How to dress a Petite Frame: Tips & Tricks from Claire Lopez

STYLE GUIDE

HOW TO DRESS A PETITE FRAME

— Tips & Tricks from stylist Claire Lopez

As a London-based stylist with nearly twenty years in the fashion industry, Claire Lopez knows a thing or two about style. Founder of one of my favourite Instagram feeds 

(@stylebyclairelopez), 

Claire helps clients with everything from wardrobe edits to personal shopping and styling sessions. At 5'2, she is perfectly placed to understand how to dress a petite frame. Here she offers us some of her invaluable tips and tricks.

Firstly, how would you define a petite frame? Is it to do with height and build or can someone tall also be petite? 

Technically a petite person is someone who is 5ft 3 and under. It doesn't have anything to do with build, so you could be a size 8 or an 18. It's just about stature.

How do you avoid looking 'swamped' in clothes? Should you always choose fitted styles when petite

Fit is critical when you are petite so you don't look like you are wearing someone else's clothes... ensuring the lengths are correct, sleeves aren't too long etc. It is flattering showing wrists and ankles, particularly if you are petite. You don't have to stick to fitted styles, but you do have to give a bit more thought when wearing volume. I regularly have to shorten trousers, but even though I am 5ft 2 I very rarely buy petite - in fact I only have one petite item in my wardrobe, which is a coat.

How can a petite person wear an oversized look without looking swamped? 

I think it is about how you wear volume. That doesn't for one minute mean you need to stick to fitted options, it just means it can often work best if you keep the volume in one area only so that you are not swamped. So, for instance, pair a more oversized blazer with a neater bottom half.

Any tips on dressing 'taller'? 

If you want to dress taller then you need to think in the vertical rather than the horizontal and use vertical lines to your advantage. Use vertical stripes and other vertical details such as v necklines, layers worn open and button details.  Colour and how and where you place it on your body is another tool you can use. Dressing head to toe in the same colour will visually elongate the body, or consider dressing tonally. You can also use the column of colour method whereby you wear a bottom and top in the same colour and add a contrast layer over the top or flip this to have the contrast in the top and the outer layer in the same colour as your bottom. This creates continuity of colour. 

Finally, don't break your body up into lots of different blocks, as stylists we would suggest sticking to the 1/3 v 2/3 rule.


What are the best cuts of trouser to elongate the leg and give the illusion of height? 

A full length trouser will obviously elongate the leg, as will a high rise style. But whether that is right for you depends on your individual proportions as high rises don't work as well if you have a short body. Irrespective of whether you are petite or not, we all have different vertical proportions, so as well as understanding your shape, it is important to know how your torso relates to your legs, so you know what works best for you. However, it's not just about the trouser, it's also about what you put on your feet. Keep in mind things like colour matching your footwear to your trousers for the ultimate leg lengthening effect. Wearing a pointed style will also help to elongate and being mindful of straps/how low or high up the leg/foot your shoe or boot finishes. 

When it comes to print, do larger or smaller prints work better on a petite frame? 

I don't follow the theory that you should match the scale of prints you wear to your frame. So don't feel constrained sticking to small scale prints. I think this is more about your individual style and what you like. I wear a mix of print scales - some large, some small.

Style is obviously very personal, but are there any types of clothing that you think look good on most petite people? 

I would subscribe more to the point of view that if you know your style, your shape and your individual proportions then that will lead you to the clothes that make you look and feel good. I also think it is important to have variety in any wardrobe, petite or otherwise, so experimenting with different silhouettes and shapes is always a good idea. 

Are there any types of clothing that can be trickier

The oversized trend is much harder to pull off when you are petite as it can just look like you have borrowed someone else's clothes. I personally struggle with the wide shoulder silhouette and feel pretty ridiculous in an oversized blazer but part of that is also down to personal style. My clients are often nervous of things like wide legged trousers and denim but there's no reason you can't wear them. I often combine these with a stacked/flat form trainer to give me a bit of extra height and to stop feeling wide.  

If someone wanted to book a session with you, how can you help them discover their style?  

The first step with my clients is a wardrobe session - either virtually or face to face - and it is during this (and beforehand in the prep process where a client fills in a detailed questionnaire) that we explore their style in conjunction with their lifestyle and all the other elements above. 


Please do follow Claire on Instagram (@stylebyclairelopez) where her styling reels, tips and advice are invaluable. 

You can find out more about Claire and her styling services, as well as sign up to her blog at Style by Claire Lopez.

The gorgeous Lily jeans are ideally suited to a more petite customer. Best suited to people under 5'4.

Vertical stripes are a petite person's secret weapon. The v-neck Ren top is a great choice.


Claire wore the beautiful Ella dress in a reel, styling it perfectly for Winter through to Spring.



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