What I Wore On My Trip to France as a 4’11” Petite: The Struggle to Find Clothes That Actually Fit

Packing for a trip to France should be exciting—and it was—but for me, it also came with the usual challenge: finding clothes that actually fit my 4’11” frame. If you’re short, you already know the struggle. Sleeves are too long, pants drag on the ground, and cropped jackets often aren’t cropped enough. I knew I didn’t want to spend my vacation fidgeting with my clothes or feeling overwhelmed by fabric. So I got to work—shopping both in-store and online until I found pieces that felt just right.

As you can guess, this was not a one-stop shopping trip. It took patience, trying on countless things. But in the end, I put together a travel wardrobe that made me feel stylish, confident, and most importantly—comfortable. Here’s what made it into my suitcase:

Cropped Tees, Three Quarter Sleeve Boatneck Tees & Cardigan from Old Navy

Old Navy was one of my first stops, and I was pleasantly surprised. I found cropped and 3/4 sleeve boatneck tees that hit at just the right spot for tucking or not, with no awkward bunching, and they worked with every pair of pants I packed. I also grabbed a cropped cardigan that quickly became my go-to layer. It was light, versatile, and actually looked like it was made for someone my height.

Petite White Wide-Leg Cropped Pants & White Jean Jacket from White House Black Market

White House Black Market has been stepping up their petite game, and these white wide-leg cropped pants were a total win. They looked chic with sneakers, didn’t need to be hemmed, and the rise sat perfectly at my waist.

I also picked up a cropped white jean jacket that pulled so many looks together. It gave structure and worked beautifully with both casual outfits and dressier looks.

Joggers from Stitch Fix

Stitch Fix surprised me with the perfect pair of rose-colored joggers (see above photo). Lightweight, soft, and with a flattering tapered leg, these were a perfect for walking all over Paris. The color was feminine and fresh, and they easily dressed up with a jacket or down with sneakers.

Cream-Colored Rain Jacket From Short Story

One of my favorite finds was an adorable cream-colored rain jacket from Short Story. Not only was it stylish, but it was also tailored specifically for petites. The sleeves didn’t need to be rolled up, and the length was ideal for layering. It was perfect for chilly Paris mornings and added a polished touch.

Pink Adidas Platform Sneakers from Amazon

Comfortable walking shoes are a must for any trip to Europe, and these pink Adidas platform sneakers from Amazon were a perfect choice. They gave me a little height, paired well with everything, and were surprisingly comfy—even after miles of walking.

The Takeaway: Petite Women Deserve Stylish, Easy Travel Fashion Too

This trip reminded me of how much effort we petite women have to put into building a wardrobe that others can throw together in one shopping trip. But it also reminded me that it is possible to find stylish, well-fitting pieces—you just have to know where to look, ask the right questions, and lean into silhouettes that actually suit your frame.

I felt confident, chic, and most importantly—like myself on this trip.

If you’re a petite planning a trip soon, I hope this gives you a few outfit ideas—and reminds you that your ideal fit does exist. You just might have to hunt a little harder to find it.

My Second Short Story Box Review

My first Short Story box came in December and it was a success. I received five items and kept three. If you're a fellow shortie, you know that finding three items of clothing that fit at the same time is like hitting the lottery. Now that spring is here, it is time to try it again.

For this box, I requested spring jackets. A raincoat or a short jacket or both. I also requested lightweight spring pants. Finding pants for spring has always been an issue. I like lightweight material and light colors and for some reason it is impossible to find.

Once again, the box arrived in a beautful package wrapped in a ribbon printed with "good things come in petite packages". I always feel like it's my birthday when I open my subscription boxes. I was so excited when I saw the raincoat from Vero Moda and knew that I would love it. It is coated, so it will be rain repellant and has extra snaps around the wrists to make the sleeve openings more snug. This is the first time I've had a true raincoat that fits me.

The second jacket by Thread & Supply is short and lighweight with a zipper and cute snaps. It looks great open or closed.

The first pair of pants are from my favorite brand Liverpool. They are pull on and stretchy with very thin black stripes. My favorite part is the slit in the back of the legs. They are a little frayed and slightly short, but I won't be wearing them with heels. They are supposed to be cropped on someone a little taller.

The second pair of pants by Bayeas are more of a relaxed fit in a springy lavendar color which I love. The length is perfect for wearing flats or heels.

I didn't keep the third pair of pants because they were too big and I already have something like them. Four of five items is a total win for me especially since both jackets fit. I would suggest giving it a try and remember that there are different price levels. I chose the $50 - $100 range but there is one range lower.

Give it a try and et me know how you do!

Petite Friendly Brands Spotlight

After reading the stories of these amazing women who have founded successful petite friendly brands, I am blown away. They all recognized the need for more petite clothing options in the fashion industry and did something about it. The drive and determination of these women is so inspiring, they deserve to be supported and recognized. Let's support these amazing women!

Ameris Bloomer

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I had a wonderful conversation with Nina Le, the owner of Ameris Bloomer. Ameris Bloomer is a petite brand that makes luxury, affordable intimates for petite women. Nina started the online brand in 2021 after having her third baby while working in Real Estate. She became frustrated after trying to find comfortable bras to fit her and realized that there were no bras specifically made for petite women. Her mission is to design comfortable undergarments to give petite women more confidence so that they can bloom to their fullest. Hence the name Ameris Bloomer. It is a play on words with Ameris stemming from America and Bloomer, in honor of Amelia Bloomer, who was an early suffragist and fashion advocate who invented “Bloomers”.

Nina takes pride in the quality of her products and has high standards when it comes to their production. She’s uses petite models and works with petite designers as well. She said something that really resonated with me, “Blessed people bloom like flowers. We are unique and we bloom the way we are.” Let’s support Nina in her journey and bloom with her.

Avo Activewear

Founder Ally Paterson (5"1") decided to take matters into her own hands after becoming frustrated with the lack of activewear options for short women. She has developed a line of activewear that caters to the unique needs of petite women, ensuring that every piece fits perfectly without the need for alterations. The collections include leggings, sports bras, tops, shorts and maternity leggings. Avo Activwear has been recognized as one of the best petite activewear brands by Women's Health Magazine.

Bee Petite

Busy mom Bee Yang (5.0') strives to curate an elevated and affordable petite-friendly clothing brand curated for ladies 5’3” or shorter. ​Bee grew tired of watching the slow growth of petite fashion over the last 15 years and decided to do something about it. Her goal is to empower her fellow petite sisters and to provide a one stop shop of elegant, elevated, form fitting clothes for any occasion. She does this all while holding down a full-time job!

Diima Apparel

Alana Mandrick (5' 2") started Diima Apparel because as a petite woman who loves fashion, she struggled to find clothes that fit without having to alter them. Alana puts a lot of thought into every piece and would not promote anything that she wouldn't wear herself. From casual to formal pieces and everything in between, Diima Apparel offers something for everyone.

Nelle Atelier

Founder Madeleine Cohen's (5"1") research proves that the petite population under 5' 4" is half of the US population and that it's a completely underserved market. The idea came to her after realizing that she hated all of her jeans. After searching for "best jeans for short girls" left her disappointed, she decided to create them herself. After launching in November of 2023, the brand is now available online at Nordstrom as well as on its own site.

Petite Boutique Hawaii

This shop located in Hawaii specializes in jeans for extra petites 5” and under. Owner, Kathy Marzan (4' 10") and her daughter-in-law Jordan (5' 7") created their first pair of jeans after going shopping together. Jordan always left with multiple items but Kathy would leave with nothing. They believe that extra petite women deserve to have off the rack fashion choices so they can look and feel amazing.

Petite Studio

Jenny Wang-Howell (5' 2") founded Petite Studio in 2016 to be the first petite shop offering trendy, stylish petite clothes for women. Her and her husband hired real petites for their design team and 9 years later they are one of the fastest growing indie brands in the market creating short run, curated collections of fashionable petite clothing.

Pretty & Petite

Sara Ponce (4' 10") hated shopping growing up and was forced to continue shopping in the kids section through her early 20s. This made her feel insecure but she decided to turn her biggest insecurity into her biggest asset and Pretty & Petite was born. She wants to empower petite women to feel normal, beautiful and sexy.

Short Girl Jean

Cici (4' 10") always struggled to find the perfect pair of jeans and grew tired of cutting them. She created Short Girl Jean to help give shorties confidence and power through clothing.

The focus is on luxury, tailored denim for women 5' 3" and under of all shapes and sizes. Their options include timeless day to night straight cuts to basic staple wardrobe shades.

The Short List

Laura (5' 1") quit her job as a recruiter and started her label with no relevant background. Like the others, she was frustrated with the lack of petite clothing options. Her first collection sold out within days. Her focus is on small batch quantities in signature classic styles and original prints. She creates the clothes you want to wear to breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Tigist Petites

Tigist Ketema (5' 1) was consistently disappointed with the clothing options for petite women with curves. It became even harder while searching for clothes for work. After talking to countless other women who felt the same way, she set out to create a luxe line of petite dresses to uniquely serve petite, curvy professional women. Her promise is to make petite women feel like they are a priority in the fashion industry.