When I started working in a professional environment, I had no idea how challenging it would be to buy clothes that fit. Heck at the time I didn’t even know how office clothes were supposed to fit. Dress shirts always looked boxy and baggy as did dress pants. Dresses never exactly fit with armholes too large. Office skirts always fell at my hips and spun in circles throughout the day. It was frustrating at times. Even puzzling when I’d see coworkers looking much more polished than I was and they bought the same clothes in the same stores.
Little did I know it all comes down to finding clothes in the right size and being petite in the American clothing market puts you at a disadvantage. Being petite means you are probably far from the “average American” that designers assume you are when they create designs and measurements for the upcoming season. But do not fret! There are ways around this, and this guide will hopefully help out other fellow petites!
Conservative Office Wear:
For conservative professional environments such as consulting, investment banking, and law, consider building your office wardrobe from these brands:
- Hugo by Hugo Boss
- Theory
- Ann Taylor
- Express
- Burberry
Consider checking out designer clothing such as Prada, D&G, etc. Designer clothes typically start at smaller sizes and are built for smaller frames. It’s definitely one advantage of being petite!
General Office Wear:
For offices that are pointed towards business casual and allow pops of color, mix up your wardrobe with these brands. Of course you can also find items from here that would fit a more traditional office but it may involve a bit more searching. They also have great items for casual Fridays.
- J. Crew
- Banana Republic
- Ann Taylor Loft
- Express
- Halogen
Lastly, always check out the petite section in department stores such as Nordstrom or Neiman Marcus. They’re there for a reason, right?
What are some of your favorite petite brands for professional wear?
No comments:
Post a Comment