Showing posts with label petite is beautiful. Show all posts
Showing posts with label petite is beautiful. Show all posts
Cute or Beautiful?
It really bugs me (and I'm sure many other petite women out there) that shorter women can never be "beautiful" in a classic sort of way. We can be cute (a given), pretty and even sexy/hot (many Maxim girls just aren't that tall), but "beautiful"? NO WAY! At least not in this century. Sure, many glamourous movie stars of the past have been petite and beautiful (Elizabeth Taylor isn't that tall, nor was Natalie Wood), but can you name ONE in 2009 who is (from a MEDIA perspective, not your own)? I can't!
A Story from Patience
I recently received this e-mail from Patience, describing her experience as a petite woman:
I'm a 28 year old black female; 5ft, 106. I mentioned my ethnicity because it has played a role in my life as relates to petiteness. As a youth, it was first believed I would be tall! Then one day I recall my mother (5'7"ish) mentioning that she thought I might be "petite." I had no idea what that meant and it was tough for her to explain. By the time I was 16, and hadn't grown for four years, I became very clear on what petite meant.
At that age, I really suffered alot. I felt like I wasn't "growing up"; there were other girls who were, remarkably, smaller than I, but that wasn't the majority. I did the cutting, the journaling, all of that. My issue was exacerbated by the fact that in the black community, it's all about being "thick" - big butt, big legs, etc. Well, my legs actually are slightly larger than average, and longer, but I was not "thick; this mentality is so entrenched that anyone who isn't that size is seen as an anomaly. Ever listened to that comedian Mo'Nique? The attitude she has toward thin women pretty much encapsulates this mentality. So I got to feel like I wasn't "a real black girl."
Anywho, by about college I'd had a few dawnings. For one, I don't mind saying I came out as a lesbian, and began realizing that if I could see a variety of women as attractive, others could too, and that meant I could be within the real of cuteness. I also realized at that point that there was a group of people who considered petites a commodityfetish. Go figure.
Fastforward to now. Being an Aquarian, I'm known for my forward style and for treating my outfits like art. I'm able to find casual street clothes easily at places like Urban Outfitters; vintage stores also are awesome because people were smaller then. Guess is fab, their smalls are CRAZY small lol. For work: I enjoy Tahari suits (their petites are sooooo nice) used to like Petite Sophisticate and have some luck with the Macy's petites in general.
All in all, I love being petite. I feel extra dainty and girlie and special. I love that I can ball up and get into small spaces. One thing that I HATE HATE HATE though: There remains this attitude that it's ok to hate on small people.
I am SO annoyed with this anti-skinny-model thing - yeah, some of those girls need help, but don't assume every woman who's small is "troubled." I hate the presumption that everyone in America is fat - as reflected in the decrease of XS sizes and the increase in XXXLs. I also get annoyed with vanity sizing, don't they ever realize that there are people who really DO need a size 1? What are we going to do in 10 years? Perhaps one of my most annoying moments came a few months ago when I tried to get some El Cheapo shoes from Payless (trust me, that is NOT a place I frequent).
Well, I wear a 6 on average, far from an excessively small shoe. So I'm searching and searching and I finally see the size I need -- in the girls section!!!! I can't believe that's what the world has come to.
Mine is not a sad short story (not anymore) but more one of annoyance. I really wish people would stop assuming that everyone is big. Not average sized - BIG. It's just not the case.
What do you think of Patience's story? Can you relate to her? Does your culture's beauty myth lean more towards petiteness or non-petiteness?
I'm a 28 year old black female; 5ft, 106. I mentioned my ethnicity because it has played a role in my life as relates to petiteness. As a youth, it was first believed I would be tall! Then one day I recall my mother (5'7"ish) mentioning that she thought I might be "petite." I had no idea what that meant and it was tough for her to explain. By the time I was 16, and hadn't grown for four years, I became very clear on what petite meant.
At that age, I really suffered alot. I felt like I wasn't "growing up"; there were other girls who were, remarkably, smaller than I, but that wasn't the majority. I did the cutting, the journaling, all of that. My issue was exacerbated by the fact that in the black community, it's all about being "thick" - big butt, big legs, etc. Well, my legs actually are slightly larger than average, and longer, but I was not "thick; this mentality is so entrenched that anyone who isn't that size is seen as an anomaly. Ever listened to that comedian Mo'Nique? The attitude she has toward thin women pretty much encapsulates this mentality. So I got to feel like I wasn't "a real black girl."
Anywho, by about college I'd had a few dawnings. For one, I don't mind saying I came out as a lesbian, and began realizing that if I could see a variety of women as attractive, others could too, and that meant I could be within the real of cuteness. I also realized at that point that there was a group of people who considered petites a commodityfetish. Go figure.
Fastforward to now. Being an Aquarian, I'm known for my forward style and for treating my outfits like art. I'm able to find casual street clothes easily at places like Urban Outfitters; vintage stores also are awesome because people were smaller then. Guess is fab, their smalls are CRAZY small lol. For work: I enjoy Tahari suits (their petites are sooooo nice) used to like Petite Sophisticate and have some luck with the Macy's petites in general.
All in all, I love being petite. I feel extra dainty and girlie and special. I love that I can ball up and get into small spaces. One thing that I HATE HATE HATE though: There remains this attitude that it's ok to hate on small people.
I am SO annoyed with this anti-skinny-model thing - yeah, some of those girls need help, but don't assume every woman who's small is "troubled." I hate the presumption that everyone in America is fat - as reflected in the decrease of XS sizes and the increase in XXXLs. I also get annoyed with vanity sizing, don't they ever realize that there are people who really DO need a size 1? What are we going to do in 10 years? Perhaps one of my most annoying moments came a few months ago when I tried to get some El Cheapo shoes from Payless (trust me, that is NOT a place I frequent).
Well, I wear a 6 on average, far from an excessively small shoe. So I'm searching and searching and I finally see the size I need -- in the girls section!!!! I can't believe that's what the world has come to.
Mine is not a sad short story (not anymore) but more one of annoyance. I really wish people would stop assuming that everyone is big. Not average sized - BIG. It's just not the case.
What do you think of Patience's story? Can you relate to her? Does your culture's beauty myth lean more towards petiteness or non-petiteness?
Glamour Magazine's January 2008 "Petite Issue"
Well, it's not exactly an issue specifically for petites. It's a two page "what to do" for three different petite shapes: boy shaped (what most magazines use when they advise petites), curvy and pear-shaped.
Boy Shaped: This is the shape most magazines and other forms of media use as a "real person example" when it comes to petites, so the advice isn't all that new/different. The girl's original outfit was more than a "Glamour Don't" It was a Glamour YUCK! I also like the other suggestions that Glamour gave, although the Calvin Klein dress might be a little big for the smallest of petites (sizes range from 2P to 14P)
Glamour's January 2008 issue on how to dress for the petite bodyCurvy: Yes! Finally, a magazine says you can be petite and curvy. Like the Boy Shaped example, the before/Glamour Don't picture was awful. The outfit was also a very typical mistake made by plus-sized women. The after/Glamour Do outfit, was, of course, amazing and a great outfit for the office. I would have liked it even more if Glamour had suggested brands with plus-petites. Unfortunately, plus-petites are very hard to find.
Pear-Shaped: Unlike the previous two examples, the before/Glamour Don't picture wasn't all that bad, especially if you compare it to the other before pictures. While horizontal stripes and cropped anything aren't that great for most petites, the outfit wasn't super-awful on Stephanie (the girl pictured.) Of course, the after picture was much, much better.
As I said in the video above, I'm pretty happy that Glamour acknowledges that petite sizes exist and that petite women come in different shapes. However, the clothes on all three women were more for the office than for weekends or nights out. It would have been even better if they showed outfits for different types of occasions on these women. I am, however, very happy that someone in the media has FINALLY indicated that different types of petites actually exist.
Acknolwedgement!!
While surfing the net this morning, I found that someone linked my video (see above, created this past summer) to their site (Petite Fashionista's site is linked too). I do agree with the writer that we get little acknowledgement when it comes to our size issues and that we really are "act that petite size women most often feel like the unwanted stepchildren of the fashion industry." Hopefully, as more and more petite blogs and websites pop up, things will change.
Note: Due to a technical glitch last night, the December Survey had to be reloaded. Unfortunately, results tabulated over the first two days have been lost. Feel free to fill it out again. Sorry about that!
House of Hsueh....Clothing for the Everyday Woman
Cynthia C (l) and Benita Hsueh (r)I had the wonderful opportunity to meet and speak with Benita Hsueh (above, right) at the Holt’s Café recently. Benita, who is 5'0", recently came out with her own line, House of Hsueh, which is designed for women 5'4" or shorter, for the most part, but can also fit women who are on the taller side of average, up to 5'7" or so. Benita's clothes are funkier than the typical boxy shapes one finds most petite lines. Yet, it is still conservative enough for the office environment. Benita describes her line as "mod wearable" and she is very influenced by the styles of the 1950s and the Kennedy-era 1960s. She also loves sewing books from that period as they describe what looks best on what bodies, including a variety of petite shapes (opposed to current magazines, which only show one type of petite body---short and slim).
Benita on whether buyers take her line seriously:
It's very difficult. No one wants to talk to you if you don't have any connections. Your line won't sell if you don't know anyone and if you don't have a portfolio or have anything in stores, you just won't get attention. When they do show interest, they usually ask for pictures, often by e-mail. I've had good feedback so far.
On the fashion industry's reaction to House of Hsueh or how she'd think they'd react...
There has not been much reaction, mostly due to the newness of my label (I just started in January 2007), and the fact that I have not been too proactive with marketing. So far the general public is very receptive of my designs, and that is what counts to me, as I make fun yet professional clothes for today's women. As for how I think the fashion industry would view House of Hsueh, I am not too sure, and to be honest, I do not really care. House of Hsueh is a labour of love, and I am not out there to make the industry love me, I’m out there to have women love my clothing and designs.
Benita on whether buyers take her line seriously:
It's very difficult. No one wants to talk to you if you don't have any connections. Your line won't sell if you don't know anyone and if you don't have a portfolio or have anything in stores, you just won't get attention. When they do show interest, they usually ask for pictures, often by e-mail. I've had good feedback so far.
On the fashion industry's reaction to House of Hsueh or how she'd think they'd react...
There has not been much reaction, mostly due to the newness of my label (I just started in January 2007), and the fact that I have not been too proactive with marketing. So far the general public is very receptive of my designs, and that is what counts to me, as I make fun yet professional clothes for today's women. As for how I think the fashion industry would view House of Hsueh, I am not too sure, and to be honest, I do not really care. House of Hsueh is a labour of love, and I am not out there to make the industry love me, I’m out there to have women love my clothing and designs.
On why people usually say petite sizes aren't marketable, even though many women are under 5'4" and why...
Petite is often seen as "short and dumpy" and most petite clothes in stores are very grandmother-like as they tend to be cut for a more mature figure. Therefore, petite women who want youthful cuts (which are closer fit), won't buy petite because it isn't flattering which causes department stores and boutiques to stop selling petite items. If they do, it tends to be a boxier cut, made for a different demographic of women. In the end it all comes down to dollars and cents, if petite women are still willing to buy ill fitting but fashionable clothing, retailers do not need to stalk petite sizes and incur more costs.
Petite is often seen as "short and dumpy" and most petite clothes in stores are very grandmother-like as they tend to be cut for a more mature figure. Therefore, petite women who want youthful cuts (which are closer fit), won't buy petite because it isn't flattering which causes department stores and boutiques to stop selling petite items. If they do, it tends to be a boxier cut, made for a different demographic of women. In the end it all comes down to dollars and cents, if petite women are still willing to buy ill fitting but fashionable clothing, retailers do not need to stalk petite sizes and incur more costs.
On whether there is demand for petites...
Yes, but it is a matter of changing the perception of what petite means to retailers in terms of dollars and cents and us petite refusing to buy ill fitting clothing for the sole reason that it is fashionable. "It is not fashionable if it does not fit." I think if petite women were to speak up more and encourage designers like myself to consider them and with China opening up to the world, us petites will definitely find more youthfully cut fashionable clothing available to us.
On whether she thinks many petite women don't realize they're petite
Yes, lots of women don't know, especially those who are over a size 8 or so. Petite is about height. If you are under 5'4", you are petite.
On finding the perfect model and reaction from modeling agencies...
I actually did not bother with any agencies at all. I have been told that short models do not turn out great pictures due to their shorter legs, but I already pictured what kind of model I wanted my clothes to be portrayed by. I think as long as I can find willing models, I will probably stick to friends whom I think have the body type that I want my company to encourage...mainly healthy.
On how specialty-sized designers should market themselves:
First, we must shift the image. It must be marketed that it's okay to be this size and that it is for the everyday woman. The everyday woman isn't 6' tall and super-thin. My line promotes a healthy body. My model, Rachel (top image), for example, is 5’2” with an athletic build. I wanted to show that petite women can indeed look fashionable in print. As such, I am lucky to have good looking friends, and approached Rachel who is a good friend and in a band (We're for Barton) with my boyfriend.
On whether specialty-sized designers can be successful
Yes, but you have to work eight times as hard to get your foot in the door. The industry is hard as is already. Some markets are also difficult to get into if you aren't well-known.
First, we must shift the image. It must be marketed that it's okay to be this size and that it is for the everyday woman. The everyday woman isn't 6' tall and super-thin. My line promotes a healthy body. My model, Rachel (top image), for example, is 5’2” with an athletic build. I wanted to show that petite women can indeed look fashionable in print. As such, I am lucky to have good looking friends, and approached Rachel who is a good friend and in a band (We're for Barton) with my boyfriend.
On whether specialty-sized designers can be successful
Yes, but you have to work eight times as hard to get your foot in the door. The industry is hard as is already. Some markets are also difficult to get into if you aren't well-known.
On whether she wants to change the world…
I do not want to change the world, however, I do want the world to take notice of what I do and to realize that there is another body type out there other than the tall and slim we see in the fashion magazines, the 5'6" industry average we see in the malls, and the large and lovely we see in the news. I want petite figured women to know that it is ok as consumers to demand that products be made for the petite figure, we do not need to put up with boxy mature clothing, or ill fitting clothing. According to a 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey done by statistics Canada, the average Canadian female height is 5' 3.4" and 153 pounds, aka a 'petite' woman.
I do not want to change the world, however, I do want the world to take notice of what I do and to realize that there is another body type out there other than the tall and slim we see in the fashion magazines, the 5'6" industry average we see in the malls, and the large and lovely we see in the news. I want petite figured women to know that it is ok as consumers to demand that products be made for the petite figure, we do not need to put up with boxy mature clothing, or ill fitting clothing. According to a 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey done by statistics Canada, the average Canadian female height is 5' 3.4" and 153 pounds, aka a 'petite' woman.
On how she wants to take her line...
To own a store in Toronto and to make whatever I want whenever I want!
On whether she had a designer she admires…
To own a store in Toronto and to make whatever I want whenever I want!
On whether she had a designer she admires…
Oh definitely, Coco Chanel!
I wish Benita the the most success with her line. House of Hsueh can be purchased at:
Belinda's Boutique
2017 Avenue Road, Toronto
Nathalie-Roze + Co.
I wish Benita the the most success with her line. House of Hsueh can be purchased at:
Belinda's Boutique
2017 Avenue Road, Toronto
Nathalie-Roze + Co.
1015 Queen Street East, Toronto
and online at:
and online at:
This interview has also been posted at my main Shorty Stories site.
The Ideal College Girl circa 1912
I've been reading College Girls by Lynn Peril, and there's a chapter called "Fit in Mind and Body." One page describes the ideal shape of a female student in 1912, according to Dr. Dudley A. Sargent, an early advocate of physical education. He was the director of the Harvard gym from 1879 to 1919. Some of the ideal measurements are:
Weight: 118 lb
Height, standing: 61 3/4"
Height, sitting: 33 1/2"
Girth of Chest: 31 1/2"
Girth of Chest, full: 33 1/2"
Waist: 23 1/4"
Hips: 35 1/4"
Girth of thigh Thigh: 21" each
The measurements look like what we would call a size 0 or 2 in 2007 terms. However, it's really unlikely that a girl with these measurements would weigh 118 lb, even if she was really athletic and muscular. These measurements look like someone who is around 100 lb, give or take. 108 lb would be stretching it a little, I think.
According to Ms. Peril's book, these measurements were found in the March 1912 edition of the Ladies Home Journal.
Credit:
Lynn Peril, College Girls: Bluestockings, Sex Kittens, and Coeds, Then and Now, (New York: W.W. & Norton Company), 2005. 263
Weight: 118 lb
Height, standing: 61 3/4"
Height, sitting: 33 1/2"
Girth of Chest: 31 1/2"
Girth of Chest, full: 33 1/2"
Waist: 23 1/4"
Hips: 35 1/4"
Girth of thigh Thigh: 21" each
The measurements look like what we would call a size 0 or 2 in 2007 terms. However, it's really unlikely that a girl with these measurements would weigh 118 lb, even if she was really athletic and muscular. These measurements look like someone who is around 100 lb, give or take. 108 lb would be stretching it a little, I think.
According to Ms. Peril's book, these measurements were found in the March 1912 edition of the Ladies Home Journal.
Credit:
Lynn Peril, College Girls: Bluestockings, Sex Kittens, and Coeds, Then and Now, (New York: W.W. & Norton Company), 2005. 263
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