Fashion staples are the cornerstone of any great wardrobe. These are the five must-haves for petite plus-size babes.
It can be hard to know where to start when you think about building a real, grown-up wardrobe.
Fashion and style should be fun but when you are petite plus size, it can be challenging to find clothes that actually fit. Which can sometimes make developing your own personal style feel like a chore.
Everyone deserves to look good and feel good in their clothes. That’s why I’m here to be your petite plus style guide and help you find the best fashion staples for you!
In this article I’ll be breaking down:
- What a Fashion Staple is
- The Best Fashion Staples for Women
- Why Fashion Staples are Important
- Where to Shop for Petite Plus Staples
- The 5 Essential Fashion Staples for Petite Plus Size
This article is dedicated to the essential petite plus-size fashion staples every petite plus babe needs to know about.
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Fashion Staples for Women
What are Fashion Staples?
Fashion staples are the cornerstone garments of any great wardrobe. They should be of higher quality, made to last, and true classics that can transition from season to season.
When curating your petite plus-size wardrobe, it’s important to focus on timeless styles that never go out of style. Don’t waste your time trying to catch every fast fashion trend. That’s not good for your bank account or the planet.
Fashion is about confidence and developing your own unique point of view. Trends can be a guide to help you define what you do and do not like but should not be relied upon when choosing your fashion staples.
When shopping for fashion staples, it’s important to prioritize items that are both wearable and comfortable. A true staple piece is one that you will wear over and over again. So, it needs to fit well, be comfortable and of course, make you feel amazing!
Not sure what it means to be petite plus size? Read this article: What is Petite Plus Size? (+ Easy Style Tips)
Best Fashion Staples for Women
Wardrobe staples are important for everyone, petite plus size or not. As I noted earlier, it’s a good idea to prioritize classic, evergreen styles when selecting your pieces.
Perfect Fit Pants
The first fashion staple that every woman needs in her closet is a pair of perfect-fit pants. Whether these are jeans or more elevated work pants, the fit is what matters most here. When you find a pair of pants that fit you just right, it’s easy to build outfits around them.
Light and Easy Layers
Easy layers are another essential element of a well-built wardrobe. A jacket that accentuates your figure, whether you are pear-shaped or apple, can help elevate any look. I find that jackets can be simple ways to complete a look and they are a true example of how fashion can be functional.
Versatile and Comfy Dresses
Now, let’s talk about dresses. A versatile dress that can be worn for many occasions is, in my opinion, the ultimate must-have fashion staple. Dresses can be worn with literally everything.
You can add a jacket, and layer some leggings or pants underneath. If it’s a short sleeve or sleeveless design, add a long sleeve turtle neck and transition a summer sundress into the cold winter months.
A well-fitting and quality made dress can last you for many years to come. Now, if dresses are just not your thing, swap out this fashion staple for a one-piece item like a jumpsuit or romper. The same idea applies!
Tops with the Right Neckline
Last but certainly not least, every adultish wardrobe should be well-equipped with tops with the right neckline for your shape. Choosing the right neckline depends on your overall body shape and your bust size.
Did you know that certain necklines can actually make you look shorter? True story, check out my guide on the 10 Style Mistakes that are Making You Look Shorter and learn what to wear instead.
5 Essential Petite Plus Size Fashion Staples
1. High-Waisted Pant
A lot of petite or shorter women are afraid of pants with a higher rise or waistline for fear that it will make their torso appear shorter. This is a possibility if you choose a pair of high-rise pants that are too high!
When you find a pair of high-rise pants that fit your petite plus-size frame perfectly, they will become a timeless staple for your closet.
Petite plus-size high-rise pants should not hit you directly under your bust line, that would classify as too high. A good rule of thumb is a pair that sit at your belly button or about two inches above it.
Pants with a higher rise are comfortable and they will help to accentuate your natural waistline, which is often the smallest part of our torsos as petite plus-size women.
A quality pair of high-rise pants can be paired with a crop top, trench coat, and sneakers for a day full of running errands. Or can be dressed up with a romantic blouse and pointy-toed heels, which will give the illusion of legs for days.
Whichever way you choose to wear them, they are a functional and flattering fashion staple that every petite plus-size babe needs.
2. Cropped Jacket
Jackets are one of my favorite types of clothing. They are versatile and when sourced correctly, can be true statement pieces.
When it comes to choosing the best jacket for your petite plus frame, cropped cuts should be your first pick. Because petite-plus women typically have shorter torsos and arms, a cropped jacket will define your waistline and stop you from looking like you are wearing your big brother’s old letterman jacket.
I would like to point out that longer coats are definitely not off-limits for you! But a jacket and a coat are different, primarily because of their lengths. A jacket is a style that usually doesn’t fall too far below your hips and a coat is pretty much anything longer than that!
There are cropped jackets in all shapes and sizes. A true classic would be a motorcycle style made from vegan leather, suede, or even denim.
Take your time and be thoughtful when shopping for this petite plus essential because a great jacket will be a piece that you’ll wear more often than some of your other staples. Its style and material need to be able to withstand the changing seasons and daily wear and tear.
3. Fit and Flare Dress
When it comes to the perfect dress silhouette for petite plus size, you can never go wrong with a fit and flare cut.
A fit-and-flare dress is exactly what it sounds like. It is a style of dress that has a fitted top half, a defined waistline, and a skirt that is flared and sometimes full.
This style of dress became popular in the 1940s and 50s because of its hyper-feminine and romantic silhouette. It’s one of the best styles for petite and plus-size women because it accentuates our curves without being too tight-fitting.
Fit and flare dresses are comfortable but they are also versatile. Even if you don’t typically lean toward a more romantic style, a fit and flare dress is a great petite plus base layer.
4. Midi Skirt
A traditional midi skirt for our taller sisters has a hem length that hits about mid-calf. That is not the correct midi length for a petite plus-size frame.
Because of this, many petite women don’t think they can wear a midi skirt for fear of looking shorter. But, rest assured, you can and should wear a midi skirt, here’s how.
The perfect midi skirt for petite plus-size women has a length that falls just one to two inches below the knee. This is a great length for a skirt that needs to be worn for a variety of occasions.
Midi-length skirts are appropriate for the office, family events, church gatherings, picking up your kids, or date night. Accessorize with a pair of skin-tone matching heels and you’ll have a classic fashion staple you can always count on to give you a polished look.
The other great thing about midi skirts and just skirts, in general, is the variety of styles they have available! Some options to consider when sourcing your skirt staple include wrap skirts, an asymmetrical hem, and a front slit skirt.
5. V-Neckline Top
The final petite plus fashion staple is a v-neckline top. Tops with an open neckline will elongate your neck, especially v-necks. The v shape draws the eye downward, helping you to appear longer.
V-neck tops can be found in everyday t-shirts, blouses, and sweaters. So consider what your daily life entails when looking for this wardrobe staple.
A t-shirt is the most iconic clothing item and I’d bet that almost everyone on the planet has one, or twenty. So, if you want an easy-to-wear and care-for item for this staple, go with a great-fitting v-neck t-shirt.
If you can, shop a reputable sustainable brand and choose a shirt made from natural and organic fabrics. Your skin and mother nature will thank you for it!
Where to Shop for Petite Plus Size Fashion Staples
Below are a few of the larger name brands that offer petite plus sizing or have options that would work well for a petite plus size frame:
I’d like to note that it is not always necessary to shop brand new when you are building your petite plus wardrobe. Reach out to friends and family who are a similar size to you and set up a clothing swap party where you both can let go of items you no longer need.
This is a fun way to find unique items for your closet while helping to keep unwanted clothing from ending up in a landfill somewhere.
You can also find lost treasures at local thrift stores and consignment shops. It takes a little more effort but when you are petite plus, sometimes you can snag items that would be too short for taller women or even find pieces in the kid’s section that may work for you.
Why are Fashion Staples Important?
Fashion staples are essential because they help you focus your wardrobe when shopping, saving you time and money. When you are shopping with purpose and intention, this helps to stop the overconsumption of clothing that you don’t need.
A great selection of fashion staples will also help you develop your own personal style because you will be selective about what you buy and who you buy from. Because you now know that your staples need to be of high quality, fit you perfectly and make you feel good while wearing them.
This type of intentional shopping will help you find clothing that actually fits, support brands you trust, and ultimately build a closet to die for. Both thoughtfully and sustainably.
This is everything you need to know about fashion staples for petite plus-size women and why they are so essential to building the wardrobe of your dreams.
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