As a petite woman, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve stood in a fitting room, half-dressed, staring at a mirror and wondering, WHY doesn’t anything ever fit me properly? For years, I thought it was my body. I told myself my arms were too short, my legs not long enough, my shape somehow “wasn’t normal.” But here’s the truth I wish I’d known decades ago, it’s not me, it’s the clothes.
Most fashion brands simply aren’t designed for women under 5’4” (162cm). And for those of us who are, the struggle is real. Every pair of trousers seems to need six inches taken up. Sleeves swamp my hands by two or three inches. Even “cropped” jackets hit awkwardly at the hip. I can’t count how many times I’ve bought something I loved, only to hand it straight over to the tailor, spending another $50 to $100 just to make it wearable. By the time I’d finished altering it, my so-called “bargain” buy had become an expensive frustration.
For years, I thought that was just the price petite women had to pay to look polished. But when you’re constantly altering every new piece, it chips away at your confidence and your joy in getting dressed. I didn’t want to feel like I was playing dress-up in clothes that were never made for me, especially as I got older and began to value comfort, quality, and timeless style more than fleeting trends.
So, I was over the moon to find this curated line of clothing designed exclusively for women 5’4” and under. VIV THE LABEL (which stands for 5’4” in Roman numerals) is the brainchild of a former lawyer and mother of two who went through the same frustrations as I do. With a make it happen attitude, a range of mix-and match capsule staples was born. Made from soft, breathable and luxurious fabrics that celebrate petite women at every stage of life.
The machine washable pieces, are all about effortless elegant capsule staples you can mix, match, and actually wear. Every VIV THE LABEL hem, sleeve, and seam has been designed with petite proportions in mind. Pants that don’t need hemming. Tops that fit just right across the shoulders. Dresses that hit the knee, not mid-calf and waistlines that actually sit at the waist and not lower on the hips. This label takes all the guesswork (and extra tailoring bills) out of the equation.
Do yourself a favour and try the lovely VIV THE LABEL range made especially for pocket rockets who love a mix of elegance and comfort – so hard to find in other petite ranges. The light weight knitted tops are my absolute favourite, they are so comfortable to wear, and you can never have too many.
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