Hi Caryn,
I bought your e-book for petite pear shaped recently and have had a great time reading, discarding and window shopping.
I really went to town on the discarding part and now find I have the ‘opportunity’ to build my capsule wardrobe virtually from scratch.
I really need 2 suits I can wear to work and want to buy classic styles in good quality, however I don’t want to look over dressed to work, just smart and efficient. I have looked on your ’shopping mall’ section and tried Petite Affair but as you say in your book, it’s better to try on these types of clothes and order the more basics online. I would also like to get that elusive pair of jeans that every woman should have in her wardrobe.
I am 54 years old and I normally wear trousers but am not averse to wearing the right skirt. I am petite, size 10/12 with a pale complexion with blonde highlighted hair. I live in Scotland which isn’t renowned for its fashion shopping. Can you help?
Regards, Irene
Caryn replies:
Hi Irene
Well congratulations. I’m delighted that you are re working your image. I know you will have great fun shopping for the clothes you need, now that you can identify which shapes will work for you.
Check out Next in our shopping mall as they are great for tailoring and do an excellent directory service too. They also have a sizing chart at the back or their directory to help you get the correct fit if you really cant get into one of their stores.
As you have our e-book on how to dress for your body shape you’ll know that wide legged or bootcut are the best shaped trousers for you to flatter your bottom half. Grey is very much in fashion at present and looks great with a lot of colours. Next petite section have a grey suit that they call “grey textured jacket and trousers” which is ideal as it has pocket details around the waist line area which will latter and bring attention to your waist area and the trousers are classic bootcut.
Check out also Debenhams who have a gorgeous ivory jacket that is ivory with black piping detail and is belted you could team the jacket with either ivory or a black trousers depending on whether you are going to work or going to a special occasion. It’s classic with a modern edge twist.
Regarding your jean question, I recommend that you go for a mid rise jean to flatter your pear shaped figure, avoid skinny leg and instead opt for a slim bootcut in a dark denim. I know that ilovejeans.com who are also in our shopping mall have been searching for the perfect brand for a petite figure and should be introducing a new brand in the next couple of months, they are also introducing a brand called “Little in the middle” at the end of this month which are great for pear shaped women. They currently have in stock a brand called J Brand which comes in a bootcut jean for £125 and is for petite, pear shaped figures - worth trying out. Many sites now accommodate the fact that you have to order more than you need to try on and most have a good returns policy.
You could also check out Dorothy Perkins who do a blue bootleg jean in their petite department and are a good fit for a high street brand, you can also order over the internet.
The best skirt shapes are either a-line or pencil (great for showing off curves). Go for a solid darks or neutral colour to flatter and keep brighter colours and details to your top half. Check out Debenham’s pencil skirts and in particular a navy belted skirt that could be dressed up or down.
I hope this gives you a good plan for starting you new wardrobe. Enjoy your new look.
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11 responses so far
1 Lisa // Aug 17, 2008 at 11:16 pm
Hi Caryn! I’ve just bought your e-book for hourglass lovelies. I’ve morphed into a very curvaceous hourglass (formerly a slim 12/14 pear) and am now 16/18 and 5′7″ but short legs. It’s all been a psychological challenge, I can tell you. Your book really helped me to start celebrating but we have a long way to go.
Usual problems about not finding anything in the shops to fit especially trousers.
I’ve also completely lost my way with modern pattern and colourways. I like quite eclectic fashion with a relaxed feel (Natural) and am not afraid of a bit of drama - but I simply cannot make sense of what is in the shops anymore. Don’t want to be stuck in a time warp or become frumpy. This vamp needs revamping.
Help!!! (Diva in the making)
2 Caryn Franklin // Aug 26, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Get back to you on this one Lisa when I’ve had a chance to think about print in more depth - maybe that’s a bigger piece!
3 Caryn Franklin // Aug 28, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Back again Lisa, There’s lots to say on print I’ve realised. I’ve got opinions but they won’t fit here! Send this question to ‘ask Caryn’ on the site (button to home page at top) and I’ll answer. By the way love your comment about celebrating yourself. Can I use that as a testimonial? We only use first names.
4 Lisa // Aug 29, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Hi Caryn,
I sent a duplicate (-ish) message to you in Ask Caryn, and you are in process of replying. (I think I’ve helped to prompt the update of your Fabulous at Forty e-book?!?)
OF COURSE, you can use the comment re celebrating myself.
I’ve recommended your website and e-books to the DietFreedom members forum, by the way.
5 Caryn Franklin // Sep 4, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Hi Lisa,
Yes you have actually and you got me thinking about my own wardrobe and colour and pattern. There will be a few posts to follow. Also thanks for the plug, I’m delighted to give women styling tools that stop them from feeling that the shape of their body is to blame!
6 Lisa // Sep 4, 2008 at 4:25 pm
I know this is in the wrong section of the blog, because I am anything but Petite! But wanted to keep the thread going on ‘blaming the body shape’.
I feel you are helping me move from Fat, Clever and Speccy Four-eyes (outdated but deep-rooted childhood trauma) to Voluptuous, Savvy and Stylish (ie my purple Red or Dead wow spectacles).
It is fantastic to get correct expert advice - for free!!!!! There is a lot of complete woffle, balderdash and tripe written about the fuller figure, that has just led me astray and left me crying in the changing rooms.
And while I am on a roll with my rant, I am sick and tired of Size 16’s being just scaled-up versions of a straight up and down figure.
So thank you, Caryn. I’m looking forward to your updated 40 Plus e-book.
PS: Tesco’s, believe it or not, is worth checking out for high waisted jeans - I bought a great pair there in summer (and they have winter ones now) - and they are a much better fit at £15.00 (!!!) than some much more expensive ones I bought in London.
7 sandrar // Sep 10, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog.
Cheers! Sandra. R.
8 debbie // Dec 15, 2009 at 10:19 pm
hi there,
I’m petite too and know how you are feeling! I’ve always found that part of the problem is with the shopping as all the stores only have small ranges. In the past I’ve used http://www.highstreetpetite.co.uk as that allows you to search through all the petite products from the major retailers. hope it helps!
9 Caryn Franklin // Dec 17, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Hey Debbie, I’m going to look into that. We list them individually in our directory but that looks like one we should add too!
10 Magdalena // Dec 27, 2009 at 4:44 am
Hello Caryn,
I just ordered your petite and curvaceous. It was mind blowing, I embraced it with sadness and relief, because at 40, I realized that I had been clueless about my attire, and yes always felt childlike, so thank you for enlightening me.
I have been discarding and giving away clothes, and it feels great knowing that I will create a new wardrobe intended for me, where I can feel fabulous.
During my discarding, I realized that I had an affinity to sleeveless ruffle front neck chiffon, blouses, that blousons to just above my hips, with a stretch or elastic band. I have at least 10, all are beautiful prints, however, I’m not sure in which category this will fall on your Do’s or Don’ts.
I don’t have a short neck nor thick arms, but I have full breast size. I have tried it on and I’m not sure what I am suppose to be considering, the vertical center line of the ruffles, or the foreshortening of my upper torso, with the masking of my waist? It would be great to hear from you soon. Thank you.
11 Caryn Franklin // Jan 4, 2010 at 2:12 pm
Sorry I missed this M, hope you have held on to the blouses.
Clearly you have an affinity with this style and a vertical ruffle is lengthening and streamlining. As long as the shape doesn’t balloon out around your bosom and make you look boxy then keep them. I loved reading your note and would like to use it as a testimonial on the site is that OK? Caryn
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