One reason why Ms. Dahlman came out with the guide was because many petite women believe that they can get a good fit from "regular sized" clothing and do not bother looking for petite sizes. "Petite sized clothing is designed for a shorter body frame. Petite garments are cut smaller in key areas and the rest of the garment is proportioned to match." The very fact that petite sizes means better fit should make the clothing industry think about producing more petite sizes. Therefore, the industry really needs to pay more attention to the millions of petite women who spend millions on clothing each year. At the same time, petite women need to realize that they are petite!
Ms. Dahlman on height issues and the media's ignorance:
Unfortunately, the mainstream media still likes to perpetuate the myth that you must be tall and thin to be beautiful, sexy, or glamorous. This false information is fuelled by the fashion industry itself and the fashion designers who only allow tall, emaciated Amazonian models to wear their designs on the runway. The irony of it is that the media is ignoring a huge segment of the population with 70% of all adult women standing 5’5” or under.
Much like the fashion industry, Hollywood has thrived for years creating the perception that all celebrities are larger than life. The well guarded secret is that most of today’s biggest female stars are much shorter than you think. Agents, publicists, and stylists buy into the misguided notion that height equals power. You will notice that some of the most high profile petite actresses including Sarah Jessica Parker and Eva Longoria wear stiletto heels anytime they appear in public.
On why petite clothing is more common with mall brands and why it's usually office wear:
It really boils down to economics with the sagging economy taking a huge toll on the petite fashion industry. Petites have long been considered a “niche” market, usually the first area to be cut back during a financial crunch. Many clothing manufacturers have quit or drastically reduced their petite sized clothing lines in an effort to cut costs. Only the biggest and most powerful survive, namely the mall brands. National chains prefer to target career customers because price points are higher for these looks. More sales can be generated per square foot within the limited floor space allotted for petites.
On how to encourage more non-XXS petite women to blog about size issues and being petite (currently, the vast majority of petite blogs are owned by size 0 women):
I would encourage them to use blogging and social networking not only as a means of venting frustration, but also to create an online community for full-figured petite women. Blogging in numbers could force stores to carry a better selection of larger petite sizes. Just ask the size 0 or XXS fashion bloggers who have opened the eyes of retailers to their special needs.
Ms. Dahlman's take on clothing for short men and a (short) Canadian menswear designer's reaction to Prospere Magazine's question of designing clothing for short men:
Men are different and the menswear market is different. Men are accustomed to paying for alterations. It is not a big deal to most men, sort of a rite of shopping. Even a suit jacket that is available in a short, regular, and long length generally still needs some alterations to get the perfect fit.
This article was also posted in Prospere Magazine
