WIFWI: Meet Petite Fashion Blogger Jessica @littlemeinnyc

Meet Jessica, a petite fashion blogger from NYC. I would describe Jessica's style as Rachel Green meets VSCO girl. And even though I didn't meet Jessica in person (yet), she strikes me as charming and creative, so I have invited her to participate in my "Women In Fashion Who Inspire" series.

O.: How long have you been blogging and what inspired you to start your own blog?

J.: I’ve been blogging since March 2019. I was looking for a new hobby, and I’ve always fantasized about having my own petite fashion blog, so I decided to start! I grabbed my favorite outfits, started shooting, made a website and Instagram, and just kept going! 

O.: How would you describe your style?

J.: I wouldn’t say that I have any main style, and I’m always trying different aesthetics. I will embrace any and all styles! I think it’s important to be able to change your look. I would say my main aesthetics are - girly (dresses, skirts, floral, lace), edgy (I’m obsessed with Dr. Martens which make me feel so cool), and chic (just looking put together and keeping up with trends). After this quarantine is over, there’s so many new styles I want to try. I’m feeling so inspired to start fresh since I haven’t really been wearing “normal” clothes lately!

O.: Do you have a fashion icon or someone who inspires your style?

J.: I don’t have anyone in particular, but I love scrolling through Instagram and Pinterest and saving posts with cool outfits. I have a big collection of posts that I’m inspired by, and they are all different kinds of aesthetics! The main person who inspired me to make a petite fashion blog in the first place and really think about what I’m wearing is Jean Wang from Extra Petite. I’ve been following her blog for about 8-10 years! She was probably the first petite woman that I saw that looked like me - just about 5’0” and very tiny. I didn’t even know there were other people like me! She really inspired me to try new kinds of style and made me feel better about myself. I’ve always wanted to start a blog because of the way she made me feel - like I wasn’t alone. 

O.: What are the challenges and advantages you see when shopping for petite clothes?

J.: Most stores don’t offer petite sizes. It’s really rare that you’ll be able to walk into a new store and be able to fit into something. I only shop in the stores that I know will have my size. Fortunately, more stores are incorporating petite sizes every day. Until only a few years ago, it was rare to find a store with XXS, or even petite sizing. Now, you can find stores carrying XXXS! Plus, the internet helps a lot nowadays! 

Another advantage is that most stores that carry small sizes like XXS will have a lot more small sizes on their sale racks in comparison to other sizes. One of my favorite sale sections to peruse is PacSun’s. I’m a size 22 in their denim, and their sale rack is usually 90% composed of size 22, so it’s like paradise. I usually end up leaving with 5 pairs of pants for $5 each!

I’m also a size 4 shoe, so most stores don’t carry that either. There’s such a limited selection. At least I’m saving a lot of money, because if I fit into a normal shoe size I would be tempted to buy a lot more shoes! Another advantage is that I can fit into kids shoes that usually look the same as the adult size (I find that more often with sneakers), and I can save a lot of money. 

O.: What are your favorite brands to shop from?

J.: I love ASOS, BlackMilk, Calzedonia, DollsKill, Dr. Martens, Free People, Levi’s, Madewell, PacSun and Urban Outfitters! Lots of variety there, haha! It really depends on what fits me and what my budget is at the time.

O.: What do you think will be the next trend in fashion?

J.: I think 90’s fashion is coming back. We already see it in a lot of stores, with straighter jeans, shoulder bags, and cardigans. I see more and more people embracing 90’s style every day, and I think it will be fully incorporated into everyone’s wardrobe soon! I’m super excited, because I’m ready to start dressing like Rachel from Friends! 

O.: What would you recommend to someone who wants to start their own fashion blog but doesn't know where to begin?

J.: Just start. Sit down and do it! I know it’s easier said than done, but think about the reasons why you want to start it and get yourself inspired! Take little steps. Get some outfits together that you really love. Create an Instagram account, learn how to create a website (I use Squarespace - which I find pretty easy to use as a beginner. They have a lot of tutorials on their website), and start shooting your super awesome outfits! 

I also recommend to find some fashion bloggers with a large following that inspire you, and watch their tutorials (if they have any - usually fashion bloggers with a large following will have tutorials on how they started a blog, how they edit pictures, FAQ’s about blogging, etc), and take note of how they post. Learn from the masters, and test out their techniques! (With that being said, of course you can find a lot of inspiration from smaller accounts too, especially when it comes to searching for outfit inspiration).

Most importantly, be yourself. Be original and make your blog your own special place that you love! It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be fun and inspiring to you. 

Make sure to follow Jessica on Instagram: @littlemeinnyc.