Welcome to the latest edition of Ask CF! Every two weeks, we select a reader fashion question and answer it here on the site. Do you have a specific fashion question for us? Scroll to the bottom of this post to learn how to send it our way!

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Ask CF Question

Hi Ask CF!

As a shorty (I’m under 5’4?) I find it difficult to find fashions that suit me well.

I see models wearing fashion trends I like, such as boho summer dresses, flare pants, flowing tops, etc. but when I try stuff like that on I’m practically swimming in it! In general, I find stuff isn’t proportioned for my petite size and I end up looking weird. Any guidelines for dressing my best as a petite person?

– Shawty

Our Response

Dear Shawty,

While it might (frustratingly) feel like you have to put in more effort to find clothes than your non-petite counterparts, you should know that everyone (yes, everyone) — whether they are petite, tall, medium-height, curvy, not-curvy, plus-size, etc. etc.– has, at some point, felt like the clothes that they are interested in wearing are not proportioned for their body, and that they look “weird” in certain things.

However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t partake in the trends that you like, or that a certain style is off-limits to you because of your body type. Rather, all it means is that you have to find ways to work around the specific “challenges” you face (which, in your case, is wearing flowier, more bohemian styles without appearing to drown in them) to make the clothes you like work for your needs.

Here are some ways that you, as a petite person, can do that:

• Shop the petite section/brands made especially for petites: This is the most obvious — and easiest — way to find clothes that are proportioned for a smaller frame. I’d recommend checking out the petite section of stores like J.Crew, Ann Taylor, Anthropologie, ASOS, Loft, and Topshop for fashion-forward finds. 
• Tailoring is your friend: A lot of the time, brands only make part of their range available for petites (or won’t have a petite section at all), which means that you will have to get things tailored to better fit your body. To figure out whether it’s worth it to spend the extra money on tailoring, think about whether the item you are considering is high-quality and something that you will get a lot of use out of. If the answer to both of those questions is yes, then it is probably worth your time to find a good tailor who will make the item look like it was made just for you.
• Consider sizing: Another way to improve your style strategy is to find out how sizes for specific brands run; for example, brands like Aritzia, Uniqlo, Zara, Forever 21, and H&M all tend to run on the smaller side than similar brands, meaning that you’re more likely to find garments that fit you better. Reading online reviews of brands in general — or even a specific piece from a brand — can be a great way to determine how clothing will fit right off the hanger.    
• Get creative: Sometimes, a piece of clothing can’t be tailored, or you just can’t/don’t want to spend the money to do so. In these cases, doing things like belting the waist of a baggy top or dress, or making cool cut-off jeans out of a too-long pair using scissors, can be fun and easy ways to customize your look. 

For more tips on how to dress your petite body type, plus outfit ideas for petite girls, just keep scrolling!