Banana Republic's Logan Fit: A BIG FAT NO!

Apologies for the really blurry pic...

I knew they had a loser fit, but didn't expect it to be like THAT!  This is a NO BUY if you are really small framed.  The pants I tried on were a 00P and it was DEFINITELY not fit for my frame.  I think I'd need a 000P or even 0000P.  Unfortunately, they don't exist.  I'd stick with the classic Martin fit, thank you very much!

February Poll Results!

Last month, we asked you what type of petite clothes you buy most often:

37% said that you mostly buy pants/bottoms

7% buy tops

10% buy dresses

33% buy EVERYTHING in petites!

13% of you don't purchase petites (I'm assuming you're of average height or taller??)

0% chose other

August Poll Results

Last month, we asked you: Do you wear capris? The results were:

24% said: Yes, why not?

37% said: Yes, but only in some lengths

18% said: No, capris are a faux pas for us petites. They make our legs look short!

18% said: No, but not because they're a faux pas. It's because they're ugly!

2% said: What are capris?

This month: Would you consider boycotting brands that do not make petites?

Ann Taylor and Ann Taylor Loft - Great for petites!

Whenever I go to the US, I always make a stop at Ann Taylor and Ann Taylor Loft. The clothes are, especially at Ann Taylor Loft, very affordable, and great for work. Not only do they have non-granny petite sizes, but they also have a bigger range than Banana Republic. At Banana, petite sizes only go up to 12P while Ann Taylor sells petites, especially online, up to a 16P. It's really too bad that people outside of the US can't possibly purchase any of their items unless they make a trip - like the GAP Inc. stores, they do not take cards with foreign billing addresses.

Some of my favourites are:

Ann Taylor:

Averie Double V-Neck Dress
Petite Plaid Flippy Skirt
Silk Cross-over Top w/ waist tie
Triacetate 3 Button Jacket
Audrey Wool Cashmere Pants

Petite Ann Taylor pants have an inseam of 30"

Ann Taylor Loft:

Textured One Button Cardigan
Ebony Wash Skirt w/ back pleat
Tweed Pleat Skirt Dress
Marisa Wide Leg Cuffed Chain Belt Pants
Velvet Jacket with Satin Trim

Petite pants at Ann Taylor Loft have an inseam of 29" or 29 1/2"

I have found that at the stores, the very small sizes tend to run out very quickly. Size 00P isn't even available at many Ann Taylor stores, not even the big flagship at Madison and 60th in Manhattan. Ann Taylor Loft is another story. I was in New York back in August, and was able to find a good selection of XXS and 00Ps at the Ann Taylor Loft store near Times Square. However, medium framed petites will have an excellent time at these stores. Usually, there's lots of sizes 4-10.

Size 0 Ankle at the GAP doesn't exist, does it?-More skinny shorty issues

I know. I complain about pant lengths a lot. And my legs aren't even all that short, especially for someone my height. But there's something I really don't get about GAP pants. Why don't ankle length pants exist below size 2? I do realize that they make sizes 0 and 1 (and sometimes even 2--actually, I saw size 2A (ankle) in jeans and cords for the first time in a long time. I had thought that 2A had been discontinued in store.) shorter, but there's no reason why they shouldn't make 0As and 1As (by the way, GAP is beginning to make some 00s too. DARN VANITY SIZING!!! GAP, why don't you admit that you do that? ). In fact, I think they should be making MORE of it. Shorter people are more likely to be a smaller size. I know that GAP does sell petites online, but ankle length is slightly longer than petite (petite inseams, at least for size 4+, is 29" at the GAP, while it is 30" for ankle) and some people might want something a little longer. Also, smaller sized pants (size 2 and below) tend to be slightly shorter, so petite sizes are probably under 29" (I don't know if this is true, since I've never measured it. Petite sizes exist online only, and not only do all GAP Inc stores not deliver north of the border, but they no longer accept foreign credit cards either.) So why make it more difficult for skinny petites who might want pants shorter than 29"?

COMPLETELY OFF TOPIC NOTE: You have until FRIDAY to participate in the August Shorty Story Survey!!

Inseam (Inside Leg) Lengths...

I recently wrote on another petite group about how pant lengths seem to be increasing over the years. As late as 2000 or so, I was still able to buy regular length pants at many main street stores without alterations. Then, they became longer, and at the same time, petite pants became longer as well. When Banana Republic first launched its petite line, pants were offered at two lengths, 26.5" and 28.5" (which, according to this 2003 article, were "industry standards"...can anyone confirm this? 26.5 seems a little short. In any case, I thought standard was 29"...though J.Crew lounge pants are 28.5" and some petite pants at UK's Next are also shorter than 29", such as this pair of boot cut trousers and the pants for this suit) Today, Banana's petite pants only come in one length, 30", though the length was 29.5" until recently. Paige Premium Denim's petite jeans are a whopping 31", which is technically "short" at many other brands. But why this sudden increase? It's not like petite women have shot up 2 inches in the last three years. A 30" (actually, 30.5" might be better for some) inseam may be great for someone who is 5'2" or 5'3", especially those wearing a 2" heel, but what if you like flats? Or maybe the person is shorter or has shorter legs? Wouldn't it be better to have more than one length, or is this just part of what sells and what doesn't?