Petite ranges for the short but not skinny?

[Cydonia]

I’m 5ft 2 and pretty much in proportion, as in short body, short arms, short legs….
But…I’m a size 12-14 on the bottom ( carry weight round my tummy ) and a 14-16 on the top ( ridiculously large boobs taking up most of my top half ).
I’m trying to find a nice party/evening dress, but finding a lot of the regular sizes don’t seem to fit properly. I feel like I want to hoik them up, the necklines are too low, the waist isn’t where it should be, the length is too long. And today’s purchase, which was a gorgeous velvet dress, the zip stuck out in a bulge on my back, presumably because my body’s not long enough?
I can never find anything I like in the petite ranges as I find they tend to have styles that suit the “typical” petite person, ie small, child like and dainty. It’s all high necks, ruffles and tight fitting stuff which looks awful on me.
Sorry for the long winded moany post, but can anyone recommend somewhere that does petite sizes that suit a fuller figure?

Return the dress.

Try the petite ranges. They vary between the different retailers, and some are better than others for more normal shape women - boobs, tum and hips.

The cut vary from retailer to retailer and you get used to knowing where to go.

If you have the budget get your clothes altered.

Where did you get the dress and let's find one for you.

boden this one is nice

asos party dress

Try John Lewis personal shopper , Bravissimo, M&S etc,

I'm sure you look lovely

this lady gets it right.

www.bombshellhq.com/collections/dresses/products/luxury-velvet-bombshell-robe-in-dark-green

They come in petite sizes and are lovely.

I am exactly this shape, without the boobs.

My go to would be boden for something like this, in fact I have that velvet dress on the way.

I have also bought a dress from M&S petite range that also happens to be velvet (complete coincidence, I’ve never bought anything velvet before this week). It’s a longer dress though, less party than maybe what you’re looking for, but it’s a bargain at £49.50. Great weight. Ive even sized down!! I’ve bought it to go to neighbours for drinks over Christmas. Search the M&S website for petite silk velvet midi waisted dress.

The bombshell one is gorgeous.

Not velvet but I like this one from new look

Most petite ranges I've seen are exactly the same clothes as the regular range, in the full range of sizes, only for 5'3" and under, so should really be called short, rather than petite.

Oh wow, lots of helpful replies, thank you! I will definitely check out that blog. Maybe I’m wrong about petite ranges, so I will have another look.
This is the dress ( sorry I can’t do links, but it’s from Pretty Kitty ). I thought maybe the next size up might be better, but after I moved around in it for a bit it’s really far too low cut. I tend to have this problem, don’t know if it’s because my body is too short?! But equally can’t do high necks, so the Boden one wouldn’t look right either. Love the bombshell one, but can’t stretch to that budget really.

I have another dress I was thinking about getting altered but I’m not sure if they can do what I’m wanting. I suppose I can only ask!
Had a £10 off voucher for Boden come through the door today so I’ll have a look on there.

I can’t find the M&S one. Over 700 dresses in regular, put in petite and there are 5

Can you get the dress adjusted?

I don’t think so. I tried it on again with this in mind, but I think I’d need the next size up to have enough extra material to make it less revealing, and then the weird back bit would be even worse!

This is the M&S dress in petite

That's a shame. I'm increasingly having to get things adjusted. It costs a most as much as the clothing at times but definitely worth it to have something that fits perfectly.

These threads fascinate me. I'm the same height and shape as the OP but of the links posted, only the bombshell dress would work for me and while that blogger looks lovely, none of her tips suit me at all. (Well, maybe the shoes one, but I don't wear heels, so I don't know.)

Depending on how much bosom buttressing you need, could you do a bardot necline, OP? I find boat/bardot neck suits me (as long as I can hide my bra strap). Blonde and Wise is worth a look too, the waist is adjustable on most of their dresses for a better fit.

@WellTidy

This is the M&S dress in petite

I put my sizes in so maybe it’s not available in my size? It’s cute though.

@Pucarbuile

These threads fascinate me. I'm the same height and shape as the OP but of the links posted, only the bombshell dress would work for me and while that blogger looks lovely, none of her tips suit me at all. (Well, maybe the shoes one, but I don't wear heels, so I don't know.)

Depending on how much bosom buttressing you need, could you do a bardot necline, OP? I find boat/bardot neck suits me (as long as I can hide my bra strap). Blonde and Wise is worth a look too, the waist is adjustable on most of their dresses for a better fit.

Have never tried a Bardot neck, mainly because I have GG cup boobs so I don’t fancy a strapless bra! It’s funny how things that should suit you, don’t. I’m always reading I should wear wrap dresses, but because I have straight hips they don’t always look right. And the gaping…. I definitely need flesh showing on top, but not too much, and need at least a cap sleeve to hide the burly bra straps. I sometimes feel like the list of things I can’t wear is never ending!

I might order this, it’s velvet and sequins apparently! Bit pricey for Matalan but I can return to the store which is a bonus.

Should add it’s a petite one. Struggling to find anything that’s not a flowery summer dress!

That's lovely. And it looks a lot more expensive than it is. Fingers crossed it fit. Maybe buy a size bigger in case there's a possibility it can be taken in in certain areas.

Sympathy on the bra straps, I'm g cup. I found wider necks a game changer. V neck looks very matronly on me. Bardot annoys me, always feels like it's falling down, but boat, slash or at a push cowl (folded rather than billowing) can work. Wrap dresses are the bane of my life. I need a layer underneath or must contort the top with never quite hidden pins and the waist wrap always seems to catch on the top of my hip bones and sit awkwardly. But since everyone who knows anything about fashion rules says they should suit me, they are all I ever see on inspo pages. Sigh.

I am a similar shape and find bardots an utter pain. But love a v-neck and a cowl neck.
Both joules and boden petite work on me. and strangely Hobbs normal size.

I’ll have to try a cowl neck, I always thought the fabric would add extra bulk to my bust, but perhaps not. I quite like my collar bones so like necks that show them off. But also find a lot of things make me look matronly, it’s so hard!