Blue striped sundress with ivory heels.
For a not-insignificant stretch of time, my approach to getting dressed could best be described as “functional at best.” If it was clean, relatively uncreased, and didn’t require buttoning anything too fiddly, it was going on my body. My wardrobe choices were less about style, more about survival.
While I have always taken a keen interest in petite clothing and have championed the need for more well-proportioned clothing, something began to shift after I my cancer diagnosis. It wasn’t some grand epiphany, more a slow realisation that the five minutes I spent rifling through the laundry pile could just as easily be spent actually choosing what to wear — not just for the weather or the day’s tasks, but for me.
So I began making a small, deliberate effort each morning. Nothing elaborate — a blouse instead of a sweatshirt, a touch of jewellery, trainers that hadn’t been worn for the school run and the recycling bin. And lo and behold, something wonderful happened. I felt… different. More me. Calmer, more put-together, even if everything around me wasn’t.
Petite white jeans, blue linen shirt & brown trainers.
This simple act of getting dressed with intention — not extravagantly, not performatively, just thoughtfully — became a quiet ritual of self-respect. A form of self-care that slotted beautifully between packing sports kit and replying to emails. It was no longer just about clothes; it was about claiming a sliver of space in the day to say, “I matter too.”
What I hadn’t expected was how it lifted my mood. Somehow, a well-chosen outfit gave me a sense of groundedness, a flicker of control amidst the usual daily swirl of beautiful chaos. I stood taller. I smiled more. I was still chasing after the kids with a half-eaten crumpet in one hand, but I was doing it in a linen shirt and high-waisted jeans, and frankly, that made all the difference.
So here’s to the small shift that made a big impact. Here’s to choosing outfits that feel like us — chic but comfortable, simple but considered. Because sometimes, pulling yourself together on the outside can help you feel more together on the inside. And that, dear reader, is a minor miracle worth dressing up for.
Read more on my Insta @minimal.petite here:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMVbHtnI7v5/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
