One of the hardest parts about being short is finding clothes that fit, especially as a girl. Just because you’re short doesn’t mean that you’ll fit in every size small and every “petite” article of clothing. I have found that for me, it depends on the article of clothing itself. So that leads to my first piece of advice: try it on before you buy it. Unfortunately, this method often rules out buying clothes online, but if you know your measurements, many sites do list the measurements of the clothing to help you figure out the correct size. However, you can’t always escape clothes that are too large, so here are some tips:

1. Roll up the bottom of your pant legs

Rolling up the bottom of your jeans is a trend that I saw a lot throughout the spring and fall. However, I’ve been doing this for years, out of necessity rather than fashion. This can also be really useful for wearing boots. By rolling up the bottom of my jeans and stuffing them into the boots, there is less of a chance it’ll look like the material is spilling out.

2. Get it tailored

If you can, try and get someone to hem your clothes (or you can even learn to do it yourself) to make them shorter or smaller. Because this can get pretty expensive, I would suggest only doing this for fancy occasions, such as proms, bar/bat mitzvahs and weddings.

3. Heels are a girl’s best friend

They give you height and are especially useful if you’re wearing a maxi dress or a long skirt. However, they also make you taller, which is just fun in general.

4. The biggest lie I’ve ever been told: One size fits all

This is definitely not true, especially when you’re “petite.” Even though I would love to shop at places like Brandy Melville, I have come to accept the fact that it becomes increasingly difficult to find something that fits when everything comes in only one size.

5. Tuck it in

Often times I will find that button-down shirts will be more like dresses on me. This creates a perfect opportunity to tuck your shirt into some jeans and add a cute belt, a style that is sport often during the spring.

And my motto in life…

6. When in doubt, wear it as a dress.

Seeing as I am only 4’10” most of the shirts I own are far too long on me. So, that is why I can just get by by wearing a long shirt with tights or leggings and it’s transformed into a dress or tunic. Perfect for when you want to be dressed up, but not too dressed up.

However, the best piece of advice you can get when trying to find clothes that fit is to make sure that you feel comfortable in them. If it feels awkward on you, don’t feel like you have to buy it just because it’s the trend that everyone is wearing now. When you’re smaller than average, you just have to accept that not every trend and style keeps the petite girls in mind.