Hi Shortie,

How’s your 2025 shaping up? It’s been a slow and somewhat delayed start for me. We’re already well into January, but it wasn’t until last week that I finally found my footing.

This year, I plan to launch several initiatives I know you’ll love! Over the last couple of months, it’s become clear that I can only get so much done in a day without sacrificing my well-being. So, I’m taking steps to outsource video editing and the design of creative assets.

With that support, I’ll be able to stay consistent and finally tackle projects beyond social media content—like the brand directory! I know I’ve mentioned it countless times (please don’t judge me, lol), but I’m determined to make it happen this year—along with a couple of other big things I can’t wait to share.

Sincerely short,

Lwany

P.S. All good things are worth waiting for, right?❣️

SHORT QUESTION

Q: I have several problems:

1. Finding stores in my area that carry petite sizes

2. Finding styles, colors etc. that I like.

3. Finding reasonably priced clothes that are a good quality.

– Carla

A: I totally understand your frustrations, Carla! While there aren’t perfect solutions, here are some helpful tips:

IN-STORE PETITE SIZING

I’ll forever mourn the closure of Topshop stores. My big petite-style epiphany happened at their flagship in London, and I frequented their LA studio services whenever I was dressing short celebs during my styling days.

Nordstrom carries Topshop, but its petite sizing is nearly nonexistent. Over the last couple of years, it has been gradually phasing out its petite inventory, which, to be fair, catered more to an older, conservative crowd.

Interestingly, the generation of shorter women before us established a strong demand for petite sizing. Brands like Talbots and Eileen Fisher cater to that demographic and often carry petite options in-store.

Other brands, such as Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, J.Crew, LOFT, and White House Black Market, manufacture petite sizes, but finding them in-store can be challenging. To save time, I recommend calling ahead.

Here’s a hack: For brands that offer free in-store delivery, order online and have your items shipped to the store. Then, you can try everything on in-store and handle any returns immediately.

Retailers with hemming services, like Nordstrom and Uniqlo, are also worth considering.

If traveling to a country with a shorter population, visit their department stores. You’ll find entire petite sections. For instance, I was amazed by the selection at Liverpool in Guadalajara’s Andares Plaza.

YOUR BEST STYLES AND COLORS

I wasn’t planning to mention this just yet (they say sharing a goal can trick your brain into thinking you’ve already achieved it), but I’m working on a personal styling service for Shorties! It’s designed to help you find the styles that suit you best.

There are so many factors to consider—whether you’re short-waisted, have a prominent waist, or where your widest part is, for example. I’m so excited to perfect this service with some of you before releasing it to the masses.

For colors, I highly recommend the app Style DNA. It analyzes your color palette using a selfie. You can upgrade for more insights, but you can also use Google to dig deeper into your results.

QUALITY CLOTHES FAIRLY PRICED

It’s become increasingly hard to distinguish which brands offer genuine quality. Unfortunately, price alone isn’t always a reliable indicator.

That said, our pricing expectations for clothing can be a bit unrealistic. Producing garments involves so many resources and requires skilled labor—think about the time it takes to create a pattern that transforms two-dimensional fabric into a well-fitting, three-dimensional piece. Until the fashion industry fully embraces digital tools, much of this process remains labor-intensive.

Economies of scale generally make larger brands more cost-effective, which can translate to better value for money. Though I don’t love fast fashion, I’ll admit I’ve owned Zara pieces that have held up incredibly well for over a decade.

Second-hand stores are goldmines for budget-conscious shoppers. Check out online platforms like TheRealReal or Vestiaire Collective and visit brick-and-mortar shops like Crossroads or Buffalo Exchange. Just remember to account for tailoring!

I recently discovered Crossroads, and I’m obsessed. For just $50, I scored a pair of Ganni jeans, which were originally priced at around $500. After tailoring, they’ll cost me $75—still comparable to a new pair of jeans from a mid-tier store, but with far superior quality.

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