Let’s talk about something nobody really talks about. Underwear.
As petite women we spend so much time thinking about how our clothes fit, but underneath it all there is a whole other problem that most of us have just quietly accepted. Underwear that was designed for someone much taller than us, and it shows.
There is still no dedicated petite underwear range out there yet (can you believe this), and honestly that is something the industry really needs to address. But until then and armed with the right knowledge, you can absolutely find options that work for your frame.
What you might not know about me is that alongside my passion for fashion, I also spent around three years as a bra fitter at M&S while I was at university, fitting thousands of women during that time. So I am super passionate about getting the right fit for your underwear too.
Here are the most common petite underwear problems and my best advice for solving them.
Bra straps that just won’t stay up
This is my biggest personal struggle when it comes to bras, so if you have a shorter torso like me, I guarantee you know exactly what I am talking about. I am constantly pushing my straps back up and it is so annoying!
When you are petite in the torso, the distance between your shoulder and your bust is smaller than average. So standard bra straps are often too long, even on their shortest setting.
Here are my top 5 tips for helping solve this:
Look for fully adjustable straps
And I mean the whole strap, not just a small section at the back. The more adjustable the better. Brands like Freya and Fantasie tend to offer really good adjustability.
Go racer back or crossover back
Where the straps come off the back and cross over, meaning they physically cannot fall down. A total game changer and works brilliantly under summer tops and dresses too.
Use a convertor clip
If you already have bras you love, a simple convertor clip can turn them into a racer back style in seconds. Such a cheap and easy fix!
Look for crop top style bras
Where the straps are more integrated into the design so there is nothing to slip off your shoulders.
My personal favourite – built in bra tops
I know this is not for everyone and it depends on the support you need, but as a 32D I can get away with a good built in bra vest and honestly it solves the problem completely. Just check the neckline and strap length before you buy as these vary a lot.
Petite & Fuller Busted
This is one of the biggest misconceptions in the fashion industry, that petite women also have small busts. And it probably comes from the fact that the industry still seems to think petite means slim, which as we all know, it absolutely does not.
Petite simply means 5’3″ and under. That is it. It says nothing about your shape, your weight or your bust size. And a huge percentage of petite women have a fuller bust, so if this is you, you are in very good company.
The result is that it is incredibly common for petite women to have a smaller back but a larger cup, and the high street simply does not cater for this combination well. A 28 or 30 back with a D cup or above can feel almost impossible to find, leaving so many of us wearing the wrong size entirely without even knowing it.
The solution is to go specialist. Here are the brands I recommend and the sizes they cover:
Back sizes: 28 to 46
Cup sizes: A to K
Price range: Budget to mid range
Bra fitting service: Yes, free in store
My notes: I actually used to be a bra fitter at M&S many years ago so they are always my first recommendation. Their size range is impressive for a high street brand and the free fitting service is absolutely worth taking advantage of.
Back sizes: 28 to 42
Cup sizes: B to K
Price range: Mid to premium
Bra fitting service: Available at selected stockists
My notes: A brilliant option for petite women as they start at a 28 back. Really good adjustability on straps too which as we know is so important for shorter torsos.
Back sizes: 28 to 40
Cup sizes: D to L
Price range: Mid to premium
Bra fitting service: Yes, free in store and virtual
My notes: Specifically designed for fuller busts so perfect if you have a smaller back and a larger cup combination. Their fitting service is exceptional.
Full cups that gap, gape and show above everything
A full cup bra that is designed for a longer torso sits too high on a petite frame. Even if the cup size is technically correct, the top of the cup often sits loose, shows above necklines and generally just feels uncomfortable all day.
The fix is simple. Swap full cup styles for balconette or demi cup designs instead. They sit lower on the chest and work so much better proportionally on a shorter frame. All of the brands mentioned above offer a great selection of different cup styles, so it is absolutely worth trying a few different shapes to find what works best for you.
Knickers that ride up too high in the leg
A style that looks like a perfectly normal brief on the hanger can end up sitting uncomfortably high on a petite frame, cutting into the leg and feeling anything but comfortable. High leg styles in particular can end up almost at the waist, which is neither practical nor pleasant.
The answer is to avoid anything labelled high leg or high waist and look for Brazilian, shortie or mid rise brief styles instead. They sit lower on the hip and work so much better proportionally. Marks and Spencer do a brilliant range of mid rise options in lots of styles and fabrics that are well worth exploring.
Shapewear that has to be tucked into your bra
We have all been there. You put on your high waisted shapewear, it sits almost at your bust, and you spend the rest of the evening awkwardly rolling it down or tucking it into your bra just to make it work. It completely defeats the purpose.
High waisted shapewear is designed for a longer torso. On a petite frame it simply has nowhere to go.
The fix is to look for mid waist options or shorts styles that stop at the natural waist rather than extending up the torso. Spanx are not otinal the oriognal shapewear but also my favoruite, they do a great range of natural waist knickers and shorts
The bottom line 🩷
Finding underwear as a petite woman is genuinely one of the biggest unsolved challenges in fashion, and I say that as someone who has spent years in this industry. There is simply nothing out there designed specifically for us yet, and that needs to change.
Until it does, I hope this guide helps you navigate the options that do exist. And if you have found something that works brilliantly for your petite frame, please do comment below because we are all in this together and your recommendation could be exactly what someone else needs. 🩷
I have also put together a petite friendly underwear edit with all my current top picks in one place.
