To feel like Cinderella because I’m short

[Dipitydoda]

Heading off in a cruise in the summer. There will be 4 formal nights on the cruise. Was really looking forward to getting a couple of evening dresses ( ie long gowns not cocktail dresses). But are short people not supposed to go to the ball? Each retailer has no more than one or 2 petite length evening dresses and most of these appear to sell out immediately unless you’re a size 8/10. All the rest are on 5 ft 9 models all wearing 6 inch heals. All dragging on the floor. Why can’t the majority of women (ie under 5ft 9 and pref those many women around the 5 ft 3 Mark) actually be given a choice? All I want is a nice navy evening dress (a bit of lace) and no elastic waist that won’t drag on the floor.

Choose something that can be taken up. There'll be someone who does alterations in your area. Try the market as that's where lots of them set up.

Buy one you like and have it taken up.

Would you consider a preloved dress? I have seen a few stunning prom dresses for sale that have been altered to a shorter fit and they have only been worn for a few hours.

But it’s the hassle and cost of finding someone to take it up! Although I suspect that’s what I’m going to have to do. But then cos they are designed for taller people often need to alter arm holes etc. Why can’t shops just make more for shorter people. It’s not like 5 ft 9 is the average height

ASOS have loads of petite evening dresses.

www.asos.com/search/petite%20maxi%20dresses?q=petite+maxi+dresses

I’m 5’9” and most dresses, skirts etc are too short and the stuff labelled for tall is for 6’ so too long. A lot of dresses from primark would show my baby box to the public.

DD is 5ft and although there are lots of sites online who cater for petite, they just don't do glamour. Forever getting stuff taken in. It's a pain, but the only way

www.eshakti.com

They make dresses to your specifications at no extra cost.

It's worse at the other end of the scale OP , try being 5'11" and wanting to wear heels and still have a dress long enough! Having something taken up is much easier!

Another one in the tall club. In summer it’s almost impossible to find normal everyday dresses that don’t flash your bits or maxi dresses that actual are above ankle length! All the shops are full of tiny ‘fun and flirty(!!!!)’ type dresses that literally wouldnt’t cover my backside, and in every high st shop here there is a petite range but no tall ones or tall is ‘only stocked online’ ffs

I have chosen a lovely dress for my friend's wedding and it will have t be taken up as it is floor length. I am only 4ft 11 so everything is long!

I'm tall (not excessively so) and am fed up with maxi dresses and trousers that leave half my legs exposed. Turning something up may not be ideal, but at least it is possible.

To be honest i find that the vast majority of clothes are designed for women around 5’4 or 5’5. It’s actually not that easy for tall women to find clothes which fit well.

Have you tried ASOS or ChiChi London?

I am 5 foot 2 and have to wear killer heels. Only way

I would have thought it makes alm lot more sense to make them on the longer side, as they can be hemmed fairly cheaply/hemmed yourself.

Its a lot more difficult to add some fabric to a dress thats too short....

Try being six feet tall. I'm getting married in 8 weeks and so far have nothing to wear. Or shoes ( size 9)

Just me, the dresses will not be long enough for women over 5ft 9”.

It is very difficult to find long dresses, trousers, sleeves if you’re tall. Often high end designer will be longer but high street is really difficult. There are many more petite ranges than tall and at least you can have some things altered which is usually impossible if something is not long enough.

HRT, what are you looking for, can I try and help you?

I'm 5ft 9 and I sometimes feel like a giant when buying clothes. Everything is too short in the arms, leg and body. Armholes and waists are in the wrong place. In my experience, EVERYTHING is designed for women between 5ft 3 and 5ft 5.

Katz you are a lifesaver. Never thought of ASOS. I’m of a high street shops generationlooks like some good options in there. I recon the ideal height to buy in shops is 5ft 6-7! On the plus side no need to ever buy gloves jumpers always cover my hands 😁😁😁

Coast have petite formal dresses - there is definitely one in navy at the moment too.

Isn't the "standard" height for clothing 5'4"?

*HRT is there a wed2b near you? Googlenit,when I tried onnthe dress it was super long and the girl said ‘oh yes and they are designed to fit up to 6’. You can take your dress home the same day and they recommend seamstresses or a shout out on local facebook usually unearths a dressmaking gem. As for shoes I got mine from house of fraser and i’m a 7.

@fuzzycustard I thought it was 5’5’’ my size 10 5’5’’ friend always looks great.

It baffles me how we have "width" dress sizes from size 4 to size 32+, yet there are usually only three "length" dress sizes (petite, regular and tall) and that a lot of shops don't do petite or tall and have a much smaller section for them if they do.
Imagine if these shops only sold size 14s with maybe the odd 12 or 16 if you were lucky and everyone who wasn't this exact size had to get their clothes taken in/out... Madness!
(Can you tell that I'm a 5ft3 gal who wants to wear long dresses without killer heels...?)

I'm 5'6" and loads of stuff is too long for me!