Is 5 foot 4" Petite?

[Deggy]

I'm slightly prompted another S&B thread here, but I'm convinced I used to be 5 foot 7 " and always considered myself quite tall. However, I'm losing height as I go through menopause and I'm only a shade over 5 foot 4 now.

It hasn't occurred to me to ever buy petite clothes, but I'm constantly sending clothes back and moaning about how ridiculously long everything is

Am I really starting to edge into 'petite'?? I always imagined petite clothes were for much daintier looking women than me!

I think officially petite ranges tend to be intended for 5’3 and under. However clothes have got SO long now - because the younger generation is so tall - that maybe that needs to be revisited.

More seriously, if you think you’ve lost a lot of height, you should definitely get checked out for eg any signs of osteoporosis.

I'd say 5'4" is in the "main range" for most clothing. I believe tall ranges sometimes start at 5'7" but some are taller and petite would be 5'2" and under so 3, 4, 5 and 6 are pretty safe to buy without looking for special lengths.
Do you have short legs?

If I were you I'd give it a try. It depends a lot on how long the person's limbs and torso are more than height I think. I'd say 5'4 is average but petite ranges may suit your body type better.

How can you have lost 3 inches, unless you have significant osteoporosis?

I guess it depends on your proportions a bit. I am short of leg and 5'4 and find that most 'regular' clothes, especially trousers swamp me. M&S short length jeans etc tend to be just right at the moment. I don't tend to shop in the petite section but maybe I should

Also it depends on your size/weight.

Size 6 + 8 will be shorter than a 12 for instance.

My mum shrunk four inches over 20 yes, she's in her 80s. Perfectly healthy bone density. I think you can easily shrink, gravity gradually takes its toll. The bits in between the bones in your back degenerate over time.

Women shrink in from 60s onwards but OP is only menopause age,

I guess your mum shrank between 60-80?

I am the same height and clothes completely swamp me in length. If I buy a midi dress from say Zara or Hush it will be down to my ankles. Think the White Lady from Motley Hall. Trousers were impossible until ‘cropped barrel leg’ which is basically ‘full length barrel leg’ on me.

I don’t understand it. Why are clothes so long now? I’m sure this used not to be the case.

I’m 5’2 so would be classed as petite , however only for my top half, as I have long legs , so petite bottom anything is no use to me.

I'm 5'7 and find regular fits are normally OK however i noticed some shops are now super long for regular - especially wide leg trousers

Reading this I have a way to go yet but really hope I never shrink ha.

No, petite clothes would be short. At 5ft 3 I just get away with it. Really for 5 ft 2 and under.

No but being 4’ 11” you are tall. That said length wise most petite ranges would be fine

I just bought petite jeans and had to get 4 inches taken off them. I'm 5.1"

Clothes are massive these days!

I’m 5’4 and wear petite it’s not too small.

Yeah that is true. Roughly. But it could've started at meno which was at 55. I shrank an inch as I do have osteoporosis but also because I had hip surgery and now one leg is shorter than the other! 😂

Maybe OP wasn't really 5'7, more that was in a small heel? I remember thinking I was a bit taller than I actually was for ages.

I'm 5'3" /4". I don't buy "petite" . When I was a size 6 or 8 I occasionslly tried on "petite" in Hobbs. They were awful and felt very skimpy.

I'm 5'3'' or 4" and find I only order petite in midi dresses and skirts as the longer lengths are often ankle length on me. I've lost count of the number of skirts I've picked up in shops ad put straught back becuase they reach my ankles. So few brands have petite ranges that I now gravitate to those that do. Don' get me started on sleeeve lengths!

I'm 5'6 (and doing Pilates to try to avoid shrinking, as well post menopause) but I have very short legs, which means that I often have trousers too long, even though I'm a size 10.

M&S do different lengths of leg in jeans, so I tend to buy from them, or just accept having long trousers.

I'm 5"3.5 and buy leg length 30. I believe petite is 29" and for women 5"3 and under.
Standard trousers are always too long and petite are often too short as I'm bang in between, so I get 'short'.

I’m 5’ 5” and find a lot of things too long, even though that height is pretty much bang average the fashion industry designs for tall people so regular leg length on clothes is normally 32” or 34” whereas I’d be a 30” or 28” depending on the style. Or maybe I just have short legs 😂

You shrink if you have scoliosis.

Funny you should ask this, I’m 5’4 and have always bought standard clothes. I’ve lost almost 5 at so now re buying a lot of clothes and now everything is just so long! My last couple of pairs of jeans and trousers have been from the petite range. I’m still an 18 on the bottom half (was a 24) so not exactly tiny. I was moaning to DH that I have never had to buy petite before.

If you are generally small boned and slim then yes. But if you are a hefty 5ft 4 then no.