I Asked a Petite Fashion Expert What Winter Trends Work If You’re Under 5’3″—She Said These 6

Over and over again, I have heard myself Beautiful Friends describe how frustrating shopping can be. Even now, with more options than ever, being smaller than average adds an extra challenge when it comes to building a wardrobe. Petites Tailoring services often have to be relied upon, but regular trips to the tailor can add up quickly, making already expensive clothes even more expensive.

Considering all this, I can only imagine how frustrating it must be to navigate the constantly changing trend cycle as a short person. fall in love with one new trend This means not only finding a petite-friendly version, but also battling the outdated “rules” that the industry imposes on anyone under 5’4″. Don’t wear oversized clothes. Avoid print. Even though I stand at a height of 5’6″, these so-called rules seem meaningless to me.

I’m a firm believer that anyone can wear whatever they want – you’ll never catch me calling anything fashion “faux” or suggesting a particular body type should avoid a certain style altogether. That said, I wanted to hear from someone with direct experience purchasing a small frame. Not only that: someone who also guides others through the process.

enter eleanor barkes A personal stylist and expert in beautiful fashion in her Instagram series Beautiful and attractive over 40Eleanor has demonstrated her ability to create timeless pieces that make beautiful fashion easy to master. Below, she shares her insights into her absolute favorite winter looks — as well as a few tips to keep in mind when adding something to your cold-weather wardrobe.

Check out the best winter fashion trends for petite women:

1. Tonal dressing

Style Notes: “A monochrome look always works on shorter statures as it creates a tall and tall frame. My suggestion would be to try it with a trending shade like burgundy or brown to combine the current color trend with a classic way of dressing.”

Shop the look:

2. Long line silhouette

Style Notes: “Long dresses and skirts are definitely more popular this year. For petite women, I recommend wearing them with heeled ankle or knee-high boots. Bonus points if the shoes are pointed and if the skirt can sit high on the waist, even better! Never say never, but the only trend piece for petite women I’m not a fan of is the bubble skirt – it feels like the extra fabric overwhelms our smaller frames and leads to an unbalanced look.

Shop the look:

3. Tailored outerwear

Style Notes: “I recommend choosing a coat with a streamlined, almost straight silhouette as it won’t make you feel crowded. A tailored piece in fabrics like wool or corduroy is perfect for shorter people in winter. Alternatively, choose a belted coat: the cinched waist will take any bulk off the coat and balance your proportions. Think belted denim jackets, wool jackets or even leather.

Shop the look:

4. Wide-leg trousers

Style Notes: “A common misconception is that skinny women can’t wear wide-leg trousers. This is absolutely not true. The key to making them work is to make sure they aren’t so long that they bunch up at the ankles and drag on the floor. Drop them a little above ground level and they’ll end up looking incredibly chic and effortless.

Shop the look:

5. Casual Cuts

Style Notes: “Contrary to popular belief, smaller women can wear larger sizes if they want. I would just suggest balancing out all the extra fabric by either cinching the waist or showing a bit of skin on other parts of the body – ankles, wrists, chest – so you don’t feel like you’re being swallowed. Lots of stuff.”

Shop the look:

6. Micro Print

Style Notes: “Another misconception is that we can’t wear any print. Of course we can! Rather than avoiding patterns altogether, I’d say be mindful of the size of the print and perhaps choose a smaller print. But overall, think about how you feel in your clothes rather than following any strict rules.’

Shop the look: