Smaller tiny miniture ladies, where do you buy your clothes?

[Cinderariel]

The sharp eyed may remember me moaning on about Petite clothes being crap before - sorry - but I am hunting for plain black and navy work trousers (and jeans, and jackets and just about everything else, but first things first!) and have just come back from a depressing trip to town where Next size 6 Petite trousers just hung off me and made me look like I was dressing up.

I am 5ft tall and weigh around 47kg, which I don't think is that unusual and certainly is healthy BMI 20.5 ish. I have tits, 30E and a bum, probably 30-24-32 measurements, so can't usually get away with teenage stuff, although have just got some good Topshop Baxter petite 24w jeans. Am 37 so also don't need to be in mutton territory. I need decent quality, grown up cloths that ideally I don't have to fiddle around altering. Is this impossible?

clothEs!

Haven't had much luck in that (petite) department myself. I know exactly what you mean about the Next Petite size 6 trousers though .

Have you tried ASOS? There's also 'The Outlet' at theoutlet.com, it's the cheaper version of Net-A-Porter (I can't afford either, but have heard of). Also, try plugging in your proportions into this site - it may help identify some high street retailers that meet your measurements: link

There's also this - like an online personal shopper - link

Good luck, do let me know if you find something!

What about Précis or Minuet?

Hmm I am a bit taller than you but similar size and I nearly always have to take up trousers regardless of how well the hip/waist fits (or doesn't). Been a while since I needed smart work trousers as such but I did sometimes find some in Wallis petite.

Let's see if anyone else has anywhere useful to add! I will lurk...

I'm not quite as tiny as you (am 5'3" and size 6ish, depending on brand) but I buy a LOT of clothes from net a porter and the Outnet (I think that's what BetterOnACamel meant to refer to). They do some very small stuff in terms of size, although I always have to have trousers and long dresses/skirts taken up. I also like Banana Republic for work stuff.

Good to know I am not alone. Thanks for suggestions.
Why is the Outnet good? Are designer clothes actually smaller?

Designer clothes a definitely smaller.

Italian brands are worth a look as well.

Oops crosspost with suburban! Any midrange high st finds?

Cos, though I would invest in Outnet if the clothes were magic.. I need machine washable trousers and it looks a bit like a Temple of Dry Clean to me? Or am I being rash>

OMG just looked at Outnet and the clothes are lovely, I could dress happily from there - but I would need a mortgage to buy!

Outnet and NAP are mostly dry clean and the occasional handwash so they are a pain - I sometime dc/handwash stuff to begin with then when I think safe I put in machine on a gentle wash. Don't write off on price alone though - they do have clearances a few times a year (you need to register on the site to get notice of them and the bargains sell out very quickly) and often have extra money off certain items on a Friday.

Generally though, US brands are a good bet as they tend to go down to smaller sizes than UK ones. For UK high street, how about Whistles? French Connection sizes come up quite small too I think? (I tend to need size 10 trousers in there anyway)

Thanks suburbandweller - that was indeed the site I was trying to refer to

Just seen that I have spelt the thread title wrong. Obviously brain is in proportion!

I am not in the slightest bit tiny, but have you tried shopping in children's sections? I read an article fairly recently about a woman who bought a bunch of stuff in age 12 (or whatever) and it all fitted. She wasn't even particularly small, IIRC - size 10 about 5 ft 5.

Might be worth a go?

(PS - I have always found French Connection to be on the large side)

Cinderariel lol @ 'in proportion' comment, must remember to use that!

whackamole I've shopped in kids' sections! Choice is kinda limited unless you're into pink glitter tights and such :) I pretend I'm shopping for my imaginary pre-teen children, lol. It is way cheaper though, just a one in a million chance of finding anything appropriate.

Best recent find for me is J Crew petite - fits like a dream and no need for alterations. I'm 5'2 (and a half, not that I'm obsessed) and a small French 36 or UK 6 (live abroad) and the petite size 2 is perfect. Not super cheap but a good range of all types of clothes - can recommend their navy and black light wool pants for work.

have you tried uniglo? They will even do alterations free - although obviously that's only good if you live in london. They're a japanese company so they run quite small

here

Many shops are now doing a size 6 or size 4 in places like reiss.

French companies like Comptoir des Cotonniers also cut quite small and do a size 6.

But I think with trousers you just have to get reconciled to finding a good tailor. Having said that - shops like gap to some quite smart black skinny 'ankle grazer' trousers which should fit you well - they do them every season.

J Crew do an excellent petite range and the size 0 would be great for you but you have to order from the US which is a pain.

oh yes - and banana republic do a petite range at regent street - not online though

Im surprised you suggest Cos. I have lots of things from Cos in their smallest size ( extra small ) and im average height/size ( 5'5" and size 8-10)