Shorty Stories Talks About Height on Fashion[Unfold]

Synopsis:


I’d like to discuss an issue that is rarely talked about in body image debates – height.

Reese Witherspoon, at 5'2",  is one of many petite celebrities out there!



Many women are short – below 5’4” and they too have body image issues which need to be discussed. Sadly, their issues never really get much thought in body image discussions, since most seem to be so obsessed with dress size. To the point that many tiny women are insulted when they hear “size zero is anorexic.”


Many shorter women, especially those who are very small framed are naturally that size. In addition, there are plenty of people who think that petite women (especially petite, small framed women) don’t have too many issues at all because they can alter their clothes. This is NOT TRUE. Short people don’t just have short arms and legs, but are short all over.


Question:

Nikki Blonsky, at 4'10" is also petite. 

Why is it that the vast majority of petite sizes available in department stores seem to target mature women, instead of representing the entire group? While there are petite sizes available in stores such as Banana Republic and J.Crew, as well as many denim lines like Joe’s and Paige’s, there still isn’t enough variety. Why aren’t we promoting more petite-exclusive designers (yes, they do exist).

Did you watch the “Petite” Cycle of America’s Next Top Model, what did you think of it? Many petites were hoping that Tyra would have addressed real petite issues and promote petite-exclusive designers but Instead, she chose a girl who was too short for runway, but taller than what most people would consider petite – someone who could possibly do catalogue.

The sad thing is, this is not discussed beyond the petite blogging community and those who serve them. Petite blogging community, you say? Yes, we are growing.

My 2 Cents:

I started my petite site, Shorty Stories several years ago, and was probably one of two or three sites out there. Today, there are at least 20, mostly by women who are approximately 5 feet tall and 90 lb. So in conclusion, there’s a lot I’d like to see changed.

Let height to be part of mainstream body image discussions – a lot of shorter women feel that they’re not as attractive as taller women, or at least, they’re described differently. While there are plenty of short, small-framed women in entertainment, how often are they described as “elegantly beautiful”? They tend to get other adjectives like “pretty”, “attractive”, “pint-sized” and the dreaded “cute.”

Cute is for babies and pets, not grown-ups. Sexy comes up too, but it can be negative. We need more voices out there on the whole height issue, and I am sad that people in the entertainment industry who ARE small, don’t say much about it.

I also want to see petite-exclusive designers and petite lines from mainstream brands promoted more often and in the mainstream outside of the petite blogging community. Finally, I want people to know that this isn’t about “I want to see short women on the runway” (I do, but for clothing that is appropriately sized for THEM), but that they’re missing out on a great deal by not including height issues in body image discussion.

What is your take on the subject? Are a “petite” yourself? How do you manage it all? We’d love to hear from you, so join us on Twitter (add your Twitter account to the list) @ShortyStories @MissSLY @fusionofeffects and make sure to tag your tweets with #fashionunfold to add in your 2 cents.

Short Body Image and Size Diversity Rant

Non-standard size (but not petite in height either) model, Crystal Renn

I read another body image related post in a blog I follow, so I felt like I should write a post here about it.  I don't know about you, but I'm sick and tired of all those body image activists who claim that they want diversity, but in reality, only want to see more size 12 or so models in magazines and on the runway.  Yes, that may be adding to the body types when it comes to what's pretty/beautiful, but it is not diverse.  If you're only going to have Crystal Renn (above) on the runway with a sea of 5'11" size 0 models, it's called tokenism.  In order to be diverse, you have to have a lot of different types.  Unfortunately, short women, or even average heighted women don't factor in to most body diversity activists' interests.  To them, it's all about the dress size, and one that is larger than, say, a US size 4 (UK 8). 

I realize that I see a lot of people my size in magazines, but the people in magazines aren't usually in FASHION SPREADS.  I see people my size in magazines like In Touch or US Weekly because people my size in the public eye are musicians or actresses.  Sure, they get to be in fashion and lifestyle magazines too, but they're not usually doing fashion.  They're cover girls with an interview inside.  Once in a while, you'll see them at some sort of charity fashion show.  That's pretty much it.  Size diversity should encompass every size, height and frame included.

/rant

(Look for another body image/specialty size related post coming soon.  It will be on both this site and DelectablyChic!.  I just need to gather more information on exclusively specialty size designers and what people think of them!)

Different Body Types Look Good in Different Things

Snippet of some of the tweets referred to below

Can't people just accept that?  Over on Twitter, I am having a debate w/ someone about clothing sizes.  There was a tweet about Marc Jacobs not making larger sizes because people don't want to buy them (apparently they want to make plus sizes).  I said that it might be because Marc Jacobs clothing just isn't made to look good on most people who are of a larger size.  The reply I got was more or less a WTF (actually, he said "Fashion is a celebration of yourself, no matter what size you are." and referred to body image activist Ben Barry and owner of an "all sizes" modelling agency (well, sort of all sizes, since he doesn't really have petites on his roster - nor does he really mention them).  I replied saying that as a petite woman, I don't wear calf-length skirts because they don't look good on me.  Makes sense, right?  There's a reason why most petite lines don't make skirts meant to be mid-calf.  Anyway, this is a guy who seems to think that everyone can pull of everything if it's the right size.  Nuh-uh.  Not true.

Banana Republic's Logan Fit: A BIG FAT NO!

Apologies for the really blurry pic...

I knew they had a loser fit, but didn't expect it to be like THAT!  This is a NO BUY if you are really small framed.  The pants I tried on were a 00P and it was DEFINITELY not fit for my frame.  I think I'd need a 000P or even 0000P.  Unfortunately, they don't exist.  I'd stick with the classic Martin fit, thank you very much!

Does this sweater look big?

A sales lady at Banana said that the sweater was a tad bit big on me. You be the judge.

What's Normal Anyway?

All those threads on Jezebel, other blogs and even comments from other people about body image and what "normal" is (apparently not size 0 or 2) has been a little more than upsetting. As short women (especially short, small-framed women), we are, apparently "not normal." And if we try to say anything about it, we are shot down. I still tend to comment on these postings, but I know that it'll turn into a flame-fest or people shooting me down. We apparently can't really say how we feel without hateful comments. We can't be taken seriously, which is probably why it's so difficult to get petite designers any publicity. Even shows about petite people (who aren't all that petite, btw - e.g. ANTM Cycle 13) tend to make fun of us.

I don't get it. Whenever one Googles "body image," the links tend to be about eating disorders. Facebook has a lot of anti-size zero/pro-size 14 groups and pages, which tend to have thousands of members/fans. Petite groups/pages have far fewer. Don't you think it's time for petite women to actually take a stand? Or do we not care? And if we don't care, why? There are plenty of celebrities who're quite short, yet no one has ever complained. Apparently, they aren't "supposed to." But if we don't say anything, we're always going to be called "the little ones" rather than be considered "normal people." Especially if we're size 0.

Petite (and Plus) sizes Explained

From the Nordstrom Youtube channel

November Small Feet Poll Results: Small Feet = Difficulty Shopping!

Last month, Shorty Stories asked whether you had small feet.

31% said that they wore size 5 or 5 1/2, and therefore had trouble finding shoes

31% said that their feet were smaller than a size 5 and cannot find shoes

17% said that their feet are on the small side, but not super-small

18% said that they do not have small feet at all

What do you guys think of this?

I found this really old post from 2006 while surfing the net for topics. She thinks we should print out cards saying something along the lines of "You'd be looking at a credit card instead of this card if your store carried anything in my size." There isn't need to spend a lot of money printing them - there are plenty of tear-away business cards you can get from places like Staples you can purchase and then print them out on your home computer.

The Petite Campaign - Making Petite Fashion Shine!

Have you noticed the Petite Campaign icon on the right handed sidebar? Shorty Stories is trying to get mainstream media to talk about petite issues, especially petite fashion. This includes promoting petite-focused designers and companies which also make petite sizes. Join the group by clicking on the icon (found below the poll) or right here! Things will only change if we let the fashion world know. Write about these issues on your blog, on message boards, etc... If plus sizes can get talk shows and other media to talk about their size issues, we can too.

Nasty Messages at YouTube

I can't say that I'm not surprised about the nasty messages that people have been leaving me at a YouTube video (above - apologizes for the poor quality...I had an awful camera at the time) I created last year. In the video, which was intended to be a response to another size-related video called Fat Rant, I talked about issues that petite women face. Comments seemed to have spiked over the past few weeks, with many of them being nasty. Messages include the following:

This is so pathetic it almost sounds like a joke!! Are you kidding me hun? Go cry me a river.

1. Plus sizes are ugly too. Ever seen a mu mu? 2. Joy's rant was about REAL discrimination. You're just missing the point. Not having pretty clothes is NOT the same as facing systematic discrimination in the workplace, in health care, in education, in the media, in practically ever aspect of life. Weight discrimination isn't just common, it's accepted. So, seriously, get over your vanity and open your eyes to *real* issues of inequality.

Oh. My. God. What a colossal waste of time. It is repulsive and shocking to watch the entire US population point fingers at each other and continually victimize themselves. It is SICK that this woman has so little going on in her life that she can devote enough time to whining about being short that she can actually call herself a "petite activist." This person embodies the root of what is wrong with the united states.

Perhaps I should have talked a little more about social issues that petite women may face, including issues that are career-related. I have mentioned these topics in some of my replies, but of course, the readers don't really acknowledge them. My worry is that if people don't really listen, then it ever be acknolweged as an issue at all?