Can anyone recommend a good brand of black trousers for very petite figures?

In case you haven't noticed, I mostly wear jeans. I have one pair of skinny black pants from Joseph that I bought at a designer consignment store. They're more of a "retro cigarette pant" style (slightly cropped, higher waist, skinny silhouette, no pockets and they have a side zip closure). I like the but they are meant to be snug and they feel more like "formal/dressy" type pants.

I'd really like to add some dressy-casual trousers to my closet as an alternative to black or gray jeans (and cargo pants, I have lots of those, too), that can be worn more casual or dressed up a bit. Something with a tapered leg but not really a "super skinny" style.

But here's the problem, every brand I've tried on have been too big or ill fitting (gaped in the waist, too tight in the thigh, etc.).

I'm a bit of a peanut and I really don't want to pay money to have whatever trousers I buy altered (because I usually go the jeans route) but I would like them to fit moderately well.

Around the holidays I did pick up a couple of pairs of more "dressy" printed slacks at Ann Taylor (size 00 Petite). These are actually too big for me but not by so much that I couldn't get away with wearing them as long as I wore a belt that hid the fact they gaped at the waist and kept them from falling down. They were also on clearance for $20 so I figured I'd wear them enough that for that cost, it was okay they were a bit big.

So, I'd like to get some that are a bit more polished looking (e.g. not too slouchy) and in either plain black and/or gray.

For reference, here are the brands I've already tried and determined they don't make them small enough to fit me properly or the cut is wrong on me (all in petite)

-Gap
-Ann Taylor/Ann Taylor Loft
- Banana Republic

Someone recommended I try the children's section of certain stores (which I've definitely done in the past) but this type of basic wardrobe staple is really more geared towards women (simple, classic) and I don't do well with kids pants because, while I'm petite, I have a well defined waist and a full bottom. So they usually gape in the waist and are too tight in the thigh.

Any other brand suggestions I should try?

11 years ago

kkards

Veteran

i would recommend jcrew…you will probably need to order on line. i would recommend trying both petite and regular, as the rise will be different. and i'm guessing that maybe that is one the issues that you are having. i have discover that in general, "regular" sizes fit me better than petites. but i will also be honest, i have to have 90% of the pants (including jeans) altered. i buy for the fit in my hips and have the waist and length altered.

Thistle

Have you tried Express or Limited? Not sure if they carry petites, but they do run smaller.

If it is just the waist running big and everything else fits, my tailor charges $12 to make it perfect. Might be worth it for a single pair of trousers to make them Perfect.

Might also want to try someone like Theory as well, I believe they also run small. Most higher end brands do seem to run small.

leopardluxe

Thanks, kkards. I usually expect to have minor length alterations done, which if fine on jeans but I'm afraid on tapered trousers it will throw off the proportions. Also, the last time I had the waist taken in on pants I found it really effected the drape of them on my body (weirdness/bunching on the butt area, which made them unflattering). Have you found having the waist altering to be at all problematic in terms of how good the results are?

Anonymous

I have tried on probably 20-30 pants this season to try to find a pair like you. I too am petite and wear 00P, 0P, 00Reg etc depending upon brand etc. I find that you just need to try the same brands and their different sales frequently as styles change often. I just scored with BR Martin pants- they really fit well (although I think I am one cupcake away from a wardrobe malfunction)- and I swear I have tried them in the past.

Nordstoms has a lot of petite pants on line (though none of the 8 pair I ordered worked) but I just got 00P NYDJ white ankle jeans that are "on deck" in my closet waiting to be styled.

Loft 00Regular also work for me in jeans but the pants swim on me- go figure! Women's styling is all over the place so you just need to keep trying.

I also realize that shirts and dresses that fit are easier to find- I have a black petite Eileen Fisher skirt that is my "black pants equivalent".

i haven't had any problems with taking in the waist changing the shape of the pants. and i always ask the tailor before we start if they think that shorting the length will change the proportion of the pants…the good ones will be honest and if it will, i don't keep those pairs.
are you near a nordstroms? i have found the alterations teams there to be very good, and in conjunction with the SA they should be able to find a pair that will work for you.

Thistle, I've tried both Express and Limited. Way too big

I actually have a black pantsuit from Theory that works well on me (in their 00 size). I tried looking for tapered, simple pants from them but couldn't find any. The pants are just on the edge of being a little bit too snug in the thigh and little bit too big in the waist, but not my much. I occasionally wear the black slacks from the pant suit on their own but they're a straight leg and the material makes them a bit more dressy than what I'm searching for.

I may just have to own up to the fact that I'll just have to buy something that fits well in the thigh/butt and pay to have them tailored elsewhere. Was really hoping to avoid that if at all possible.

I just checked my closet and it turns out the theory dress slacks I have are a size 0, not 00 and they actually fit better in the waist then I remember -no gap at back (of course, my shape has changed slightly in the last few years as I've gotten older, so that could have something to do with it).

So I just snagged a newly listed pair of tapered slim gray striped Theory pants (in good condition, pre-owned) on ebay for $12. I figure, if they aren't a perfect fit, the additional cost to tailor them still won't be expensive overall if I paid less than $20 for the pants themselves.

I've got my fingers crossed and if I think they work I'll be sure to post some pictures so you all can give me a second opinion!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You have many options, actually. AT tends to run big. I have a 00 petite friend (barely 4ft 10), who wears a size 23 jeans. This is where we shop:

Club Monaco
00 at BR in a Martin fit
Karen Millen
H&M
Bebe
00 at J.Crew
Smallest sizes at Madewell
Some Express
Zara

I can also rattle off some designer wear if you like, but the above is more affordable.

Thanks Angie! I need to break out of my BR-AT rut!

My pleasure, Pam. xo

Gigi

Have you tried White House Black Market? They carry some stuff in petites. I think they are actually trying to expand their petites' collection. They have a lot of black pants and go down to 00P.

Liz A.

I'd second J. Crew. Try the Minnie pant. They are meant to be cropped but fit more like ankle pants on my short legs. Maybe full length on a super petite person. The fabric is very forgiving.

Thanks everyone, for your recommendations! I think I'll start with with J Crew and the BR Martin fit that Angie recommended and see if either of those work. Since they seem to be closest to what I'm looking for in terms of style.

Suz

J. Crew tends to be cut for a more rectangular shape but it is still worth a try. And definitely try the other brands Angie suggested.

gryffin

Leopardluxe - did you try AT's ponte pants? They can skew casual or dress and stretch makes them oh so forgiving size wise. I don't have this exact pair mine are more jean styling but you get the gist. http://www.anntaylor.com/petit.....8;catid=ca

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trix

Active Member

No personal experience that could help me make recommendations, but do you follow the bloggers at AlterationsNeeded.com and ExtraPetite.com? They both have some advice on fitting pants, and Jean at ExtraPetite has a list of petite-friendly brands.

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