So where do you stylish petite and slim women buy your size 6 to 8 clothes from because I struggle!

[sicily1921]

I'm 5" 1' ish and about 7 1/2 stone, no bust but quite a big backside (yes, God got all the proportions wrong!) and really struggle to get decent clothes.

I don't want to look like -

• a boy
• a frump
• an old lady

Can you help please, where should I be shopping?

I wouldn't exactly call myself stylish, but I'm short and an 8-10 and get a lot of clothes from Dotty P's. Their petite range regularly goes down to a 6. Also Next for trousers and skirts, but I know they don't suit everyone's shape.

I struggle. Forever sending stuff back. 4"10 and 7.2. Curvy bum and thighs. So fed up.

I'm 5ft 3 and 6-8 and really struggle too. The places I tend to find myself going back to are Topshop for their 30in leg Leigh jeans (I have them in almost every colour!), Karen millen for going out dresses as they cut things very neat and true to size IMO. I never bother with Next now as the sizing is enormous, same with M&S. I have a few nice things from Zara but generally most things swamp me. I tend to find the more expensive the shop, the smaller the sizing.

Would love any more recommendations!

thanks all, it is a struggle isn't it, the thing I hate most is having no chest and nothing looks right on top! Aaaagh!!!!!!!!!! MY DH does not understand my prob, he seems to think I make a dilemma out of nothing...again Aaaagghhhhh!!!

Rant over...for now

Topshop and Miss Selfridge come up small. Just hunt for the less wacky items. Warehouse are well fitting for a short size 6. I always recommend Vero Moda too. Now those guys do some splendid basics.

Agreed that there's no point bothering with Next or M&S.

Dotty P's DD2 has a couple of things and they don't seem to assume big breasts.

Oasis list small sizes, 12/14 is true to size, but no idea if small US small (DD2 is still growing, so doesn't get £40 dresses) DD1 would buy the whole shop.

DD1, May be 15, but she tends to grown up and more expensive

small is small

5ft, 7 stone 5, slightly pear shape and a size 6-8 here. It's tough. Vanity sizing drives me mad!
I shop petite ranges at Topshop, Boden, Dorothy Perkins, M&S and Next.
I find that Warehouse clothes and the Hobbs NW3 range seem to flatter a petite figure.

La Redoute always come up well I find. Very also do a little range.

Miss Selfridge

ASOS and Topshop, Boden petite. I'm not petite but yes vanity sizing is annoying - what are you supposed to do when the 8 is more like a 10 and they don't do a 6? I used to be a 10 in shops like m&s and miss Selfridge and I haven't changed size or weight.

Topshop here too, some ASOS bits, Whistles and Cos here. I never buy tops/jumpers from the petite range though - I like mine to have plenty of room.

River Island do very good budget skinny jeans or the Molly jeggings are great - I think they do them at a variety of lengths too. Miss Selfridge sizing is tiny, meant for 14year olds I think!

Elizabeth -- speaking of jeans, I seem to remember telling you on another thread that the ASOS Ridley ultraskinnies come up small. However, I've just bought a new pair and they're actually on the largish size for me. So either something's changed or else my old ones got shrunken in the tumble dryer (far more likely).

Op I have resorted to buying the bra to increase bust size x2 to try to even things out- the only item worth buying from m&s!
I buy mainly from next size 6 as it seems to suit my shape boden good too but have to be very selective. Have you tried uniqlo as the Xs seems a good fit in coats & tops?

Ted baker dresses in a size 0 fit really nicely. In fact a lot of TB fits well in general but is obvs a bit pricey but good for occasion wear. I used to get jeans from all saints a few years back when I was exactly the same size as you (I am a bit bigger now since having dd-an 8-10 but 5'2") and they fit really, really well. I find the more expensive brands seem to be cut better to slim people, maybe not the length with trousers but then you'd have to alter them. I only shop in sales ever so something from say, reiss a the end of a sale would be the same price as topshop anyway.

My other trick is to buy trousers that are cropped for normal people and they tend to be about right on me! Just got some toast ones on ebay in an 8 and they are great.

For basics I always get h&m.

Thanks Faddy - haven't tried them yet but have decided I need some black jeans - might order a couple of sizes to be safe!

I am 5' 3'' and I have jeans from Topshop (petite), Uniqlo XS for heattech tops/t-shirts, couple of jumper dresses. Boden 6 petite can be ok for dresses, I haven't tried trousers from there. Toast in a 6 is better for me than a size 8 (Toast measurements for an 8 are about 35'' for hips so too roomy) but I can cope with the 8 in dresses/blouses. Toast straight leg jeans in a 6 are not a bad fit.

Agree with Ted Baker in size 0 but I only have some old work trousers from there! Have some fab high waisted, wide leg trousers from Heyday but again need severe hemming.

I am adept at taking in waistbands and hemming now. Tops are not so much the problem, it is when you want something that fits on the waist and hips, I find there is just too much material.