Ideas for a petite wedding guest outfit for an urban venue

[YossarianC22]

Help! July wedding in a quite edgy urban venue, which I love. I’m 5 foot tall, size 6 trousers/skirts and 8 top, and even petite ranges are often too big. I’m better in something structured with a defined waist that actually sits on the waist, and I prefer natural fabrics. Budget up to £350, not including shoes, and I won’t need a bag as I have a very accommodating partner! I’m 62 and am mother of the bride.

Am planning a trip to Rixo and Me+Em soon. Have been to JL for the personalised shopper but difficult because they don’t have their petite ranges in the store and I looked like I’d been in the dressing up box.

Any ideas very welcome!

Aspiga do a petite range, in sustainable materials. I got a midi dress from there last year that was long on me (5ft 1in) - mother of the groom. They also have outlet and pre-loved items.

Ralph Lauren Petite go down to a size 4, so may be worth a look, as do The Fold. Maje should be cut on the smaller side as a European brand.

Great ideas - thank you. I particularly like the Aspiga dresses

https://www.karenmillen.com/product/coast-petite-sequin-embellished-and-embroidered-hi-lo-maxi-dress_bcc12500

lovely things at Karen millen

I am 5 foot two and I tend to do tops and skirts. Fitted plain tops and then colourful skirts with volume and great flats. It works for me.

https://www.hobbs.com/product/petite-ariel-floral-silk-dress/0126-5352-3793L04-YELLOW-MULTI.html

https://www.nobodyschild.com/products/saffy-midi-dress-2614435003

https://www.nobodyschild.com/products/yellow-puff-sleeve-zola-mini-dress-d250593ylw

It’s tricky - petite ranges can be quite limited (and some are not so petite - Next, M&S etc).

I’ve found dresses smart enough for an urban wedding (and not too flowery/flouncy) from Mango, &Other Stories and even H&M premium range in the past. All in the smallest size available. Reiss is also worth a look as their small sizes are properly small. Warehouse online has lots of dresses and is also a brand where the size 6 is properly small.

Boden petite is worth a look (I bought a decent, non patterned, structured jumpsuit from there) but a lot isn’t my style.

Be prepared to use a seamstress to have the length altered properly. I’ve also used a seamstress to raise the neckline.

Skirt and top can solve the waist position problem but I find it difficult to get tops short enough and don’t like to have to tuck it in.

Also worth looking on Vinted for older brands like banana republic petite or Coast (used to be a go to for wedding guest outfits).

Thank you everyone, lots of great ideas and suggestions. And I’d forgotten about Banana Republic petite - I used to have some fabulous work clothes from there. I gave them to my daughter when I retired - might have to demand them back!

I am the same size and also find that not all petite ranges are petite enough.

I have found Whistles has a good petite fit, though many of their dresses are not natural fabrics. I have a Hobbs petite dress that fits well too, again not natural fabric, but they do have some silk offerings.

Have you considered having something made by a local seamstress?

I often make my own clothes, or do my alterations myself. I agree about petite sizes not actually being petite and I would just love to be able to buy a dress, a jacket, a skirt or a pair of trousers and be able to wear it straight away without doing loads of hard work! My eyesight isn’t great anymore and I risk a migraine if I do too much detailed work