And the Petite Golden Globe Nominees are.....

Best Actress, Drama (Film)

Natalie Portman (5'3") for Black Swan

Michelle Williams (5'4") for Blue Valentine

(Interestingly, no comedy actresses in the film category nominated are petite. Usually, there's at least one)

Best Supporting Actress (Film)

Mila Kunis (5'3") for Black Swan

Helena Bonham Carter (5'3") for The King's Speech

Amy Adams (5'4") for The Fighter

The other nominees were Jacki Weaver and Melissa Leo, both heights unknown/unlisted on IMDB

Best Actress (Drama - Television)

Elizabeth Moss (5'3") for Mad Men

Best Actress (Comedy - Television):

Tina Fey (5'4")  for 30 Rock

Lea Michele (5'2") for Glee

Best Supporting Actress (Television):

Kelly Macdonald (5'3") for Boardwalk Empire

Congratulations to everyone!  The Golden Globes will air on January 16, 2011 on NBC starting at 8 pm ET (5 pm PT).

People don't 'get' proportions...

Yes, that's true.  Why else would they say "OMG!  I'm size 16 and that's skinny for me"?  Usually, these comments come from women who're close to 6' tall.  They go on and on about how certain sizes are "disgusting" because they're so small.  What they don't realize is that size 2 is pretty "normal" if you're super-short.  I've mentioned that petite celebrities like the Olsens are "bigger" than most runway models, despite wearing the same dress size, because they're short.  However, it seems that most taller women don't believe me.  They just give me a funny look.  Petite ladies, do you get that?  Why don't you think taller people (and the media!!!) "get" this?   

Take a look at two "H" shapes.  One has five "|"s on each side, with five "-"s in the middle.  The second one has seven "|"s and again, five "-"s.  In other words, both Hs are of the same width.

|           |
|           |
|_____ |
|           |
|           |


versus

|          |
|          |
|          |
|_____|
|          |
|          |

Which "H" looks skinnier?  Exactly.

As a "petite specialist," Kim Dahlman, 5'3", has hosted a variety of fashion events for retail clients such as Macy's and Dillard's. Encouraged by the numerous comments from petite women all over the United States, she decided to publish The Petite Handbook, a style guide on dressing the petite women a couple of years ago. The small, purse-sized book goes beyond what many magazines suggest for petites - magazines, along with the general public, often believe that "petite" means short and tiny (i.e. size 0 or 2), when in reality, any woman under 5'4" is considered petite - and suggests styles for all body types as well as many other petite related tips.

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.

On why petite Hollywood women never talk about their height issues:

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.

The Petite Handbook can be ordered online.

This article was also posted in Prospere Magazine

Attractiveness, Petite Celebs and Non-Petite Celebs

Readers (guys and girls; straight, gay or bi),

I would love to see your views on petite celebs vs. non-petite celebs and their attractiveness. Below is a list of female celebrities (some are petite, some are not). What do you think of them? Are they pretty? Sexy? Beautiful? Glamourous? Elegant? Can a petite celebrity be elegant? Please email me your answers by the DECEMBER 31, 2009. Shorty Stories will post results in January 2010.


Celebrity List:

Reese Witherspoon
Lady Gaga
Nicole Kidman
Eva Longoria
Sarah Jessica Parker
Jada Pinkett Smith
Heidi Klum
Jennifer Aniston
Angelina Jolie

Golden Globe Winners

There were no true petite Golden Globe winners. Tina Fey, at 5'4 1/2", was the closest to petite any best actress winner could get! This wasn't a good year for petites, was it? And I don't think the Oscars will be any different. We'll find out next week, however.

What do you think?