Ask Angie: Where to shop for very thin, petite ladies?

soubrette

Dear Angie,

I'm in desperate need of your fabulous - and always-stylish - wisdom! I'm a very small-framed young woman who's struggling to find places to buy clothes that fit. I'm 5'5", and 100 lbs - I have a tiny, delicate bone structure - my measurements are 30.5-23-31! (Even my feet are tiny - size 4.5-5! I sometimes joke that I am a stretched out petite person.) Often, when I buy tops even in XS, I find myself swimming in them - I have a figure hiding under there, but no one gets to see it, because everything is too wide and baggy, or straps on cute blouses are too long/always falling down (my bra is always peeking out!), shoulder seams hit me in the wrong places, or arm holes are far too large - I'm constantly having to tug and pull at my clothes, which is not in the least bit glamorous. Things tend to just hang! I feel like I'm stuck wearing super tight, clingy spandex like fabrics if I ever want to show people that I'm not a shapeless blob under there, haha.

I'm 23, so I'm still quite young - where can I find young, trendy clothing of good quality for small framed/petite people? I wear a uniform to work, so just casual or date night clothing would be absolutely wonderful to find! I've looked and looked, and I just can't find places that carry 00 or XXS and aren't either meant for older, more sophisticated women (Ann Taylor, Banana Republic), or young teenagers (Abercrombie, American Eagle). I feel like I'm lost in a clothing wormhole sometimes, haha!

Thank you so much! If anyone has the same problem or any insight for me, I'd be really grateful. I want to look as great as all of you!

11 years ago

Body Type

16 replies

Latest reply was from LindseyLindsey

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Not Angie, but have you looked at Club Monaco? Also Bebe has really upped their game.

11 years ago

soubrette

Member

Thank you, Annagybe! Club Monaco has really beautiful stuff - I'd never heard of them before, so you've given me a wonderful lead. I haven't been into Bebe in forever, so next time I'm shopping, I'll be sure to head in! Is there size selection in store good?

11 years ago

Keix

Veteran

If you're looking for trendier stuff, H&M size 2 often runs pretty small. You should also find a good tailor and set aside part of your budget for tailoring costs, so that if you fall in love with something that only half-fits, you can fix it!

You can also try J.Crew's 00/XXS. I'm 31.5-29-36.5, wear a size 0 and often fit into XXS at J.Crew, but your bust measurement isn't too much smaller than mine and you can easily get the waist tailored to be slimmer.

11 years ago

Keix

Veteran

Also--Nordstrom, Zappos, and outlet stores are your friend for finding size 5 shoes! If you need a true 4.5 US, though, I've personally found European size 35 to run TTS=US 5 and even a bit wider, so it feels a bit larger than a US 5.

11 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I am much older (so able to wear some of the brands you mention) and not quite as delicate as you, but I understand the issue.

My suggestions, for what they are worth:

1. Despite your desire to look youthful, leave no retail stone unturned. AT and the like may in fact have individual items, especially tops, that could work for you with jeans or another youthful, trendy bottom. So don't rule them out absolutely. See Alterations Needed and Extra Petite. They are a bit older and perhaps their particular style won't appeal, but they have good advice on shopping and show the clothes in action on their small frames.

2. An alterationist will be your friend. It adds to the budget, but can make an enormous difference.

3. European brands and sizing will tend to work better -- try xs and xxs at places like Zara, H&M, and Mexx (where you can get a 32 that might work sometimes.) Club Monaco (while a Canadian brand) can also work, as could J.Crew (there are some 00s available). Aritzia is another.

4. Some Juniors. Yes, sometimes the quality and/ or styles will be too young, but occasionally not -- for example, some items from Nordstrom's Juniors house brand, Caslon -- especially for some basics (undies) and essentials like Ts, etc.

5. The kids' department! Yes, I have sometimes found myself shopping there, and for certain items, it works. I have a boys' shirt from Old Navy, a girls' denim jacket from there. Others here have shirts, belts, and other items from boys' J. Crew. Bonus: the price is right!

6. BBQ (buy buy quick): If you see your approximate size in stock in an item you love, buy fast! It will sell out fast.

7. If you have the resources (or can find great sales, e.g. places like the Rack or TJ Maxx) then buy high-end designer. Less vanity sized.

8. A non-designer but pricier brand that might work: Theory. Great cut for the delicate of frame. Perhaps more business oriented than you want, but again, consider for an individual piece.

9. Don't neglect petites departments entirely. There will be some items that will work. Not pants, probably. But (depending on waist placement and the length of your limbs) you might find dresses, some shirts, and jackets that will work for you. I am 5'4" and often (though not always) prefer petites from American makers for dresses, jackets, shirts.

11 years ago

krishnidoux

Veteran

Hi! I am very petite too and have struggled to find properly fitting clothes for a long time. I quite like Guess By Marciano because they offer smaller sizes that are still form fitting on a small frame.

11 years ago

kkards

Veteran

another vote for jcrew--you may need to order on line, as OO and XXS can be hard to find in store, but not impossible. i would also try anthropologie, some things will work and some will not, as the sizing there varies by brand. also free people, which i find tends to run on the smaller side. you may want to try the english brand karen millen, (i know they ship in us), they run on a slimmer cut. some of her looks will be more mature then you are looking for, but many of the individual items have a younger look. i'm sure there are other english/european brands that also ship in us, you might try googling to find them.

11 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I have a client your size with slightly larger feet. There are great options, actually. Here are some straight off the top of my head:

Bebe's smallest size - especially in the dresses
Club Monaco does 00
J.Crew 00 and XXS is fab
Anne Taylor's 00P is great for on top - the bottoms will be too short
H&M
Halogen's 00P jackets
Zara's bottoms
Karen Millen runs extremely small so check out the whole store
American Eagle's bottoms for sure, and some of their tops
24 inch Rockstar jeans from Old Navy, Hudson and J.Brand
Shoes from Nordstrom who carry your footwear size, and a website called "Cinderella Feet".

Hope that helps.

11 years ago

MovingFashionForward

Active Member

This is all very useful for me too, as a 5'5" 105lber. I too have typically found clothes shopping quite a frustrating experience, so often make my own. Incidentally, I have had trouble with Zara bottoms gaping at the waist. I have been known to buy selected items in children's departments -- with the emphasis on SELECTED -- wouldn't do to be wandering about in pink glittery MyLittlePony getup at my age (49). The boys' section sometimes has good tees and hoodies, but I am very grateful for the suggestions above of proper adult shops for when I don't want to look a complete fool wearing childrenswear.

If all else fails, try Tokyo. Oh what a joy to find myself on the larger side of the adult sizes I found there -- though expect things to be sometimes too short if you are 5'5".

Best of luck, Soubrette! Do tell what you find -- you are not alone!

Sarah

11 years ago

Raisin

Veteran

I was also going to suggest Club Monaco. Le Chateau is another brand that goes down to XXS and I've seen them on girls about your size and it fits very well. However, I'm not sure where you live. Le Chateau is a Canadian store and I think they only do shipping in Canada.

11 years ago

em2014

Active Member

Hey soubrett,

Although your post is a year old, I just wanted to say that I feel your pain! I'm about your age & my measurements are similar to yours. I'm 5'6.5" (or maybe even 5'7", actually weigh a little bit less than you, and have measurements of 27-24-33. Basically, very thin bone structure.

Shopping--especially for a work wardrobe--is annoying, & I've been wearing unflattering fits. When I do get around to adding good pieces to my wardrobe I'll let you know what brands I've had luck with.

10 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

em2014, welcome to the forum! It looks like soubrette hasn't been on the forum for a year, but there are other of us small-boned ladies on here!

I was just shopping today and was very frustrated. I was at Macy's and Herberger's. There were so many nice new arrivals in the misses' departments, but the petites' departments were full of clearance racks of frumpy clothes! I was so disappointed, because I have to shop petites', since I am only 5'2" and am short waisted and small busted on top of that. I weigh 100 lbs.

One designer who makes very small bottoms is Maje, available in Nordstrom. But Maje is quite pricey. I had lost a lot of weight because of health reasons last year, and even with my 24" waist at the time, I couldn't fit into their smallest size of pants. So they may be worth a try. White House Black Market size 00 sometimes works also.

10 years ago

em2014

Active Member

@ Gigi,

Hi!

I'm sorry that the stores had so many lovely things that didn't apply to you. I know how that is!

Thanks for the suggestions! I've never heard of Maje, so I'll look out for them when I visit Nordstrom. And yes, I've also heard that WHBM can fit at smaller sizes; have yet to try them.

Also, lots of petite bloggers seems to have success with the brand Theory, but it's a bit pricey.

Oh, I've also read lots of positive things about J. Crew's "Lady Day Coat", including from petite bloggers. You should definitely check it out.

10 years ago

Zenn

Member

Asos is wonderful. They make small and extra small true to size, they mention her height and the size the model is wearing and you can even watch a video of them modeling said clothes. Very helpful!

6 years ago

Anonymous

I think you should shop at places like h&m, Aeropostale, ambercrombie, forever 21, ect... they usually make clothes with petite people in mind.

6 years ago

LindseyLindsey

Member

I only joined this forum to add to the list of clothing stores for this thread. I cannot afford most of the brand's on this list, plus I'm a huge bargain shopper anyways. I am 34 years old, 105, 5'6 very tiny but with 30f boobs (translates to a 34 d if I was wider, so they aren't as big as they sound). So add that to the mix and it gets even harder to find clothes. I have found, for under $20 for almost anything in the store and all xs typically fit: Papaya has a range of styles and is everything from casual to dresses, to blazers, to workout clothes. Melrose has a ton of stuff that fits, but the styles are mostly weird, but there is ALWAYS a few gems in there, and for like 5 dollars it is so worth looking through. Wet Seal was amazing for xs vneck tshirts that actually fit, before they pulled it from my mall, order them online and they always fit. Hot topic.. yes i know it seems like everything is goth a punk and emo.. but there are some basics, like jeggings that fit so well! For under shirts, spaghetti strap tight tanks, thongs and panties, and long sleeve undershirts, Wal-Mart's extra smalls fit great (this does not include their regular clothing, the extra small regular clothes are huge). I have a tailor for some stuff.. but they have pretty much just treated me like I'm a freak and need to find a new one. They always take 3 or 4 times before it is small enough and have to comment that it's my fault for my size, not their fault for the bad measurements. I feel the struggle, and on a budget!

5 years ago

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