With Alterations Needed Kelly Tucker (30) has created a go-to source for petite women looking for tailoring suggestions that will help them to achieve great fit. Being very petite herself, at 4′ 11″ with a slender build, she’s also pounded the pavement researching clothing brands that will work for a smaller frame. Kelly is a Modern Classic dresser with a small, well-curated wardrobe full of investment pieces. She has a preppy element to her style and likes to throw touches of boyish charm into the mix. All those years of clothes not fitting straight of the rack have played a crucial role in developing her current style persona:

“When I began making a conscientious effort to build my wardrobe, keeping it small and curated was done mostly by force. My size is not widely available or produced by many companies so my choices are already quite limited. If I happen to find an item that meets my style and size preferences, it is not uncommon to see it sell out quickly due to limited production of my size. This causes me to pay full retail for pieces I really covet and takes a big chunk out of my shopping budget. Tack on the added cost of alterations to make it fit perfectly and my shopping choices become very considered. If I’m going to throw another $100 at the retail cost of a blazer to alter it down to fit me, it needs to last and be in line with who I am, stylistically speaking. For this reason, I’ve taken a pretty strong stance on personal style and lean towards uniform dressing that I can embrace for years to come. It’s become important for me to develop a distinct personal style so that I’m not spending money to tailor fleeting trends.”

Burgundy is Kelly’s favourite neutral, and you’ll see it pop up regularly when you browse her archives. It goes well with her preferred colour palette of blues, whites, creams and blacks, allowing her to effortlessly mix and match to her heart’s content. This cardigan over flared skirt look perfectly illustrates the classic side of her style persona, showcasing impeccable, traditional fit and a keen eye for great proportions. Petite women rock a shorter hemline like nobody’s business. This is a fun, girly silhouette that gets its sophisticated air from the bold stripe and kick of saturated merlot — I love how crisp it looks against the white in the skirt. The gold lace bib necklace and link bracelet add a certain richness to the whole. The two-toned tonal pumps provide a tad of texture. One of Kelly’s bag beauties, the iconic black Chanel 2.55, also makes her first appearance. Now that’s what I call the icing on the cake!

“Jeans go with everything.” It’s one of Kelly’s style mottos, and she has spent a lot of time and effort scouring stores to find the perfect pairs. Getting the fit right on straight legs has proven a little tough for this ultra petite lass, as the scrunching and the way they rest on top of her shoes was never exactly right. So it’s skinny jeans to the rescue! Here she’s paired them with a drapey cream crêpe de Chine shirt with contrasting black cuffs and collar. A simple, sleek look for the weekend. Funny surprise: the bow is a snap-on bowtie from ASOS, and not actually part of the blouse. For me, the star of the show is that little red darling dangling from Kelly’s shoulder — the twin to her black 2.55 handbag and one of Kelly’s most prized possessions:

“I really love learning about brand heritage, and Coco Chanel has such an interesting (and controversial) story that I really fell in love with her brand before I got my hands on these handbags. I wanted deeply to own something Chanel, and so my holy grail handbag quickly became the timeless classic flap. Both my Chanels were found while on vacation, which is sweet because I have those warm fuzzy vacation memories attached to them. I’m very satisfied with my little Chanel collection, but have definitely considered adding a third. I’d be tempted if the perfect shade of turquoise were to pop up. Or maybe a black Classic Flap with gold hardware (both of mine have silver and a girl’s gotta have options, right?). I was tempted by the Boy bag recently too. Chanel handbag collecting is a slippery slope!”

The pale blush pink pumps were the first thing that caught my eye in this smart casual shorts ensemble. Don’t petites look fab in short shorts! By keeping the footwear low contrast Kelly’s gams look miles long. These spiked heels are a clever contrast in themselves, the soft colour being a quite unexpected pairing with the tough spikes. The studded wrap ring and spiked bracelet continue the refined tough vibe. Yet the outfit as a whole has Kelly’s polished, ladylike signature written all over it. She’s also rocking one of her trademark pieces, a great fitting tailored blazer. The white is fab with the blue chambray shirt, a super flattering colour on Kelly. The tan bag and blush skinny belt tie this soft colour palette together. While the seersucker shorts and cheerfully bright brue-green nail polish scream Summertime. Let’s all go for ice cream!

Boarding school prep meets Euro Chic. I knew I wanted to feature this smart casual outfit the minute I saw Kelly sporting her Cordovan penny loafers — or her “grandpa shoes”, as she affectionally calls them. The colour is an unusual mix of deep red and brown hues. The shine adds a dressy touch to the look. And have you noticed how Kelly’s curls provide built-in textural interest? This continues with the studs on her fabulous Valentino Rockstud double handle tote bag (a statement piece for sure) and the marled fabric of the sweater vest. Beautiful blues and burgundy reds play the main role here. Combining modern classics like the gold-buttoned blazer and striped button-down with playfully rolled skinnies keeps everything looking modern and fresh. Accessories have been kept simple: a ladylike pearl bracelet, trusted men’s size watch and a vintage brooch that adds to the schoolboy vibe. Check out the detail shot to discover a delightful dandy-esque feature: the polka dot pocket square hidden under Kelly’s curls. 

The perfect length tan Burberry trench, a timeless item with great fashion staying power, takes centre stage in this Modern Classic Spring outfit. Kelly likes to wear the double-breasted coat open in milder weather, but finds that the extra fabric tends to swallow her up. That’s where this clever trick comes in handy: fold back and button in the extra fabric on itself. Then cinch the belt at the back to complete the slimmer effect. I adore this head-to-toe ladylike look because every little detail is just right. From the happy yellow colour of the pleated skirt (it even has pockets!), to the well-chosen graphic looms print on the blouse and the touches of black repeated throughout the outfit that don’t feel heavy in the least. Folding over the collar of her blue print blouse and finishing off the ensemble with a coral bubble necklace adds a delicious splash of subtle colour against Kelly’s face. 

Another brunette that looks terrific in blue! Kelly collects dress shirts and has a soft spot for traditional menswear fabrics and clothing. She likes to experiment with androgynous looks as long as the end result is tailored with a feminine shape. I call this her cheeky tomboy in designer heels outfit, it’s my personal favourite. It’s a tad RATE (rough around the edges) with the distressed denim —  found after much hunting around as she’s very particular about placement of faux scuffed knees — yet still put-together. The Glen plaid waistcoat is sassily boyish, the suede pointy toe cobalt heels dainty and fun. Kelly is not a swap your bag all the time type of gal, preferring to keep her beloved investment pieces into constant rotation. So, Le Fabuleux Chanel Noir comes out to play again. An über versatile piece with a sky-high longevity factor for sure!

I had a ball browsing Kelly’s super polished modern classic outfits, and I’m very curious to hear what you think. If you need advice on clothing alterations and fit issues for petites, then do check out the Alterations Needed forum and the info underneath each blog post. Or you can also follow Kelly’s pinboards, which are an excellent representation of our petite blogger’s style sensibilities.

I can’t believe that I haven’t officially shared the magical powers of BodyGlide. It’s usually used by athletes on areas of their body where they are prone to chafing. But I use it on my feet on the areas where I’m prone to blistering, like on the side of my pinky toe, the top of my big toe, and at the back of my heel. It works wonders in areas that can rub raw. No more plasters for shoes that are prone to rubbing, like strappy sandals, dressy pumps, or any shoe worn without socks. 

I use BodyGlide on days when I’m wearing footwear sans socks and doing a lot of walking, like on a full shopping day with clients when I’m on my feet for ten hours, at Fashion Week, or sightseeing on holiday when I’m on my feet for up to fourteen hours. 

Apply the stick directly to blister-prone areas of the foot and pop on the shoe. It’s that simple. It feels a little slippery at first, but that goes away in no time. Do not apply to the underside of your feet. It’s far too slippery for that and I nearly broke my ankles after making that mistake. I have never tried using BodyGlide with boots and socks, but that should work just fine too. 

I use the original BodyGlide Anti-Chafe solution as shown here because that’s what was recommended to me. But there’s actually a version made just for feet called FootGlide. I haven’t used that version yet, but it sounds even better.

The ankle strap, be it on a pump, sandal bootie or sandal is the footwear style of the season, and seasons to follow. The straps are positioned on or above the ankle bone and make a statement. 

I adore the style. It’s a tad more interesting than a regular pump or sandal. And the sleeker versions look modern and pretty. 

I’ve had lots of practice helping clients find ankle strap footwear to suit their ankle width, leg shape, and comfort levels this year, and learned two important things along the way: 

1. You do not need to have dainty ankles and long legs to sport ankle strap footwear. We can all wear ankle straps if we choose the style that works best on us. 
2. Soft leather is very important. It makes the ankle strap a lot more comfortable and less likely to rub your skin raw.

Here are some characteristics to look for in an ankle strap shoe or sandal. Many of them are about offsetting the horizontal line created by the ankle strap. There is no need to adhere to all of them at once.

Low Colour Contrast

Choose a colour that creates a low contrast against the skin tone of your bare legs, even if it’s just the ankle strap portion of the shoe. A nude-for-you shade is one option, but so is any colour that blends into the colour of your skin, like metallics, shades of tan and browns, or snakeskin. If you’re really pale like me, you’ll find that white ankle straps are low contrast against your skin tone. And darker colours are low contrast against dark skin tones. 

Broad Strap Width

Ankle straps come in all widths. Broader straps tend to be more comfortable, whereas narrow straps can cut into the skin as you stride. Broad ankle straps are generally best for larger ankles, although they look just as good on smaller ankles when the rest of the shoe is refined.

Crisscross Styles

I’d never have guessed that ankle straps with a crisscross effect are flattering on larger ankles but they work like a charm! The V-shape that is created in front breaks up the horizontal line of the strap and wraps around the ankle much like a lower vamped shoe.

Loose Strap Fit

A looser ankle strap looks more flattering to my eye. It gives you ample room for motion, AND it creates less of a horizontal line across the leg. Tight ankle straps look and feel more cutting. Some come with adjustable ankle straps and others don’t. Either way, make sure you have enough strap length to create a looser strap fit across the ankle. 

Heels

If you are at all in doubt that ankle strap footwear is flattering because it cuts the leg line — choose heels rather than flats. A low heel counts so don’t think you have to wear extra high heels. Larger ankles look great in wedged ankle strap shoes, or chunkier heel styles. 

Pointy Toes

Pointy toe shoes elongate the leg line, offsetting the cutting horizontal line of the ankle strap, especially when the shoe is low contrast and has a heel. Remember that pointy toes come in all shapes of point, from almond toes to extra long and pointy.

It’s amazing how the higher position of a broad ankle strap above the ankle bone draws attention to and away from the ankle. That’s why they can work for all shapes of ankle. It sounds counterintuitive but you’ll get what I mean once you start trying on the style. 

I have wanted a pair of pointy toed pumps with broad ankle straps and low heels for over a year. Their refined and elegant silhouette really appeals to the ladylike aspect of my style persona. If I did not have fussy feet, I would wear these white darlings with skirts, dresses, long shorts, harem pants, cropped pants and boyfriend jeans. 

Over to you. Have I dispelled the myth that you can’t wear ankle strap footwear, and are there further concerns with the style? Do you already wear statement ankle straps?

I usually wear knee-length denim cut-offs or city shorts that are tapered and formfitting in silhouette. But I’m bored with that shape, and felt the need to refresh this aspect of my Summer style. That’s why a pair of long slouchy dressy shorts went onto my warm weather shopping list in January. I liked the long shorts shapes I saw coming down the runways for Spring 2013, like this white shorts suit from Tommy Hilfiger. Inspired by that silhouette, the hunt was on to find a similar pair. 

Well, it’s been hard to find long dressy shorts because stores are obsessed with short shorts and cropped pants this season. That elusive in-between length just isn’t popular, despite rumours that it would be trending. I thought of hemming a pair of cropped pants to this length if all else failed. Then I spotted the Grace shorts from Club Monaco. They aren’t slouchy, but they are roomy, loosely tailored, drapey, knee-length, and wider at the hems. They’re just what I was looking for, providing a change from the shorts silhouettes I’ve been wearing for years. So I snapped up a pair in cobalt blue because the white was quite transparent and I’ve reached my saturation point with black bottoms.

I love their longer length, which may seem off to those who prefer to see knees and thighs when sporting shorts. I wear my skirts this length. Why can’t I wear shorts this length too!

I like cobalt with orange, or with black and white. I chose to go with a black and white top to debut these shorts because it’s Greg’s favourite combination. He particularly likes what he calls my Tin Tin-esque outfit — with the black and white collared top. I agree with his assessment. Good thing we like Tin Tin. 

The shorts do not have belt loops, so I’m not fond of tucking tops into them. But I like to wear untucked welted Summer knitwear with the silhouette so that I can blouson the tops to shorten their length. That creates the illusion of a tucked top, which makes me happy. 

The combination of a shorter roomier welted top over loosely tailored pants or shorts looks fresh to my eye. The roomy drape is essential to create flattering proportions, which would have been lost had both top and bottom been formfitting. The pullover, complete with attached Karl Lagerfeld inspired collar, is also new and was love at first sight. It’s the Riley Collar Crew, also from Club Monaco. It matches the strict and formal aspects of my personality. 

I also like to wear these shorts with my favourite lace blouse of all time, which is the one my Papa bought for me last year. It’s finally warm enough to wear it as is with a camisole, which I much prefer to covering its retro boxy shape with a topper. The short and roomy top once again provides fresh proportions when worn over loosely tailored shorts or trousers. I have no intention of wearing these shorts with a regular length, untucked top. 

I finished off the outfit with current wardrobe workhorses: white pointy toe pumps and a daytime clutch. No jewellery apart from my watch and wedding ring. My sunglasses are prescription so I only have one pair. And since I only have one pair of sunnies, they had to be iconic Ray-Ban Wayfarers. They’re a nod to the matchy-matchy trend in this outfit. As a lover of mismatched style, it’s taken me a while to get used to the matchy-matchy trend. But I literally woke up one morning and loved it. Just like I woke up one day and loved gold. Style preferences can change.