Member since:
June 21, 2008

Smaller than average in a big world...my contuning short adventures in the fashion world!

July 18, 2009 11:36 AM UTC

views: 0 | comments: 21

It happened a few weeks ago when I was grocery shopping. The brand of cearl that I needed was on the VERY top shelf. So I stood there and debated climbing the bottom shelf to try and reach it and right as I was about to an older gentleman approached me and asked me if I needed something and he got it down for me. It was really nice of him, but also embarassing that someone 5'1" can't reach a shelf with a product that's fairly popular (evil wal-mart...).

Earlier this week the same thing happened at home. I was going to have a bowl of cearl and the containers are on the VERY top shelf. I usually just end up climbing the counter and standing to get it. But, my mom looked over and said "you need something off the top shelf?" "Yeah..." It's funny though. I don't mind being short, I would rather be short than tall. However, I'm a little disheartened when it comes to one thing that I love; the fashion industry.

Runway models have a requirement to be 5'8" tall, that's SEVEN inches taller than me! So all the clothing I wear was made for someone that tall in mind (exceptions do exsist of course like with Katie Moss whose 5'6"). So what about women who are short? We have a petite section for women under 5'4"...but not all woman are clothes hangers. Some women do have figures (unlike models...) and are skinny, but are lost because the fashion world wants clothes hangers and flapper girls (again there are exceptions, but generally speaking).

When T-shirts are given out for events (Relay for Life, college etc) they're all in adult sizes. Well...they're designed for women 5'5" and up! I have a shirt for a religious group I'm active in on my college campus and yesterday I did it so it would fit me (and not engulf me). I know how to resize oversized shirts (these are smalls too!) and I'd have to take out around 5 inches or more of fabric.

I guess my complaint is I wish that the fashion world would appreciate women who are shorter and realize that some people have figures. It's great they're giving more to people who are plus size, which is great! But...what about petites? What about people who are skinny with figures?

And this is why I'm working on making some of my own clothes and designing my own clothing patterns...

Find more about: short, height, fashion

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Comments: 21

Sandra H. Jul 18, 2009, 11:44am UTC

I have several family members who also have your problem.....it's very frustrating for them to try to find clothing that fits. I will never have that problem! LOL

Rebecca P. Jul 18, 2009, 12:23pm UTC

I don't have an issue finding bottoms generally, it's tops that are the problem. I once got a shirt in either womens or misses and it was long enough on me to be a dress!

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barbara b. Jul 18, 2009, 11:51am UTC

I'm 5' and hem all my pants because petite is still to long for me.

Rebecca P. Jul 18, 2009, 12:21pm UTC

I get short in junior and they're still too long

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Adelaide M. Jul 18, 2009, 12:29pm UTC

I have such an odd collection of clothing for this reason. Most of my basic tops I get at Forever 21 and Express because they have shorter legnths. My main problem is dresses. I'm big on top, but slim and they dont seem to make clothing that does that so I end up making a lot of my own clothes.

What really makes me mad is that I work in the fashion industry and help choose what clothing goes into stores and clothes that actually fit aren't available.

Rebecca P. Jul 18, 2009, 12:44pm UTC

That's my problem with dresses too, which is why I end up making my own as well. I went to Old Navy the other day and even their smallest dresses were longer than I am tall.

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Connie L. Jul 18, 2009, 2:30pm UTC

I have always had a problem with clothes. I am now overweight, but in earlier years, I had problems with clothes. I have always been short and petite but with another problem a bust size of about 36, now it is larger of course with the weight at about 42 or 44. Well I had the tiny waist, I suppose I am an hour glass figure type. Hiding that big bustline over a tiny waistline was impossible and of course as a young girl, like I was, innocent and naive, I didn't try to hide it, just let it be there. My daughter is slim and flat chested like her dad and her dad's sister, so one day while riding with me in the car she suddenly looked over at me and chuckled. She had a wonderful sense of humor. And said, "mommy, I know why all the boys just stare at you now." And her eyes got real big just in a comical way while she stared at my bustline and said: It is those big boobs you got. Why don't you do something about them?

I guess she was also embarrased to have a mom that got so much attention and that is exactly what it was, embarrassing attention, but I could do nothing about it.

Clothes was always a problem for me. I finally did find petite sizes, but the big bust line remained in full view.

Melissa now says she is so glad she never inherited my big bust line. She is about 5 foot 5 inches, and slim. She can find the nicest outfits.

Rebecca P. Jul 18, 2009, 4:40pm UTC

Lol funny story. Once I was trying on some vitenamese clothing and the woman made a comment about my chest and I was like "uh..." "oh and you have hips and skinny, good for babies! Men like that"

So awkward and my best friend just stood over there trying not to laugh.

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Marian L Jul 18, 2009, 3:24pm UTC

The clothing manufacturers keep making their sizes larger. I am 5'7" and , in high school, I wore a size 12 or 14 jeans. After a few ups and downs in my weight, I am down to my high school weight. I now wear a size 6 jeans and have trouble finding panties small enough. I have no idea where small women find any clothes that fit.

Rebecca P. Jul 18, 2009, 4:44pm UTC

I'm a size 0-2 depending, so it can be tricky to find it at more popular stores sometimes. My only problem is I get short style and they're too long still. Shirts are tricky though.

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Ms Lee P. Jul 18, 2009, 3:30pm UTC

Good for you. I'll bet you are a very good clothes designer. Learning to sew is a real plus if you have trouble finding clothes that fit properly. You go girl.

Rebecca P. Jul 18, 2009, 4:41pm UTC

It's a nice skill to have. I started by just hemming my own clothes and fixing, I really enjoy it.

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Mel R. Jul 18, 2009, 4:31pm UTC

I'm glad you can make your own clothes! I'm almost 5'10 and lucky that most clothing fits me fine as far as length goes.

Rebecca P. Jul 18, 2009, 4:46pm UTC

The opposite end of the problem :( I have some friends around 5'10"

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Deloris Wright Jul 18, 2009, 4:58pm UTC

I have trouble with clothes. Because I am 5 " 2. But I am over weight " fat ". So If I get a size that will fit around me. It is to long. Like some one said .My capris are all most pants

Jessica Haskins Jul 18, 2009, 5:05pm UTC

I have the same problem with capris. That is y i started buying bramuda shorts... the go a couple inches past my knees and still have the affect of regular shorts.

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Melanie B. Jul 19, 2009, 3:36pm UTC

oh I know the feeling. 5'1 here myself. I hate shopping for anything really. lol ~ And go buy some pants. You'll be cutting atleast 3 to 4 inches off of them. ;-) argh~

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Amanda "middle of nowhere" C. Jul 19, 2009, 4:22pm UTC

I'm short, too. But a petite doesn't fit good in the but area...I guess I have a long (and big) butt. So, Iend up getting everything hemmed.

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Raeanna Cierocke Apr 30, 2012, 3:16am UTC

I'm only 4'11 so I understand completely. And well not only do I have a problem with length but I pretty much need to get a size 3-5 for my hips/butt. Sometimes for shorts I have even had to go up to 7. But for my waist I have been able to squeeze my butt/hips into a zero and it fit my waist good. But since I don't want my pants to be tight on my thighs, hips or butt I have to get usually a 3 or 5 and deal with the gap in the back which really annoys me. There are a few brands that do keep girls with curves in mind but I swear some brands act like most women have no hips or butt at all. And well of course many don't seem to realize some are short. I always see the petite section but I don't find the clothing too cute at times and well I'm only 20 and it doesn't really seem like most petite sections cater to the fashion likes of people my age. Even my mom has said she don't think my grandma would wear some of the clothing in that section.

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