BCBG XXS and Size 5 Nine West Shoes

The BCBG dress (in XXS) was probably from Spring/Summer 2009, as I found it at an outlet store recently. XXS seems to be shorter than XS, even in regular sizes. It's too bad that petite BCBG dresses are sooooo difficult to find. They're not available in their boutiques, and only in a limited number of department stores in the US (petite BCBG is unavailable in Canada). I actually think they're disappearing, since there weren't any at Bloomingdales the last time I was in Manhattan. The shoes are also from the outlet mall - a size 5 pair of "PTFASHNING" in bronze (that's what the box said) from Nine West.

Petite Length Tops/dresses and the Final Installment of the Outlet Series

Many more clothing stores seem to be more accomodating to petite length legs than to other parts of the body. Non-petite stores which carry short length jeans include American Eagle (30")and Abercrombie and Fitch (website does not indicate, but I'm guessing that it is 30"). But what about tops? Why is it that the legs are sometimes given attention to (albiet casual/weekend pants, such as jeans, and not "work" clothes (maybe they believe that the only people who wear shorter lengths are teenagers who haven't reached their full height??)), but not tops? Short women have short torsos too. Petite women with "regular" length torsos and shorter legs are likely to find 30" inseam pants too long.

Really, the only places where petite women can find tops in the correct length are stores with petite sections. Even there, the selection is slim. Especially if you are at an outlet. Most of the petite tops I saw at the Ann Taylor Factory Store were very basic shirts that one might wear under a suit jacket (though I *KNOW* that AT's top collection is much, much better than, say, J.Crew, where the selection is currently limited to button down shirts.) While the shirt below is somewhat "regular" looking, it also not as "plain" as some button-down shirts one wears for work. It looks great with black pants, capris or regular length.

Petite dresses are also impossible to find, even though many dresses are difficult to alter. This is especially the case for more casual petite dresses. I was lucky to find the dress below at AT.

By the way, I wasn't able to find a map to Woodbury Common, other than the one posted on their site (not the map I'm lookin for), so I won't be able to post it. I *DID* get an e-mail from Premium Outlets, letting me know that they list the stores based on the store's sign. But that wasn't what I was talking about. I recalled the map pointing out stores that sell plus-sized clothes, even if the store didn't say that it did. Not the same for petites--the Ann Taylor Factory store, for example, sells petites sizes, and indicated that on its window. Premium Outlets DID agree with me that they wished that more brands focus on petite sizes and I am very happy that they do! :) Let's just hope that retailers and manufacturers read this and listen.

New York Shopping, Part Two - The Shoes

Usually, shoe shopping is difficult for me, especially when looking for shoes in more affordable prices. I wear anywhere between a size 4 1/2 and a 5 1/2 (usually 5), so imagine my surprise when I was actually able to find more than one pair!!! Below, you'll find pictures of the shoes I bought :)





I got the two pairs above at Aerosoles. Yes, they are basically the same shoe. I was originally only going to buy one pair, but found out that if I bought a second pair (at or below the price of the first pair), that pair would be 50% off! The total price of these shoes was LESS THAN $50!!

These Tory Burch ballet flats were a splurge, especially for an outlet store. I wasn't going to get them at first, but thought that these shoes would probably not go on sale very often, and if it did, it would go...quickly....especially with my size. I like flats. I know that many stylists don't think petite women should be wearing them all that often, but we shorties shouldn't have to sacrifice comfort for vanity!

There's still more to come!!! Watch for one more post this weekend!

New York Shopping, Part One

I spent the August long weekend in the US, and had the chance to go to Woodbury Common Premium Outlet (less than an hour outside of New York City...there are several buses you can take from Manhattan) to do some shopping. Plenty of stores there, including a few places where you can find decent petites. The prices were okay, but higher than many other outlets, probably because it carries more higher end brands (stores include Tory Burch, Coach, Cole-Haan, Kate Spade and Burberry). Other stores include Off-5th, Barneys and Neiman Marcus Last Call.

Woodbury is HUGE! Bigger than any outlet mall I've ever been to (ok, I've pretty much only gone to Vaughan Mills and another one up in Concord (or maybe it's Stouffville), Ontario), with much more selection (I'm always jealous of people in the US....so many more outlet malls with really good selection! We're pretty much stuck with the basics up here). In fact, it was so big that I wasn't able to go to all the stores I wanted to go to! And I was there for a good five hours! Woodbury is a great place to shop, but the mall is outdoors, so when it's hot (like it was when I was there), it's HOT! Not great in the winter or in rainy weather either.

In terms of petites, the Ann Taylor Factory Store has a petite section. Selection is pretty good and the prices tend to be around the same as regular Ann Taylor Loft stores (didn't see anything over $75). Prices at Banana Republic were pretty decent too, but it was a zoo there, so I didn't stay very long. Also, selection in the smaller size ranges (00s, 0s and 2s) was slim and petite sizes were nowhere to be found/not designated to a special area. Of course, JCrew didn't have petites in stores (and the prices weren't that great either) and most of the other stores which carry petites are kind of granny-looking or plain.

Woodbury Commons is part of Chelsea Premium Outlets, with malls all over the US.

SOMETING INTERESTING: Maps are available detailing where all stores are located. It's interesting to note that stores which have plus-sizes are noted on the map, but those selling petites are not. Once again, the non-petite plus are noted, while the short (regardless of whether she is slim or not slim) is ignored.*

*I'll try to upload a pic of the map...will need to look for it.