Is Maxi For Petite Women? – A Well Styled Life®

Happy Wednesday ladies. I wasn’t thinking of reshaping a mannequin this week, but I just couldn’t get past it. I thought she was wearing a dress until I researched it, and discovered it was a ruffled country blouse and a matching ruffled waist skirt.

Initially I thought this outfit was a style decision made by local staff. But when I searched on the internet, I discovered that there is a look that the brand displays and promotes on its website. Let me start by saying it’s definitely not for me, and it can be limiting for many women.

Because you asked… I’m wearing the mannequin outfit here, no belt. The outfit suits her better because she’s at least 4 inches taller than me and has even narrower hips than me.

I tried to save the skirt first. I have narrow and straight hips, but this skirt makes me look hippie. The shirring is nice for the waist but then it flares up below like a dirndl skirt. The horizontal stripes in the pattern make it look like it has layers, but this is a solid piece of fabric.

I tried it with a simple tank top and cardigan so they could crush some of the gathers in the skirt. I think this looks cumbersome and pretty rootless to me, so I tried to get the tank into the belt. The improvement is minimal, perhaps because it makes me look shorter than I am.

The topic of maxi skirt came up in the comments yesterday and I wanted to talk about wearing skirts for petite women. Pleated ruffled, horizontal striped and patterned skirts draw eyes to the sides, making you look shorter and wider. Petite women are more flattered by midi and maxi skirts that sit closer to the body in a solid color that matches your top.

Here is another questionable outfit. The peasant blouse looks wider than it is, as the deep cuffs of cropped jeans shorten the look of my legs. This top will have a better balance with medium wash slim jeans or full length pants. This style top can add visual weight to well-fitted and broad-shouldered ladies. Peasant blouses have never been a flattering choice for me and this blouse is no different.

There are a few other things that caught my eye in J. Jill.

What are you saying? Can you put these parts together?

How do you shape the skirt?

Thanks for reading and don’t forget to wear what makes you feel safe.