By Francisca Vargas Ramos
If we put aside the belief that fashion equals frivolity or superficiality, we'll realize that our wardrobe is more than just clothes that keep us warm. You've probably heard the saying that everything communicates—well, clothes do too. They're the most faithful representation of your personality.
When you choose that skirt or t-shirt you loved so much when you went shopping, you'll be reflecting a part of yourself. Every color, cut, or design of a garment represents something, and if you don't know how to maximize your outfits, an image consultation is a plus so you can learn more about yourself.
As we know, we're all different—some are taller, others shorter. You may be a size XS or a size L, a size 34 or a size 39—every body is different, and that's why getting an expert's perspective will be the best way to help you if you're feeling a little lost.
Knowing your morphology, discussing colorimetry, and identifying your skin tone are some of the tips you can learn with the help of María de los Ángeles, better known as @emepetite in the digital world. During the pandemic, she decided to create a space on social media where she could share all the experiences of being a fashion lover, but also a petite woman. Something that, for me personally, made me feel more than connected.
The average height of Chilean women is between 1.55 and 1.58m tall, but, as we know, most of the retail clothing that almost all of us choose is imported from abroad. However, the bodies of each population are different, and unfortunately, the clothing that arrives from abroad turns out to be designed for bodies that aren't ours. This brings with it a long list of obstacles that make being a fashionista in our country a bit more complicated.
María de los Ángeles, me, and probably you, have had to visit a seamstress more than once to ask for help with the famous hemline. Whether it's a pair of pants, a blazer, or another garment, many of us have to alter our clothes to achieve the perfect fit, and while it can be quite tedious and perhaps frustrating, it's something that happens to a lot of people. Just ask Emepetite how many girls in her community can relate to this.
At one point, Topshop was the best option in our country, offering a petite line that provided a variety of options for us short people. However, since its closure, the options available to us petite women are few or none. According to María de los Ángeles, some emerging national designers are now offering custom-made clothing that could provide a "solution" to these wardrobe obstacles for shorter people.
The important thing is that, while the issue of sizing in Chile still needs to evolve, image consulting has. You've probably heard a fashion tip that had a restrictive tone, such as, "Short women can't wear long boots." Frustrating or not?
However, María de los Ángeles assures that these limitations are increasingly becoming a thing of the past. "For me, the idea is that at some point there will be no limits in fashion. I feel like we've been positively evolving in leaving behind those restrictions, which for me are super outdated. We probably still have schools or people who are very attached to that, and they'll continue to be around for a while." But today, the new generations, or the girls I hang out with who are my age or younger and who are working in this field of fashion, none of them have that view of restricting anything, so there's a bit of relief there," she noted.
Beyond the looks you can put together, a comprehensive personalized image consultation like the one our expert offers can help you define the image you want to project, along with giving you tools to achieve self-awareness, body acceptance, and even a sense of empowerment and greater confidence.
Clothing stops being just clothing when we realize the power it holds and the important role it plays in how we present ourselves and others. And while options are limited for petite people, at Dress Local we have several options that might work for you.