I’m a short girl.
Like short short. Five-foot zero short.
There are all sorts of difficulties us shorties face in life: the perpetual need for a stool, not accessing any of the topmost cabinets around the house, a ridiculously low BMI goal *eye-roll*, looking up to sixth graders, people saying they want to put you in their pocket, listening to that remix “Short-legged Lana from Rayne, Louisiana” in the 90s.
There are benefits too. Nobody is singing “Tally swing my way” — it’s always shawty.
50 Cent gave us a birthday song FA LYFE!
You have access to a fountain of youth in that you will be carded until you are thirty-three and have your four kids in tow. Also, you will never be responsible for your kids’ behavior in public because everyone just thinks you are the babysitter. And you always get to be in the front row of pictures.
Another disadvantage: your tailoring bill.
Shopping as a short woman is difficult, and oftentimes not fun. It’s been a long journey of crappy granny-looking petite clothes, to more stores finally acknowledging that petite women deserve stylish clothes too. So, this one goes out to my shorties. Here are my recommendations for shopping as a short woman.
My favorite place to shop is … Nordstrom. Nope, we don’t have one in Louisiana, BUT their online shipping and returns policy are the best out there. I order from the convenience of my home and get to try clothes on in front of MY mirror. They have the most petite brands I have seen and by far the most stylish options.
Most budget-friendly: Halogen, Gibson, Caslon
Mid-range: 1901, Boden, J. Crew, NYDJ, KUT from the Kloth, Maggy London, Wit and Wisdom, NIC + ZOE
High-end: Boss, Eileen Fisher (carried in Lafayette at Kiki), Gal Meets Glam Collection
Formal wear: Eliza J., Vince Camuto
If you’re thinking to yourself, my that’s a shortlist, that’s because it is. We are certainly still lacking options for petite women… especially in swimwear, IMHO.
In Lafayette, your options dwindle to two basic ones: department stores and Loft. Most department stores carry Petites or ankle-length options. While J. Crew is one of my fave petite brands, unfortunately, that sizing is not carried in the J. Crew Mercantile store here in town. Loft has a decent petite section in their brick and mortar store, but there are at least triple the options in their online shop. I have yet to find any petite-specific sizing options in local boutiques, but I can often find clothing options there that are touted as “mini” in length but end up a bit more conservative in length once put on my five-foot frame.
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but hopefully, I’ve given anyone looking for ideas a starting point.
Shawties: where do you like to shop?
