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Brief shopping trip: good news and bad news

Sarah

Yesterday I got to go on a very brief shopping trip. We were seriously in and out of the mall in about 30 minutes, because my husband was in one of those moods when he wanted to spend time with me, but also wanted to do anything except shop. We also had tons of errands to run, so it’s just as well. I plan to take a real shopping trip as soon as I can, but I thought I’d share my news from yesterday.

The only store we stopped at was Banana Republic. I was a woman on a mission to find that yellow cardigan. All of the cardigans were gone from the tables, so I went to try on jeans. I was severely disappointed with their jeans. I tried on both urban bootcuts and flares in a lovely dark denim. They were even on sale for fifty-something dollars. Unfortunately, I swam in the 3 pairs of 0s I tired on. They were as big on me as my St. John’s Bay size 4s, if not bigger. Then came petite 00s. (They had no regular 00s.) They would have looked great if I could have zipped them up, but I guess my fat stomach is a size or two bigger than my tiny legs and butt. Not sure what to do about that. I may have to resort to custom made jeans, but I’ll try some other stores first.

Anyway, when I came out of the dressing room my husband had found my yellow cardi on one of the sales racks in XS. It was the only one left in any color or size. I tired it on, loved it, and bought it. Now I just need something to wear it with. I’d imagined it with a dark denim skirt and red heels, but those are for another shopping trip and another day.

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18 replies

Latest reply was from Sarah

Julia

I'm glad that you bought the cardi, sounds great with the pieces you described.

I have better luck with AT/ATL's pants than BR's. I think that you might need a lower rise to accommodate both your waist and your bottom. Back pockets with flaps also help the back look fuller.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Also, petite sizes tend to be smaller everywhere on the garment, not just shorter. If I go to a petite size, I usually have to size up to an 8 (or sometimes even a 10). If the petite length is great on you, consider trying a petite 0 or 2 vs. a petite 00. This is probably true at AT as well as BR.

Glad you got the yellow cardi! It think it will look great with your dark hair. I like how you are planning on accessorizing it with a denim skirt and red heels. Very chic.

Maya

Veteran

Sarah, it sounds like you need a 0P. Ana is right. Petites are cut smaller all over, not just in length. I usually wear a 0 regular and 2P at BR.

I'm not a fan of Ann Taylor anymore. I went there today and their sizes seem to have grown exponentially. I had to go down to a XXSP! You guys have all seen me and you know I'm not really THAT small. It was ridiculous. So I doubt their clothes are good for you Sarah. ATL seems a bit less generously cut somehow.

Glad you found the yellow cardi! I had a similar experience myself today. I found a beautiful fuschia lantern sleeve cropped cardi. Last one left and it was a small petite! And it was on sale for $17 from $88! So I did not find what I was looking for, which was skirt-length tops, but I did find something...much like you.

I bet your cardi will look gorgeous with the skirt and red heels. Keep us posted.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Yay! The yellow cardi sounds fab and I can’t wait to see it on. I’m happy to have planted that seed.

You WILL swim in BR regular jeans. You are petite my dear Sarah, and you'll find that you require jeans with a slim leg line. The opposite of curvy fits. There are plenty of those around and you won’t need to get custom made jeans. Get yourself to the Junior dept of Nordstrom and try brands like “see thru sole”, “it” and “fire”. Price should be around $50. Have fun!

Maya

Veteran

I am wearing a pair of It jeans now!

I don't think they have the Twiggy anymore, sadly. It's their straight leg jean. I got a 27 but they grew and now they're big in the waist. I need to get them taken in. But they would be excellent for you (Sarah) because they have a low rise and straight leg, and I think they start at a 25. I also have the bootcut "Hottie" jean in a 31" inseam. I got those from truejeans.com but I don't know if they stock them anymore. Those would also work. They're actually around $68 so it might be a bit much for you.

I used to have STS jeans but they were a light wash flare and had rips and tears and I'm just too old for that now. But they fit nicely and I think they were only $48.

I wonder if maybe you tried on the contour fit at BR? Those are for curvier ladies. I have to get those in a 00 regular because petites are too short and a 0 is too big.

Tanya

Veteran

I am so glad you got that yellow cardigan Sarah. The outfit you're planning sounds lovely. I'd also try the cardi with any navy bottom and cream cami.
Good luck with your quest for jeans, I can't really recommend any that would work for you seince you seen the have the opposite issue from me- I usually need the curvy fits

Sarah

Hm, I think I tired on both 0Ps and 0 regulars, and they fit the same (big everywhere), but I don't remember for sure. I do know there is no way I could fit into the 00Ps. I think I have a fairly average sized waist for someone my size (26"), but it's bellow the waist that I'm big. That's why I call that area my “fat spot”. I think I need about a size bigger there than everywhere else.

I'll try AT and ATL. I'll probably have more success at ATL, since they carry smaller sizes like Maya said. (Wow, sounds like you had a great shopping experience too Maya!)

Yes Angie, I'm glad you planted that seed too. I had no clue I could wear yellow. The denim skirt and red shoes was inspired by a picture on your blog entry on brightly colored shoes (second picture from the left). And thank you so much for the suggestions for jeans from Nordstrom's junior dept. I'll have to head there on my next shopping trip.

Maya, $68 is fine with me for nice dark jeans. I'm hopping for under $60, but I'll take under $100. I'm not sure if I was trying on contour at BR. I just tried the jeans on the sales rack. The only label I saw on them was "urbane boot cut" and "urban flare", so I'm not sure if they were made for curvy ladies like you or not-so-curvy ladies like me.

Maya

Veteran

Sarah, apparently "urban fit" is the new name for the contour fit, so no wonder they were so big!

http://www.bananarepublic.com/.....pid=542301

If you look at the description it says "curved through the hip and thigh." These were meant to accommodate a curvy lady.

I must be honest and say I do not like BR's denim collection at all this season. They always tend to go overboard with denim trends. They did it with skinnies and now they're doing it again with widelegs. I think you're much better off at Nordies.

I don't even know if I would bother with AT. If I need an XXSP, you probably won't even be on the chart. It's also really pricey. Try ATL. I don't know why but their sizes seem smaller and the prices are friendlier.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Oh yes. I forgot to mention that the BR urban boot cuts are for curvy gals. The “classic” is straighter. Thanks Maya.

Don’t bother with jeans at AT and ATL , Sarah. I have size 6's in 4’s and 2's on those size specifications. They will never fit you. Try levis too. Loads of denim options for you. And at your price point. Keep us informed of your finds!

Sarah

Thanks Maya and Angie. Those jeans were just what I was trying to avoid. I'm certainly not curvy through the thighs and hips. I used to be back in junior high, but not now. That was about 8-10 pounds ago. Not that I'd mind being curvier, I'm just not. Noridies is top on my list to check for jeans. I just have to get back out to that mall. It’s about 45 minutes away from home, but so are all the malls around here, just in different directions. I'll definitely keep you updated on my denim hunt.

Sarah

So I should be looking for these if I look at BR again:

http://www.bananarepublic.com/.....pid=547742

Hm, according to the Nordstrom juniors size chart I'm somewhere between a 3 and 5 in the waist and a 00 in the hips (and somewhere between a 1 and 3 in the bust, not that that matters with jeans). I guess I have a large waist, not a small one. Anyway, these look nice to try:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/29.....1&P=1

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/29.....1&P=2

And for these prices I'd try these white jeans too:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/29.....1&P=1

A trip to Nordies is definitely in order ASAP.

Maya

Veteran

Don't go by Nordstrom's size chart. The jeans I had from STS and It! are both by waist size. Try 25's and 26's. Since they are in junior's sizes the hips probably won't be as curvy. Angie's suggestion of Levi's is also good. Their sizes go down way small and they have a zillion different cuts and even different lengths.

You don't have a big waist Sarah. If you do then I do too

We have lots of lovely 5' gals here whose waists are no smaller than 25", usually more, and I don't think any of us here exactly have a washboard stomach...I certainly don't. You're fine.

If you go to BR the classic fit is your best bet, but I don't think this is the best season for it. Wait until the widelegs end up on the sale rack and are replaced by more straight legs. I think straight and skinny are the best cuts for you. They'll give a bit of curve to your hips.

Sarah

Glad to here that the size charts are inaccurate. If you go by the size charts, Nordstrom (and everyone else for that matter) only carries clothes for women with the perfect hourglass figure. I mean really, who has a 22.5 inch waist without a corset?! Actually, according to the It! size chart I’m a just a little smaller than a 24 (26.5” waist compared to mine at 26” and 33.5” hips and mine at 33”). I’ll have to try them on to see what size I really fit though. I’ve liked the two pairs of Levi’s I’ve had, so I’ll look for those as well.

I’m certainly not saying we have big waists, Maya. I’m just saying that mine is big compared to the rest of my body. I’m a cross between an inverted triangle and a rectangle. You have curves though. Thanks for the tip on straight legs and skinnies. I definitely want to emphasize my hips and add some curves.

Patience

Veteran

Sarah, I have the Silver jeans from the first Nordstrom link you posted and they are soooo comfy. They are rather low rise and make sure you try them super snug because they will give. I wouldn't say they grow exactly; they just become easier because the denim is so stretchy.

Maya

Veteran

I guess some teenagers might have a 22.5" waist? I don't think I ever had a a smaller waist than 24" at any point in my adult life. I'm actually not even sure if I was ever 24" because I didn't measure back then, but since I was 25" the first time I ever measured my waist, I guess I can assume I was 24" for much of my young adult life. 22.5 seems inconceivably small to me though. The smallest women I know has a 23" waist, and no one else I know even comes close to being her size. I don't think I have ever seen anything that small at Nordies.

I think these jeans look amazing but they would look ridiculous on me. You should try them on and I will wear them vicariously through you

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/29.....1&P=2

Here is the Hottie jean. I don't know if they have the short inseam in the store, but you can try on the regulars and if they fit, you can order the short jeans.

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/29.....1&P=2

Patience

Veteran

Or have them hemmed for free at Nordstrom.

I always think of Scarlet O'Hara having the 17" (I think) waist. Only in books I think and before we were all so well nourished.

Maya

Veteran

I don't personally like having bootcuts hemmed because it ruins the line completely by making the leg opening narrower. This only works if the leg opening is too wide to begin with. The knee break is also higher which means you don't have a flare that begins somewhere around your calf!

Sarah

Oooh, now I have lots of jeans to try at Nordies. Yes Patience, I remember Scarlet O'Hara's 17" waist, but that was with a corset. Thankfully most people don't wear those things anymore. Hemming boot cuts usually makes them look more like straight legged jeans, so I think I'd just buy straight legs if I was going to do that. I may buy straight and skinnies anyway, since they should help give me the illusion of curves.