I never dreamt in a million years, when in my 20s I started my working life in sales and marketing in the pharmaceutical industry, that aged 49, and still 5’1½” tall, and size 10, I would be a fashion model for my own designer label of clothes!

So how did this happen?  Well, I gave up my career when I had my children: Jennie (now 19); Clare (17) and Hanna (15) to do the Mum thing.  When the youngest had gone off to school I needed to do something for me. I had always had an artistic flair but had not pursued it. So, returning to work was my chance and I trained to be a colour consultant, stylist and make-up artist and gained lots of experience working with personal clients and corporations.

So why design for petites?  It was extremely difficult for me to find clothes good enough to wear as an image professional, as I had become more discerning.  I had also found that it was far  more difficult to take a petite client personal shopping than a client of regular height.  Even if you could get the fit right, the style was often not suitable for a shorter woman.

So what did I do?  I decided that petites deserved something better and looked at producing my own range of petite clothing.  I drew up some designs that would complement the petite figure and a friend in the fashion industry put me in contact with pattern cutters, fabric suppliers, samplers and factories.  This is how the Karen Gillam Petite Collection was born four years ago.

So why did I decide to model?  Quite simply, my samples were made for me, a size 10, and as a photo shoot precedes garment production I only had size 10 samples. Petite models, are not only scarce, but also skinny (a size 6 average), and therefore my size 10 sample clothes never seemed to look as good and flattering on models as they should.  I design my clothes to suit ‘real women’ whether size 6 or 18, and I found the confidence - with the help of a good photographer - to be the oldest, shortest but most realistic model in England!

So what about the age thing?  Well, if you get all the fashion, styling and fit factors correct your clothes start to make you look ageless – so you look good and feel ‘sexy’ or confident, no matter what.  You’re never too old to dress in a sophisticated, glamorous, worldly way.

So what is my mission?  To design and produce quality, exclusive garments in beautiful fabrics styled to fit and flatter the shorter woman, 5’ 3” and under, whether they are as small as a size 6 or as large as size 18.  Also, to give petite women, frustrated over the years by the lack of clothes that fit, the skills to select a wardrobe of clothes that not only fits and flatters their figure but complements their personality and lifestyle.  Petites must experience the pleasure of effortlessly looking fabulous and feeling gorgeous.

So come on, join with me having fun and embrace the Karen Gillam Petite Collection.