Petite Fit Tools

You’re not hard to dress. You’ve just been handed clothes designed for someone five inches taller and told to make them work. Every fitting room turns into a math problem: which size, which length, whether the tailor can save it.

These free tools do that math for you. They’re built for plus size petite women over 50, with no sign-up and no email required. Pick the question you have today.

Sizing

Plus Petite Size Calculator

Find out if you’re plus petite, plus your size for tops, bottoms and dresses, and why they might be different.

Takes 1 minute. Needs a tape measure.

Find my size Shopping

Size Chart Decoder

Copy in any brand’s size chart and see which size to order, and where it’ll be snug or roomy.

Takes 2 minutes. Works with any brand.

Decode a chart Fit fixes

Tailor or Return? Fit Checker

Tell it what’s wrong with something you tried on. Get a straight verdict and a rough tailoring cost.

Takes 30 seconds. Use it in the fitting room.

Check my fit Proportions

Short-Waisted or Long-Waisted Test

Learn where your waist really sits, and which rises, tucks, belts and jackets work because of it.

Takes 1 minute. Tape measure optional.

Take the test Pants

Pants Rise & Inseam Finder

Get the rise and inseam that fit a short, curvy body, with lengths for full, ankle, cropped and capri pants.

Takes 1 minute. Inches or centimeters.

Get my numbers

Where to start

If you’re new here, use the tools in this order. Each one builds on the last.

  1. Find your size range. Confirm whether you’re plus petite and get your starting sizes.
  2. Learn your torso type. Short-waisted or long-waisted changes almost every styling choice.
  3. Get your pants numbers. Your rise and inseam, ready for online filters.
  4. Decode the brand’s chart. Before you order, check your numbers against theirs.
  5. Tailor or return? When it arrives and it’s almost right, find out what’s worth fixing.

Ruth’s fit note

Petite is a length category, not a body type. Once you know your length numbers, shopping gets a lot less personal and a lot more practical.

Measure once, save your numbers in your phone, and let the tools do the fitting room math.

Why I built these tools

Nobody tells you that a petite garment moves several things at once, and the hem is only one of them. So we hem, and it still looks wrong, and we assume the problem is us. It isn’t. It’s proportions, and proportions can be measured.

These tools turn the fit reasoning behind my guides into answers you can use in a fitting room. Once you know your numbers, head to the style guides and everyday outfits to put them to work. Or start with my guide to building a winter capsule wardrobe as a plus size petite woman.

Frequently asked questions

Are the tools free?

Yes. Every tool is free, with no sign-up and no email required.

Do you save my measurements?

No. Everything is calculated in your own browser, and nothing you enter is sent to me or stored. Refresh the page and it’s gone.

How accurate are the results?

Each tool uses standard sizing charts and well-known fit rules, and each page explains exactly how it works. Treat the results as a smart starting point. Every brand is a little different, which is why the Size Chart Decoder exists.

Do they work on my phone?

Yes. They’re designed for phones first, so you can use them in a fitting room or at the tailor.

Will you add more tools?

Yes. If there’s a fit question you’d like a tool for.