Hi Shortie,

Happy February! Am I the only one who feels like 2025 has just started?

There’s something about a new year that makes us all want to declutter—Marie Kondo, our lives, if you will. There’s an undeniable high in shedding anything that no longer serves us, including clothes that are just taking up space.

As I dive into a stack of personal styling books (research for a service I’m developing), one thing has become abundantly clear: a closet clean-out is an essential step in style refinement. But what surprises me is how strongly these books encourage getting rid of apparel without hesitation.

Do you ever think back on a garment you regret donating? You’re not alone. It happens to most of us all the time. That’s why I think you should wait a little while before eliminating what no longer serves you.

Even after several weeks, I bet there will be pieces you hesitate to donate or sell. That is why I propose creating a fashion archive—a sort of purgatory. I guarantee you find yourself digging through it more than once to ‘save’ an item or two—maybe not anytime soon, but you will!

I think there’s a problem with how easy it is to get rid of things. Many of us still believe our donations to places like Goodwill will be rehomed while raising funds for a good cause. But as fellow Shortie Sissy pointed out in her latest newsletter, a lot of what we drop off ends up in landfills.

That’s one reason I’ve been holding onto my cast-offs for years. I imagined hosting a clothing swap or a pop-up where Shorties could give them a second life. It's easier said than done, though.

Last fall, I realized that was a complete delusion—finding enough participants for a swap was impossible, and despite hosting multiple Instagram Lives and a pop-up, I didn’t sell much. Given all the time and effort it took, I probably lost money.

So, I turned to secondhand shops and, fortunately, made about $1K. With a better strategy, I could have made more. Here’s what I wish I had known:

• Selling it yourself yields the highest profit. Platforms like Depop, Poshmark, and Vestiaire offer great returns but require time—listing items, messaging buyers, and shipping orders. That’s why I recommend selling any higher-priced items yourself. Personally, I set aside anything worth over $100 to list online.

• Start with secondhand shops that pay the most. Preloved retailers like Crossroads and Buffalo Exchange are quick options, but since they only pay a percentage of the resale price, visit the highest-paying stores first. If you’re in LA, start with Wasteland, then Crossroads, and Buffalo Exchange last.

• Remember local preloved shops. Small vintage boutiques and mom-and-pop resale shops can be great options. Their payouts vary, so check with them first and prioritize accordingly.

• The buying process is highly subjective. What is accepted varies by store, location, and even by buyer. To increase your chances, visit multiple locations of the same retailer.

• Take everything. I initially sorted my inventory by quality, but a fellow Shortie who worked in resale advised me to take everything. I was surprised to see some fast-fashion pieces accepted by the highest-paying store.

• Avoid dropping off leftovers at Goodwill. Instead, choose more reputable options, such as Out of the Closet, which funds HIV testing, treatment, and prevention services that save lives.

• Dispose of textiles responsibly. Be mindful of what you donate—if you wouldn’t buy it, chances are, it won’t even be put for sale. Some clothing, especially fast fashion, isn’t built to last. Fabrics pill, colors fade, seams rip. Rather than passing the problem along, let’s take ownership of our purchases and support textile recycling programs. Yes, that means paying to dispose of our fashion waste properly. Trashie and SWAY are great alternatives.

Shopping is easy, but getting rid of our purchases is hard. After working so hard to rehome what no longer served me responsibly, my entire approach to shopping has changed. Now, I have real skin in the game.

I was never a big fast-fashion shopper, but knowing how impossible it is to rehome those pieces, I’ll think twice before ever buying from those brands again.

In the future, I’d love to try Croissant, a shopping tool that guarantees buybacks. It would close the loop on my purchases, save me the hassle of reselling, and still ensure a payout.

Sincerely short,

Lwany

P.S. Let me know l if you’ve tried Croissant. I’d love to hear about it❣️

SHORT QUESTION

Q: I need help finding a pair of white jeans that suit my petite frame.

Do you have any recommendations?

– Secret Shortie

A: I wish there were a universally flattering white jean for all Shorties, but you know we’re all one of a kind!

Here are some guidelines to help you find your perfect pair:

• Rise: If you have a short torso, go for a mid or low-rise. If you have a long torso, opt for a mid or high-rise. If your vertical proportions are fairly balanced like mine, I’d go with a mid or low-rise for the sake of modernity.

• Consider Crops: Unlike blue jeans, white denim doesn’t have fading or wash features that might land in awkward places. I’m referring to anything meant for the thigh area, but for us with short legs extends to our knees. That means you’re free to cut away any extra length. I’m actually a huge fan of raw hems on white denim!

• Inseam: Knowing your inseam is key—not just to check if a pair will be too long, but also to gauge where a cropped style will hit on you.

For a modern fit, I recommend a wide-leg style. I finally found a pair that gave me the same confidence as the classic high-rise ankle-crop jeans—low-rise, fitted through my bum, and has palazzo-like wide legs. The lower rise balanced out the width, keeping my petite frame from getting overwhelmed.

If wide pants aren’t your vibe, I get it. Instead, try a straight crop or flares—both are classics and super flattering on Shorties.

Depending on your skin tone, a white jean might be too stark. As an olive-tone girly, I prefer the off-white styles with brown stitching.

I scoured all the petite denim retailers on my brand directory (working to get this to you ASAP!), I narrowed down the best contenders for you:

Wide Leg Crop

Mid-Rise: 10.25” / 26 cm

Inseam: 27” / 68.5 cm

$225

With a 27” inseam, this cropped style is likely to fit more like a full-length pant on petites.

Fun fact: AG actually reached out to me for a gifting opportunity, and amid everything going on last month, I totally forgot to reply. Seeing this pair was a reminder to get back to them—I’ll be sure to report back on the fit (that is, if I didn’t miss my chance—oops!).

Bootcut

Mid-Rise: 9” / 23 cm

Inseam: 34” / 86 cm

$195

Before you panic over that ridiculously long inseam, let me remind you—it’s a raw hem! That means you can cut them to your perfect length, no tailor needed.

Flared Crop

Mid-Rise: 10” / 25.5 cm

Inseam: 26” / 66 cm

$228

Flared Crop

High-Rise: 10.625” / 27 cm

Inseam: 25” / 65 cm

$228

Wide Leg

High-Rise: 11.75” / 30 cm

Inseam: 29.5” / 75 cm

$178

I suspect this inseam might be too long for Shorties, but folding over the wide cuff could be a vibe—unless you’re into the too-long pant leg look (which, honestly, can be cool in the right context).

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