Meet Katy McGee of Thx, It’s Not Mine

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katy McGee.

Hi Katy, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
As a 34-year-old woman who’s 5’1″, I was tired of the endless cycle of buying dresses only to spend more money getting them altered—or worse, frantically taping hems in Airbnb bathrooms before weddings and events.

The breaking point came when I realized I’d spent hundreds on bridesmaid dresses and alterations, plus struggled with “petite” rental options that were still too long. Standing in my closet full of expensive, barely-worn dresses, I had a lightbulb moment: Why doesn’t anyone create a rental service specifically for petite women?

Here’s the thing—40% of women are 5’3″ and under, yet the entire fashion industry designs primarily for taller frames. We’re not a niche market; we’re almost half the population being overlooked. Every ill-fitting dress represents wasted money, diminished confidence, and unnecessary environmental impact from fast fashion’s wear-once culture.

That’s how “Thx, It’s Not Mine” was born. I’m building a rental service where every dress is professionally altered for petite frames—hem height, sleeve length, and torso fit all tailored for women 5’3″ and under. So while you can’t say the dress is yours, it will look and feel like it is.

Follow @thxitsnotmine and sign up for launch updates and new customer discount codes in the bio link!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
One of my biggest struggles has been overcoming my imposter syndrome. I don’t have an educational background in business, but rather in social work, which I love and is a significant part of my identity. As a social work professional, I have experience analyzing systems within our society and improving them to support underserved populations better. Now, as a small business owner and entrepreneur (which still feels strange to say!), I am learning to lean into discomfort and ambiguity, and accept that some aspects of business are taking me longer to grasp. There have been times when I’ve wanted to stop building “Thx, It’s Not Mine” but my passion for petite fashion and wonderful mentors have kept me going!

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Thx, It’s Not Mine?
Thx, It’s Not Mine is an online dress rental service specifically for petite women, 5’3″ and under. Our mission is to help petite women save money and time on tailoring, decrease their stress, reduce fashion waste and ultimately feel seen. One of my favorite moments so far has been hearing from women that “Thx, It’s Not Mine” as our business name captures the perfect response and feeling when someone compliments your dress. It’s borrowed, it’s sustainable, and it’s tailored to fit your petite frame perfectly. I recently met with a petite woman who will be modeling some of our dresses. At the end of our meeting, she said to me, “Wow, I’ve never been able to try on a dress and have it fit the first time!” The glitter in her eye and smile on her face is what fuels my dreams for Thx, It’s Not Mine.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I’ve found the resource “Small Business Development Center” (SBDC) hosted by Pacific Regional Center to be incredibly helpful! The advisors at SBDC provide individual consulting at no cost and training at a low price as needed to help you start and grow your business. I think I heard about it on a podcast and am so glad to have looked into it.

Truthfully, networking has always been a bit intimidating for me, and I’m still working at it! But one thing I’ve found super helpful is to look within your community for professionals with experience in your desired business space. I met my now mentor because she ran a successful dress rental company in my San Francisco neighborhood, and I was a customer for years! Once you find a potential mentor, tell them about your idea and ask for their mentorship. I’ve found that other business owners truly want to help and discuss their learnings!

Pricing:

• $89 per 5 day rental
• $109 per 10 day rental

Contact Info:

• Instagram: thxitsnotmine

Image Credits
Jenn Edelson, Dakota Sage