The petite thread: for the short (of whatever size, shape or taste)

[popularinthe80s]

@lougirl
@Sooverthemill
@TooMinty
@peachypetite
@peachypips
@Tinkerpony
@NearWildHeaven
@rk47
And anyone else who fits under the pencil mark on the wall, all welcome.
Share your petite finds, disappointments and tips here.
This is where the petite party started: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/4041075-long-cardigan-for-short-person?pg=1

What really pisses me off (not sure about anyone here?) Is how shops do wide range of shoes pretty much everywhere. There is never a narrow range! Really pisses me off.
I find it nigh on impossible to find shoes that are not trainers. Basically I live in trainers. Which is fine but I would like to have some boots I like for dresses or heels for those very occasional nights out!

Hello all, 5ft 1 and a size 14 here. Currently unsuccessfully dieting. Curvy all over pretty much and with size 4.5 feet.

Desperately in need of some wardrobe inspiration, but happier now that the colder weather is here and I can live in jumper dresses, tights and ankle boots .

On a world scale, 5'3" isn't that small. I love going to India or China or Thailand where I am normal sized 😊 (albeit abnormally pale). On the other hand, the Netherlands make me feel properly small!

I've always thought that there should be a compete "petites" department store that stocks every brand of petites - then all us littlies would simply head there instead of having to find the specific petite section in other stores. I suppose the short version of Long Tall Sally (which unfortunately no longer exists...) We'd probably all spend a fortune in a 'one stop shop'! Now what would we call this store...

That would be pretty amazing

Hello! Just discovered this thread and am thrilled to discover several petite ranges I wasn’t aware of. I’m 5ft, size 8ish and size 3 feet (or what used to be size 3 feet before they started upping all the shoe sizes and now barely any size 3’s fit me).

If any of you have suggestions for warm dressing gowns that don’t make you look like you’re wearing you dad’s that would be great! (I’m fed up of ordering and returning gigantic ones).

Lovely to see others facing similar challenges- 5’2 and size 8 who also spends too much on Boden so that things fit! Tops aren’t too bad but trousers/dresses either have to be petite or taken up. I also love crew for jeans but they seem to do less shorter length now than they used to...

I always had a dream to create 'Petite Petite' clothes for the very petite.

Yay. I'd be there!

@kickingk16 ooh what do you mean about shoe sizes? I used to be a 3 pretty much always and now I'm a 4 pretty much always. I thought my feet had grown! I'm 62 so wondering if in fact feet do kind of spread when you get old...I also have narrow feet and get very fed up about 'wide fit' availability but none for me.

Thanks op for the starting this thread and hello my fellow tribe!!
5 ft size 8...

I miss oasis they fit me like a glove....would love to find some new brands....
Just recently bought some jumper dresses or ASOS to go with leggings. The look good despite my flat boobs and mum tum.

I would really love a new winter coat and some knees length boots.

Thanks for the recommendations so far x

Thanks for saying this kickingk16

I thought it was just me. I used to be able to wear certain size 3s. My favourite were 35.5 from Next. Perfect. Then they changed and all of a sudden they didn’t fit and now they all just fall off me. This happened several years ago. I have commented often that I genuinely wasn’t sure if my feet had shrunk.

Can I join please? I’m a smidge under 4ft 10 size six no bum or hips but fairly large chest 30e size 2-2.5 shoe, was as pp a standard size three until a few years ago, I have found it harder & harder getting clothing that fits not because I have suddenly become much smaller, I think clothes have become much bigger, I have dresses from French connection that are years old & a size ten still fit me, recent couple of dresses from FC now a size six, I feel sometimes as though I’m some sort freak & spend my life sending stuff back as it’s usually always to big on the hips/waist, I’m sixty & really don’t want to buy children’s jeans/trousers it’s a bit depressing☹️

Hello Soover haven’t been around much lately do hope you are ok?

Yy Sezane trainers in the size two, I have a pink pair & they fit well was toying with trying the 7/8 jeans, anyone tried them?

Checking in too! 5"1, size 12-14, F in the boobs, hour glass. Can't do tucking in tops either.

Am glad someone mentioned upthread about changes in shoe sizes. I have been a size 3 since my teenage years but now, in my late 40s, I notice I have to buy size 4 a lot more. Sketchers and Nike in particular. so I'm glad to know my feet aren't randomly growing now!!

Shoe sales are great though, as you can great huge discounts as size 3/4 are always the ones left :-)

Also, I enjoyed the summer clothes when I could buy regular "cropped" trousers and they fitted me as full length trousers perfectly.

Hello! Great thread. I’m just on the cusp of petite at 5’3 and size 8 ish so I don’t generally hunt out petite ranges... But having said that, I do send an awful lot of stuff back as it drowns me so maybe I should be looking at petites.

I have narrow shoulders and torso and short legs which are my main issues.

Recommendations:

• I recommend Joe’s Jeans for anyone petite but with generous bum and thighs. I get mine from TK maxx, they show up fairly often there. I have a pair of their 7/8 or summer crop ones which are perfect length.

• Maxi skirts I recommend the Boden jersey skirts which they do in petite lengths.

• Pure collection classic crew neck cashmere jumpers, they often do heavy discounts, these fit my small torso. (They do shrink a little with machine washing so I buy a size up).

• Joules Hesford Chinos fit me brilliantly, again recommend if you have smallish waist but generous bum and thighs. No taking up needed.

• Bras! Not mentioned so far I think? I have a small back (28 or 30) which is relatively hard to find in bras. I’ve found Mimi Holliday fit well but they are super pricey if not in the sale, so would love any other small back brand suggestions.

I’m on the hunt for:

• T shirts that are cut small. Not “relaxed fit” or “boyfriend” as those drown me, but also not stretchy skin tight (too much flesh for that..).

• A warm winter coat that is narrow across the shoulders and chest. I will look at the Trespass one recommended upthread, any other recs welcome

To add to the list of brands - I think Esprit can fit petites quite well (can’t remember if they have a petite section). Also wonder if La Redoute might work well being French?? Never tried adult clothes but their children’s clothes definitely come up small.

Bras I always go to bravissimo anyway but that's because I've got big boobs and 28 back

Shamelessly placemaking, fellow petites. I'm 5'2" and size 8. Short legs so I find it hard to shop for trousers. Although the cropped look has served me well as when I buy cropped they generally fit me as full length.

My family are all tall (DSis is 6' and DSis2 is 5'10") so I always feel tiny!!!

I find Zara is quite good. Also Massimo Dutti;
I have a number of items from Whistles - 2 Navy wool coats and a couple of dresses.

I find it really hard at the moment as I really need to try things on and we are constantly going into lockdown here so I avoid shops. Looking forward to getting some finds here.

Love this thread 🥰

5ft, size 8, and watching with interest!!

I find the opposite with shoes! for years I was a 3 and now most 3s don't fit me! Office would be the main offender here.

Links to specific items would be welcome :)

Hello all, late joiner here, but clearly I've found my tribe!

I'm 5' size 6-8, shoe size 3 with long torso and short, -chunky- athletic legs

Though as several have mentioned, it seems like vanity sizing is creeping into shoes now - used to be a size 3 but most brands are falling off my feet now, and very few stores on the high st do size 2 :(

I live in jeans (Next, GAP, TopShop) and trainers as I've worked from home for years. Boden petite dresses work really well but I don't have reasons to wear them often these days... also ASOS, Next - I found Hush to be enormous (sadly) but have a lovely sparkly jumper I wear regardless.

US brands like Ann Taylor and J Crew are great (choice over there is amazing for petites, including shoes) - but can't see myself getting back there for a while, alas...

Clarke's shoes seem to come up smaller than other brands I've bought recently.

Checking in too. I used to find White Stuff fairly reliable for tops but looking round one of their shops recently, their styling seems to be going down the larger, bum covering route which even with a smaller size, looks massive on me!

After the tiers being announced not sure I need to get new clothes ever again