Writer Caitlin Abber lives with her husband, Geoffrey, and their five-year-old daughter, Simone, in Queens, New York. “Style has always been part of my identity,” she says. “When I was little, I’d dress up like a grunge kid or the orphans in Oliver. Now, as a 42-year-old mom, I want to express vitality and an excitement to be alive.” Here, she shares five favorite outfits…
Top: Sea NY x Rent the Runway. Jeans: Levi’s. Belt: Madewell, similar. Boots: Madewell, similar. Lipstick: VioletteFR Bisou Balm in Amour Fou.
“When you’re short — I’m 5’1” — it’s hard to find full-length pants that don’t drag on the ground. I wear Levi’s 501s, because they have the right inseam for my height. I also love a cropped pant, although it’s one of those things petite people aren’t ‘supposed’ to wear, because it can make you look shorter. I’m like, I’m short! There’s no hiding it! It’s okay, it’s great! Everything is for you if you want it to be for you.”
Sweater: Sézane, similar. Pants: Banana Republic. Shoes: Madewell.
“In our apartment, my clothes closet is in the home office. My husband is a therapist, and he does Zoom sessions in there all day. So, in the morning, I have to grab all the clothes I might want — underwear, coats, shoes, everything. The other day, we had a super busy morning, and I didn’t get a chance to grab an outfit in time. I wound up going to a coffee shop wearing my husband’s jeans and old T-shirt with a picture of Barack Obama playing basketball. That’s life sometimes! I find that with age comes the ability to say, ‘I’m going to put on something that makes me feel hot’ or say, ‘I’m going wear this outfit that makes me look like Adam Sandler.’”
Bracelet: Mejuri. Ring: Catbird, similar.
“Ten years ago, my husband and I walked past a tattoo shop and decided to hop in. I randomly picked a bunny for my ribcage. Flash forward a decade, and we now have a daughter who is completely obsessed with bunnies — everything is bunny, bunny, bunny. She always tells me, ‘Mommy, you knew I was coming.’”
Jacket: ba&sh (via Rent the Runway). Jeans: Levi’s. Belt: Madewell. Slippers: H&M. Lipstick: Violette FR Bisou Balm in Mon Chéri.
“I wear makeup every day, even if I’m working from home. I turn on music, and the process puts me in a good mood. I love red lipstick — VioletteFR is my go-to. Their lipsticks are so good, often on sale, and never get on your teeth.”
“My body has changed a lot over the past few years, but I have so much gratitude for these legs that get me places, for this body that birthed and fed my child. I like showing skin, and being a little fun and provocative, because I’m not dead yet, you know? I look at this photo and think, ‘Hang this at my funeral. This is who I was.’ I also walk around in my underwear, because I want my daughter to see me relaxed and confident in my body.”
Shirt: H&M. Skort: Uniqlo. Tie: “My husband’s, and he tied it for me.” Tights: Natori. Sunglasses: COS, similar. Lipstick: Gen See Matte Lipstick in Naomi. Shoes: Nine West, similar. Purse: Zara, similar.
“My hair is naturally brown, but I always felt like I had a blonde woman inside me. Then one day, in my thirties, I decided to just go for it. Full blonde, no subtlety. And suddenly, it was like, ‘Oh. There I am.’ I think a lot of people have a moment like that, where it feels like they’ve become who they’re meant to be.”
Trench coat: Vintage. Turtleneck: Uniqlo. Skirt: Jason Wu. Boots: Zara, similar.
“One tricky thing about being petite is that coats are impossible to find. I’ve been wearing the same winter jacket for a decade, since all other coats swallow me. I’d also wanted a trench forever, but even the petite sizes never looked right. Then one day I walked into a vintage store in my neighborhood, pulled this off the rack, and it FIT. The sleeves, the shoulders, it was perfect…and it was $30.”
“I like this outfit’s Gloria Steinem vibes — I feel very ‘in charge.’ Funny story: When we were taking photos, just as I was putting it on, I got a call from the school nurse saying that my daughter had thrown up. So, I jumped into my shoes and we took these last pictures while speed-walking to pick up my sick kid. Classic parenthood moment: You’re in the middle of something important, and then all of a sudden, plans change!”
Thank you so much, Caitlin. Readers, please share your own petite style recommendations, if you have them, and let us know who else you’d like us to feature! xoxo
P.S. More women share their weeks of outfits, including a criminal defense attorney with great suits, an author with great 90s style, and a beauty editor who loves flowy things.
(Photos by Yumi Matsuo for Cup of Jo.)
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