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Petite Dresses and Jackets

MsLuna

Veteran

So... I'm not posting this because I technically fall under the commercial definition of a "petite" (I am 5'3), but I am posting this because I have a very short waistline and it's very frustrating for me to find jackets and dresses. The smallest part of the waist on any jacket or dress falls down to the middle of my squishy tummy area - just midway through the "love handles" or "muffin top". So imagine me gasping for air, each time I zip up a dress or button up a blazer... GAAAAAH!

I generally like the look of tailored jackets and sheath dresses (they're also my go-to looks for job interviews), but it's nearly impossible finding one for short waisted women. Plus, I've been noticing Petites departments disappearing in department stores, which is really really disappointing me.

Can anyone recommend any petite-friendly/petite shops out there that sell more tailored garments?

Off-hand, I know Banana Republic has good ones. I tried Ann Taylor earlier, but found that their petite sizing is still too long in the torso for me!

Shopping

22 replies

Latest reply was from DonnaF

qfbrenda

Veteran

Along with the ones you mentioned:

Loft
Landsend (has some great ponte dresses)

DonnaF

Veteran

Nordstrom (incl. online)
Macy's (incl. online)

I've noticed that selection can vary greatly from store to store; flagships are best and in my experience Macy's has more dresses. I am a long-waisted petite who finds separates much easier to size. Dresses make me feel constricted, and shift dresses look awful on me because I don't have a strong enough shoulder line to pull them off. Or something. Maybe they would flatter you? And then you don't have to worry about where the waist hits!

Target (online only but not much tailored)

Gigi

Veteran

I hear you on how hard it is to find clothes that fit when you're short waisted.

You could possibly try Coldwater Creek. I've never worn anything from there myself, so I don't know how their clothes fit. I just went to their website, and they had a lot of blazers. They ran the gamut from traditional to frumpy to trendy.

Another place you could maybe try is Christopher and Banks, but I think their blazers might be more on the casual side. I don't know how tailored they are.

I can't remember if White House Black Market has petite sizes. I'm not familiar with them but seem to remember them carrying very classic styles.

J. Jill may have the odd traditional blazer in petites. But they have turned to very boxy clothes for the last few years.

You could also check J. Crew. Again, I don't have any first-hand experience with their stuff. All I know is that it's out of my price range, so I haven't tried it.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

You're in Canada, right? You might try Laura Petites. There's also Cleo (which carries a ton of petites stuff). Transcona Shannon does a brilliant job of finding stuff there. When I go in the store (or worse, online) it always looks super frumpy to my eye, but she always manages to find stuff that looks like a million bucks on her when mixed with her other pieces.

Vix

Veteran

Hi MsKatieKat --

I feel your pain on this issue...I can rarely wear Petite but am 5'4, short-waisted, and have a non-defined waist (Rectangle...think you're an IT?).

Generally I prefer knit dresses for this reason -- the extra fabric in the upper back can at least pass as rouching, ha.

Of the two wool sheaths I have one is custom and the waistline looks raised (but is really close to my natural one); the other is a BR.

I find JCrew and Banana Republic do this style fairly often -- see below for 2 current JCrew dress (Gwen and Bridget) that could work for you and do come in Petite.

Depending on length issues you could also try having the straps taken up in either a P or R style. This could get the waist to fit closer to yours and give you the room you need below.

Good luck and keep us posted!

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MsLuna

Veteran

Thanks for your input, ladies!

@qfbrenda: Lands End has great ponte dresses? I should check them out. I normally shy away from that brand because they're quite sporty. If they have some basics, they're worth a shot!

@DonnaF: in theory, shifts are supposed to work on me due to my waistlessness. Oddly enough, they don't, and it's weird! I'm quite busty, which is probably why sheath dresses are a better choice. It's almost as if I get an instant waist from them!

@Gigi: I buy quite a lot of jackets at Coldwater Creek (the only ones I buy there). There are some that are fantastic (yet I had to retire due to a style shift) but others I had to return. I find CWC inconsistent with their sizing sometimes, but overall, their non-frumpy jackets are great!

@Suz: I don't often find things I like at Laura's either. I find them a bit frumpy! Although their sister company, Melanie Lynne is great for unique sheath dresses. And Shannon has this way of putting together outfits and looking fab in them! I've seen the stores she shops in and I think: she got it there?

@Vix: "extra fabric on the upper back" is always a problem for me too! It gets really bad for me, actually because I have 2 inches of excess fabric up there! Like you, I have preference for knit dresses as well. Ralph Lauren has amazing knit sheaths that don't emphasize the tum. I also love prints so I'm inclined to buy their dresses. I also like Maggy London's ponte dresses (they have Petites!!!) as well as London Times, but I'll need to make a trip to the USA or get them on eBay.

I'll check out J. Crew. I often feel intimidated by their price point, but I heard they have great sales.

Anonymous

MsKatieKat, I definitely sympathize with this problem -- it's frustrating to keep finding things with "waists" that hit you in the stomach!

I also second the recommendation for Lands' End. They have some nice, basic knit dresses in petites. Lands' End is actually where my few vaguely sheath-like dresses came from a few years ago. They're sleeveless ponte dresses with a straight-up-and-down cut that skims over my hips, and I just belt them at my actual waist. They don't seem to have the style on their site anymore, but it's kind of like the one here (http://www.landsend.com/produc...../id_242219) without the pockets and the seam at the waist. Maybe something like that could be an option?

MsLuna

Veteran

Thanks Aubergine!

Those are the types of dresses I tend to buy, actually. They seem to flatter my figure best., although I'll need a deeper neckline to balance out my busty-ness.

Thanks for the recommendation!

Anonymous

No problem at all! And I'm also busty, so I know what you mean about necklines too! (And I'm fairly generous in the hips/butt region in addition to everything else, so it's really a wonder I ever find anything remotely flattering.)

Pame

I'm petite, also your height and short waisted. I find a lot of clothes at AT Loft. Also, there is a mid scale boutique type clothing store that sells a LOT of cute items that fit petite gals. It's not designer labels, but the patterns (cut) and quality are acceptable on most items. Have to pass on their footwear and purses....not real leather. But, their blazers and dressy tops are good. Maurice's.com I find J. Jill too boxy. Also, try the junior dept in dept stores, they trend to run smaller, shorter than misses sizing. On some items that are washable, I buy them nonpetite and warm dryer them into shrinkage. Have to be careful- I do cotton casuals this way. Zara and H&M have some items too.

MsLuna

Veteran

Thanks Pame for your recommendations!

I'm actually not a very small person. I'm a size 8/10 and depending on the company, I can run down to a 6 or up to a 12. So the real issue for me is torso length and where the waist hits.

You're right about the juniors section: I believe American Eagle jeans may borderline "junior" but they work for me as they tend to favour straight and not so curvy bodytypes. The waist-to-hip ratio is not so enormous either so it works out for me.

I haven't tried Maurice's... So I'll check that out.

Zara and H&M: their blazers/dresses waistlines fall down to the middle of my tummy, sadly. Shame because I find so many cute blazers and dresses there!

Pame

Oh, and AT Loft jeans come in various fits: curvy, straight and skinny.

fieldmouse

I'm no help, just posting to commiserate - I'm 5'2, short-waisted, and have the same trouble with fitted coats and jackets. In my country, I haven't even found petites available anywhere. >_<

Angela

Just wanted to chime in and say that I have the same problem. I am 5'4 and short waisted. What I do is I find dresses that fit by picking up the straps and pulling upwards--the dress then usually fits perfectly. Then I just need to alter the straps. It is difficult for dresses with sleeves, so I stick to dresses made of jersey when they have sleeves.

Petite Marj

I, too, am petite and I have had some luck with the Precis Petite department at Hudson's Bay. They are a British line and are always beautifully finished. I generally find a piece then wait for it to go on sale!

Anonymous

I'm also 5'3" and need to do what Angela does. I have only 3 dresses with sleeves and they are all pull on knits that don't fit so tightly as a dress that zips.
Knit jackets work well too

Vix

Veteran

Hi again MKK --

I hear you on the J Crew price points; while I'm generally not enough in love with how their stuff fits on me to stalk it, I do know several people who've built the majority of their work wardrobe off their sale or clearance merchandise.

[If you want color-color it's easier pickings than neutrals.]

Since you've mentioned necklines a few times and I see others also recommend the strap-shortening suggestion, I wanted to share two Before and After shots from this summer's Nordstrom Anniversary purchases.

Both these are knits, altered by Nordstrom. Wovens are even more straightforward to work with.

1) Conversion from crew to V neck (deep purple)
2) Straps taken up (colorblock)

With strap shortening, do watch for armholes getting too tight + adjust for the neckline and/or hemline raising too high for your preference.

I kinda wish I'd sprung to get the colorblock's V neck deepened to it's original, but since it's a primarily a work dress that gets a layer over it and I knew I could go back and get it altered, I decided to trial run it.

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MsLuna

Veteran

You ladies have such great suggestions! Thank you!

@Joy and @Angela: I've pulled the straps up on some of my dresses before and it really works! This could only be done on tank-top type styles or strapped dresses though, no? I tend to wear tank-top style a-line dresses so I'll give it a shot.

@Vix: you were able to change the neckline through alterations???? Wow! Was it an expensive alteration? Because I would definitely love to do this for most of the dresses I have!

I hear you on the arm holes though... They do get too tight after raising the straps!

Again, thanks for this! I'll ask my tailor about this type of alteration!

Vix

Veteran

MKK --

It was one of those not cheap/not spendy alterations. $35 for the neck + hem lengthening...don't recall the breakdown. Worth looking into, especially for favorites.

KP

Member

I have always purchased dresses from jeetly petite, they seem to fit me perfect, I'm a pharmacist and need something to fit my 5'1 slim frame. The dresses and tops are excellent, not to keen on the suits but one to watch.
Katie.

AviaMariah

Veteran

I haven't read everyone's reply so these are probably repeats. I find that the few stores that do carry petites carry a limited amount so on line shopping has been my saving grace; as frustrating as it can be.
Nordstroms
Ann Taylor / Loft
Banana Republic
White House Black Market
Zara
Gap

DonnaF

Veteran

Talbot's also has petites.