Controversy abounds when it comes to the topic of petite women wearing pink. On one hand, many short women have been advised never to wear pink because it could make them look too young, too unprofessional, or too unsophisticated; on the other hand, fashion designers love pink, and it's a rare season that models wearing pink garments don't walk the runways during fashion week in New York, Paris, London, Milan, or other venues around the world.

 

Many women name pink as their favorite color while others despise it. Obviously, if you're a petite woman who hates pink or if you're a petite woman who doesn't look good in pink, there's no problem. Don't ever wear pink! But if you're one of the many petite women who like pink or find that pink's a flattering color to wear, you may be feeling torn. Should you ever wear pink?

First, let's talk about all the reasons that are given for not wearing pink and see whether or not they hold up.

• Reason 1: Wearing pink can make a grown woman look like a child. Whether or not this is true depends on several factors, including the shade of pink and the style of the pink garment. Cotton candy pink, frills, ruffles, bows, and any other touches that you'd expect to see on clothing for little girls could certainly make a woman look too girly.
• Reason 2: Wearing pink can make a grown woman look unprofessional. Pink, with its association with baby girls and femininity doesn't qualify as one of the top power colors to wear to the office. Because short women often have difficulty being taken seriously at work, it's especially important for petites to project a professional image.

• Reason 3: Wearing pink can make a grown woman look unsophisticated. Colors other than pink, especially neutral hues, such as black, navy, and camel, frequently are seen as more sophisticated than pastels or bright colors, including shades of pink.

OK, so it seems as though the reasons a woman shouldn't wear pink do hold up. But wait. Does that mean a petite woman should never wear pink? Not at all!

A petite woman may want to avoid wearing pink in certain business situations, and she may want to avoid pink garments that make her look like a five-year-old, but that doesn't mean a petite woman should avoid wearing pink entirely. Consider a garment's style lines as well as its shade of pink when selecting pink clothing, and you'll be able to wear pink successfully.

To avoid the too-young look, choose basics, such as tailored shirts, or classic garments, such as pencil skirts or sheath dresses, and make sure that they are free of girly touches like ruffles.

Pair pink garments with neutral-colored clothing to avoid pink overload.

Consider wearing blush pink the same way you'd wear a neutral color because blush is so light that it can usually function as a neutral color.

Wear hot pink to give a color pop to an otherwise monochromatic ensemble. A hot pink jacket, cardigan, or handbag worn with black, white, navy or another fashion neutral color will really stand out.

Wear a pink print that has other colors in it. Top garment choices for pink prints include tops, skirts, and dresses. Avoid wearing pink print pants, jackets, or sweaters in favor of solid colors.

Personally, I love pink, and I'm convinced that petite women can be perfectly pretty in pink.