<p>These posts are great… lots of info, but a lot of it on really thin-petite-types. Perhaps I can pitch in… can anyone help me out? I am 20-something, 5’0", 120 lbs. 15 gained after freshman year of college, and, from the looks of it, here to stay. (Curvy, with hips and an alarmingly increasing tummy, but petite.)</p>
<p>Generally, size 6-short in pants, medium in shirts. (Have had some luck with GAP pants in 6A.) But it’s really hard to find stuff that’s supposed to be cut tailored. Professional clothes for internships are nearly impossible. I love skirts but they have to be at the knee or above to look good on my body type; standard skirts that hit others at the knee are too long, the ones that do hit the right length are too tight in the stomach. Blouses are either too long or too narrow in the chest (34B/C). Dresses? Can’t even go there – as much as I’d love to have casual summer dresses, there just aren’t any in my size. </p>
<p>I am afraid to buy clothes online because I need to try them on first. Any suggestions for a petite but not super-skinny, polished-hopeful young lady?</p>
<p>My son has been able to find some nice slacks & jeans in the Boys section of Walmart, of all places. It seems he’s a 16R, 28/28. Hurrah! My friend’s son on the other hand is currently a 28/32. We even found him a pair of jeans a Walmart, but only one pair. He was also able to fine one pair of dressier slacks at Gap.</p>
<p>MVR, can you hem for find a seamstress that will? Skirts tend to be pretty easy to hem & could look nice. Separates tend to work better for folks who are not “standard” sizes. I’d suggest giving some of the larger stores like Target, Walmart, Sears. Sometimes it is surprising the array of sizes they carry.</p>
<p>Somebody asked about men’s tees in “small”…Express carries a line of plain men’s tees in lots of colors. My son is 5’10 but skinny and is NOT into logos. These are acceptable to him because they only have a little symbol on one sleeve (very unobtrusive), they fit well, and aren’t real heavy cotton. So they work well in warmer climates (we live in Atlanta but he goes to college in New Orleans). Anyway, we’ve been successful with these. By the way, he also HATES to go shopping, so I’m always happy to find things I don’t have to return.</p>
<p>The GAP also carries men’s smalls but they’re cut a little boxier and are a little heavier cotton. Lots of great colors though.</p>
mvr, just FYI, I have learned that buying online still works (for S and me!). I order what I think will fit and that we will like. If I’m not sure of size, I order best guess and one smaller/one larger. The better online retailers have the return thing down to a science. For some of them, you can make returns at their retail locations. For some, they pay return postage. For some, there is no return postage if you do an exchange.</p>
<p>It may seem cumbersome, but I find it works great. AND, you get to try things on at home, when you are in the mood. I am the Queen of Returns. Started out because like others here, I have an S who HATEs shopping, so it was easier for me to be his Personal Shopper, buy several of everything in different colors/sizes/styles and return what he doesn’t want. Now I do it for online, too.</p>
<p>The downside is that you may pay return postage. But pretty soon, you learn what brands and sizes fit you. And if it increases your options (sometimes from NONE), it’s worth it. </p>
<p>Finally, some online retailers use Virtual Model. It’s not a substitute for trying on, but If you are honest about your measurements, it really does help. Gives an idea of how a garment will actually hang on your body type versus what it looks like on the mannequin-like catalog models. It has accurately helped me eliminate some styles and choose others.</p>
<p>Has anyone mentioned Ann Taylor Loft?
I stopped there on an out-of-town shopping trip today, and was amazed at the petites section. I got a cute capri and jacket set to wear to my summer classes for under $30 on sale, and the capris don’t look like I shrunk my pants in the dryer!</p>
<p>I also have had good luck with “plus size” Gap Kids jeans. An 18.5 is perfect in length, a little baggy in the seat, and big in the waist. Luckally they come with an adjustable waistband! The trick is finding stuff that doesn’t look like it came from the kids section.</p>
<p>Walmart, of all places, & Sears have pretty good selections in clothing & many of the things in the kids section are identical to those in the juniors & young mens departments. The only thing the kids say about the adjustable waist is the elastic does wear out & then stops adjusting after a while.</p>