At 4'11" and 85lbs, I'm too small for or have been sized out of most clothing brand and designer lines. Now in my twenties, I've committed myself to building a respectable, chic wardrobe filled with quality, well fitting clothes...but how do you build a wardrobe when quality chic clothing is not made for someone of your *ahem* "stature"? Finding clothing that runs small and being well styled is an exhausting exercise, so this is a compilation of the things I've tried and that work for me, in the hopes other tiny petites can be as well dressed as the big girls.
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I came across this little cutie in Barney's Coop and loved it so much, that I returned the next day after opting to wait on it because it kept me up all night thinking about it! There was not much from the 3.1 Philip Lim Resort 2009 collection that runs small (although this shrunken sweater vest looked very tiny petite friendly hanging on the rack), I did happen across this tiny skirt in size 0. The fun draped ruffle detail is subtle, yet adds a great deal of interest to any outfit you could put together with it.
Funnily enough, this skirt is meant to fit as a mini and I imagine sit on the high waist on a taller woman, but it will work for us petite gals too! On me it sits on my low waist/high hip, and falls just above the knee. It is a nice lightweight silk so it won't overwhelm a small frame, and comes in a couple of colors. I picked up the navy (apparently this color is a Barney's Coop exclusive), and love how it gives a fashion forward touch (that is sorely lacking) to my wardrobe.
The pictures really do not do it justice. The ruffle detail is really feminine and pretty in person. If interested, this skirt also comes in yellow and khaki, but make sure you grab the size 0 because altering this skirt down would probably sacrifice the intentioned design. Pick up the yellow at eLuxury and the khaki at Nordstrom or Net-A-Porter.com.
If you're like me, then very little off the rack clothing comes even remotely close to fitting properly. Most garments "might" fit after a few tucks, seams, pleats...etc...etc...
Part of my wardrobe expansion project includes yanking and pulling (and at times, hoisting) garments that are too big in dressing room mirrors, and wondering if a tailor could do anything about it. As I work my way up the "what can be tailored" learning curve, I thought it might be helpful to share some of the items I get altered with "before" and "after" modeling shots (Me? A model? Ha!). So...here is my first installment of...Adventures in Alterations!
Adventures in Alterations: Tank Style Tops
Here's an easy one to get us started. This is the Anna Rose Top by Diane von Furstenberg from F/W 2008 in size P (petite). DVF tops and dresses in sizes P and 0 usually run pretty small, so you can find these items in an easily alterable state right off the rack.
Before: This top is cut for a taller person. While the top fits nicely around my torso, it is too long from the shoulder to the waist. The neckline is too low and the arm holes are too big. This makes the top look droopy, sloppy, and comes precariously close to breaking indecent exposure laws.
The Alteration: Taking up the strap at the shoulder.This one is easy because there's no sleeve to worry about.
After: The neckline is higher, the extra fabric is gone, and the arm holes are smaller and higher.
And...just for fun (and because I'm learning to use Photoshop)...
DVF Anna Rose Top, Paige Premium Denim, Cole Haan Shoes
This video isn't new, and if you've done any kind of search for size 0 petite fashion, then you've probably already come across it. Regardless, it's still interesting, and it's also nice to know you're not the only one out there looking for chic tiny clothing.
You know that feeling when you find the thing you've been searching for since forever, and you skip out of the store singing a little song that goes something like, "I found tiny clothing...I found tiny clothing!" Well, today was one of those days.
Finding tiny fitted sweaters has always been a challenge for me, especially when I'm on the hunt for nice quality and coziness. Problems I often encounter are:
1. Too broad of a shoulder, so the shoulder seams go down my arm. 2. Too large of a torso, so my curves get hidden by a sweater that falls straight down. 3. Too large of arm holes and/or sleeves. 4. Length that overwhelms my tiny frame.
Juniors sweaters sometimes work, but they are usually made from cheap fabric and so not very cozy. So, it's safe to say I've been on the hunt for a tiny cashmere sweater for quite some time.
All the "items every woman should own" lists have cashmere as a top wardrobe priority, but every one I found was about 1-2 sizes too large. So when I saw Abercrombie & Fitch had a cashmere sweater on sale, I was desperate to get to it. Abercrombie & Fitch has junior sizing, and their size XS is tiny!
I picked this sweater up in size XS in grey and navy and am VERY happy with it. It is a nice soft cashmere in a slim cut, and hits at my high hip. The sleeves are extra long and meant to be rolled. The cute pockets on the front give it a great menswear "grandpa sweater" look. And luckily, the moose embroidery that all Abercrombie & Fitch clothing items carries is the same color as the sweater, so it won't scream, "I'm an adult who shops in stores meant for high schoolers!"
Abercrombie & Fitch Cashmere Cardigan in size XS
Get the tiny cashmere quick before they're all gone!
While perusing the sales, I came across some new offerings from Nanette Lepore for Spring 2009. I always gravitate towards coats and jackets, even though I live in sunny Los Angeles and can only wear them for about 2 months out of the year. Despite this fact, I was instantly attracted to this little number:
This coat in size XS gets a big thumbs up! Cut very small in the chest, torso and shoulder, this coat fit fantastically. It hit me a little higher than mid thigh, which is a great length to wear with jeans, or over a cute springtime dress. The only alteration it might need would be to get the sleeves shortened. If not for the fact I already own several red coats, this baby would be hanging in my closet right now. I'm keeping my fingers crossed I'll come across it in a different color!
This coat in XS was TOO BIG! The shoulders were too broad, the torso was too big, and the flare at the bottom was too bulky for my small frame. Too bad because it was pretty cute and I'm a sucker for anything belted.
*sigh*
So, the moral of the story is...snatch up the tiny Nanette Lepore "Campfire" jacket to wear with all your stylish spring ensembles...just make sure you leave one for me!
While frantically doing my holiday shopping, I of course had to peruse the sale shoes at Barneys on Rodeo Drive. The shoe department had apparently exploded, and equally frazzled women were picking through the mangled remains of F/W 2008.
Being a size 5 (35 if we're talking European brands), the availability of fun styles is very limited even at full retail price, so it's almost impossible to find anything even a smidgen decent on sale. Then, my eyes rested on these Dolce & Gabbana goddesses (discounted down to $199 from $795!), I threw my Amex at the first available sales associate and floated the whole way back to my car in euphoria.
My babies - Dolce & Gabbana Oxford, Fall 2008
I love menswear. I have more fun playing in the men's sections of department stores, touching the tweeds and houndstooths, than I do playing in the women's chiffons and cashmeres. So, my mind trailed back to the Dolce & Gabbana Fall 2008 RTW looks, loaded with menswear for women, and I couldn't wait to look like the 1920's cross dresser those crazy Italians sent strutting down that runway.
So I got them home and now I'm faced with the eternal question...what do I wear with them???
I usually buy practical things...such as things I can wear a variety of places and can walk in for hours. These fours inchers are not practical, and now I'm undecided on whether or not I should keep them. My inner fashionista is in love with them...but my inner prude is screaming, "money better spent on something else!" Add this to the fact my wardrobe is anything but expansive or high fashion, and I'm in a dilemma.
So...here is my first attempt at putting something together (with a limited wardrobe, mind you) to help convince myself to keep them:
For anyone in Los Angeles this weekend, Fred Segal is having their 50% off sale starting today! Fred Segal is jam packed full of beautiful clothes, but it's a bit of a mess to find anything that runs small during this sale.
My advice...check out the handbags and jewelry! Fred Segal has fantastic contemporary jewelry by some great designers, and their handbag selection is fantastic. And who doesn't like accessories right?
The Melrose boutique is also having the same sale. Enjoy!
Phew! This holiday season was a tough one! But fear not...I've emerged from my holiday haze and will resume posting again.
On another note, the economic situation is causing retailers to have the most aggressive merchandise sales I've ever seen. Not only are the sale prices fantastic, but I've never seen so many small clothing sizes still available after markdowns. If you are fortunate enough to have the ability to invest in your wardrobe, now would be the time to start shopping!
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3.1 Phillip Lim skirt, Abercrombie & Fitch cashmere sweater, Cole Haan suede shoes
