What Petite Means in Fashion

When you hear the word petite do you first think tiny? If so, you're not alone. Petite means small, and it can mean small in size or in height. So it's no wonder that confusion reigns when it comes to what petite means in fashion terminology. Customers aren't the only ones who are confused. Many clothing designers and manufacturers add to the confusion by classifying their extra-small garments as petite, even though these garments are not proportioned for short women.

Some designers aren't even aware of a problem with terminology when they use the term petite for extra-small. At a recent trade show, I asked a designer if she offered any petite clothing. She said that she did, but her petite clothing turned out to mean garments in sizes 0-2.

Can't the garment industry get on the same page with terminology? Petite has been used for clothing proportioned for short women since the 1940s, so why not drop petite when it means a very small size and switch to extra-small instead?

Or do you think we should use the term short instead? Tall is currently used for clothing for tall women, so it would make sense to use short for clothing for short women.

Vote in our poll to weigh in on this issue.