Shopping for clothes can be particularly tricky for petite women, who often find that standard sizing caters to a height range that leaves them struggling for a proper fit. Petite Femme, founded and directed by Annie Lee, is transforming this experience by addressing petite women’s unique challenges. Unlike most brands that merely size down their designs for shorter women, Petite Femme crafts each garment with petite proportions in mind from the outset.

By designing specifically for an average height of 5’2″, with carefully considered waist seams, shoulder seams, and necklines, the brand ensures a flattering fit that genuinely considers shorter torsos, higher waistlines, and narrower shoulders. In this exclusive interview, Annie Lee shares how feedback from over 500 petite women helped shape Petite Femme’s innovative collections, emphasizing the importance of setting new size standards.

1. Shopping for clothes can be tricky for petite women. What unique challenges do they face, and how does Petite Femme tackle these issues differently from other brands?

One of the biggest misconceptions is that sizing down leads to a better fit for petite women. The vast majority of brands design their clothes to fit an average height of 5’5 to 5’6. When you size down from a Size 8 to a Size 6, for example, the circumference decreases but the vertical length remains mostly the same. This is especially challenging if you’re a curvy petite woman. If you size down, you’re going to find there’s not enough room for your bust or hips, which is why it’s important to shop for your height as well as your circumference.