Miranda Sam is five foot one—and when it comes to fashion, that’s a big deal. “You have to get everything tailored, and you never feel like clothes fit right,” she shares. Her lifelong interest in style and short-gal status prompted her to take sewing classes and gather some striking intel on height. She found that more than 50 percent of women in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. stand at five-four or below, so that’s exactly who she founded Vancouver-based Shortlisted for. “People think it’s a niche brand, but we’re the majority,” she says with a laugh.
Shortlisted first launched in spring 2024 with a lineup of “jumpsets,” because Sam wasn’t just out to solve the short problem—there was versatility, sustainability and washroom-ability to think about. The brand’s matching sets embrace the clean, easygoing look of a jumpsuit while fitting various torso sizes and making bathroom trips a breeze. When it came to selecting a fabric, the designer chose a cotton-linen blend to preserve structure but limit wrinkles (“I wanted a fabric that was easy maintenance, because I grew up with a mom who always told me, ‘You have to iron that before you leave the house!’” she says). And, sizing-wise, she wasn’t thinking small.
Rather than using standard mannequin metrics, she used first-hand research to determine the best proportions and design. “I measured 50 women of all sizes—from XS to 4X,” Sam explains. The brand’s neutral-toned garments are sold as matching sets or as separate tops and pants, and she recently launched the pants in heavier fabric so short girls can suit up for the colder months. A short inseam length and extended sizing has a community of petite customers standing with Sam. “Overall, people feel seen,” she says.
