To hate the term 'petite'

[lemondrizzleistheshnizzle]

You're not petite, you're SHORT.

I hate the term petite, to me it's used to make short people sound all dinky and cutesy and makes us tall people feel large and clumsy.

Am I alone in my irritation of this?!

Genuine question - if it's meant to mean small frame/proportions all over - why do petite ranges go up to size 18 and beyond?*

Because the proportions are different. Shorter arms, legs, narrower shoulders. You can have a petite frame and be as round as a beach ball hence size 18.
A standard 18 would be too long in length, wide on the shoulders even if it fits elsewhere.

That's definitely what shops mean by it but not what the actual word means. It's a euphemism to make people feel good and therefore buy the clothes.

BTW, I'm tall and very fat. Petite /short people make me look like a giant.

Because the proportions are different. Shorter arms, legs, narrower shoulders. You can have a petite frame and be as round as a beach ball hence size 18

But that is covered by being short, as most people are in proportion. Its not like there are lots of other short people who just have really short legs.

I'm short, but not just in height. It also makes my shoulders closer together than 'normal' so jackets don't fit. I can take up the sleeves but I can't change the shoulders.

And a weird one, but shoes don't fit- they see to fit just slightly too high into my ankle bone etc. It's only a few mm but it bloody hurts after walking for a while.

It's about the clothes being proportionally different. I have taken up many a pair of trousers in my time, but petite fit better all over- they hang better and they sit better, irrespective of the leg length.

Short is just about height. Petite is arm length, leg length, shoulder distance, torso lenght etc. It's just scaled down all over.

@minipie

* * It sounds like you have a massive complex about being tall OP

Not at all. I love being tall - I'm over 5ft 8 and happily wear heels with pride.

I think petite means small all over - not just short.

I think it can be used as a euphemism, much like curvy.

Curvy/Petite
More flattering than saying oversized/undersized.

I hate the term tall, it just bugs me the way the word sounds and the smug way tall people say, like they are superior. Just say giant or massive ffs. joking obviously.

Short is a more negative description than tall imo. And short people are likely to feel as different as tall people.

Naff all wrong with "Petite". What do you want a range of clothes for people who are smaller than average to be called? "Shortarses"?

Change the "Plus", "Curvy" etc ranges to "Fatties" while you're at it.

Oh nooooooooo can't fat shame. You can make every other bugger on the planet feel like shit though.
.
Tbf I feel slightly better for that rant!

Xpost Ed

Yabu. My dd is petite not just short. Small frame, hands, feet etc.

Not at all. I love being tall - I'm over 5ft 8 and happily wear heels with pride.

^^

In your op the words clumsy and large were used.

Which one is it?

As a fellow tall person - and taller than you, assuming 'taller than 5'8' is a way of saying 'shorter than 5'9' - I think you're being very weird about this

@MilkTwoSugarsThanks

What do you want a range of clothes for people who are smaller than average to be called? "Shortarses"?

Yes, exactly that. Joking.

Petite is about height not width - generally 5’ 3’ and under .

I'm 5'1 and shop in the petite range because yes I'm a shortarse. Not sure why you have an issue with people being described as petite. How does it affect you exactly other than make you feel clumsy (in your own words) Perhaps get a hobby?

Is this a woman thing? As far as I am aware, short arsed men are not referred to as petite.

😛

I’m in agreement with some of the others - I always thought that petite didn’t just mean short, it meant smaller than average in all directions?

“Petite” is definitely one of the better words I’ve had used to describe me.
“Fun size” and “hobbit” were not appreciated

Perhaps get a hobby?

^^

Quite.

I've never looked at a petite section and thought 'that's designed to make me feel large and clumsy'. I've never looked at a petite section and thought anything other than 'no point looking there'

@MilkTwoSugarsThanks

Brilliant, love this. Made me giggle

This thread is a bit of a twat magnet.

@DoctorDread

How does it affect you exactly other than make you feel clumsy (in your own words) Perhaps get a hobby?*

It doesn't (as per the vast majority of MN posts). Just got me thinking as doing some online shopping tonight.