Petite Clothing Size (2024)

FAQs

What size is petite clothing for? ›

Petite clothing is specifically designed for women whose frames are 5'4” and under, and the clothing has been cut proportionally to fit and flatter the petite women's frame. Good news! We've tailored your favorite styles to create a petite collection, exclusively for you.

4'11'' to 5'7'' You Could Still Be Petite

You could be 4'll or you could be 5'7 and still be considered petite. It's a fact that a woman who is 5'7” could possibly need to wear petite tops or bottoms if she has a shorter torso or leg length.

In fashion and clothing, a petite size is a standard clothing size designed specifically for women 164 cm (5 ft 4 in) and under. This categorization is not solely based on a woman's height, but also takes into account the proportions of her body.

Women who stand about 5'4” and under often find that petite size clothing fits their frame well, sans alterations. But! With this limited definition, many wearers miss out. Depending on the measurements of your arms, legs, or torso, petite sizing may in fact fit you best even if you're as tall as 5'9”.

You can be any size from 2-18 and above and be considered petite, though you won't necessarily find all of those sizes readily available from fashion brands in the UK. The majority of petite fashion brands sell clothing in sizes 8-14.

What Height Is Considered Petite? Petite sizes are designed for women 5'4” and under, regardless of their size. In the petite category, sizes range from extra-small to plus-size.

Although it might feel like it, being petite doesn't just mean you've got short legs. You're a bit shorter all over. Petite sizing adjusts everything proportionately. That means the waist sits higher, the shoulders are narrower, and the sleeves are shorter, as well as the shorter inside leg (cries in 27 inches).

In the U.S., the average woman is around 5 feet 4 inches. While this is the tallest average recorded in the country's history, average weight is increasing faster than height. Men tend to be about 6 inches taller than women, and genetics plays an important part in this distinction.

Petite refers to stature not weight. Most people still think petite means skinny when in fact petite has nothing to do with weight. Petite is the term used in the fashion industry to describe a woman who is 5'3 tall or under. Petite women come in all shapes and sizes, whether they're a size 4 or 14.

What body type is considered petite? ›

If you're 5'3” or under you'd be classified as petite. However, it is important to remember that all bodies are unique and if your inseam is 27″ or less, you'd fall into the petite leg length – but that doesn't mean that you will necessarily require 'petite' clothes on your upper body.

World-wide, the average adult female is somewhere between 5′ 3″ and 5′ 4″. Where I live, in the western U.S., 5′ 3″ seems shorter than average. I think most women I know are at least 5′ 5″ or 5′ 6″. In my small office, most women are 5′ 8″ or taller.

5′3″ is only considered short because: People have an incorrect perception of what height is because many people, especially celebrities, exaggerate their height. People are used to 5′3″ sounding short, so it has a short connotation. Actually, 5′3.5″ is now the average height for women in the US.

Although it might feel like it, being petite doesn't just mean you've got short legs. You're a bit shorter all over. Petite sizing adjusts everything proportionately. That means the waist sits higher, the shoulders are narrower, and the sleeves are shorter, as well as the shorter inside leg (cries in 27 inches).

The difference between our petite and short is the rise and cut. The inseam and the cut of the pants in petite are smaller than our short for a petite person. The short is simply shorter in length and cut the same as our regular.

If you're 5'3” or under you'd be classified as petite. However, it is important to remember that all bodies are unique and if your inseam is 27″ or less, you'd fall into the petite leg length – but that doesn't mean that you will necessarily require 'petite' clothes on your upper body.