Throughout fashion month, industry insiders are constantly shown new collections and presentations, and while I do adore the glamour of seeing a model strut down the runway, more often than not, I find myself thinking about whether the clothes presented would actually work on me. As a petite woman, standing at just 5’1”, this is a predicament I find myself battling with constantly. “Sure, that’s chic. But could I actually wear it without looking like a girl who has raided her big sister’s wardrobe?” I ask myself.Or “At what point does oversize go from stylish to drowning in fabric?” I often ponder.
With every new season, there are certain trends I choose to forgo and others I opt into simply due to their capacity to suit a smaller frame, and of course, autumn/winter 2021 is no different. This season, in the realm of petite friendly looks, we saw mini skirts make a bonafide comeback. A rise in hemlines can be a welcome silhouette for those of us on the shorter side, meaning we can save ourselves a trip to the tailor. Bold, single-shade saturated looks were also prominent on the runway, while knitted dresses and cut out shapes made more than a few appearances. Want to know why these trends work for petites? Keep scrolling to read about the autumn trends I’m in investing in this season.
Style Notes: Seeing mini skirts storm the runway over the last few seasons has been a welcome relief and has resulted in far fewer trips to the tailor for me. While hemlines are on the rise, and entering much shorter territory than before, this can actually work in our favour. It means mini skirts are no longer hitting at the knee, and are ending slightly above at a point that can be more flattering.
Style Notes: Dressing head-to-toe in one single shade is a technique petite women have employed for decades, in order to create the illusion of height. Evidently, the trend is now also runway-approved as everyone from Bottega Veneta to Versace, sent models down the runway dressed in single-shade, saturated looks.
Style Notes: Knitted dresses of all shapes and sizes were quite prominent on the A/W21 runways. The looks ranged from oversize silhouettes to figure-hugging shapes. For women on the petite side, I’d suggest investing in the more form-fitting options available this season. This will work to accentuate your figure rather than overwhelming it.
Style Notes: A strategically placed cut-out can work wonders to create the illusion of height, and thankfully cut-outs were all over the A/W21 runways. Dresses with leg splits above the knee can be very flatting for those of us who are petite, while a peekaboo detail along the torso can lengthen the lower half of your body.
