short girl styling guide
plus- a fun Q&A with the founder of an industry changing brand, and what I bought this week.
Hi! Today’s letter marks the first subscriber requested topic, so feedback is welcome. Now, let’s get into it.
I’m 5’2, something that makes clothes shopping difficult at times (actually, most of the time). I’ve become numb to the fact that most models are 6-8 inches taller than me, and constantly calculate how many inches I would have to cut off the dress/jeans/skirt I want if I were to purchase it. I’m close friends with my tailor (to the point where we have trauma bonded over our c-sections). I have a closet filled with cropped jeans, cropped sweaters and cropped tees- most of which aren’t cropped on my shorter-than-average torso. I’m passing on my tips and tricks below in an effort to make it easier for you to get dressed.
(PSA- it does feel a bit old fashioned to give styling advice based on body type. This is only meant to help you shop/get dressed more easily! This is NOT a newsletter about dressing for the male gaze- if anything, it’s the opposite)
find a good tailor- This is the first thing I do when I move. ask around and once you find someone really great, never let them go (kind of like dating).
cropped silhouettes are your friend- A cropped tee or cardigan won’t leave you with excess fabric looking bulky and awkward. Most of mine don’t show off my stomach (in case you don’t want to or maybe work in a more corporate environment). I like the Leset tees and cardigans, and this tank.
add a belt- It breaks up the silhouette of an oversized piece (like a men’s button down) but also adds a little polish. I recommend scouring your local thrift shop or flea market if you don’t want to splurge, however I have been told they are one of the most heavily discounted categories on TheRealReal, so it’s worth browsing there, too.
elevated footwear- I don’t mean elevated as in your shoes have to be Loewe. I love a good heel or platform with a baggier pant. These are especially useful to have on hand when you don’t have time to get those extra inches hemmed off your new pants.
pay attention to proportion- I used to roll my eyes every time I saw a street style shot of Hailey Bieber or Kendall Jenner, thinking well, if only I could grow 5 inches. However, I’ve realized that a lot of what makes those looks so great is that the proportions are so.spot.on. An oversized blazer with short shorts can look great on anyone, it’s all about fit.
outfit formulas!- an oversized sweater with a mini skirt (maybe this one if you’re feeling extra daring). a silky slip dress with heeled boots. a cropped tank with baggy jeans (these are my go-to). a cropped knit with velvet leggings and a fabulous jacket. a mini dress because being short doesn’t mean you don’t have great legs! find your go-to for those panic button I only have 5 minutes to get ready moments.
monochromatic looks- not short girl exclusive- I just love nothing more than a full winter white look or a cool girl all black moment. An added bonus, they do elongate your frame.
Have fun with accessories- I live for a good pair of shoes, or new sunnies, or a great bag. You know why? They never.require.alterations.
invest in brands that invest in you- my longtime friend Miranda recently introduced me to Nelle Atelier, a brand focused on premium denim for women 5’4 and under. They were recently featured in VOGUE (!!!). The founder, Madeleine sent me some of their amazing jeans and I’ve been obsessed ever since- this pair is called the Claire.
Below, a Q&A with the founder of Nelle Atelier, Madeleine Cohen
First of all, tell me about yourself!
I grew up in Manhattan to French/American/Moroccan parents, and went to a french school so I had a very global upbringing. I'm a text book aries oldest child. I started my career in a rotational program at Estee Lauder, then moved on to Casper where I spent time working on retail expansion and go to market strategy. Then I moved to LA to be Chief of Staff at Bala before Starting Nelle Atelier.
Where did the name Nelle Atelier come from?
Nelle is short for Penelope which means weaver in Greek. We also realized that it was my mom's name spelled backwards so the name kind of chose me at that point. I added the "Atelier" as a nod to my french heritage.
Nelle Atelier is truly genius and I'm so happy you're filling a huge void for us shorter girls. As someone who is (barely) 5'2, I'm very familiar with the struggle of finding jeans I don't have to hem- what was your design process like and how did you get the proportions so right?
It was really hard to find a petite fit model so we ended up having to fit on real women! We fit on a size 26 and a size 30 to make sure that the jeans fit every body like a glove.
How exciting was it when you tried on the first pair that fit you perfectly?!
It was unreal - I was like wow this is thrilling. No alterations needed.
I love that you launched with 3 pairs of jeans in different washes. Which one is most popular so far?
Everyone is loving our Emily in Sapphire and our Claire in Sky. It's so funny because the Lea is my favorite - I wear it all the time. It's our longest inseam because it was designed to wear with heels but because we adjusted the proportions of the rise and the knee placement I promise you can also wear it with flats and it won't be too long.
Do you have plans on expanding the label to other categories?
Absolutely! I am so excited about this. We are going to start by launching new washes in existing styles and new denim styles for spring. We are hoping to start category expansion in late 2024/early 2025.
Which pair is your favorite and how do you like to style them?
My favorite is the Lea - it makes me look really long and lean which I love. I usually wear them with a sweater, a fun earring and a boot with a 2-3 inch heel.
Lastly, because this is a shopping newsletter, what's on your holiday wishlist this season?
If anyone wants to get me the below I would be grateful:
Little Liffner Pillow Shoulder Bag
Shop Nelle Atelier here.
I made a fairly unhinged purchased yesterday that I had to share (as this is obviously a safe space for shopaholics). It was induced by the expected rainstorms in Los Angeles this week, but also because I have no self control.
If you’re still on the hunt for the perfect present, I bought these wine glasses, a few candles to pair with gift cards, cozy socks, a cool pendant necklace, and my absolute favorite serum (as gifts! for other people! I swear). By the way- these are all from Shopbop, which you can conveniently link to your Amazon account for two day shipping (not sponsored, just perfect for last-minute shoppers!).
There are lots of new subscribers this week and I’m truly so grateful! Please subscribe if you haven’t already and forward to a fashion-loving friend.
I really hope Nelle expands into COATS! It is so, so difficult to find a wool coat that is the right length, sleeve length, and proportions for a petite body. I just gave up on it this season.
THOSE BOOTS!!!!! ❤️