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Caitlin Hellyer’s small fashions are a big hit all over the world, especially with women who also have dwarfism.
Caitlin (20), who is just 1,1m tall, is a student, fashion blogger and influencer, and she’s using her blog to help others like her.
She was born with achondroplasia dwarfism, the most common form of dwarfism – her torso is average-sized, but her limbs are short – which means finding well-fitting and age-appropriate clothing can be difficult.
“I
used to find it so hard to find clothes that fit me and that I wanted to wear,”
Caitlin says.
“Now
I’ve found the confidence to explore the children’s sections with pride, I want
to share that with other people who might be having the same difficulty.”
Caitlin, from Devon in the UK, is making children’s fashion work for her, and inspiring thousands of her Instagram followers along the way.
As a child, Caitlin loved dressing up but her parents, who are both average-sized, often had a difficult time buying clothes for her. When she was nine, she was wearing clothes for kids age five or six, which made it hard finding age-appropriate outfits.
When she was old enough to shop for her own clothes when she was out with her friends, Caitlin felt especially insecure.
“I loved going shopping with them and they tried to help me find stuff that fit, but the sleeves on the jumpers were always too long and the trouser legs drowned me.”
So,
she turned to the children’s section. “I did get some funny looks at first, but
where else am I meant to shop? I knew I would have to be selective – I didn’t
want anything with Peppa Pig on it!”
Caitlin roped in her mom to help tailor her outfits. “My mum is really good at taking trousers up for me or cutting the bottoms off so they fit me perfectly.”
She started documenting her outfits on Instagram and in a blog called A Slice of Cait in 2018, and almost immediately she was a hit as people from around the world started messaging to ask where she shops.
Caitlin says she loves being able to help people: “It’s rewarding when people message to say I’ve helped them. That’s what makes me keep doing it, to keep helping people and show that you can express yourself no matter what your size.”
SOURCES: METRO.CO.UK, DAILY STAR SUNDAY, INSIDEEXPRESS.COM
