Petite Alice Georgette Split-Leg Overlay Straight-Leg Pant

How should formal pants fit on a petite frame?

Formal pants should break cleanly at the top of the shoe without bunching at the ankle, which requires the inseam to be cut to petite proportions rather than hemmed. Hemming also raises the position of a split or overlay detail, which can throw the proportion of the design off.

Can you wear a split-leg overlay pant to a wedding?

A split-leg overlay pant is well suited to a wedding as a guest, Mother of the Bride or Mother of the Groom. The overlay gives the movement and formality of a skirt, while the pant underneath means you can sit, walk and dance without managing a hem.

What top balances a petite overlay pant?

Choose a top that ends at or just above the natural waist so the eye registers a waistline before the overlay begins. A fitted lace top, a beaded blouse or a short embellished jacket all work. A longer tunic will cover the top of the overlay and shorten the leg line.

Should petite women avoid wide or layered pant styles?

Not at all, provided the proportions are cut for a petite frame. The common problem is a standard-length pant shortened at the hem, which leaves the width and detail placement unchanged. A pant designed for petite proportions keeps the balance of width, length and detail intact.