About.com

Sarah Jessica Parker a Standout at the Met Costume Institute Gala

Tue, 07 May 2013 15:36:44 +0000

There were petite celebrities galore at the Met's annual Costume Institute Benefit Gala, and it's no surprise that petite actress and fashionista Sarah Jessica Parker made fashion headlines with her ensemble. The theme of the gala was Punk: Chaos to Couture, and Sarah Jessica Parker wanted to be on theme all the way. In her print gown, outrageous Mohawk headpiece and thigh-high plaid Louboutin boots, I think she managed the feat.

Photo Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris

Neon Pink Handbag for Summer

Sat, 04 May 2013 17:03:53 +0000

With a nod to the 80s, designers are loving neon colors for summer this year. In fact, neon is one of Michael Kors's top picks for summer. Here's a hot neon pink handbag from the man himself that's sure to add a bright color pop to any ensemble and catch the easy-going spirit of summer at the same time. This vibrant leather handbag is available from Nordstrom (Buy Direct), which offers free shipping and free returns.

Image Courtesy of Nordstrom

Mother's Day Gifts for Petite Moms

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 19:59:38 +0000

Looking for a Mother's Day gift for a petite mom or grandma? Here are a few fashion ideas to consider:

Sparkly open heart pendant necklace

Floral fashion for spring

Lace fashion for spring

Swimsuit cover-up for the upcoming summer season

Mom will be stylishly on trend with any one of these fashion gifts.

Swimsuit Cover-Up

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 19:19:03 +0000

Of all the types of swimsuit cover-ups, a pareo seems to be the most versatile because it can be worn as a skirt, a dress, or even a scarf. This print pareo, which comes in either turquoise, as shown here, or orange from Echo is sure to make a splash on the beach this summer. The pareo is one of the newest cover-ups for summer 2013, and it's available from Nordstrom (Buy Direct).

Image Courtesy of Nordstrom

Source for Mix-and-Match Swimwear

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 17:03:30 +0000

If you're looking for mix-and-match swimwear, you'll find lots of options at Athleta (Buy Direct). Start with Swimfinity Infinite Mix and Match Possibilities, then pick a print from several available designs, filter styles so that you can see all the different ones, and then select your favorites. Athleta offers free shipping on orders over $50 and free returns on all orders.

Looking for more swimwear options? Check my list of 10 new swimsuit styles for summer, including tankinis, bikinis, and one-piece swimsuits.

Fascinator for Petites

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:31:40 +0000

Made chic again by Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, the fascinator, one of the top fashion hat styles for short women, is a cute little whisp of a hat that looks best on petites when it's perched at a jaunty angle on the side of the head. Here's a fascinator that would be an appropriate choice to wear to a spring or summer wedding. From Badgley Mischka, and it's available from Nordstrom (Buy Direct) in turquoise/lime as pictured. Since Nordstrom now offers free shipping and free returns, online ordering from this fashion retailer has become easier than ever.

Image Courtesy of Nordstrom.

Floral Scarf for Spring

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 18:52:07 +0000

One of the big fashion trends this spring is floral fashion, which is the reason it's our Fashion Trend of the Month for April.

For those occasions when just a touch of flower power is called for, floral fashion accessories can be just right.

Here's a pretty silk scarf by LAUREN Ralph Lauren that would dress up a neutral or pastel ensemble. It's rectangular-shaped, which makes it easy for petites to use it for one of the petite-friendly ways to wear a scarf. This summery scarf is available from Zappos, (Buy Direct), which offers free shipping and free returns.

Image Courtesy of Zappos

Shop for Swimwear Now

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 11:31:21 +0000

If you're in the market for a trendy, new swimsuit for summer 2013, it's not too early to start looking for a cute one-piece swimsuit or bikini. The latest styles seem to sell out quickly, and waiting until June to shop for swimwear may be a bit too late.

Here's a cute suit from Betsey Johnson, whose whimsical, youthful designs will stand out on the beach. It's available from Nordstrom (Buy Direct) in sizes extra-small through large.

Image Courtesy of Nordstrom

J. Crew Has Clothing for Petites

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 12:52:37 +0000

Although it may not be the first source for petite fashion that comes to mind, J. Crew does have a line of clothing that is especially sized for petites. The petites' clothing line has been based on J. Crew's regular clothing line but with a shorter torso, sleeves, and inseam to fit petites in the height range of 5'0" to 5'4". J Crew presents a collection at Fashion Week, and although it's not a runway show, such as designers present, it gives us a good idea of what's coming for spring at J. Crew.

What Not to Wear Depends on Height

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 18:51:00 +0000

What not to wear often depends on a woman's height. I've put together a list of 10 Styles Short Women Should Avoid, which is illustrated with designer clothing straight from the runway.

But the models all look great, you say. Yes, they do! But they're tall, and they look fantastic in the same type of clothing that would make a petite woman look awful. Just because a garment is modeled on a designer's runway doesn't mean it will look right on everyone. Sad, but true.