Remember the line from Dirty Dancing, "Nobody puts Baby in a corner"? Doesn't seem to be the case when it comes to mainstream stores and petite sizes. In addition to the lack of choice and style, petite sizes almost always seems to be in a not-so-prominent part of the store, as if these sizes don't matter. Here are just a few:
Banana Republic, 60 Bloor Street West, Toronto: Petites are at the back of the main floor, an improvement (I guess) from being on the second floor when petites first arrived at the store last year
Banana Republic, Eaton Centre, Toronto: Back of women's store
Banana Republic, Rockefeller Center, Manhattan: Second floor, behind the stairs (though when first launched, petites were in the anteroom right in front of the stairs).
Banana Republic, 59th and Lexington, Manhattan: Small collection in the back of the basement level, pretty much hidden from everything else (as of April 2007).
EXCEPTION: Banana Republic, Rideau Centre, Ottawa: occupies what I think is formerly the guys' section, complete with its own entrance! Same goes for all petite-only Banana stores in the US.
Reitmans, Eaton Centre, Toronto: Petites are towards the back, just in front of the plus section
Reitmans, Yonge-Eglinton Centre, Toronto: Petites are hidden in the corner, on the same side as the cash
Reitmans, Sheppard Centre, Toronto: back, near fitting room
Ann Taylor Loft, 52 & Madison, Manhattan: Basement (well, at least they get the entire space...)
Ann Taylor Loft, Avenue of Americas, Manhattan: Back of store, towards fitting rooms.
Ann Taylor Loft, Times Square: Middle of store, but towards the side wall.
Ann Taylor, Madison and 60. Manhattan: Third floor (okay, so petites have an entire floor devoted to them...but this is a HUGE store!)
Ann Taylor, Fifth and 45th: If I recall correctly, it is towards the corner on the left side from the entrance.
When I was in the UK, back in 2001, I shopped at both TopShop and Next. The huge TopShop I went to in London (I think it's the Oxford Circus store) had a petite section, but it was, like North American stores with petite sections, tucked away in a corner. Same with Next.
I mean, if we look and we know that petites exist at that particular store, we'll find it, but they really don't have to put the petite sizes in the back, do they (I don't mind separate areas. In fact, I ENCOURAGE it, so it would be easier for those who need petites to find the right size, but to tuck it away?? JUST PLAIN WRONG!)? Nobody should put PETITES in a corner!