Anyone interested in a style thread for the short but not petite among us?

[suiledonne]

I am 5'2 and a 16-18. I love the style threads and would love to get some inspiration from those of a similar size/shape.

I am trying to lose weight but it is slower going than I hoped due to a knee problem and I am stuck in a fashion rut. I definitely lost my confidence with clothes after having my dds and becoming a SAHM.

I have already committed several fashion faux pas (according to some anyway ) because I am the proud owner of a maxi dress and some cropped trousers.

Anyone willing to join in?

I'm 5'3 size 14/16. I always wear heels to add an extra couple of inches - esp good with jeans/trousers as gives impression of longer legs (never wear cropped trousers!) I find the best look for me is fitted dresses (sort of 1950s styles with belt to emphasise waist). I'm lucky that I'm quite well proportioned (hourglass) - just a bit too fat. I find anything loose and shapeless piles on the pounds whereas tailored, fitted styles are much more flattering (especially when paired with heels). I also think plain colours are more flattering than patterns.

Hi all, welcome to those who posted since I was last on.

jeans I haven't had the courage to even try on straight leg jeans. I always stick to bootcut as I am afraid I will look like a lollipop on a stick with slim legs and big top. I did buy some nice dark denim ones recently with just a slight bootcut and they are quite nice so I might just take the plunge and try straight leg (never, ever will I contemplate skinny jeans or jeggings though)

tops I agree with the difficulty of getting tops to wear with skirts. I have 2 knee length ones that I like but don't wear as I have no tops that look good. It is a question of proportion I think and although a longish top is ok with jeans it is all wrong with a skirt.

Wow, I love the polka dot one.

Are you comfortable in a halter neck?

The M&S one is fine but doesn't have the same wow factor at all.

Sugarmousepink- GO FOR IT !

I can't vouch for the site as I haven't bought from it myself, but there is www.ilovejeans.com that claims to recommend jeans for different shapes and sizes. Yes, they are more expensive, but I've been told (repeatedly) that owning a good fitting pair of jeans is the way to go!

My e-book says that us shorted ladies ARE allowed to wear cropped trousers - not capri pants - and that it can elongate you if you wear them with a heel that is in the same tonal shade. Never to be worn with shoes of a completely different tone or colour though!

Had a look at that site, feedmenow, looks interesting and loads of different stock so you can compare easily.

I have another recommendation for jeans-

tummytuckjeans.org.uk/

Yes they are really expensive but I felt so good when I first tried them on which was a couple of months after having my son (second child) then even better (maybe even sexier, if I could be so bold) once I'd put heels on with them!

I got the straight leg in black and have worn them to death, always dsappointed when they have to go in the wash !

5.1 size 16. I bought some petite flares last year from Next and they look good. Make my arse less boxy than the bootcut

I'm avoiding jeans this summer though. I have a flabby stomach overhang which means any low waisted jeans just fall down and look crap.

I'm in dresses this summer as I think they make me look less lumpy. Bought a really nicely fitting petite wrap dress on ebay made by M&Co the other day. Would usually not bother with M&Co as it smells like old ladies but this dress fits amazingly.

As far as tops go it's V necks all the way

The only thing that concerns me about the tummy tuck jeans is how high the waist looks. DO they actually come up that high in real life?

I'm 5'3 size 16, huge boobs and belly, no bum or hips and skinny legs!

I desperately need re-vamping...have lost 3 stone thus far, still a way to go but I'd really like to feel good about the weight I have lost!

I actually like the fact the nydj have the higher waist. I am so pissed off with low waists!

(Puts little chubby hand up) 14 - 16, 5ft 2 here!. Trying to lose weight, need to lose a stone or so but thinking too much and not doing enough.
I bought this two weeks ago in petite size 14 in the black and it looks fantastic dress jacket I have no waist and this gives me shape.

Ah, same page. They're both on there. I bought it for wowrk, btw. I'm desperately looking for shirts that don't look like they're DH's hand me downs because I have short arms atm. Anyone?

Nice monkey. I wouldn't be able to wear a dress like that as my boobs are too big.

Some shirts here.

Oops, meant to say nice DRESS monkey, not nice monkey said as if to a pet! Oh and welcome.

NYDJ jeans DO have an unusually high waist (a la Simon Cowell) but they have to in order to hold in the belly flab, IYSWIM. High waist never been an issue for me.

Low waist jeans are only for size 8 women or teenagers, I reckon, they are evil incarnate.

mrs buggywinkle- wow, you have lost 3 stone !! I am in total awe of you. Think I will be a lifelong member of Weightwatchers at this rate.

I think I would like to be 'Gok-ed' but without having to appear on national telly !

Another shorty here - 5ft 2, size 14 and 34G

I think if it weren't for the boobs I'd be a lot happier. My problem is my hips are large but my waist is quite defined so never find trousers to fit without being hoiked up the whole time. My neighbour recommended nydj but they are so dear...

I love that website bunjies. I get so used to rolling my sleeves up and wearing dresses that are too long I hardly think about it. Next petite is sometimes a bit too short for me. The M and S suit was perfect. I think it's a bit random sometimes.

I have found my home. 5ft 3, since 2nd child size 16-18, no waist (which I did used to have) and huge arse (which I've always had).
Depressed about shape rather than weight, and at home I live in ill fitting jeans and baggy tops. At work, trousers and baggy shirts/smart t-shirts.

4ft 10.5 (no use lying), size 16 on top, size 12/14 on the bottom.

Really skinny legs (workmates call them chicken legs), too fat middle bit and huge boobs.

Luckily wear uniform all day, so only have to worry about home clothes.

Like Wallis petite and Debenhams.

Am on the lookout for a cotton summer dress for hols, anyone seen anything nice lately?

Us shorties could take over the world.

Hi to all the new shorties.

I was hoping to do a bit of online window shopping and make some suggestions but didn't find the time yet. I'll do it over the weekend.

feedmenow I am interested in the Caryn Franklin ebook. Can you tell us some of the other things she recommends.

It really annoys me that so much of the clothes made for bigger sizes are loud, garish things. We are just normal women after all.

I buy some stuff from Simply Be but find a lot of the dressy tops are way too long. I wish they would do petite.

Ohhh can I join the club. I am a 14-16 on top because of my humungous breastage but a 10-12 on the bottom . I just wish these baby boobs would go away!!

I can NEVER find dresses to fit, they are the bane of my life.

oh and I am 5'2"

Hello, back again. I find dressing in summer really hard, esp when it's hot. Here are some thoughts:

• I've found straight-cut jeans can look OK provided the top is long enough to cover my bum. These tops are too long to wear over skirts. Conversely, tops that go over shirts are too short to wear with jeans or trousers.
• I have not found a skirt I can wear in summer because of thigh-rub , so it's linen trousers for me most of the time (and often cropped, though I know this isn't flattering, because I don't like wearing long trousers in the heat)
• I can't have enough vest tops to go underneath shirts that won't do up over my boobs (32HH) - but if I can get shirts that will do up, then I get them and sew them up to avoid the gaping between buttons. Since these are often then too big around the tummy they look best over relatively slim-fitting bottoms - ie not linen trousers, so can only be worn when it's less hot with skirts or jeans
• The vest tops are the only time that I will wear something other than a v-neck, but they are always under a v-neck.
• Cap sleeves look infinitely better on flabby arms than straps.
• Normally I live in ballet pumps, but wedges are flattering in summer if I want to look less dumpy
• I didn't go swimming at all last year, even though I wanted to teach DD, because of body shape ishoos. But having lost a stone, bought a (simple, one-piece, dark coloured) costume, and gone swimming, I now wish I'd got over myself earlier and not wasted a whole year.

I'm sure there's more. Will post as I think of them. Meanwhile if you have any suggestions I'd love to hear them. I know the only solution is to lose weight but I can't postpone summer til that happens.