<p>Petite Sophisticates always have nice things - the petite version of Casual Corner. The quality is good (she can keep it for internships, etc.) and the prices are reasonable. Blazers, etc. are in style now, so she should have an easy time finding something there.</p>
<p>Don’t give up so quickly on Lands’ End. I think their styles are classic (professional, not boring) and very well made. Most of them are washable. You can just order from the catalog and returns are easy to make. And best of all – speaking as someone who is only 5’ 2" – they carry PETITE sizes.</p>
<p>My daughter is also petite. She needed several suits for interviews and a summer internship. JC Penney had a good selection and the price was right- Express is one of her favorite stores, but their pants were way too long and fit the hips instead of waist, so when she sat down, they were not appropriate. Kids these days do not think about shopping in department stores, but the selection there is pretty good and you can find shoes and pantyhose, which are also foreign to this generation!</p>
<p>On thing to look for are really comfortable shoes…yeah, we all want to highheels like on Sex in the City, but try walking somewhere…shoes can make the outfit</p>
<p>As well, a nice simple purse or bag, and a portfolio- you know the kind with a notebook, a place for a pen and business cards, papers, notes</p>
<p>They don’t have to be expensive at all. My D did JSA at Georgetown this summer, and her cute fake leather periwinkle blue portfolio was indespensible. It can be burgandy, brown, black, whatever. </p>
<p>And simple earrings and a simple watch. It is amazing what you can get for 25$ at a JC penny or sears or targee’.</p>
<p>Most of the stores being mentioned on this thread can be found in the Cherry Creek Mall (on Steele and Ellsworth, near Colorado blvd. and Alameda). I know they have Express, some department stores, Talbots, Petite Sophisticate, and others. If she’s at DU, she can take one bus (the 23) to get there. Good luck!</p>
<p>If your daughter likes a bargain, suggest she look for a Goodwill Superstore (or the more regular version if there in no Superstore). Consignment and thrift stores can also have surprising finds. The Goodwill stores can have an amazing array of suits (more for men than women of course…but still quite good in my two forays when on a mission for something particular…). Often the selection includes some good labels… You have to have some shopping stamina and it probably helps to have a friend with an eye for busiiness dress to help with sizes–but I have known kids to get great finds for under $20…Can also be a source for tuxes…Outlet malls can have bargains too. When a friend needed to outfit her daughter for an internship in DC that required a suit they found an Italian designer suit (originally $200) marked down to $60…</p>
<p>I got a suit for doing a med school interview for under $70 at Burlington Coat Factory, I’m not sure if they’re a national chain or not. For that price my mom and I were able to purchase everything including two blouses, a pair of shoes, and the panyhose. It did take a little doing to find a suit that would look and feel appropriate for an eigteen-year-old, rather than a thrity-something, but it was doable. I ended up going with a skirt because it felt slightly more feminine.</p>
<p>vegangirl- I directed her to the cherry creek mall. I am hoping she is taking care of the suit shopping this weekend, instead of waiting till Wed when she needs it thursday. She is a last minute type of person- the exact opposite of her mother.
I am thinking she will get pants. I can’t imagine her trying to get a pair of pantyhose on without going through several pairs.</p>
<p>Target alert!!!
was just there yesterday…there are Isaac Mizrachi (don’t know if the spelling is correct) suit seperates that are great looking…priced in the 20-30 range for each piece.Does she have access to one?</p>
<p>you guys are great. I will call her soon, is noon to early? Breaking my husbands rule of let her call us not to call her. I know they did some dorm shopping at a Target so there is one in the vicinity. That would be my prefered price range.</p>
<p>Duuhh! Consignment shops! DDhad to have a formal for a sweet 16 party, and I didn’t want to pay much because of prom the next year - I got her a pretty formal for about $30 at a consignment shop, then had it altered. There wasn’t a huge selection in the smallest sizes, but it wasn’t very picked over either.</p>