Alterations Needed: Adventures in XS and 00 Petite Fashion

Jen - Ha! Yes! The head pats! I tend to get talked...

2010-03-11T10:40:31.608-08:00

Jen - Ha! Yes! The head pats! I tend to get talked to in that annoying higher pitched voice, like you'd use to talk to a child or a pet, more often than the head pats. I've had to bite my tongue a few times at work when bosses use that tone.

Yay to perfect skinny jeans! Congrats on finding them on sale.

I found a super tiny silk skirt at Bloomingdales yesterday and I immediately thought of you! It's super small and the smallest size fits me super snug. I'm going back tonight to pick it up, and might even have to size up! I bet it would fit you in the smallest size! I'll do more research and post about it tomorrow!

Fantastic post! I do want to mention one thing you...

2010-03-11T10:10:28.561-08:00

Fantastic post! I do want to mention one thing you left out: the head pats. Random new acquaintances patting you on the head and saying "oh, I just want to put you in my pocket!" because that's not at all patronizing.

;)

Oh, and just wanted to note I finally found perfect skinny jeans in a light wash and in white at AF kids this past week. All their jeans are on sale and the 12slim and 10 fit like they were made for me! This style had better butt/hip fit than most, I also bought 2 fleece jackets in moto jacket style and military style size M. Very surprising for that store!

Kerry - haha, research away! I'll be happy to meas...

2010-03-10T16:43:23.901-08:00

Kerry - haha, research away! I'll be happy to measurements as well for your experiments.

PAG - Hmmm...didn't try the suiting skirts, but I ...

2010-03-10T13:43:29.468-08:00

PAG - Hmmm...didn't try the suiting skirts, but I would image those would work b/c I've tried some casual skirts from H&M and they fit me really snug right on my high waist, which is pretty tiny if you ask me.

I have two H&M's near me...so I'm being stealthy and returning my items to the one I didn't buy from...lol.

Lisa - Yup, I usually stick to basic T's and tanks from H&M, those things that don't matter if they get all icky b/c you have to rotate new ones into your wardrobe every so often anyways.

Kerry - Interesting. I would agree with you about the pants. I do need low rise pants to fit me normally, but I always thought it was because I have a short torso, so all my torso measurements are squished. My neckline, waist and rise are all short, on top to being only 4'11", so they're REALLY short. 7-7.5 inch rises are usually my sweet spot. As for arms, I definitely have long arms for my height. I haven't measured them, but they've always felt lanky to me, and I've secretly always wanted more feminine shorter arms. Maybe the cut of the jacket made them look shorter? Or the camera angle?

Either way, I'd be happy to be a measurement guinea pig for you. =)

PAG - I'll do your snoop shopping for you, they do...

2010-03-10T13:18:46.599-08:00

PAG - I'll do your snoop shopping for you, they don't know me yet.

AN - I am curious about your body proportions (my research involves, among other things, measuring body segment lengths of females and comparing dimensions and ratios). This was how I discovered my freakishly long arms (I always thought they were long because in yoga class it was difficult to sit in staff post with hands flat on the floor and arms straight, and now I know why).

I am curious to see if you have proportions that are unique or more in line with what we typically see in female skeletons. It seems like you have really short arms based on this photo; also with your issues of rise being too long on pants, I am guessing your pelvis is shallower than most, which would really require very short rise in pants (what would be indecent on a normal person is probably full coverage on you).

Maybe I can use my research methods, get all the petite girls measurements and come up with some sort of a prediction equation for determining whether or not things will fit without actually trying them on.

I like the button down and that's about it. The f...

2010-03-10T11:53:09.928-08:00

I like the button down and that's about it. The fabric of the suiting looks thin and cheap and the oversized fit is just matronly. Yuck! I have found that clothes from H&M last a few washings and that's it. Hems unravel, buttons come off...

Yay! I've been meaning to do this post for a while...

2010-03-10T08:14:12.293-08:00

Yay! I've been meaning to do this post for a while just to showcase the fit, but didn't want to go through the purchase-just-to-return process again. I feel like all my local retailers know me and my evil pile of returns!

I think the dress shirt in sz 2 is a go for women our size in need of basic button-ups. It fits pretty decently on you! The suiting, however ... or at least the one in the pics ...I have to say the material and cut look terrible! Although I would never shop for suits at H&M again after discovering Theory, I do want to vouch that not all their suiting looks like this. My first suit ever was from H&M (skirt suit) and the material was actually quite decent, so I guess it is hit or miss and also dependent on how good of a selection your store carries.

As for the fit of the pants ... petites should definitely try H&M skirt coordinates instead of pants. A sz 2 skirt was a little snug on me, but it fit much better than their pants.

I love your blog! In theory I should be petite (a...

2010-03-10T07:29:54.919-08:00

I love your blog! In theory I should be petite (almost 5'2", 102 lbs) but I feel like an elephant compared you! I read your post on body proportions and I am definitely a long torso, short legs kinda girl. I think that is what makes me look somewhat overweight for my height. Anyways, I'm 30 years old and a professional looking to update my look. Thanks for making this website!

I've been coveting those shoes for months...glad t...

2010-03-09T15:25:01.251-08:00

I've been coveting those shoes for months...glad to see a pair went to you!

Cute top! But after my ruffle top started snaggin...

2010-03-08T19:06:19.972-08:00

Cute top! But after my ruffle top started snagging on itself, I'm kind of wary of buying any more AT tops with decorations on it :(

Hi peachcharm - Thanks! I wish it was still online...

2010-03-08T18:51:01.845-08:00

Hi peachcharm - Thanks! I wish it was still online is PXXS too. =(

The worst part of blogging about PXXS clothing is how quickly it sells out. I feel bad when I finally get it in the mail, take pictures and get a post up...and then...it's all sold out!

I'm really liking that top and saw it on PetiteAsi...

2010-03-08T18:22:35.247-08:00

I'm really liking that top and saw it on PetiteAsianGirl's blog too. I wish they still had PXXS online :(

and cute jacket btw =)

Hi J. - Texture is so great! It's my new favorite ...

2010-03-08T15:18:03.879-08:00

Hi J. - Texture is so great! It's my new favorite thing to play with in an outfit. I feel so lame just wearing cotton on cotton. Good luck at the outlets if you end up going! Theory was slim pickings, but BR still had some good stuff.

PAG - Oh no! I wore mine on Saturday without any incident, but now I'm going to be paranoid! I'm sure you can get crafty and sew that little sucker back on. =)

Of course we have ultra similar outfits up again, ...

2010-03-08T11:39:52.256-08:00

Of course we have ultra similar outfits up again, lol : ) Great finds at the outlet!

I'm so mad...one of my "petals" just fell off about an hour ago leaving a small gap in the front. Right after I gave this blouse a nice review, too!

Really love this whole outfit. The texture and tee...

2010-03-08T11:26:50.381-08:00

Really love this whole outfit. The texture and teeny bit of shine from the silk is really pretty!

I need to get myself down to Carlsbad and call for a shopping day with my aunt. =]

I love this idea!

2010-03-07T01:12:13.239-08:00

I love this idea!

Thank you for creating this site! I am 4'8, 95 lb...

2010-03-06T20:12:21.092-08:00

Thank you for creating this site! I am 4'8, 95 lbs and am getting married in October. Finding shoes is my biggest challenge as I wish I could just walk into any shoe store and walk out with a great pair of shoes (I am a size 4-4.5). In the winter, I wear ankle boots as I can wear heavy socks and no one can tell that I am swimming in them and in the summer I wear wedges which works out great! However, pumps are a different story-->(gasp) I only own 1 pair of pumps (Stuart Weitzman). I wish there was a speciality store around Long Island that I could just walk out with fabulous shoes! Or find a shoe maker!!

Dear Alteration Needed, The Ledstone in size 2 wa...

2010-03-05T21:55:05.699-08:00

Dear Alteration Needed,

The Ledstone in size 2 was not available at the local Burberry boutique.
They recommended to try on the Ashvale stating that this style even slimmer that the Ledstone. It is quite slim. The length (below the knee) and sleeves (basic with no details) would need to be shortened.

If you had a chance to try on the Ashvale, I would appreciate your opinion about this style as compared to Ledstone. The top of the sleeve is slightly gathered… Would you consider this style classic or trendy? I don’t want to invest my dollars in the garment that may look outdated next year. Please help! Thank you.

Ha! This just dawned on me last week and I did it ...

2010-03-05T14:07:13.731-08:00

Ha! This just dawned on me last week and I did it with a dress. Pics in blog.

You can get a great pill machine at Brookstone. I...

2010-03-05T10:07:58.065-08:00

You can get a great pill machine at Brookstone. I think it's about $25. I've been using it since getting it as a Christmas gift and it has restored a lot of the clothes I almost had to throw away that look almost new now!

love the ruffled details on that top!

2010-03-04T20:14:20.794-08:00

love the ruffled details on that top!

PetiteAsianGirl - I think you'll like the shell a ...

2010-03-03T22:12:31.329-08:00

PetiteAsianGirl - I think you'll like the shell a lot! It's super cute! I sometimes feel embarrassed returning a bunch of stuff in store, but then I figure, all the sales associates have to do is take one look at me to realize I have a hard time finding a good fit. I'm sure they understand.

Anonymous - I know! I love their whole look right now! I wish I fit in more of their stuff!

Jen - I don't know how you do it! A lot of the time I don't even fit in the smallest sizes available, or just barely. I can't imagine being any smaller! You always look great though! And, yeah, A&F is a bad company with bad morals, but their size XS is a life saver!

Lisa - Thanks! The shell is super cute! I think the thing that upsets me most is that silk is so hard to find in a fitted style. I love silk, but it's always cut so wide! More silk tops need to be cut slim, with zippers added.

Love the shell you are keeping. I can't believe h...

2010-03-03T16:58:39.785-08:00

Love the shell you are keeping. I can't believe how big some of the others were. How depressing.. :(

Being 1 size smaller than you and PeiteAsianGirl, ...

2010-03-03T10:07:31.119-08:00

Being 1 size smaller than you and PeiteAsianGirl, it breaks my heart to see these being so huge. Although when I saw your cardigan and thought "ooh, I wonder where she bought that! it fits so well!" and saw it was from abercrombie, I giggled a little. Oh, abercrombie. I love you for your cut and hate you for being obnoxious.

AT petite collection is rather roomy... but I looo...

2010-03-03T09:27:32.121-08:00

AT petite collection is rather roomy... but I looove their aesthetics.