Boston-based Jean Wang (late 20s) loves pearls and stands just under 5 feet tall. She is a CFA working in financial advisory, and blogs about fashion, lifestyle, and fit challenges for petite women on her blog
Extra Petite. Jean’s style is impeccably polished, very chic, ladylike and classic with modern accents. She wears heels almost daily, likes colour and pattern, and is a fan of mixing high and low-end style. Jean is a stickler for fit and very knowledgeable about alterations, so her blog is a great go-to resource for fellow petite ladies looking for inspiration.
“I gravitate a lot towards classic and feminine styles, and I love mixing pieces (both new and pre-owned finds) from all different brands and price points. Five years ago, I was looking to build a more mature wardrobe that would help me transition from college kid to professional woman. Back then my style was a little more conservative, and over the past few years I’ve slowly become more experimental with colors, textures, and silhouettes.”
I was sold the minute I discovered that Jean is a pearls gal, like Angie and I. I adore the play on shapes in this French flair outfit: the oversized round pearls emphasize and complement the square neckline of the tee and crisp pleated skirt. The body con fit of the cropped tee in classic black and white stripe contrasts nicely with the elegant movement of the skirt. Jean altered the elastic waistband and took in the sides to achieve perfect fit. The bright peachy pink d’Orsay pumps and Summer hat add girly pizzazz. The blush pebble tote keeps things in the pink colour family without being too matchy-matchy with the pointy toe footwear.
Jean is on Team Mixing High-End with Low-End Pieces. Here she combines an H&M sleeveless fit-and-flare frock with a navy Theory trench. This shade of blue makes the mustard, navy and cream abstract pattern of the dress pop even more. Fab! The torso of the dress was slightly too long on petite Jean, and the waist an inch or two below her natural waist. So the belt worn higher is a clever, quick fix to visually raise the waistline. Leaving the coat open but tying the belt in a pretty bow creates a long line, showcases the fun pattern and fits right in with Jean’s ladylike and super polished style. Our blogger is sporting black heels that bookend her stunning dark locks. The clip-on bows are a fun nod back to the coat’s belt. The 66 inches long pearl necklace is wrapped three times and further enhances the ladylike vibe.
It’s unusual to find a ponte knit blazer in this light powder pink colour. It looks beautiful with the light-wash relaxed fit straight leg jeans. The rolled cuffs give us a better look at Jean’s leopard print pumps, which spice up the soft colour palette. Sporting distressed denim is an effective way to dress down a blouse and blazer outfit for casual days. The tucked fluid fit front pleat blouse adds delicate structure and extra polish. The caramel tote has clean, simple lines, and is a fun contrast against the pearl party up top. The multi-layered necklace in white, silver and gold is a statement piece, and just chunky enough to not overwhelm our blogger’s petite frame. Glamorous, oversized sunnies finish off the look.
“I love pearls because they never go out of style, plus are a safe bet when you don’t have time to think about accessorizing. My favorite pearl necklace is a long strand of ‘rope’ pearls gifted to me by one of my best friends — I love the versatility as they can be worn long, doubled or tripled up, knotted… the list goes on!”
Jean’s Burberry plaid felted wool coat is the star of the show in this outfit. This is my favourite look because I immediately fell in love with the fab navy, grey and charcoal check. Jean wanted something a little different than a classic long Burberry long Winter coat, and this belted beauty fit the bill perfectly. The asymmetric zip and silver hardware create modern soft edge, but are timeless at the same time. A blue ribbed turtleneck peeks out of the coat collar. Skinny black jeans are tucked into Hunter wellies with a wedge heel. The heel makes them dressier, which suits Jean’s style persona. The sheen echoes Jean’s lustrous locks. A black nylon tote with leather handles and charming beanie are the accessories of choice. The purple leather gloves — stunning with the blues and greys — are the luxurious finishing touch.
An elegant and cosy outfit for a snowy day. Our blogger is using a leopard print cardigan as a top. Tucking the V-neck cardi into a wool above-the-knee-length skirt creates a longer vertical line when you are sporting dark hosiery. Wearing the coat open, and opting for a topper that picks up one of the colours in the top further emphasizes that effect. Jean picked a tailored ladylike wool coat with structured shoulder line in a dove grey that works beautifully with her dark hair. The faux fur collar is a chic and stylish addition that keeps her extra warm. Olive grey opaque tights also provide protection against the cold. They are high contrast against the cream skirt and taupe grey ankle boots, so they do create horizontal lines. But it works because of the heeled booties and shorter length of the skirt. Oversized tassels on a classic shape shoulder bag add a playful touch.
This preppy plaid business casual look makes me smile. Jean is wearing an oversized plaid shirt borrowed from the boys in beautiful shades of red and green. She reins in the volume by popping over a chunky cable knit sweater that is more fitted but not tight. The forest green honey comb pattern looks fab with the colours in the shirt, and adds tonal textual interest. The turned-up cuffs on the shirt and pullover are a playful touch. Slim fit navy tapered ankle-length trousers keep the bottom part sleek and structured. The wool blend trench is a classic piece. The camel colour looks extra rich and luxurious against the deep green and red tones. Jean’s pointy toe pumps are a dark bronze metallic, which are unexpected and super fab! Her navy bag with gold hardware and gold nail polish pick up the same shade to create a harmonious whole.
Be sure to check out the rest of Jean’s wonderful outfits over at Extra Petite, but first let us know what you think of our fabulous petite blogger’s chic and impeccably polished style.
