Where do you shop if you are ACTUALLY small?

[drspouse]

I really don't think I'm that small, but I gained weight (15-20 years ago) then lost it, mostly (5-10 years ago) and now appear to be a size 10 in trousers in some brands, which I wasn't of course before (vanity sizing).
I'm 5 ft 3, just over the overweight line (have a little more to lose I know), waist is quite big for the rest of me, most of me is the same height as someone who is taller except my lower legs.
So I tend not to buy petite clothes, I generally buy regular and take them up a bit if I need to.
I'm currently wearing a Boden 10R pair of trousers and they are not tight round the waist at all. They do go down to 6 I think.
In store at Next they only seem to go down to 8 and I also have found size 10 loose sometimes.
So where do you shop if you're 5 ft 3 and not overweight?? It's right on the top end of petite height and I can't be the only one who isn't the right proportions for petite.

[Dachshund]

I'm 5"1 and petite build and bone structure. I've got the opposite problem - long regular length legs but short arms/torso. I basically live in jeans and a t shirt or short dresses as tops never ever fit right.

I shop mostly at Cos/Whistles/Asos-Petite/Zara/Levi's I suppose. It's tricky though. I've lost a lot of weight post DD as I developed gallstones and had to adopt a zero fat diet. Finding stuff that fits is a nightmare!

Vanity sizing is a whole different subject I could rant about. Let's just say that as a 6 stone 18 year old I was a size 8 and now as a 7.5 stone post baby build 28 year old I'm anything from 0 -10 depending on the brand! Frustrating and also pandering to no one's vanity these days as we all know about it!

[EveryoneElsesMumSaidYes]

I'm about the same size as you and have the same problem, too big for petite, too small for most shops standard fits.
I find supermarket brands and younger shops come up a smaller fit.
I've also discoveredd that Dorothy Perkins Capri jeggings fit my stubby legs perfectly

[drspouse]

I think I have 3/4 length or 7/8 length legs actually. I'll have to look out for those jeggings!
I also buy age 15-16 Johnnie B sometimes after a tip on here. But the styles I like are quite limited what with me not actually being 15.

[pristinechristine]

I'm 5'3 and an 8-10 and I have the same problem. Too short for standard but a tad too tall for petite.

I shop anywhere but either look out for 7/8 length in slim trousers or with jeans and chinos roll them up to just above the ankle. Glad that the fashion nowadays is for slim/skinny trousers as it's easier than getting bootcut to fit.

[UhtredRagnorsson]

I am actually small. I shop at H&M kids, Zara, and UO. Occasionally banana republic (the cropped trousers are too long on me but since they are supposed to be cropped they end up looking full length, size 0 is too big but not completely massive- a better fit than most other things). And sometimes ASOS. UO do an XS size in most things that doesn't totally fall off. My sister is even smaller - 4'11" but a bigger waist and arse (though Still small) - she doesn't shop at Zara because it's all way too long for her. She does do H&M kids and UO. She also sometimes ventures into top shop.

My work 'uniform' tends to be dresses and skirts from UO (they are not as mini as they are supposed to be because shortages, therefore they are just about acceptable) knitwear and sometimes blouse-like tops (not actual blouses) from Zara and BR trousers. My home uniform is jeans/dungarees and Ts. And knitwear from UO. And the occasional shirt but they are all huge. It really is an issue - since vanity sizing shifted everything up a couple of sizes those of us at the bottom of the range are often left with nothing.

[EveryoneElsesMumSaidYes]

I got some nice 7/8 trousers from Gap recently.
ASOS, New Look and Mango are good. Don't be afraid of fitted /slim fit clothing, they give more definition and don't swamp a slighter figure

[drspouse]

Oh exercise trousers:
Don't seem to be subject to vanity sizing (so I often end up having to buy L or XL)
Leggings you can wear too short (but that cold inch in winter... Brr) or too long.
Yoga pants you just cannot! Look ridiculous short and are dangerous long!
Where do you get them if not quite petite?

[MissWimpyDimple]

Don't get me started! It's so annoying. Petite is just a touch too short and regular too long.

I'm 5' 2.5" and would consider myself pear shaped with short legs but petite is STILL too short.

It's hit and miss for me. I do take most things up.

Agree about gym wear though! You can't really take that sort of material up so they either trail or are too short!

[Floisme]

5'3, 8/10 (would be at least a 12 in old money). I don't find it such a problem with skirts/dresses. It means some stuff is just below the knee rather than above but I prefer that length. Trousers I always shorten and jeans I roll up.

But tops and knitwear are a real pain - lots of things end mid thigh which is really unflattering on me. I sometimes lop a couple of inches off Ts and jumpers and just roll up the ends. And I always look for crop cardis. I like shirts to be fitted and can never find them.

I've shopped all over and never really noticed much difference. At the moment I like H&M where the sizing is bonkers anyway. It's one reason I stick up for Boden - they give you a choice of lengths (though not in tops). M&S too.

[drspouse]

I'm currently wearing a 16 petite Wallis top .

I think it would probably be a 12 petite now (I've had it for getting on for 10 years and it was from a charity shop anyway). I usually wear 10 regular in t-shirt/stretchy tops but I'm a bit busty so it's a 12 in anything with buttons.

[new5poundnote]

I am 5'1" with a long torso and short arms and legs. Next petite trousers are way too long for me. I find that shops see petite as one body type rather than the reality of all the body types but shorter. When I was pregnant there were hardly any petite maternity clothes. It was as if you could be one or the other but not both! I describe myself as short as I am definitely not delicate despite being slimmish. I find H&M and Dorothy Perkins best for me but will definitely be checking out the other places mentioned on here.

[macnab]

Excuse my ignorance but what is UO?!

[drspouse]

Urban Outfitters I think?

[Pandsbear]

I mostly end up with things that are actually a little bit too big. It is annoying, I am always convinced that if I had loads of ££ it would be vastly easier!
I have a long body and short legs. Tops are usually OK as long as they are not designed as 'oversized'. Trousers I am just used to taking up the hems unless I get children's clothing in which case hems can be fine and actually the tops are a pretty good fit as well (thinking H&M age 12-14, boden 13-14, Zara 11-12 or 13-14).
It has been a long time since I needed formal work clothes. I always had to take up trousers then as well.

[Pandsbear]

Currently wearing Uniqlo XS t-shirt (OK, quite baggy style) and Coast black culottes size 8 with fitted waistband (tiny bit too big and long but can't take them up. Quite like them and they are doing second summer).

[drspouse]

Good to know about the H&M and Zara teenage sizes - I'd probably need a slightly larger size but I was only aware of Boden in which I'm a 13-14 in a stretchy t-shirt, usually 15-16 in trousers and 16+ in a blouse type thing.

[Lilacpink40]

I'm 5ft 2 and another Dorothy Perkins fan. Next petite is ok unless it shrinks in the wash, which has happened to me and I've tumbled-dried too much and shortened trousers too.

I wish I could stretch my thighs for a few inches - would spread out the cellulite too!

[Lilacpink40]

I'm wearing a next age 12yrs cardi today and it fits well. Just don't want anyone to see label

[insan1tyscartching]

Dd is 5 foot 2.5 size 6 usually. She buys from Miss Selfridge petite range, Top Shop,New Look, H&M often age 12/13, M&S for jeggings and then ASOS,Jigsaw when she sees something she fancies.DP clothes bury her, H&M she needs to try on each outfit as in the women's section she finds sizes vary a lot but they are a good fit in the Kids section. New Look are smaller than Top Shop which is smaller than the Miss Selfridge regular range but about the same in Petite range.I think it's a case of being preparedto either frequent the changing rooms or as dd does keep hold of receipts and be prepared to take a lot back.