I have been invited to a friend’s engagement party and I’m looking for a really great outfit dress to wear. I am 5ft 3in and size 8. I tend to find myself on the borderline for petite ranges -some fit properly and some don't. Because of my size, I also tend to avoid anything too fussy, but I fancy a change from my faithful plain black dress. My budget is €100-200. Any suggestions?
Finding the perfect look can be a little tricky, but if you know exactly what to go for, it can be so much fun because petites can pretty much get away with anything! You only have to look at the likes of Kylie Minogue, Eva Longoria Parker and Cheryl Cole to know that being a petite size certainly does not have to hamper your sense of style.
The high-street shops are filled with gorgeous party gear at astonishing prices and the thinner and smaller you are, the easier it is to get away with cheaper clothes.
These days there are a lot of different ranges that cater for smaller ladies. Littlewoods has a line designed specifically for women 4ft 11ins to 5ft 3ins, so there really is a great variety of styles designed with you in mind. There are also a lot of stores such as Wallis, New Look, Dorothy Perkins, Debenhams and Principles stocking glamorous ranges aimed at smaller ladies.
If you are looking for a two piece why not try a skirt worn with a v neck top (it will help elongate your torso) and heels. Apart from anything else, it's a big skirt year and skirts almost always come in small sizes. They are everywhere and at every price. Coast and Zara have great skirts, and every stylist I have consulted about your problem says that Kookai is brilliant for small sizes.
It’s vital to add some height to your legs by teaming a slinky dress with a pair of heels. Copy the celebrities’ favourite tip and wear a pair of nude coloured high heel shoes, as this will make your legs appear much longer.
Also, remember to keep your skirt knee length or shorter. You want your legs to look long and lean; the more leg that shows, the taller you’ll appear. Dresses that hit at your knee or slightly above are the most flattering for petite types.Wide or capped sleeves and ruffled edges help broaden your shoulders. Tunic dresses are also adorable for a petite figure.
Additional links
The Size 8 Club www.size8club.co.uk
Membership costs £15, and if you are a size 8 or smaller it's worth it. It produces two newsletters a year including a directory of tried, tested and recommended shops (clothing, lingerie, swimwear and shoes).
Principles www.principles.co.uk
Has a petite range for those less than 5 ft 3in (1.6m) available online, in shops nationwide and in some department stores, including Debenhams.
