4 Tips for Dressing Dapper When You’re Petite

Being tiny is sometimes tough. Reaching for the top shelves can be a challenge, people don’t often see you eye to eye (pun completely intended), and it’s almost certain that the average store won’t have clothes that fit you. As a #bankerboi, I’m supposed to be all suited up for work, but almost all dapper possibilities come from the men’s section, and are double my size.

For the people who ask where I find clothes that fit, here are my secrets in black and white:

Try the Kids’ Section

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Everyone thinks I’m a little Asian boy anyway, so naturally I shop where little Asian boys’ mothers would go: the kids’ section! I’ve had luck at GAP, H&M, Ralph Lauren, The Children’s Place, Uniqlo, and Zara (which, of them all, tends to have the best selection). Good things about kids’ clothes include that the sizing is pretty standard — I’m a 10/12 in boys tops and 3 in shoes, if anyone is curious — and that they’re so much cheaper than regular adult clothes.

Unfortunately, since I have hips, kids’ pants never fit perfectly. Which brings me to my next tip…

Make Friends with Your Tailor

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If you absolutely need that too-big button up, or if you’re trying to work with what you already have, altering clothes will be your new favorite Saturday errand. As a short boi, I try to look for adults’ ankle-length pants; everything else that fits my hips/waist is too long. As long as it fits the hips, it’s all good — everything else can be fixed. For tops, make sure the shoulder fits, since it’s the most expensive part to alter.

Accessories are (Mostly) Ageless

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If the tip of your tie reaches the end of your shirt, all is well. If its tail is too long, tuck it away inside your shirt, and if it’s too short, no one’s gonna see it anyway. If you’re worried about your tie dangling all over, use a tie clip!

Bow ties are the perfect accessory; even if they’re all anyone can see of your outfit, you’ll still come off as incredibly dapper! I tend to go for smaller, slimmer bow ties since the bigger, wider ones make me feel like a well-wrapped Christmas present. The kids’ section is a good place to look in this case too — just know, depending on your preferences, that their ties often come pre-tied.

I have a lot of accessories from Harrison Blake Apparel and Sprezzabox. I like to think it’s the tiny details, like wood bowties and lapel pins, that differentiate me from every other #bankerwanker on Wall Street, and add some actual style to the “professionalism” I’m required to have.

Choose the Best, Then Plan the Rest

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I like to assemble outfits by focusing first on one or two pieces of clothing, and then adding complementary pieces. Jackets are great for this; once you have a few good, well-fitting ones, it’s easy to switch your look up with different shirts and. Dapper AF on a budget!