Calling all short people - where do you buy dresses?!

[slev]

I'm unashamedly short (5ft 2) and really struggle buying dresses. I prefer to wear something just about the knee but even a lot of the petite styles seem to be just below the knee.

In an ideal world I'd be looking for print dresses that can double for work and then dinner after (think something like Phase Eight, Planet) but everything I like is too long - have just spent the evening trying on most of John Lewis with no success. Does anyone have any tips for good places to look (budget not really a problem, would happily pay more for a decent fit) or do I resign myself to always having to get things adjusted - which never really seems to work...

I'm 4 foot 11 and have had some luck with Joules. I've got a few dresses from there, including one this autumn which described itself as a tunic but is heavy jersey and works fine as a dress on me - just on the knee. I'm not a big fan of white stuff as I'm not keen on their patterns but they do quite a few long tunics which work fine as dresses on me.

Banana Republic have a good petite range, I buy a lot from there for work

I've found Dorothy Perkins to be good. But you do need to try them on, less because of length and more because some stuff looks cheap. Not exactly high class, but great for a quick low cost fashion fix.

I had an email from coast today to say that they've just launched a new petite range.

Boden petite can be quite short on me. They are the only brand that ever ends up above my knee.

I'm 5ft and I just find myself wearing long tops as dresses.
Failing that get any dress you like and take it to an alteration place and get it taken up.

I find Principles quite good (petite range) and some Next.

Top Shop

I am the same height and I swear by ted baker for dresses. I tend to buy classic going out dresses on eBay for good prices and I have a handful now. I don't like many of the other clothes but the dresses tend to be very good. If wearing heels I go for a 50s shape, big skirt but very nipped in waist.

what size/weight are you and shape?

day dresses I am not sure I don't tend to go to one shop but thinking about it I have a style, 60s. Relatively short so would be a mini on most people but on me they are just short of knee. The last one I got is a shift dress from red herring.

I'm a shade under 5'2" and find Banana Republic's petite range fit me perfectly. Also JCrew and, occasionally, Boden (although I find their sizes a bit hit and miss and often a little roomy)

I meant the petite ranges of all three

I'm 5ft. Topshop petite, Next petite (although I don't like the colours and prints in the new spring collection), Boden petite and Banana Republic petite.
Warehouse dresses also fit me well although not specifically a petite range.

My daughter is 5ft. She shops at Miss Selfridge, Top Shop and Dorothy Perkins mainly, as they have good Petite sections. Thats good to know re. Warehouse dresses scarlet76

I'm 5'2" and I've found boden to be good.

If you go their website, click on dresses and then down the left hand side you can select 'above the knee dresses'. I've got several 'regular, above the knee' dresses which sit right on my knee and are perfect.

I've also got a few in the petite range, which fit beautifully too.

Not dresses but I have several nice Boden miniskirts that are respectable just on the knee length on me. And a wrap style dress from Tu at Sainsburys that isn't massively long. I do find separates much easier than dresses but more because I'm not really petite, just short IYKWIM

My wardrobe mainly consists of dresses, bought over the years from Warehouse, Top Shop, Oasis, Zara, French Connection, Whistles & Reiss. It is mostly a matter of trying on specific dresses rather than the brand to find a dress that fits well, time consuming I know.

I'm

(

Ahh bloomin' phone! I meant to add that I'm 5ft 2" also.

Asos petite

I'm 5ft and tend to buy dresses from ASOS petite, Miss Selfridge petite or dresses in teenage sizes such as River Island kids or M and Co.

ASOS petite is great.

Ooh, brilliant, thanks everyone. I did have a look at ASOS when I was having a sulk yesterday about nothing fitting but couldn't find anything I liked - worth keeping an eye on though.

Banana Republic looks fab, I don't know why but I'd never really considered it before. Will have to check out some of the other options too when I get home tonight and then line DH up for a day out with DS while I trawl round the shops!

tinydiamond I'm a 10-ish (sometimes need a 12 on top depending on the shop) and 36-28-38 so I guess that makes me pear-shaped?

I'm 4ft 11 and find dresses in warehouse and Oasis all come just above the knee - dread to think how short they'd be on normal women Gap is also good - both normal and petite range.

Asos, topshop, miss selfridge, New look and h and m (occasionally) - petite and regular ranges. I'm 5ft2/3ish but longer in the legs than the torso.