future/ @zoepopi)

Whistles Petite Alana Denim Jumpsuit

Petite Try On: Whistles Denim Jumpsuit

(Image credit: Future/ @zoepopi)

Reiss Petite Zaria Off-The-Shoulder Dress

Best Petite Fashion: Reiss Dress

(Image credit: Future/@zoepopi)

Whistles Petite Crepe Boyfriend Blazer

Petite Try On: Whistles Petite Blazer

(Image credit: Future/ @zoepopi)

Whistles Petite Authentic Barrel Leg Jeans

Petite Try On: Whistles Petite Jeans

(Image credit: Future/ @zoepopi)

Reiss Petite Lina High-Rise Wide Leg Trousers

Best Petite Fashion: Reiss Wide Leg trousers

(Image credit: Future/@zoepopi)

Kjiinsen Wool and Cashmere Blend Suit

Best Petite Fashion: Kjinsen Suit

(Image credit: Future/@zoepopi)

“Liza Belmonte, the designer behind Kjinsen, is a petite woman herself. Standing at 5’1″ Belmonte has the lived experience to understand what petite women want. She has created a line of elevated products that look and feel premium. And you can certainly tell the craftsmanship and construction of this suit is high-end. Made from a cashmere and wool blend, the fabric is soft and comfortable, while the fit takes into account the proportions of a petite woman. The shoulder width and sleeve length of the blazer were just perfect.” – Zoe Anastasiou, Fashion Editor

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Where to Find the Best Bridesmaid Dresses Online

Most people would agree that finding

the perfect wedding dress is a task met with excitement and enthusiasm. But when it comes to shopping for bridesmaid dresses, there seems to be a cliché that they are always a bit, well, drab. Luckily, surging trends of mismatched gowns (where the bridal party all wear the same color, but a different style of dress), silky numbers and convertible dresses — just to name a few — have completely changed the game when styling a bridal party.

To add to that, the days of wrangling your whole crew to pick out dresses and get fitted at the same shop on the same day are long gone. The best places to buy bridesmaid dresses online make it easy for everyone to browse and buy when it’s easiest for them. One thing to keep in mind though, is that shopping online for something as important as a bridesmaid dress can be a little stressful because you don’t actually get to see or feel the dress until it arrives. That’s why we’ve consulted with Kirsten Saladino, an executive fashion director at the Hearst Fashion Group, who shared some of her favorite brands and tips for making such a big purchase.

Our top picks:

  • 1

    Best Overall

    Kennedy Blue

    Shop at kennedyblue.com

    Read more

  • 2

    Azazie
  • 3

    David's Bridal
  • 4

    Birdy Grey

    Best for Silk and Satin Dresses

    Birdy Grey

    Read more

  • 5

    Revelry

    Best for Made-to-Order Dresses

    Revelry

    Read more

With Saladino’s help, we were able to put together a list of dress shops, including affordable retailers like ASOS and Lulu’s, and classic retailers such as David’s Bridal, all of which are sure to come through in a time crunch and deliver an expertly-outfitted bridal party.

No matter what looks you’re going for, the best way to avoid any hiccups is to the process is to prepare yourself with ample research. This way, you and your bridesmaids will be well aware of ship times and return policies to ensure the smoothest dress shopping experience possible.

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We Tested Almost 70 Flat Irons to Find the Best Straighteners for Your Money

Beyond material, “some of the aspects that make a great flat iron include the heating element … a good visual digital thermometer, the quality of the plates and the length of the cord,” says Toye. “The best flat irons are ones that sit comfortably in your hands, have an even heat distribution and selection of temperatures so that you don’t damage your hair,” adds Porsche. Here’s what else to keep in mind:

✔️ Heat settings: A flat iron with multiple heat settings allows for more customization and flexibility when styling since you’re able to select a temperature that works for your hair type/needs. Our expert testers preferred having an option of a temperature range for their flat irons, and Hughes agrees: “It is a must for all hair types. Most irons go up to 430-450ºF,” but that doesn’t mean you should crank up the heat all the way! We recommend always starting off at a lower temperature and increase the temperature as needed since temperatures above 450ºF can cause decomposition of hair’s protein content, causing irreparable damage.

Although there is no scientific guidance on the best temperature ranges to use for different textures, our pros averaged all the temperature suggestions from manufacturers for fine, medium and thick, coarse hair:

  • Fine hair types should stick to 240-330°F
  • Medium to normal hair types can style at 330-370°F
  • Thick, coarse hair can handle temps starting at 390°F and go up from there.

✔️ Plate width and length: “1-inch plates are ideal,” says Hughes. “I think if a plate is too wide it makes the tool more difficult to use or maneuver in the hair.” These narrower plates also make it easier to do detailed styling (like curling, bending or waving) and they’re also better for getting closer to the root of the hair. One exception: if hair is super long and you’re just looking to press hair straight, a 1.5-inch or 2-inch width can make faster work of the task.

✔️ Cord length: If you’re planning on styling hair in a bathroom or close to an outlet, cord length might not be an issue, but if you don’t have an outlet by your mirror, you may want to opt for a longer (or “professional”) length. Cord length in our study varied from 5.6 to 10.8 feet, with an average of 8.1 feet — the longer the cord, the more convenience and range you’ll have. “Also, if the cord swivels, that is a great feature so you can move easier,” says Hughes.

✔️ Auto shut-off: “People are busy and we can all forget to turn off an iron when we are running late, so auto shut-off ensures you some peace of mind,” says Hughes. In our tests, auto shut-off varied from five minutes to two hours, which is handy when you can’t quite remember if you turned the tool off — but we still recommend powering off and unplugging the tool after use to ensure it is completely off.

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Find out how to wear headbands to look trendy

One of the hottest trends of the recent seasons are headbands coming back in a big way. Worn on hair, they can add style and emphasize beauty to any styling. Depending on the occasion, style and needs, you choose from dozens of designs and types of headbands. The 1960s and 1970s were a time when women’s heads were decorated with various accessories. From handkerchiefs tied around the head, through pin-up styling, ponies tied with scarves, to satin headbands. Headband is one of the most universal and original accessories. In Axssorize online store you will find huge choice of headbands for every occasion! From simple and subtle to richly embellished headbands.


How to wear a headband on short hair?

Stylish headbands can easily change your style completely. They fit both boyish hairstyles and fashionable bobs. They give the whole styling a more romantic character, which is perfect for dates. If you prefer minimalism, choose a simple headband, e.g., in black or white. However, when you like to stand out, you can choose intense colours or an animal print on the headband. Headband will look good on both straight, wavy and curly hair.

The most fashionable hairstyles with headband for long hair

Headband hairstyles look great with long, romantic hair. The hit of recent seasons are headbands with imitation of a binding or weave of the material. They refer to the extremely girly pin-up style. It will look great both with a T-shirt and jeans, as well as with many styles of dresses. Loose hair with a headband is a great idea for an occasional hairstyle. For elegant styling, choose a headband decorated with, for example, pearls or decorative stones. They will attract attention to your beautiful hair. To look even more chic, with the help of a curling iron you can transform your everyday strands into delicate and natural waves.

Glamorous hairstyles with a headband

Glamorous hairstyles with a headband

A hairstyle with a headband is also a good idea for owners of shoulder-length hair. If you want your strands to appear a little longer, straighten them. You can decorate shiny, straight hair with a thick white retro-style headband. Thanks to this treatment, your hairstyle will gain optical volume! If you are looking for a hairstyle with a headband, perfect for a special occasion, get inspired by a hairstyle straight from Hollywood! The shiny, glamor-style headband is a perfect match for low-pinned, artistic dishevelled hair. If you like ponytails, gather your hair back and tie it low with an elastic band, and put a wide, velour headband in a pastel or neon colour over your head. Thanks to this, you will get a fashionable look.


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5 Places to Find Petite Clothing on a Budget

Any petite people out there?

At 5’4″, I’m technically NOT petite: I still, however, find many clothes almost comically long on me (particularly things like jeans and trousers), which means I’m no stranger to the petite clothing sections of my favourite high street retailers. Here are five of my favourites…

 

Miss Selfridge

Not only does Miss Selfridge’s regular section go down to a UK size 4, making it suitable for the smaller shopper, the petites section is a particularly good one: in fact, I frequently spot items in the petites section that aren’t available in regular sizes. Their petite clothing section runs from size 4 – 14, and is updated often, so there’s always something new.

New Look

New Look also has an extensive petites section, and a slightly wider sizing range, running from UK 4 – 16. If you don’t find anything in women’s clothing section, however, the teens section is also worth a look: while many teens and children’s sections are unsuitable for women in terms of the cuts and patterns, this selection is more “grown up” than many I’ve come across, and some of the the larger teens styles will also work for petite women.

ASOS

Is there ANYTHING you can’t find at ASOS? Probably not, and while their petite clothing section doesn’t contain all of the same styles you’ll find in ‘regular’, the site also carries plenty of petite clothing from other brands, too, making it a good place to see a lot of different options in the same place. ASOS’s main line also goes down to a UK size 4, so some pieces may be suitable for petites.

Chi Chi London

One of The Fashion Police’s favourite eveningwear brands, Chi Chi London has extensive petite and curve sections, offering many of the same styles they do in ‘regular’.

Topshop

Topshop’s petite section can be a little bit hit and miss, and I really wish they’d start offering their petite jeans in the same range of washes and styles that are available in the regular section, but it’s still better than average, and, as with their Arcadia stable-mates, Miss Selfridge, I’ve occasionally stumbled upon awesome petite clothing which isn’t available in regular, so it’s always worth a look.

Anyone else got some petite clothing tips to share?

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