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.
I use affiliate links to earn commissions on all my hard work shopping and reviewing items. Kinda like a petite personal shopper. By clicking or purchasing through a link on my site, I earn a little bit of spending money.
All items featured or reviewed on this site are purchased by me unless otherwise noted.
The Spring sales are slowly starting, and lo and behold...some items I've blogged about have started going on sale...
This Rag & Bone wrap dress I wrote about here is on sale at a few places for $266 marked down from $380. Grab this beautiful dress in size 0...all it needs is to take the strap up, and possibly bust darts. All sold out in size 0 online, but check in store...you might get lucky!
I just bought this little Theory cotton/cashmere vest in size XS on sale at Saks Fifth Avenue. Check out the fit on the model! It's tight and cropped. On me, it fits normal!
Some of you may remember the drama surrounding Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale's decision to slash the size of, or close entirely, their petite departments back in 2006. This article from the New York Times summed the situation up quite nicely. High end department stores did not see brisk sales in their petite departments due to what most petite women will tell you is the main problem with petite clothing...it's frumpy and ugly!
The reasoning for the department cuts was this:
Executives at the three department stores said the decision was based on the poor sales of petite sizes, which are traditionally designed for a woman 5-foot-4 or smaller, with pant lengths and jacket proportions cut accordingly. Petite women, they said, would rather wear the more youthful, skin-baring and tighter-fitting clothing in the contemporary departments, even if it does not fit them as well. And, they point out, there is always tailoring.
And the reason petites were not shopping in the petite department was this:
What did change is that petite departments gained a reputation for traditional — some would say frumpy — career-oriented clothing. Chic looks, clothing executives said, never made the leap from regular sizes to petite. So the very word petite became synonymous with many women who shopped there — working women over the age 50.
Petite Saks shoppers were outraged, and responded by bombarding Saks management with complaints. The result was Saks re-instated it's petite department in a select number of stores...one of which is the Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills, which happens to be the Saks nearest to where I live.
As you can see from the items I've featured, I don't shop many department store petites, for the very reasons mentioned in the article. The clothes are frumpy and boxy! There is nothing high fashion or contemporary about it, so I usually don't even bother heading in there. I find even basics like t-shirts and tank tops are cut generously, presumably for an older customer, so that a size 0P is humorously large on me.
And it's not just me. My mother is 4'10" and in the target age group the styles in petite departments are catering toward. Even my mother leaves petite departments empty handed. If my mother, who is the intended target market, isn't interested in these styles...what's going on here?
One explanation I've read about is how the baby boomer generation is taking fashion cues from their teen and twenty-something daughters. There is a growing trend towards older women avoiding what society had once deemed "appropriate" for a certain age group, and have been trying to keep up fashion wise with younger generations.
NPD Group's chief retail analyst, Marshal Cohen, estimates that the number of 18-to-24-year-olds shopping with Mom has grown 8% over the past three years. And what goes on in the dressing room is markedly different than in past generations. Unlike their mothers, boomer women don't want to adopt the ladies-who-lunch look, but at the same time they want to avoid that mutton-dressed-as-lamb look.
...
Conventional retail wisdom holds that you can't sell clothes that appeal to both age groups—it takes the edgy element off the brand if Mom is wearing it, and when a store skews too trendy, it alienates its older customers. But not everyone is playing by the rules. Bergdorf Goodman threw this thinking aside three years ago when it restyled its contemporary floor, rechristening it 5F. With a DJ playing world music rather than rap, a cafe open to the floor and a mix of clothing labels designed more for an aesthetic than for a precise age, the department store has managed to appeal to boomer women without losing its younger customers.
So...if my generation isn't shopping the petite department, and my mother's generation isn't shopping the petite department...then who is?
No one apparently.
Yesterday I went to Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills and decided to FINALLY check out the petite department, as I had never ventured in there before. Perhaps it was full of great stuff, and I had just never given it a chance...
Of course the petite department is in the most obscure location possible. Stuffed together with the plus size and children's department on one floor, in a separate building that houses the menswear. That's right...menswear and womenswear is separated into two different buildings in BH...and the ugly step children of the fashion world, petites and plus sizes, have been swept aside to occupy a single floor in the menswear building. This means, to even get to these special sizes, you have to leave the safety of high heels, handbags, jewelry, cosmetics and everything else feminine...trek across the street and navigate through the ties and tweed to find your size...WTF?
When I finally got there, I stood by the elevator to survey the landscape, trying to locate the petites. What I saw was pathetic. All the way at the back, I saw a single rack holding petite clothing, with a big red sign that said "SALE". That was all that was left of the petite department. A sales associate answered my puzzled looks by saying, "The petite department is closing. Its customers didn't support us."
I was shocked and sad at first...but then, I realized, I wouldn't shop there anyways! What was left hanging on those racks was boxy and matronly, in fabrics that are poor in comparison to the items one can find on the contemporary floor. I guess it comes down to the fact the offerings in the petite department just aren't what petites want to buy. That's why so many of us are pawing through the "regular" sizes to find those elusive XXS's and 00's.
Does this make you sad? Or are you as apathetic about it as I am?
Armani Exchange is the lower end brand from the Armani fashion company, and is geared toward older teens and younger adults, so it comes as no surprise that their sizes would run a little bit small. Not everything runs small, but there is an awesome tiny size to keep an eye out for...p0!
The size p0 at Armani Exchange is even smaller than their regular size 0, and is available online in most dress and bottom (pants/skirts/shorts) offerings. Size p0 is also available in stores, but way easier to find online.
To investigate this size for myself, I tried on this dress that I happened to find in store in size p0.
Armani Exchange Splatter Print Dress in size p0 (ignore the liner socks...those dressing room floors are icky!)
Overall, I was very impressed with the fit of this dress. I was almost worried I wouldn't be able to zip it up all the way! The only thing "off" on it was there was a tiny bit of extra "flappy" fabric just at the bottom of the arm hole, but I'm sure this can be fixed easily by a tailor. Not bad at all!
Armani Exchange might be a little too trendy for ladies in their late twenties and older, but some gems can still be found that aren't overly zippered, ruffled, or styled. Also, look for items in better fabrics that can add worth to your wardrobe. The dress I tried on, for example, is 100% silk!
Sales are numerous, and inventory changes all the time...so check in every now and then to see what they have!
And, while she's not a tiny petite, here's Hayden Panettiere wearing another silk dress from Armani Exchange, as proof that petite girls can rock the brand.
Available online are the famous David Yurman cable bracelets in either sterling silver with 18k gold end caps, or in full 18k yellow gold. The sterling silver bracelets are available caped in the birthstone of your choice, including diamonds. The 18k gold version is available with pave diamonds.
Available in two sizes, small and large, these bracelets should fit even the slimmest of ladies wrists, and are slightly adjustable.
Large fits wrists 4.5-5 inches around. Small fits wrists 4.75 inches around and under.
I have a friend who is an athletic 5'7" and complains to me she can't find waist belts small enough for her waist. If she can't find a small enough waist belt...then what hope is there for my tiny 22.5 inch waist?!
The easiest answer I've found has been in the boys department! While not very chic or feminine, boys belts can be good for adding a more rustic or masculine look to an outfit. You can try the girls department as well, but beware...most girls belts are pink, sequined, or bedazzled...yuck!
First, a little bit about belt sizing:
Belt sizes are most often determined by the length from where the leather end folds over the buckle, to the middle hole. This distance should be around the size of your waist, so, in my case, I need around a 22-23 inch belt. Most small belt offerings come a size 26, which means at the middle hole, it is 26 inches long. That means it is probably actually at least 28 inches long. Try putting a 28 inch belt around a tiny 23 inch waist...there's going to be a lot of extra belt flapping around! That will also add unflattering bulk to a small woman's frame.
J.Crew's petite sizes are only available online, so I hadn't had an opportunity to try anything out to see how their sizing runs. Curiosity finally got the better of me and I decided to order a few items of petite suiting in size 0.
I ordered a pair of city-fit petite pants in size 0 that indicated they had "stretch", in the hopes that meant they would fit smaller. The city-fit is the pant with the lowest rise available at J.Crew. I also ordered the matching jacket.
As you can see, the suit is quite large, and so I did not consider taking it to my tailor.
The jacket might be alterable as it is a nice length, and the sleeves fit well, but it would need to be taken in along the sides. On me, it would need to be taken in quite a bit, so I'm not sure if it could be done, because taking in the sides too much disrupts the sleeve and begins to become a costly alteration.
The pants are just all around too big. I would need to get the entire thing taken in from the waist, to the hip, to the thigh, and all the way down the leg. The rise is about 8 inches, which is a good measurement for dress pants, so at least that would not have to be altered and would keep the alterations price down. However, because the hip needs to be taken in, that would effect the pocket placement, and just wasn't worth it to me.
This is unfortunate because the fabrics and styles are quite nice and I've always secretly wanted to be the kind of girl who runs around in J.Crew. Oh well...I guess it's not meant to be.
There is a size petite 00 available in the chinos, but I didn't see it at the time I placed my order. Maybe that would be a better fit, but they are quite casual, and may not be appropriate for everyone's work attire. If you need small fitting petite suiting, J.Crew is not the way to go.
I was posed the challenge of finding petite jewelry, especially bracelets for tiny wrists, by fellow petite, Jackie. What a great idea! I decided to focus on bangles, since from personal experience, those are the pieces I've had the hardest time finding. I have two bangles my mom (a fellow tiny petite!) gave me a long time ago that are actually small enough to not fall straight past my hand when I put my arms down, so I pulled them out and did some bangle sizing research.
Basically, once you know the right size bangle to look for, it's actually pretty easy to find the right size bangles online. Bangle bracelets are usually sized by diameter. The best picture I could find to show how to measure your bangle size is from the esdesigns Etsy store.
When I used this method to measure for my bangle size, I got 2 1/4 inches, so by this chart, I'm a size small (that's a no brainer...I'm a size small EVERYTHING!). When I measured the bangles my mom gave me, they came in at somewhere between 2 1/4 and 2 1/2 inches, which seems about right because the bangles I own are still just a bit big on me. This also makes sense because most "one size fits all" bangles you'll find in stores are about 2 1/2 inches, hence why they fall right off ladies with tiny wrists.
So, now that we're armed with our proper bangle size...let's go shopping!
I found a great place to find tiny bangles was on Etsy! An online marketplace for handmade crafts, Etsy has a lot of options from different designer/artists who make their wares in multiple sizes, and most are open to being contacted to make special sizes or special orders. If you see something you like, but not your size, ask the designer, and maybe they can whip up a special size just for you!
I found lots of items available in multiple sizes, including my needed 2 1/4". And if that size was not listed, most designers stated on their web page that they will make a special size if you contact them. Most shipping charges within the US are in the $3.00 range...and...most of these beautiful bracelet sets will cost you under $100!
If real life shopping is more your sport, scour vintage shops and expos. I've definitely found tiny bracelets that fit my wrists perfectly at the vintage expo I go to in Santa Monica. Vintage jewelry tends to be smaller (as do shoe sizes!) because the average woman of several decades ago was smaller than she is today.
Finding tiny sweaters in quality fabrics is so hard! They usually come in some spandexy, polyestered form...yuck!
That's why I'm giving you ladies the heads up on this cute sweater by Line in size XS I picked up at the Cusp sale over the weekend! It is 70% cashmere, 30% wool, with little lace panels running down the front. I feel so french girl chic in it (even though I am in no way French, nor have I ever been to France...*le sigh*).
There are still a few size XS left online you can buy here on sale for $65, marked down from $187, or call your local Cusp too see if they have it in store. It's a great little item to add to your wardrobe!
Since finding clothing that fits is so hard, I turn a lot of my attention to accessories, like handbags, shoes, and jewelry. My mom instilled a great appreciation of jewelry in me growing up, especially pearls!
Pearls get a bad rap (sweater and pearl wearing Ivy League sorority girls and the Queen Mum come to mind for most people), but I thank Blair Waldorf of Gossip Girl fame to teaching an entire generation of girls that it's okay to wear pearls. They're not stuffy...they're sexy!
The Queen and Blair Waldorf wearing their pearls, photos: zimbio.com and fabsugar.com
That's why I love to look through the glass cases at Iridesse, the pearl offshoot of Tiffany's. It is a great mix of Tiffany's quality and innovation, with beautiful pearls.
Well, due to the recession, another great store is biting the dust. I went to my local Iridesse store (Westfield Century City for you LA girls) only to find the entire store between 30-50% off! I'm sad that they're closing, but I'm happy for the sale! Let's just say I walked out of there with more than one shopping bag...and a Mother's Day gift for mom!
80 inch Iridesse freshwater pearl rope necklace tripled up, and as belt
Sale finds: pearl brooch, 22" pearls on sterling silver chain, 80" freshwater pearl rope necklace
The sale is not available online, so if you have an Iridesse store near you, this is great opportunity to invest in a beautiful pearl piece. Good-bye Iridesse, I'll miss you!
Wrap dresses and tops are a petite girls best friend! The genius of a wrap is that...well...it can be wrapped around the tiniest of waistlines! Wraps allow tiny, thin petites who usually can't fit into a brand or clothing line, find something that works for them.
I love wraps, and look for them wherever I go. That's why Diane von Furstenberg is on my list of designers to check out in every store I go to...she's the queen of the wrap dress!
Some of my wrap collection:
Tocca wrap top in size 0 (no alterations), Paige Laurel Canyon jeans, Christian Louboutin shoes
Diane von Furstenbeg Anna Rose top (straps shortened), Paige Blue Heights jeans, Cole Haan shoes
Rag & Bone dress (straps shortened, dart sewn at bust), Christian Louboutin shoes
Diane von Furstenberg dress (hem shortened), Christian Louboutin shoes
If you find a wrap, try it on! It's a great way to build a wardrobe with beautiful pieces from great designers. And if you find any fabulous ones...let me know!!!
Posts
This Rag & Bone wrap dress I wrote about here is on sale at a few places for $266 marked down from $380. Grab this beautiful dress in size 0...all it needs is to take the strap up, and possibly bust darts. All sold out in size 0 online, but check in store...you might get lucky!
I just bought this little Theory cotton/cashmere vest in size XS on sale at Saks Fifth Avenue. Check out the fit on the model! It's tight and cropped. On me, it fits normal!
