When you are short and everything sits too low
Short answer: Choose pieces with a short back and a high waist, and let a tailor shorten sleeves and legs. That is usually cheaper and faster than searching for the one perfect cut that happens to fit your height without any adjustment.
What goes wrong on a petite frame
The shoulder seam falls out on the upper arm, the waist sits above the hip instead of at your actual waist, and sleeves cover half the hand. This makes a piece look large, even though the width itself actually fits your body just fine.
The two measurements that matter most
Back length from neck to waist and sleeve length are the two numbers worth knowing. Once you have a piece that fits well, measure both, and use those numbers as your reference when reading a size chart from a different brand later.
Cuts that work better for you
Tops with a high waist, short sleeves or three quarter sleeves, and dresses with a clearly marked waist sit better than long, straight cuts with no shape. See bamboo tops for women and bamboo dresses for cuts that fit more easily without changes.
Avoid dropped shoulders on the piece
A piece with a shoulder that drops down the arm makes even a small size look wide. Look for a set in sleeve seam instead, where the seam sits close to your own shoulder edge rather than further down toward the elbow.
Changes that are easy to ask for
Shortening a sleeve or a pant leg usually costs little at a tailor and changes the entire feel of a piece. See women's bamboo pants for an example where a short trip to the tailor can make the whole difference to the fit.
Pants and pajama bottoms are easiest
Of all pieces, pants and pajama bottoms are quickest to alter, since only the leg needs shortening. Dresses are hardest, because the whole proportion has to shift, not just leg length. Choose pants over dresses when you rarely have time for a tailor.
Sizing down is not always the answer
Going a size down only fixes things if the width is also too large. If the width already fits, the piece just tightens without getting shorter in the right places. See bamboo clothing for women for items with measurements in centimeters listed beside the size.
Petite models are not a guarantee
Many brands offer a petite line, and it is often, though not always, a good bet. Measure anyway, since petite does not mean the same thing across brands, and the difference between two petite models can span several centimeters at the back and sleeve.
Build a base you can trust
Find one brand and one model first, where the fit works right without changes, and use it as your starting point. From there, judging new pieces gets far quicker, since you already know which numbers on a size chart actually matter for you.
Frequently asked questions
Should I size down?
Only if the width is also too large. Otherwise the piece just tightens without getting shorter, and you never actually solve the real problem with the length.
Are petite models always better?
Often yes, but measure anyway. Petite doesn't mean the same thing at every brand, and the difference can easily span several centimeters from one brand to another.
What about rolling up the sleeves?
That works on shirts made from woven fabric, but on knitted sleeves the fabric turns thick around the arm and loosens again quickly over the course of the day.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
