If you’re petite and plus-sized, you know that finding clothes that fit your off-the-shelf size can be like finding a needle in a haystack. Here’s the challenge. Plus sizes are tailored for taller women. Petite sizes are often too small in important areas such as the bust line and hips. Are there any stylish petite plus size options? Almost none.
as London dressmaker Dara Stringham explains“Finding clothes that fit when you’re petite can be like finding a needle in a haystack.” For petite plus-size women, the struggle is doubled. As a curvy, petite woman, almost every piece of clothing I buy transforms me in some way. I accept that almost all of my clothes need alterations…but here’s where the difference comes. Find out what petite plus size tailoring tips really are.
Change can be costly and sometimes difficult. Therefore, it is important to know what to look out for while shopping and understand what can and cannot be changed in order to minimize the number of changes required. These petite plus size tailoring tips will change the way you approach your wardrobe.
Basic petite plus size tailoring tips that really work
Essential hemming strategy
Hemming your pants and blouses is one of the easiest and most cost-effective tips for petite plus-size tailoring, and it can make a world of difference. Most shirts and pants can be hemmed, except for intricate hems or ankle details. 5-foot-0-inch TCF contributor Katie Bradshaw knows this reality all too well. “I know a thing or two about tailoring items to my body type,” she says. My height is 4 feet 9 inches. Everything is too long!
If the item fits elsewhere, hemming is definitely worth it to get the right fit. The clothes I’m wearing here fit pretty well, except the blouse and pants are too long. I had the shirt hemmed halfway between the original hem and the bottom button, and the pants hemmed just below the ankle (I hemmed them a little longer to account for shrinkage).
When hemming pants, expert stylists recommend keeping the fit around the ankle in mind. “Tapered legs that sit just above the shoe (without excess fabric bunching up) create a streamlined effect.” For skirts and dresses, consider raising the hem to a more flattering length. Midi skirts that hit mid-calf can overwhelm petite figures.
Voila! I wear clothes that are more proportionate to my body type.
Sleeve length adjustment for a more beautiful look
Sleeves that are too long will completely drown out your petite figure, making you look shorter and overwhelmed by your clothes. This especially applies to blouses, shirts and jackets. Among the top tips for petite plus size tailoring, keeping the sleeves short ranks high.
When getting your top tailored, the styling expert advises, “Ask your tailor to shorten the sleeves so that they hit just above the wrist or just above the elbow, depending on your style. This simple adjustment can give your outfit a more polished, purposeful look and draw attention to your wrists and hands, which are common on petite plus-size women.”
but, Dara Stringham points out important details: “If you shorten the sleeves, you should do it from the shoulders, not by rolling up the hem. If you raise the sleeves from the bottom edge, the cuffs may disappear completely.” This is one petite-plus-size tailoring tip that differentiates amateur modifications from professional results.
If you need a quick DIY fix, you can also use fashion tape, iron-on tape, or rubber bands wrapped around fabric to temporarily adjust sleeve length.
Create a clear waistline
For many petite plus size women, finding clothes that fit snugly around the waist is a big challenge. Considering your waistline can make a big difference in body definition without compromising comfort. Whether you’re working with pants, skirts, or dresses, this is one of the most transformative petite plus size tailoring tips.
Ask your tailor to adjust the waistband for a snug fit. This can be done professionally or, in case of an emergency, with a belt or safety pin strategically placed inside the garment. By placing safety pins inside the fabric, unlike a belt that is visible on the outside, you can add contrast while hiding the metal fittings.
Fashion alteration expert Stephanie Triplett emphasizes:“The best thing you can do for yourself is to love your body as it is and fill your mind with the knowledge you need to change the way you dress and feel most confident.”
Modification of jackets and blazers
Jackets and blazers are wardrobe staples, but if they’re too long or boxy, they can overwhelm a petite plus-size figure. When applying petite plus size tailoring tips to outerwear, consider adjusting the length of the jacket to sit just above the hips, or slightly lower for a more ideal fit. Keep the rule of thirds in mind.
She added: “Adjusting the shoulders of your jacket or blazer can make a big difference. If the shoulders are too wide or too loose, the jacket can look slouchy.” A professional shoulder adjustment will ensure your jacket fits properly and looks sharp.
Dara Stringham warns Jackets are “probably the most difficult item to alter, as it requires many complex redesigns to suit your proportions.”
Perhaps the shoulders will need to be adjusted along with the back and sides, and the waist will need to be adjusted for a shorter waistline. For a quality blazer, consider a made-to-measure option. Considering the cost of alterations, you’ll get a great fit at a similar price point.
button down blouse challenge
Important notes about button-down blouses and larger bust lines: Large busts, short frames, and poorly placed buttons often create gaps in the bust area. Button-downs cannot be easily removed or altered in the bust area, so this is an area that requires special attention in petite plus-size tailoring tips.
You can use double-sided tape to prevent gaps, but it seems like a hassle. If you buy clothes that don’t fit or can’t be repaired, you’ll be disappointed and body-bashed. When buying a button-down, first check to see if it fits properly in the bust area. If you buy a button-down to fit your bust, you can usually change the rest.
Among the changes shared by experts“I have a short torso and narrow shoulders, so any off-the-shelf shirt that fits my shoulders inevitably leaves gaps, and any shirt I try to buy to fit my bust makes my shoulders and arms look like a circus tent.” This is why it’s so important to understand which changes are possible and which are not.
Shoulder adjustment for proper proportions
One of the often overlooked aspects of petite plus size tailoring tips involves adjusting the shoulders. Many petite plus size women find that when the shoulders are raised, the armholes fit correctly and the bust is properly positioned. This is especially important if the distance from shoulder to bust is very short.
A professional shoulder touch-up may not be worth it for every garment, but for important pieces like structured blazers, tailored dresses, and investment coats, the difference can be transformative. This adjustment ensures that the entire garment hangs correctly from the proper starting point.
Know what you can’t change
Understanding the limits is just as important as knowing the possibilities. Style expert Imogen Lamport explains “Tailoring refers to clothes that are tailored to the person wearing them. Of course, the clothes are made to order, so clothes that are made to fit that person look really, really good.” Alterations, on the other hand, are more focused changes.
Here are petite plus size tailoring tips that usually don’t work well.
- Button-down blouse at the bust area (please purchase according to your bust size)
- Garments with intricate hem details or embellishments
- Pieces that require two or more size reductions (often more expensive than purchasing the correct size)
- Intricately engineered items like tailored jackets (consider custom made instead)
- A structural work whose proportions completely collapse.
smart shopping strategy
The best petite plus size tailoring tips start before you even get to the tailor. When shopping, look for items that fit in the areas that are the most difficult or most expensive to change. Memo from custom clothing expert Sumitra“Each garment is custom-made to ensure a perfect fit, enhancing your unique silhouette and personal style.”
For everyday shopping:
- If you buy it to fit your bust or shoulders, it will be expensive to change it
- Accept that the hem needs adjusting. this is cheap and easy
- Look for styles with adjustable waists or belts
- Choose a fabric that can handle alterations (if this is your first time tailoring, avoid delicate fabrics)
- Invest in a good tailor and build a relationship with them and they will learn your proportions
DIY and professional modifications
Do-it-yourself petite plus size tailoring tips. You may need professional help. For simple fixes such as temporary hem adjustments, fashion tape or iron-on tape are suitable.
“If you can’t get a seamstress to make it right away and you need to make it yourself, you can always easily sew it, depending on the fabric. You can also use fashion tape or iron-on garment tape, which lasts longer than fashion tape,” we shared.
However, for a permanent fix on a quality item, professional tailoring is worth every penny. What’s the difference between a perfectly tailored $60 blazer and a $600 blazer that doesn’t fit? You win $60 each time.
Petite plus size tailoring for you
Mastering petite plus size tailoring tips will change your entire approach to fashion. Instead of getting frustrated with clothes that don’t fit, you can shop strategically, knowing exactly what can be adjusted and what needs to fit perfectly from the beginning.
The goal is confidence, not perfection. When your clothes fit snugly, your appearance changes. You move through the world with the peace of mind that comes from wearing clothing that respects your unique proportions.
These petite plus size tailoring tips are a roadmap to a wardrobe that actually works for your 5’4” plus size and under. Start with one change. Build from there.
And remember: Your body doesn’t matter. The industry’s one-size-fits-all approach is: With smart sartorial strategies, you can take control.
What are your go-to changes and tips?
Do you change your clothes regularly? What are the most common modifications? Share your plus size petite tailoring tips in the comments…your experience may help other plus size petite women finally get the perfect fit!
Source: The Curvy Fashionista – thecurvyfashionista.com
