Not ALL understand 'petite'

Last month, we asked: Can a person just be short, and not "petite"?


Though I'm happy that 44% know that true petite is 5'4" and below (regardless of size), over a quarter of you (27%) believe that "petite" only refers to those who're short AND skinny (c'mon people, get with it! That is NOT the case! Actress Nikki Blonsky is PETITE!! She's under 5 feet tall!) 22% noted that, however, people with short necks but average torsos and legs might aren't "petite" in the clothing sense. 5% of you chose other.

Poll: Most people don't understand the real need of petites

Last month's question was: Do you think people who encourage alterations over petite sizes just don't understand the real need?

77.4% said: People who say this are usually not petite or don't care about good fit! It's about proportion, people!

19.4% said: Sometimes - there ARE regular sized clothes which work well on shorter women

Luckily, 0% said: Don't alterations already work? I didn't think people were that out of it (though I'm sure many are!!!)

3.2% chose "other"

Being "petite" - People *STILL* don't get it....

In a recent Facebook status update, I wrote that 100% of my jeans are in petite sizes. A few people responded something along the lines of "but you're so tiny!" - many of these people were petite themselves, but were close to petite-plus than a "standard" petite. These are people who don't know that they are, despite being a size 16 or larger, petite as well. This is why this blog (and others like it) exist. We need to get the word out that "petite" doesn't mean short and tiny (as in less than size 4), but short, period. There are also those who think that anyone under size 4 is petite - even if they're 5'8" (I think the only place where 5'8" is considered petite is perhaps the Netherlands). Why is it so difficult for people to get that? Why can't they understand that anyone under 5'4" is petite? I think What Not To Wear is the ONLY place where I've heard anyone mention petite-plus. Sad, no?