'normal' and affordable petite clothing. does it exist??!!

[SeonaSeona]

I'm 5ft 1. Size 10.

I'm on an actual low budget. Not just 'cutting back', no choice but to shop at the cheapest brands. Think Primark prices (if they did petite). Could stretch to some things at Zara prices if I ask family for clothes money as presents.

I cannot seem to find petite clothing which is affordable in simple basics.

The past year I've been getting stuff from boohoo and misguided as they are cheap. Would be nice if I were under 25 without a bit of a mummy tummy (diastasis recti) that I want to disguise!!

Everything I can afford is super 'fashionable' and (imo) too young for me. I realise fashionable is for any age but I'm more a classics/basics/know what suits me and try to incorporate trends only if they suit my body type.

I ordered some plain t shirts. Size 10. When they arrived were huge tent like things with a weird unflattering fall. Changed for size 6. Still huge and still too long. I don't even want anything 'tight' , just a plain t shirt not too loose but far from tight. Ditto a petite belted coat last winter which wasn't a 'puffer' jacket or cropped!!

I realise I won't get good quality fabrics or cuts for the price I need, but just some non 'ironic' basics would be good. Like Primark have some of, but they don't do petite.

Apologies for huge rant!!

Following the thread. I'm a petite size 4 often smaller due to big sizing, it's a nightmare to find anything.

Zara kids range is worth a look too. I'm currently wearing a blue/green plaid lumberjack shirt that's 13-14yrs, and it fits me across me the shoulders, and is not massively too long in the body.

For reference, I'm 5'1, 8 stone, very short in the body, small waist and curvy bum/hips. For jeans, I recommend Topshop Jamie/Leigh for high-waisted skinnies. They come in various lengths, or you can cuff them.

Meant to say that Asos is also good as they do lots of other brands petite ranges - I just did a search of petite tops and there were 892 results!

They do good basics at primark prices like this organic cotton T shirt -

www.asos.com/asos-petite/asos-design-petite-ultimate-organic-cotton-crew-neck-t-shirt-in-white/prd/12452412

And there’s a sale on now! Ok I’ll stop going on about asos now...

I like H&M or for tops and Uniqlo for their jeans and leggings, the cropped ones fit me perfectly but they're not cropped

I also buy a lot of Joules/Boden petite as the fit is perfect for me. Mostly on eBay but very occasionally in the sale as can't afford their full prices.

I second Sainsbury's

Trouser wise you’re better off going for short leg rather than petite, I’m 5’2 and short leg are too long for me (I have a 27” inside leg!) so I have to buy petite for the length even though I’m far from petite

Asda & Tesco do short/standard/long in their trousers & jeans. T shirts etc. can be pretty good value. Asda George clothing can be ordered online.

Sometimes LandsEnd petite coats turn up on eBay. They are expensive new but there seem to be a few outlet type sellers. I got a brand new raincoat for £15, and the sleeves fit!

American retailers can be worth a watch on eBay. They seem to do more petite ranges. Look at Eileen Fisher if you’re feeling rich ;-)

Was going to add Uniqlo as lots of their tops are compact and simple (not the wide cut ones).

M and Co do quite a bit of petite including coats. Their prices are fairly reasonable and they have good sales.

ASOS.

I have a similar issue to you with tops/dresses. I’ve got broad shoulders, reasonable bust (30E). Although I’m 5’4”, that’s because I have longer legs and a very short body.

So I’ve found Monki pretty good. They don’t do a petite range, but they do have tiny sizes to counter act the general bagginess that’s so popular just now and they also have quite a lot of cropped styles. I have found buying an XS or even an XXS in a cropped style from them works pretty well for me.

Honestly, if I were in your position I'd look into learning to sew (assuming you can't already) so I could alter clothes to suit me. Buying new clothes may be convenient on paper, but it sounds like you have a lot of troubles finding comfortable and appropriate clothing for your body type. I'm not being a sarky moo, and I'm not great at sewing (but I do like crochet ) but I think it might be kind of fun to learn how to alter your own clothes. You could buy the cheapest ones even from primark and end up with something very flattering and unique. I had a friend who used to be a whizz with a sewing machine. Once we were about to go out and she didn't have a tote bag she liked so she quickly made one! I was very impressed.

Anyway, sorry for the essay. I hope you can add my suggestion to your options

I’m your size but norkier. All my coats are Hobbs, from eBay, very cheap (£20-30)

I think eBay too.

I'm a little bit shorter than you and around a 10 and buy from zara kids. Often a lot cheaper than the petite ranges in other shops. Sainsburys clothes swamp me.

Another recommendation for ASOS. They have a huge range. I’m pushing 60 so a lot of the styles like crop tops and cute stuff not what I’m after but I’ve got jeans, chinos. Trousers, dresses, tops and jumpers from there and have had a lot of things I like. Delivery is pretty quick, returns are free. Also Topshop, Wallis, Hobbs, Boden, Dorothy Perkins and Zara have been my go to places over the years.

Another vote for Stitch Fix. I had my first box off them last week and had a pair of khaki cargo trousers that I didn't know I needed desperately. Absolutely perfect sizing in bum, waist and length and good quality material. Also bought a bias cut skirt from the box. The wrap top was just a bit too small for my boobs otherwise I would have kept that too. I can't wait for my next box. (I'm 16/18, 5 foot 1).

I’ve just bought some Dorothy Perkins petite tees and they fit well. I thinking’s of tops are designed to be huge / boxy so even a size 6 at Next can look like that. They are not flattering at all!