Just Another Work-Clothes Rant

[ladysprite]

I am not that small.

I mean, yeah, I'm short, and I'm not big, but I'm not freakishly teeny, either. I'm kind of.... average-sized. So why the hell can't average stores carry clothes in my size?

I need to wear clothes to work. And while I can deal with my non-work clothes being either poorly-fitted or highly specialized, for work I need simple, washable, professional-looking stuff. No hip-huggers, no pencil skirts, no babydoll tees.

Unfortunately, if I want clothes that fit, I need to either shop at Super Petite Elite Specialty Stores, where pants costs more than my wedding ring did and are dry-clean only, or at the Juniors department of other, more reasonably-priced stores, where the current trend in clothing is best described as Little Ho Peep.

All I ask out of life is a pair of non-pleated, machine-washable pants that start near my waist, end near my ankles, and either don't gap enough at the top for a patient to crawl down them or actually have belt loops. And a sequin-free, glitter-free blouse that doesn't hang like a tent. Is that too much to ask?

This rant is brought to you by my mad dash through my closet as I try to get ready for a new-practice interview today, in a desperate attempt to look professional and not like an eighth-grader in my mom's clothes.....

Comments

[dreda.livejournal.com]

If you don't mind answering here, what sizes do you wear, roughly? I might have some leads.

[ladysprite.livejournal.com]

Honestly? I don't know for certain. I know what size I *think* I wear, but when I buy stuff in those sizes, by the time I get them home they don't fit anymore.

So... best guess is 0-2, and/or XS. Which also boggles me, because... then what do the people smaller than me wear?

[janetmiles.livejournal.com]

I have absolutely no useful suggestions, given that I am on the opposite end of the size range, but I must tell you that while I deplore the fashion, I adore the phrase "Little Ho Peep" as a descriptor of girls' clothing.

[micheinnz.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I snorted at "Little Ho Peep" as well. I have been known to refer to some girls' tops as "My First Street Corner".

[matildalucet.livejournal.com]

I feel your pain. I've had Old Navy recommended to me recently. They have extended sizes on their website, so I'm thinking I should go to the store and see what's what and then try ordering online if I like something and need a size the store doesn't have. I dislike the thought of mail order returns, but apparently at my current size I might need to get over that.

[ladysprite.livejournal.com]

Old Navy is pretty hit-or-miss - when they have actual pants and tops, they're pretty good at sizing, but about half the time all they have are capris and tank tops...

[msmemory.livejournal.com]

Some of their stuff will fail the wash & dry test, but Talbots now has an outlet next to Fabric Place in Woburn, and it includes Petites. I got an oxford shirt there for $4.25 week before last (on a tip from elizabear.

[flaviarassen.livejournal.com]

Well, I was trying to remember the name of the petite chain
I knew about - & you did it for me. Talbot's always has very
nice things in their windows (as you can guess, at 5'10" I
never actually go into the store...)

[hugh-mannity.livejournal.com]

Have you tried boy's pants?

Now while there's a lot of boy's clothing that looks like it came off the rack at We B Pimpz Yo!*, there are more likely to be plain dress pants (khakis, chinos, et al) in the boys section.




*Matches the Little Ho Peep

[umbran.livejournal.com]

Have you tried boy's pants?

Um, my Lady has hips in ways that boys don't.

[rufinia.livejournal.com]

Have you tried H&M? Their definition of a size 16 is adorable (in a "aw, bless their goddamn hearts" kind of way), but might work for you.

[arachne8x.livejournal.com]

Actually H&M might be a really good option.

[tpau]

stores do not carry things in your size because yuo are small enough to be not in the majority of female population. (now i am, and they don't carry my size either but that is a different rant) if you went to a store in NYC or LA yuo would find things your size.

you might be better off ordering online from places like Chadwicks or something.

[spiritdancer]

Have you tried Lands End, Coldwater Creek, or Eddie Bauer? LE has been my fall-back for good, basic, etc. work clothes (and, frankly, if you end up in the kid's sizes? They are tailored like the adult lines. And they'll hem them to your specs).

[arachne8x.livejournal.com]

You may want to try EB, but I find a lot of their stuff is sized up rather than down.

[redfishie.livejournal.com]

you know --- I don't think it will make you feel any better, but I'm too big for most stores.

[mindways]

Another suggestion: secondhand clothing stores. I haven't perused the women's section in any, so I can't say for certain they'd work well, but if it's anything like the men's section, I've noted that there's usually a fair amount of "somewhat bigger" and "somewhat smaller" clothing. I'd also guess that even where the women's/junior's clothes fall into the "trendy" category, that they're not the *current* trend, but a smattering of trends from over the past decade. And the prices are usually excellent. (Moreso at Goodwill than at a specialty store like Ooona's, but still.)

The disadvantage, of course, is that if/when you do find something you like, you can't just buy a whole lot of that and call it a day.

(There's a stereotype that clothes from, eg, Goodwill, are shabby-looking. In my experience, while it's certainly possible to *pick* bad-looking secondhand clothes, the same is true of nearly anywhere one shops.)

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

1) Yes, secondhand stores are a wonderful place to shop if you're small, because that's a lot of what gets donated, stuff that people can't wear any more because they've gained weight. (And I speak here from experience as well as observation! *g*)

2) Try Salvation Army instead of Goodwill -- and pick one that's close to an upscale area. My partner's daughter found a London Fog coat for $20 at the Salvation Army store near the Heights. Also, you'll have a shot at some of the things rich women discard just because "I've already been seen wearing that a dozen times".

[quietann.livejournal.com]

First... clothing is more expensive now. It just is. The days of a nice new outfit for $60 are long gone.

That said, because you are so small you will have a MUCH easier time finding things at outlet stores and clearance racks than, say, me. I am of a much more typical size.

Ideas for stores:

Macy's petite department -- their store brands are not that expensive
JJill (their XXS petite would probably fit you)
Talbots Outlet in Woburn as mentioned above

[catalana.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid you are many things, but average-sized isn't one of them. You're definitely on the small end of things, which makes life a bit trickier for you. *hug* I have another friend who is petite and fairly thin but very busty and she has similar problems.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

For your friend: Eris Apparel (http://www.erisapparel.com/) has clothing for women who have those attributes. For the first time in my life I could wear a blouse with buttons on it.

[moiramisu.livejournal.com]

Little Ho Peep
This phrase has me giggling. A lot.

Side comment

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

On the one hand, I agree with you about the "Little Ho Peep" look. On the other... dammit, my parents used to say the same thing about the clothes *I* wore in high school! Are we turning into our parents in our old age?

On the third hand, a 6-year-old wearing a shirt that says "I'm Too Sexy" is DEFINITELY inappropriate -- and I blame the parents, because you know she didn't buy it herself.

Re: Side comment

[ladysprite.livejournal.com]

I remember what I wore when I was a teenager. It was not this trashy. And the current trend towards baby/sexy - not just for six year olds, but for sixteen-year-olds, is just creepy.

[dornbeast.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, if I want clothes that fit, I need to either shop at Super Petite Elite Specialty Stores, where pants costs more than my wedding ring did and are dry-clean only, or at the Juniors department of other, more reasonably-priced stores, where the current trend in clothing is best described as Little Ho Peep.

I have no useful advice - I just want to know if I can put this on metaquotes.

[ladysprite.livejournal.com]

Absolutely! :)

[asdr83.livejournal.com]

I've been having luck at Kohls for my hospital approriate pants, particularly the Gloria Vanderbilt brand of twill pants. They come in short, average and long, a variety of neutral tones and are machine washable. My only big complaint is that the blend of fabric that they use in the gray pants that makes them almost wrinkle free they use in none of the other colors, despite being the same style.

[ladysprite.livejournal.com]

Kohls? For real? Wow - I'm there, next time I have a day off. Thank you for the heads-up!

[kittyblue.livejournal.com]

I've had good luck with Ann Taylor Loft and their sales racks - just be wary of their online size chart, as it is not really all that accurate. Going into the store, however, and trying stuff on... They have a large petite section, and they cater to the professional-on-a-budget types. :D

[ohsusana.livejournal.com]

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

"Little Ho Peep"

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

(I hate shopping for clothes, too. Guess that's why I've been resorting to eBay and other second hand venues for a while).

[z-gryphon.livejournal.com]

the current trend in clothing is best described as Little Ho Peep.

Not that you wouldn't look totally hot that way, in a completely wrong sort of way. :)

It wouldn't look very professional, though, I concede. At least not the right kind of professional.

[sdorn.livejournal.com]

You need to speak to my lovely spouse, who is not as petite but still has enormous problems finding clothes that fit and are comfortable. THERE IS A CONSPIRACY!!

[lucentvictrola.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty tiny, but I've been able to find a lot of clothes that fit me - it just takes time. The juniors section at Target actually has really classy stuff, no Little Ho Peep there. Also, many stores have Misses or Petite sections. Also, you could try buying online, since there's a wider range of sizes. This won't work for pants, though, unless you know what brands fit your body shape. For me, Old Navy doesn't work at all, because I have tiny thighs and no ass, but a large waist, but it might for you, and they do carry a 0 short size.

[spritelady.livejournal.com]

I think we must be soul-sisters or something :P

I have exactly the same problem as you, and usually just end up buying something and hemming it. Had to cut several inches from the last pair of pants I bought for an interview. And I can't sew so now I have wonky interview pants. And I used the darkest belt I could find. It's probably no big surprise that I didn't get the job.

I can't help you as far as stores go because I live in the UK and the only petite clothes here are extortionate too -why do they charge more for less fabric?

And I am highly amused at how we have practically the same LJ name.

[sofiaviolet]

Here from metaquotes, sorry if that's creepy.

I love H&M to bits. It's a good option for both men and women who have trouble finding small enough clothes. I think my brother (skinny dude, broad shoulders) will sing the praises of their shirts until he dies, because they are not tents. I will put in my personal thumbs-up for the women's section in general, although I have not needed to try buying pants there. There are three in Boston, although I think the one downtown is best.

I love Editors; they are simple enough that I don't feel like a tool wearing them to class, but nice enough for work. Unfortunately, I don't think Express puts them on sale very often. I'm 5'4" and just let the regular length be a wee bit too long; my mom is 5' even and she buys the short length. OTOH, I find the blouses from Express a bit too cleavage-baring; New York & Co. makes very nice ones that are not so sexy, although they may not make them small enough for you.

I have good luck with vintage clothing, where smaller sizes tend to be plentiful (at least for the decades my tastes gravitate towards). The cheaper way to do this is Goodwill.

My mother's solution to being five feet tall is to wear lots of skirts.

[rabbitorf.livejournal.com]

I feel your pain. Especially recently, with trying to outfit myself for the new job and we both know what a nontraditional size I am, although not on the same end as you. I wish I had more useful advice for you, but I would like to wish you luck with your search. I'm trying again tomorrow after exhausting most of what I have come up with so far with week one.

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

I think you are more petite than the average, but the trend toward sleazy clothing is a general problem. Sorry I can't offer store advice but I detest shopping... I mostly use catalogs these days.