Five Foot Nothing

I may be tiny but I’ve got mighty problems finding fashion that fits me.

By: Lexi Goodman

The tailor opened the door for me as I struggled through, my arms full of a laundry-load-size tangle of clothes. He looked down at me and smiled. “Hello, little Lexi! What’d you buy this time?”

I laughed and went to change in my usual dressing room. From jeans and mini skirts to ball gowns and cheer uniforms, I racked up quite the expensive alterations bill.

I am 5′ tall, or short perhaps, and have a gymnast build with curves. A size XXS, 23 or 00 might fit my waist but not the length or width of my legs. My bust is 32, yet my cup size is DD. How do I feel comfortable in shirts without adjustable straps or back ties? I don’t. 

While my friends think I’m lucky to be petite, the reality is far different. It’s rare for me to shop with friends without needing alterations or a pair of platform shoes. My friends’ shopping bags are typically as full as their enthusiasm for new clothes, or as full as my bank account when I usually leave empty handed.

Flyers are typically the smallest cheerleaders on the team. Lucky me, my size allows me to fly, right? Actually, it’s lucky for my stunt group. Being tiny makes it easy for my bases to perfect stunts. When the flyers line up by height, I’m still the shortest.

My two best friends in college are 5’9″. When asked to join them for senior group portraits, I respectfully declined. This way, they don’t have to squat in every photo and I don’t have to research where to buy the highest heels in Dallas.

It sounds crazy but I tend to relate more to women around 6’ tall or those shopping for plus-size clothing than the average 5’4″ body.

Tall female shoppers face unique challenges. Some brands offer longer inseams, but their wardrobe difficulties go beyond long pants becoming capris. A few issues include sleeves being too short and tops looking cropped.

Fashion progresses toward inclusivity, yet plus-size women still struggle finding trendy, high-quality clothes that fit. It’s frustrating for plus-size buyers to select bigger sizes and have brands assume they’re taller. 

Some retailers provide short, normal, and tall sizes to accommodate different heights. Shopping for plus-size clothes, however, traditional and online stores don’t have options to search by height.

I have a love-hate relationship with shopping. There’s nothing like finding the perfect dress, trying it on and seeing it fit like a glove. How common is this, though?

I hate shopping with a friend in a department store like Nordstrom and feeling isolated because of our body types. My friend is in the back corner on the second level where the plus-size section is, while I’m on the third floor in the petite section coincidently next to the kids area.

It’s hard enough entering a store doubting I’ll find something fitting, but it’s worse being separated from my shopping buddy due to our sizes.

Women’s bodies are very diverse and unique. In ethical fashion, inclusive sizing is essential. Most conscious brands only provide S-L or, if lucky, XS-XXL.

A woman who wears a size 4 at one store might need a size 8 at another since most brands have their own sizing charts.

Around 7% of individuals who require size XXS or smaller and 11% of people who need size XXL or bigger represent an underserved market in ethical fashion, reported by the CDC. 

Luckily, many designers are working on solutions. The Gap offers curvy jeans for full-figured women, but most fast fashion retailers are unlikely to employ this strategy because of significant cost and time commitments. 

The percentage of females ages 20-29 who are 5’ tall is 4.2%, and roughly 1% are 6’ or taller, according to the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics. 

If brands quit designing for one universal body shape and instead cater to niche markets, they’d benefit underserved consumers. My issues would grow shorter than me if retailers provided custom sizing or alterations. 

Lucky for me, though, that I’ve found a trustworthy and affordable alteration place, Unique Tailor, which was awarded D Magazine’s “Best of Big D” in 2017. It’s where I feel like I’m in the company of people who share my struggle and desire for clothing that fits our distinct body types.