{{Short description|Standard clothing size based on height}} {{More citations needed|date=January 2024}}

In fashion and clothing, a '''petite size''' is a standard clothing size designed specifically for women 163&nbsp;cm (5&nbsp;ft 4 in) and under.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/28/business/wheres-the-petite-department-going-the-way-of-the-petticoat.html Where's the Petite Department? Going the Way of the Petticoat]; URL accessed November 6, 2020.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sylvia |date=2022-02-17 |title=how to dress when you are short and styles petite women look amazing in |url=https://40plusstyle.com/how-to-dress-when-you-are-short-petite/ |access-date=2022-11-19 |website=40+ Style |language=en-US}}</ref> This categorization is not solely based on a woman's height, but also takes into account the proportions of her body. Petite sizes cater to body shapes that typically have shorter limb lengths, narrower shoulder. This standard is predominantly recognized in the U.S., but is also utilized in some other regions around the world.

Many clothing stores, including both specialty boutiques and major retail chains, offer a range of petite sized styles to accommodate the needs of women 163&nbsp;cm (5&nbsp;ft 4 in) or shorter. These styles aim to provide a better fit than regular sizes, which are often tailored based on the proportions of taller individuals. Petite clothing may include tops, bottoms, dresses, and outerwear, as well as specialty items like petite activewear and swimwear. Some brands also offer petite plus sizes, catering to women who are both shorter in height and larger in body size.

==Frequency==

The average height of an American woman is roughly between {{height|ft=5|in=4}} and {{height|ft=5|in=5}}. In the UK and throughout Europe the average height of a woman is around {{height|ft=5|in=4}} to {{height|ft=5|in=6}}.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-03-06 |title=Average height for women worldwide |url=https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321132 |access-date=2022-11-19 |website=www.medicalnewstoday.com |language=en}}</ref>

==History==

The word 'petite' is the feminine form of French adjective {{Lang|fr|petit}}, which translates to 'small' or 'short' in English.

Petite sizing originated in the 1940s when US fashion designer Hannah Troy noticed that many women did not fit into standard size clothing. She studied the measurements of women who had completed military service during World War II and found that only 8% fit the proportions of standard sizing, with most women being 'short in the waist'. She developed a clothing range called 'Troyfigure', which was based on a 'junior' fit but with a more mature style. This range became very popular and is considered the beginning of petite fashion. The word 'petite' was chosen by Troy because it "just had a nice ring to it"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Glantz |first=Jen |author-link=Jen Glantz |title=Entrepreneur Uses Data To Disrupt The Fashion Industry To Make Shopping Easier For Petite Women |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jenglantz/2018/10/22/entrepreneur-uses-data-to-disrupts-the-fashion-industry-to-make-shopping-easier-for-the-petite/ |access-date=2023-06-07 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==

* Children's clothing * Clothing sizes * U.S. standard clothing size * Joint European standard for size labelling of clothes, formally EN 13402

==References==

{{reflist}} * [https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes.htm NHANES survey] * [https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/ad/ad361.pdf CDC Anthropometric Reference Data for Children and Adults: U.S. Population, 1999–2002] - Page 20, Table 19.

Category:Sizes in clothing Category:Fashion design