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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu petite means shorter. Not smaller

65 replies

monkeysox · 20/09/2018 17:26

Bought trousers in my usual size but from ebay. Buy this size all the time from dorothy perkins so was pretty confident of fit.
They've arrived and have a very old label on. Old branding of dp. They are much smaller than expected.
I know, vanity sizing....
I queried with the seller and apparently petite means smaller.
Er no. Angry

OP posts:
CherryPavlova · 20/09/2018 17:54

Petite means little - literally. It’s all aspects pared down in relation to shorter length. It’s going to be smaller arms, legs, waist as well as shorter.

SnuggyBuggy · 20/09/2018 17:56

They need a word for us short fat arsed people.

MaisyPops · 20/09/2018 18:01

Petite to me means it will eb tailored to a smaller frame.
If it's a normal.set of trousers then it would be a '10 short' just like you get a '10 long'.

I have long legs but don't shop in the tall range despite having the right leg length because the crotch etc proportions are out. An 8 long is fine for me though.

Everyoneiswinginit · 20/09/2018 18:06

I take petite to mean smaller all over, arm length, leg length, shoulder width etc.

Everyoneiswinginit · 20/09/2018 18:08

I would never use the word petite to describe someone who was short but overweight/obese/fat.

PorkFlute · 20/09/2018 18:12

Tbh I think if their listing had the correct size the seller hasn’t done anything wrong. It’s the chance you take buying things online. Sometimes even things the same size fit differently depending on the cut etc.

GreatWesternValkyrie · 20/09/2018 19:32

I’d assume petite to be proportionally smaller all over, not just shorter. However, as the only petite thing I could dream of fitting into would be a scarf, Im definitely no expert!

keepingbees · 20/09/2018 19:37

I would take petite to mean just shorter. I buy tall range and they are longer, not a bigger size.
I think the problem here is it's an old label. I got caught out the same with an old Next item that came up very small.

NorthEndGal · 20/09/2018 19:38

It means smaller all over, in length as well as fit and cut in the crotch/armpits/waist etc

YeOldeTrout · 20/09/2018 19:41

I am 5'8" but have some (nominally size 10) "petite" trousers I wear as 3/4 length. With a tight belt, they just about fit. I am not skinny! BMI around 21. I think petite actually means short & chunky if I'm honest.

hobblesma · 20/09/2018 19:43

You said you bought your usual size and they had an older DP label. Where does the petite come into it? Is your usual size petite?

chocatoo · 20/09/2018 19:43

Petite means smaller, Short means shorter!

SnowOnTheSeine · 20/09/2018 19:46

I always thought it was shorter.

Because why is there a size 10, a size 10 petite and a size 8? Surely if you want smaller /narrower/shorter than the 10 you buy an 8?

keepingbees · 20/09/2018 19:56

But there isn't usually a 'short' range. There's usually regular, tall and petite. I take tall and petite to be length/cut. Size determine the actual 'size' surely

MondayImInLove · 20/09/2018 19:59

Petite is shorter AND smaller frame.

On me, regular sized pants for ex are too long but also always too wide around the hips.

Birdsgottafly · 20/09/2018 20:00

Petite fitting varies between shops.

In DP it depends on what it is, but it still should be the same waist/hip/bust size as a regular item.

OP, she hasn't describe it accurately by the sounds of it. So you can return it. Under UK long distance selling rules, everything bought online is returnable.

Snuggy, yes you are petite if you are under 5'3". It doesn't matter what size the rest of you is.

Many on MN have the opinion that if you can't fall through a grid, then you are a fat mess.

Birdsgottafly · 20/09/2018 20:03

""They need a word for us short fat arsed people.""

They have snuggy, fabulous Grin

PlatypusPie · 20/09/2018 20:23

It’s not just shorter, it’s proportion - I am a 5’ 4” size 12, so not especially short or below average height but there’s usually too much length in the crotch to waist in trousers, too much width in the shoulders and consequent length in sleeves. A petite size 12 will usually fit my small frame better than a regular 12 in the same make all over, no matter what the hem length.

Original poster
monkeysox · 20/09/2018 20:59

Sorry yes. To clarify. I wear shop bought 12 petite from dp nearly every day.

OP posts:
Original poster
monkeysox · 20/09/2018 21:02

I know what petite means as I am just that. Short arsed size 12

OP posts:
theworldistoosmall · 20/09/2018 21:07

I have some old DP stuff from years ago in a size 12. There's a huge difference between those and 12's from DP now.

Original poster
monkeysox · 20/09/2018 21:18

Thanks theworldistoosmall

OP posts:
delphguelph · 20/09/2018 21:20

Smaller all over

GreenMeerkat · 20/09/2018 21:31

I'm 5ft 1 and always buy petite. I'm not particularly 'small' average size 12-14.

DP's sizing is generally peculiar. I have a favourite style of jeans in DP and have several in different colours. The sizes range from 10 to 14 yet all fit the same!

Original poster
monkeysox · 20/09/2018 21:32

They're definitely old logo on the ticket.

OP posts: