Petite Body Type Meaning
A petite body type refers to anyone who is 5 ft 4 in (162 cm) or under. Having a petite body type simply refers to your height—it doesn’t have anything to do with the shape of your body or your weight, says professional stylist Christina Santelli. Someone who is petite can be slender, curvy, or plus-sized (and everything in between!) as long as they stand at 5 ft 4 in (162 cm) or under. Along with their shorter stature, petite people have proportionally shorter arms, legs, and torsos compared to people who fit into standard clothing sizes (i.e., people who are 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) and above), says Santelli. People with a petite body type often have difficulty finding well-fitting and flattering clothing. Most clothes are made to a “standard” or “regular” size that fits the proportions of taller people with longer limbs. On petite people, standard-fitting clothing can be too long, hit at weird spots, or overwhelm them. Don’t worry, though—we’ll provide general styling tips to help complement your petite body, as well as specific styling tips for each body shape (pear, rectangle, hourglass, apple, and inverted triangle), in the sections below! Meet the wikiHow Experts Christina Santelli is a professional stylist and owner and founder of Style Me New with over 6 years of styling experience. Dina Scherer is a wardrobe stylist, personal shopper, and founder of Modnitsa Styling with over 10 years of experience. Kalee Hewlett is an image consultant, stylist, and confidence coach with nearly 20 years of experience. Elle Monus is an image consultant and co-founder of True Image Group with over 11 years of experience in the fashion industry.
Style Tips for a Petite Body Type
Opt for monochromatic outfits and vertical details. One of the best ways to flatter your petite frame is to make it appear longer. For instance, wear a top and bottom in the same color. According to wardrobe stylist and personal shopper Dina Scherer, this helps your upper and lower body blend together, creating a long, vertical line that makes you look taller. Clothes that have vertical stripes, patterns, seams, and zippers create a similar effect. For an even more elongated effect, Scherer suggests wearing darker colors. She says darker hues tend to lengthen the body, as well as make it look slimmer.
Choose V-neck and cropped tops. When it comes to flattering tops for a petite body type, choose necklines that elongate your frame. Image consultant and style advisor Jordan Stolch says V-neck and scoop neck tops create an up-and-down vertical line that adds length to the top of the body, making the entire body appear longer. Cropped tops are also a great choice, as they help to lengthen your legs. High neck tops and mock turtle necks also create a long vertical line to help elongate the top half of your body.
Wear high-waisted and cropped bottoms. Bottoms that balance out and elongate your petite frame are another great choice. High-waisted shorts and trousers draw the eye up, which can make your legs look longer. Cropped bottoms that expose a bit of your shins and ankles can also create the illusion of longer legs. High-waisted bottoms look especially great with cropped tops and fitted tops that are tucked in. Together, they create an even more elongated look. Scherer recommends wearing bottoms with thin vertical pleats or creases. She says the vertical lines visually draw the eye up, which helps your legs look longer.
Opt for short skirts and dresses. When picking out skirts and dresses, stick to hemlines that hit no longer than mid-calf. Wardrobe consultant and stylist Taissha LaReau highly recommends wearing mini skirts because they show off your legs, helping them look longer. Midi skirts are also a great option for elongating your legs, as well as mini and midi dresses.
Wear nude, pointy shoes with a bit of height. According to image consultant Kathi Burns, CPO, pointy-toed shoes—whether they’re flats, heels, or boots—help elongate your overall look. Wearing shoes that match your skin tone can help them blend into your legs, making you appear taller, too. And, of course, choosing shoes that have a bit of a platform or heel is a great way to make you physically taller.
Emphasize your waist. According to image consultant Elle Monus, “If you’re dressing for body shape, height typically doesn’t change the formula for balance.” And she says one of the greatest ways to create balance is by “finding items that nip in at the smallest part of your natural waist.” Some great ways to emphasize your waist include: Wearing tops that are fitted or have a peplum style. Wearing dress styles like A-line, wrap, bodycon, and peplum. Wearing cropped jackets and cardigans that hit around the waist. Adding a thin belt around your waist.
Get fashion inspiration from petite celebrities. Seeing what looks good on other petite people is a great way to find out what flatters your shorter frame, too. If possible, find celebrities with a similar body shape to yours to get even better styling tips. Petite celebrities with great style include: Sabrina Carpenter, Janelle Monae, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, Nicola Coughlan, Jenna Ortega, Lupita Nyong'o, Sarah Jessica Parker, Zoë Kravitz, Kim Kardashian, Lady Gaga
Look for clothes in petite sizes. While it may seem a bit obvious, shopping for petite clothing is a great idea if you have a petite body type, says Santelli. Lots of clothing brands carry tops, bottoms, dresses, and outerwear in “Petite” or “Short” sizing, which are made to fit your shorter proportions.
Get your clothing tailored. If you have clothes that are too long or fit awkwardly, Monus definitely recommends getting them tailored. This fits your clothes to your body, ensuring that they look flattering and that you feel great. Plus, she says getting your clothes tailored is less expensive than you’d think! If you’re in a pinch (or on a budget), Monus suggests doing some DIY tailoring. For instance, tie the hems of your skirts or dresses into a cute knot or roll up the cuffs of your trousers. You can even cut off the ends of your jeans for a trendy, distressed look.
Avoid oversized clothing, long hemlines, and large prints. Because of your shorter size, you generally want to stay away from clothing that can overwhelm you and throw your frame out of balance. This includes baggy tops and bottoms, oversized accessories (like handbags), maxi skirts and dresses, large prints, and wide pleats. Note: These are just styling tips, not rules! Always experiment with different styles and cuts to find what makes you look and feel good. Santelli says it’s important to be open to trying new things when you’re finding your style—you might be pleasantly surprised by what flatters you!
Style Tips for a Petite Pear Shape
Wear bold, structured tops and dark, straight-leg bottoms. If you’re a pear shape, you likely have hips that are wider than your bust and shoulders. To flatter your curvy figure, image consultant Kalee Hewlett recommends accentuating your shoulders so they balance out your hips. Some styling tips include: Tops: Opt for tops with shoulder pads or embellishments around the shoulders, like collars, bows, ruffles, and pleats. Boat neck, scoop neck, and off-the-shoulder tops also emphasize the shoulders. Wearing bold colors and prints also draws emphasis to your upper half. Bottoms: Go for straight-legged bottoms with a flare or boot cut to balance out your hips. Darker colors are great for a slimming effect. Dresses: Choose dresses that are fitted at the top, cinch in at the waist, and flare out at the hips, like A-line, fit-and-flare, and wrap dresses.
Style Tips for a Petite Rectangle Shape
Wear voluminous tops and fitted bottoms. If you’re a rectangle shape, you probably have hips and shoulders that are about the same width, with little waist definition. To flatter and balance your figure, Hewlett recommends wearing tops and bottoms that create curves and define your waist. For instance: Tops: Choose tops with a V-neck, scoop, or sweetheart neckline. Voluminous details like shoulder pads, puffy sleeves, and peplums help give you even more shape. Bottoms: Wear high-waisted bottoms and skirts to cinch in your waist. Bottoms with a bit of flair also help to create a more curvy look. For even more definition, add a belt. Dresses: Opt for dresses that hug your waist, like an A-line or fit-and-flare dress.
Style Tips for a Petite Hourglass Shape
Wear tops and bottoms that cinch in at the waist. If you’re an hourglass shape, you likely have a defined waist and hips and shoulders that are about the same width. To flatter your curvy figure, Monus recommends emphasizing your waist. Tops: Wear V-neck or sweetheart necklines to highlight your bust and elongate your frame. Tuck in your shirts or opt for form-fitting styles to draw attention to your waist. Bottoms: Opt for high-waisted bottoms and skirts to define your waistline. Cinch it in even further with a belt. Dresses: Choose dresses that are nipped in at your waist, like a wrap, bodycon, A-line, or fit-and-flare dress. If you’re wearing a more flowy style, define your waist with a belt.
Style Tips for a Petite Apple Shape
Wear fitted, V-neck tops and wide-leg bottoms. If you’re an apple shape, you probably have a wider torso and shoulders, a fuller midsection, and thinner legs and arms. To complement your shape, highlight your upper and lower body, rather than your waist. Some styling tips include: Tops: Monus recommends wearing empire waist tops that hug just below your bust and flow over your tummy. Opt for shirts that emphasize your bust as well, like V-neck and scoop necklines, and strapless tops. Bottoms: Wear mid-rise bottoms and skirts to draw attention away from your midsection. Flared cuts are great for drawing attention to your legs, as well as shorts and mini skirts. Dresses: Choose dresses that skim over your midsection, like an empire waist or wrap dress that hits above your waist. Dresses with ruching details make an especially flattering choice.
Style Tips for a Petite Inverted Triangle Shape
Wear low-necked tops and flared bottoms. If you’re an inverted triangle shape, you probably have shoulders that are wider than your hips. To balance and flatter your shape, Hewlett recommends adding volume to the bottom half of your body. For instance: Tops: Choose tops that elongate your upper body, like asymmetrical and deep necklines (V, scoop, etc.). Tops with details below the waist, like peplum tops, can help add volume to your hips and lower half. Bottoms: Opt for wide-leg or flared bottoms to draw attention to your lower half. For skirts, wear A-line styles that define your waist and add volume to your hips and thighs. Dresses: Wear dresses that flare out from your waistline, like shift, A-line, and wrap dresses.
Body Shape and Style Quizzes
Check out our quizzes to learn more about your body shape and style! Still not sure what body shape you have? Or, are you curious about what styles and colors look best on you? We have plenty of quizzes to help you find and flatter your figure—check them out below! What is My Body Type? What is My Kibbe Body Type? (Plus, check out our complete guide on all the different types!) What is My Style? What is My Aesthetic? What Colors Should I Wear? What is My Color Season?
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