What do you wear & where do you shop if you are 40s but rather small?

[Takver]

Just that really, clothes all seem to have got bigger (plus obviously the teen shops cut smaller). 'Petite' ranges all seem to be office wear which I don't need, I'm a gardener so have workwear for that but would like some new & maybe a bit different off duty clothes!

Can't quite say what my style is (Dd once said in her most tactful voice 'the reason you can't find anything in the shops, mum, is because you are so very unfashionable - your clothes look nice on you, but they're not really what anyone else would wear': the joys of having a 12 year old ) but I guess I am looking for some new ideas.

I'm not super super tiny, btw, but 5'1 and 7 stone, no norks to speak of.

Oh, just to make it even easier, needs to be online as where I live the only clothes shops are Peacocks and Dotty Ps

Tell us three items in your wardrobe (or old favourites now gone to the great Rag Bin in the sky) that you actually do like.

OK so atm I'm wearing a pair of Howies grey combats, which I think do look good because they actually properly fit and a stretchy skinny cut black t-shirt with a luminous orange cyber-punky pattern.

Other favourites - a pair of skinny fit Desigual black cotton trousers with a kind of jacquard weave into them (like these but all black & no flower) - sadly don't run to desigual non-sale prices in the UK, I bought these in Spain where all their clothes are 1/2 the price.

Skirts - a uniqlo grey fleece kind of wrap skirt (this but grey) which I wear over leggings - I've had a few great things from uniqlo and they definitely fit, but their stuff is pretty random, and it only seems to work if I can go to a shop.

Very unhelpfully I can't wear tights as (sorry for TMI) I have real eczema problems, so needs to be trousers or dresses/skirts that work over cotton leggings.

I don't always wear grey/black, btw, love bright colours & patterns, but often seem to end up a bit monochrome.

Well that was a threadkiller . . . I probably should wear different stuff - really just wondering where other women my age / size shop & what they wear, IYKWIM

Gosh, I see your problem now - really quirky (in a good way) taste combined with the need to find a good fit. A depressing amount of time on S&B is spent on the search for "flattering" clothes which hide flabby bits and make you look slimmer. You have the freedom to wear whatever the hell you like, but there are no clothes that fit.

I'd keep trying Uniqlo and suck up the returns (would have been my recommendation before you mentioned it), and hope someone turns up with some other good high quality teen or cheaper Japanese recommendations.

Very tactful I kind of wish I lived in Brighton, when I'd just go for it and dress full on steampunk or the like, but it doesn't really wash in rural Pembrokeshire.

Japanese is definitely great in fit terms, I had a (very rich!) Japanese friend in college and her hand-me-downs fitted amazingly - and being 20 I could get away with smart little twin-sets plus a pair of DMs

My other option I guess is more making stuff - I did give up & make myself a 50s swing dress after sending back about 5 that were just too big shoulder to waist (unhelpfully what height I have is also short in the body/longer in the leg). Everyone wants to be small, but it's no good if you look like you're dressing up in your mum's clothes . . .

40s and small though admittedly in London so not dependant on online shopping.
Non work clothes tend to be from H and m, uniqlo, bits from warehouse, banana republic petite, dotty p petite. Debenhams have some smaller labels often good for tunics and dresses for wearing over leggings. Generally the labels aimed at teens are better for smaller sizes.
Admit that having a good local seamstress for alterations has helped though..

OP I'm same size as you. I buy kids clothes from gap, and stuff from uniqlo. The only other shops that seem to make stuff small enough are whistles, and reiss, but it's £££ and really workwear. Banana republic is hit and miss, their sizing is all over the place, as a rule of thumb I order the smallest size they have available they don't always do xXs and sx can be too big.

The other brand that has been recommended to me as likely to fit is all saints, but I've never braved it and don't know what the cost/ quality ratio is like.

Thank you both, that's really helpful. I've also remembered I got a very well fitting dress in Bench in Brighton, their 8 seems to be a 'real' 8 rather than an over-sized one (they also do free delivery/free returns, which makes it less risky to try). I've never really run into Banana republic, I do go to london sometimes though, so could look out for a shop then.

I don't think I'm a Whistles or Reiss kinda gal, sadly

Takver that is not necessarily a bad thing! Whistles tube skirt is v useful though.

I've been making clothes with dd recently. Vanity sizing hasn't hit the home made market ... An 8 will fit fine in a simplicity pattern. Does make me smile that pattern makers have held the line on this. I guess people are no more likely to buy a pattern because it's an 8, but might buy a ready made dress for that reason

Try Zara, no petite range but their regular sizing is small. Most things come in XS-L and (according to their measurements) XS=6 S=8 M=10 L=12. I tried a pair of ski pants on that were very short for me (5'7"). Might be worth a shot, have ordered online it was good but check the returns policy.

What size are you? You don't have to stop shopping in teen shops just because you are 40 you know!

I'm 5"3 size 8 top/dress and 10 bottom. When I was really thin from breastfeeding a couple of years ago I managed an 8 Leigh jeans from top shop. I buy my things usually from h&m, new look, top shop and river island. Don't ever even think about next or m&s or gap. They are depressing as everything is too large.

I hear Zara is really good too but I haven't got much from there.

Have a look at Boden's johnnie b range for teenage girls. Age 13-14 would probably fit you.

I guess the problem I have with the teen shops is they don't necessarily have the clothes I want (though I'm not sure other places do either!). Gap kids and the like I find aren't 'shaped' enough, the fit just isn't quite right.

I've remembered another place I have got good small sized clothes, though a limited range and a bit pricey is Finisterre.

Will definitely try Zara again, used to get stuff from there when I lived in Spain (where standard sized clothes fitted very nicely!)

Have you tried Uttam boutique or Yumidirect. I think both have a bit of a Disigual type vibe and their small sizes seem quite tiny. I usually see their stuff in independant shops that also sell Disigual and other funky stuff. I could be totally off the wall but might be worth a quick trawl on-line.

I am a very similar height and weight to you OP.
Yes to Johnnie b age 13 -14. I get lots of striped tops and Ts from there.
Gap petite online is good. Go with the smallest size they offer in whatever you're buying! You can return through stores if that helps and they offer free post return. Topshop petite and Topshop generally offer a smaller fit. I am an 8 in their skinny jeans whereas in Next even the 6 hangs off me.
Vanity sizing is insane. I was just in Sainsburys with DH. Picked up a size 8 blouse which he pointed out looked like a tent dress against me!

I agree that Yumi is worth a try - affordable and interesting but not great quality - DD has a couple of frocks from there. I'm not sure whether you'd fit into their age 13-14, but adult size 8 worth a pop.

All Saints come up small and have that Steam punk vibe. Expensive full price but great sales discounts and decent quality.

& Other Stories have some quirky stuff too and do a 34 I think which is a 6/8.

I used to get quite a bit from Uttam London, but somehow I'm not so excited by their stuff these days. Will check out Yumi, All Saints & Other Stories too.

I've found a couple of things I really like on Other Stories - still black though Will keep on working my way through all these ideas, many thanks all.