Having trouble finding decent petite clothes

20 years ago

I am short and need to wear petites. Dillards always carried a nice petite selection. Yesterday when I went there the selection was horrible. I asked the salewoman about it and she agreed, they stopped carrying Ralph Lauren and Liz is also not going to be carried any more. There are others not being carried, also.

The petites at Kolhs this year is also terrible. Last year Sears had Lands End petites, this year they aren't carrying any. Selection is very poor there.

Penny's petites aren't good, either. Petite Sophisticates is closing all their stores.

Has anyone else noticed this?

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Comments (12)

kim_okla
20 years ago
Yes. I went to Eddie Bauer and bought men's slacks and jeans so I could get the correct length.
azmom
20 years ago
Have you tried
Talbots - store, catelog and internet site
Lands' End - store, catelog and internet site
Eileen Fisher - internet site, or Dillard's, Macy's
Misook - Dillard's and Nordstorm and their internet site

They all carry wonderful petite selections. Once you know your measurements and their sizes, watching for their sales, you can find beautiful, classy, high quality clothes at reasonable prices.
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Barnmom - Perhaps I didn't explain my previous post as well as I should have. the site www.petiteresource.com is not selling anything. It is an information resource for petite women that lists all the major sources of petite clothing in a conventient format. I thought this site would be of genuine interest to readers of this forum. I am getting nothing whatsoever from any of the retailers listed on the site. Check the page and see for yourself. Some of the the features are listed below: ï»¿* Provides a comprehensive list of links for all the major sources of petite clothing -- department stores, chains like the Gap and Talbots, as well as one-of-a kind sources available on-line * Tells you what brands are available from each source * Takes you directly to the petites pages and petite sale merchandise for each store * Sorts stores by price (economy, mid-level, and high-end) and size category (regular petites and plus size petites) * Provides links to store locators and catalog pages * Gives you sources for petite jeans, petite maternity clothing, petite lingerie, and small size shoes * Links to articles and blogs on petite fashion Thank you for your reconsideration. Here is a link that might be useful: Petite Resource
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I buy most of my clothes at dept. store like Macys, Target, even TJMaxx. I can only find regular size clothes, so I buy the closest fit I can find and bring them to a local seamstress for alterations. I've gained some weight, I find a good fit is size one petite, I found a pair of supposedly capri-length pants that fit me perfectly, without alterations! Good luck, I feel your pain, having to spend an extra $20 just to get proper-fitting slacks!!!
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I remember when DD became engaged. We had the whole family here for Christmas, as usual, and she was arriving here the 24th and flying to fiancee on the 26th for their splashy engagement party in Louisiana that night or the next. She needed a dress, and so I ran out to two Macy's on the 24th to find a cocktail dress that would fit her. I brought home every petite 0 and petite 2 that looked possible, maybe 8 dresses. I hoped we could keep 2 or 3. All of them were too big except one would work because it was cut on the bias and draped on her well, even though it was a tad big too. So as her dad took her to the airport the morning of the 26th, I returned the dresses. That red satin Jones New York dress still fits and is a lovely dress for fancy occasions 12 years later.
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Ralph Lauren has petites. Does your mom like her clothing baggy on top of her slimness ? It's hard to tell if these are too body hugging but they look nice. I really like the mascarpone cream lounge pants. They look just right. Can't tell the fit real well on the one below. When my mom was alive QVC had a good selection of cozy petite clothing. Seems like one was by a Susan...something. Edited; It was Susan Graver Mom liked, but mostly the Liquid knit tops. Anyway, there are some things on there but it's not fun going through that rabbit hole as there are 14 different categories within the S. Graver pickings. https://www.qvc.com/Susan-Graver-Weekend-Petite-Brushed-Textured-Knit-Cowl-Neck-Tunic.product.A387751.html?sc=SRCH https://www.qvc.com/Susan-Graver-SG-Sport-Petite-Heather-Knit-Funnel-Neck-Tunic.product.A463119.html?sc=NAVLIST
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susan_in_nc
20 years ago
I saw that Petite Soph. is closing here in Ral. It's a shame, because I could almost always find something that fit there. Talbots does have petites, but the price tends to be double what I had been paying at other stores.

Susan
pattyannie
20 years ago
Try Ann Taylor Loft or Ann Taylor stores. They have a nice petite selection. Sometimes they are a bit pricy, but they do have coupons and their markdowns are terrific. I just bought some petite pants for New York and Company today. They fit very nicely and the legs aren't so long. My only problem with Ann Taylor is that the pants are way too long. I am a size 12 petite, so it is nice getting a size that fits in the waist hips and length.
centralcacyclist
20 years ago
Jones New York petites are nice as well. And Ralph Lauren. I like Macy's petite department, they carry all these brands. They have their own brand called Style & Co. that is trendy. They also have a more conservative brand called Charter Club but I find that they run small through the bust. Short women are supposed to be built like children I guess!

Here is a link that might be useful: Macy's petites
lindac
20 years ago
Vonmaur has wonderful petites.....and is a great store....if there is one near you.
Linda C

Here is a link that might be useful: vonmaur
bluemonster
20 years ago
I'm 5'2" have been ordering J-Crew Petites with very good luck. They have a pretty big selection of items, and you can return the items to a J-Crew store even though the stores don't stock petite sizes. They also have great ongoing sales.
My 5' sister loves Banana Republic petites, which you can find in some stores or online.
elizabeth_5
20 years ago
Another suggestion is J Jill. Stores are mainly at high end malls, but they have a very nice catalog (which is online). I *love* their clothes. They are much more stylish than a lot of Talbots' clothes (some of which I find rather dumpy), yet not teenager-trendy like Bloomingdales. I also have good luck with Liz Claiborne and LL Bean petites.

That said, finding a new store that consistantly carries clothes in one's personal fit can mean shopping around and trying stuff on.

Also, as I've grown older, "shop 'til I drop" means I "drop" a lot sooner. ;) So I don't have the energy to physically shop around. When I first did online shopping I sent a lot of stuff back. Some Petite lines can be either too loose or too tight. You just have to try them. (Nordstroms, BTW has a nice return policy.)

It wasn't that many years ago that there were no stores catering to petite sizes. I remember when there weren't even any petite clothes at all! (You probably weren't even born yet. :)) We had to do a lot of hemming, let me tell you.

Just as a guess, the petite-only stores (and P-clothing lines in higher-end retail stores) may be suffering from increased online shopping and cheaper lines in discount stores. I'm sorry to see PS disappear, but then I haven't been patronizing them either. :q
sheilajoyce_gw
20 years ago
My DD wears a small petite size, and we find Jones New York brand fits her best. We also like petite INC. I find both of them at Macy's. We bought some great discouted blouses at Christmas at our Petite Sophisticate. Then I reminded her a few weeks ago to check PS in her town, and she made another killing.
woodie
20 years ago
Elizabeth, you have reminded me of when I was a teenager and had such trouble finding petite sizes. I don't know where you live, but in the 60's the only place to find good petite clothes in northern New Jersey was in Arnold Constable's - wonder if anybody else is old enough to remember that store! My poor mother must have had a terrible time with me - dragging me all around to shop, especially for a prom dress or some special occasion - gosh it was difficult.
Kathleen8B_FL
20 years ago
I'm 5' 4 1/2", and regular clothes are way out of proportion (and pants way too long), but many petite pants are too short. I love Macy's Style & Co. petite line--fits me perfectly. I also like Ann Taylor Loft, although I haven't tried their pants yet--only dresses and tops. JCPenney also has a pretty good petite department.
krustytopp
20 years ago
In Canada, there's Cleo. They have mostly office wear.

Having trouble finding decent petite clothes

Comments (12)

kim_okla

azmom

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