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You Do You
Above all else, fashion should be fun. It should make you feel good. So if there’s something that doesn’t work for you, feel free to toss it out the window. That hot new TikTok aesthetic, a wave of retro sneaker trends, Pantone’s Color of the Year—if these “must have” items don’t feel true to who you are, then you don’t need to wear them. In truth there’s no such thing as a hard and fast fashion “rule.” Just because Beyoncé’s stylist says you should own a blazer or a seasoned fashion editor says petites should never wear tent dresses, doesn’t mean you’re wrong for not missing a blazer or for adoring billowy, shapeless frocks. Tips, tricks, hacks and even supposed rules can all be incredibly helpful, but they are not the end all be all of style. Bottom line: You do you, dear reader, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Petite Frames and Monochrome ‘Fits Are a Perfect Pair
Another editor-tested petite styling tip I learned from Maida is the magic of a monochrome fit. Not sure how to make wide-leg pants work for your frame? Wondering the best way to pull-off a turtleneck? Don’t want to be overwhelmed by an oversize blazer? Then pick a singular color and sport it from head to toe! As Maida explains, “It looks chic for certain, but the real reason I love keeping my outfits to one color is because it turns my body into one sleek, continuous line; the less you break up your short frame, the longer you look.”

The 33/66 Ratio
Senior Commerce Editor Stephanie Maida is a treasure trove of petite styling advice. The 33/66 Ratio came to her by way of Angela Foster, a petite style coach and personal shopper, who says, “[This trick] is brilliant on petites. [It means that] the pieces underneath [should] create the illusion that 33 percent of our height is from the top of our head to our waist, and the remaining 66 percent comes from our waist to the floor.” But this particular trick is one I think every body type can benefit from trying—it’s really just about maintaining proportions, and leaves the specifics of what types of clothing you prefer to wear entirely up to you.