How to Build a Petite Capsule Wardrobe From Staple Pieces That Mix and Match
If you’re wondering how to build a petite wardrobe, a petite capsule wardrobe is a small set of staple pieces that all mix and match, cut for a shorter frame so they work together without alterations. That’s how Style by Kezy, an Australian petite fashion brand, designs every piece: for women 5'2" and under, in sizes 6 to 18, so you can get dressed without a second thought.
Petite is a height, not a body shape. Whatever size you wear, the challenge is usually the same: pieces that don’t meet in the right places.
What is a petite capsule wardrobe?
It’s a handful of versatile staples that you can wear in many combinations. The key word is “together”. If every piece is cut for the same proportions, any pants, jacket or skirt you pick up will work with the others, so a few pieces give you far more outfits than you’d expect.
Why do petite outfits fall apart even when each piece fits?
You can own pants that fit, a jacket that fits and a skirt that fits, and still feel like something is off. Usually each piece was cut for a different set of proportions, so the rise, the jacket length and the hem never line up. Nothing is wrong with you. The pieces just weren’t designed to meet.
What staple pieces should a petite wardrobe start with?
Pants, a jacket and a skirt cover most of what you wear in a week.
The pants: Tilly Pants. Start at the waist, because everything else sits on top of it. The Tilly Pants run 93cm from the waist to the hem at the side seam in a size 6, up to 102cm in a size 18, graded for every size so the length is cut for you whichever size you wear.
The jacket: Josie Jacket. Length is what makes or breaks a jacket on a petite frame. The Josie measures 63cm from the top of your shoulder to the hem in a size 6 and 72cm in a size 18, so the length is graded for every size rather than one length scaled up or down.
The skirt: Pippa Skirt. It measures 46cm from the waist to the hem at the side seam in a size 6 and 52cm in an 18, so the hem lands at a length that suits petite legs instead of dragging past where it should.
How do you mix and match petite staple pieces?
Because every piece is a staple, you’re not matching one outfit to one occasion. You’re building a set that works in any order. Start with how you want the day to feel.
Pants and jacket. For days when you want to look pulled together without effort. The Tilly Pants with the Josie Jacket give you a clean line from shoulder to ankle.
Skirt and jacket. For a day that moves from desk to dinner. The Pippa Skirt with the Josie Jacket works at 10am and at 6pm.
Swap in other staples. Put the Nikita Skirt where the Pippa was, or layer the Lulu Tailored Shirt under the Josie. The pieces are designed to go with one another, so you don’t have to rethink the outfit.
The same jacket, different days. One jacket carrying pants one day and a skirt the next is how a few pieces become a week of outfits.
See it in The Shortlist
Every Sunday on Instagram and Facebook, I walk through one piece in a short video called The Shortlist. Watching a piece move is the quickest way to know how it fits before you buy, and the Tilly Pants, Josie Jacket and Pippa Skirt are three Sundays in a row, so you can watch the outfit come together.
Petite capsule wardrobe questions
What is a petite capsule wardrobe?
A small collection of staple pieces cut for a shorter frame that all mix and match. At Style by Kezy that means women 5'2" and under, in sizes 6 to 18.
How many pieces do I need for a petite capsule wardrobe?
Start with pants, a jacket and a skirt. Because they’re designed to go together, those three give you several outfits, and you can add more staples over time.
What does petite mean for clothing?
Clothing designed for a shorter height, so the proportions are right from the start. It’s about height, not body shape.
Do petite jackets need to be cropped?
Not always. What matters is where the jacket ends on you. The Josie Jacket’s length is graded across sizes 6 to 18 for a petite frame.
Where can I buy petite clothes in Australia?
Style by Kezy is an Australian petite fashion brand, and every piece is available at kezy.au.