Department Stores Shutting Petite Section - Page 2

33girl · #16 05-29-2006, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sister Havana
And it's even worse if you're petite AND plus size - nearly impossible to find clothing!

The petite sections in most stores only carry up to a size 14 - if that. Anything over that, forget it.

There used to be something called "half sizes" and I think that's basically what they were - plus sizes for shorter women.

I think the last paragraph is what the problem is...the petite departments have a "dowdy" image in the stores they mentioned. Although in Kaufmann's and Macy's I've never seen evidence of this - Macy's especially - the petite stuff is the same as the regular size stuff.

AGDLynn · #17 05-30-2006, 07:42 AM

The stores that I visit usually have cute clothes in the petite sizes. For the plus sizes, it's like the designers forgot what cute was..they all look the same boring solid or plaids and have a foot of extra material on the bottom.

AOIIBrandi · #18 05-30-2006, 09:25 AM

I always have problems finding pants and skirts in Department stores. I see something cute in the regular sizes and then find out they don't make (or sell) it in petites. BR, Ann Taylor, and AT Loft are great, but what about the rest of the stores with cute clothes?

By the way, tailoring does not really work on pants and jeans. You can have them hemmed, but then the break is in the wrong place.

KSUViolet06 · #19 05-30-2006, 01:52 PM

I'm 4'11 so most of the things in petite sections still don't fit me. The shortest height that most petite clothing fits is like 5'2.

It's even worse when you are not only REALLY short, but also skinny (think 12 year old girl). Shopping in the children's department is horrendous. It's impossble to find a sexy club top at a store like Limited Too. And forget finding a normal pair of jeans (without some sort of horrid flowery design).

I've decided that I will just have to alter everything I buy for the rest of my life.

AlphaFrog · #20 05-30-2006, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JocelynC
[COLOR=deeppink]I'm 4'11 so most of the things in petite sections still don't fit me. The shortest height that most petite clothing fits is like 5'2.

I'm 5'2'', and on me, most petite jeans/pants look like I'm getting ready for flood season.

rhochi2002 · #21 05-30-2006, 01:58 PM

I am to short for petite clothing as well, but it is supposed to be proportioned better for short women. I stick to dresses and skirts as long as it is warm enough because it is less of an issue

pinkiebell1001 · #22 05-30-2006, 02:03 PM

Sometimes I HATE being short! AND short+fat=not good, lol. I've gotten to the point that I only buy jeans from Lane Bryant, and even their petite stuff is long on me, but It's something I can live with. One question though...do any of yall wear the L.B. flares? I have like 4 pairs of them, and for whatever reason the lighter pairs aren't as ...snug, I guess is the word I'm looking for...as the darker wash ones, at least that's the case with me. Does anyone else find that as well?

SoCalGirl · #23 05-30-2006, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JocelynC
I'm 4'11 so most of the things in petite sections still don't fit me. The shortest height that most petite clothing fits is like 5'2.

It's even worse when you are not only REALLY short, but also skinny (think 12 year old girl). Shopping in the children's department is horrendous. It's impossble to find a sexy club top at a store like Limited Too. And forget finding a normal pair of jeans (without some sort of horrid flowery design).

I've decided that I will just have to alter everything I buy for the rest of my life.

I don't know. I've seen some things at Limited Too that made me go

at the idea of a child wearing it but would probably be okay for an adult. Have you tried Ambercrombie? As opposed to A&F. Everytime I walk pass I forget that it's the kids store because it's the exact same stuff. I'm sure sexy and/or professional stuff is difficult to find. Casual clothes is probably easier for you to get your hands on.

GeekyPenguin · #24 05-30-2006, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Taualumna
According to this NYTimes article, many department stores are getting rid of/scaling back their petite section because people aren't shopping there. And they did this all very quietly. How could this have happened? Do retailers really think that petites don't buy petite sizes (if that's the case, then Banana Republic would not have opened petite-only stores. It's the STYLE, everyone!) Something like this would never have happened if this was the plus-sized department.

I have created a petition (this can also be found in my sig) and a !)rant , but I really doubt that The Powers That Be really care. I'm sure they'd rather petite women just disappear (but we're NOT

Actually, it would. Limited Brands stopped making size 14 (not even plus-size) pants.

honeychile · #25 05-30-2006, 11:19 PM

I like to wear petite shorts or skirts, because I'm short waisted, but can't wear pants unless I call them capris.

For the life of me, I will never understand why women can't buy pants like men - waist & length!

Another complaint: stores such as J.Jill's or Coldwater Creek who say they carry petite and plus sizes, but when you get there, you have to order them. They're not kept in stock!

ADqtPiMel · #26 05-30-2006, 11:21 PM

Dude, people of all sizes have trouble finding clothes. Pants are always too short on me (and at 5'8 I'm not exactly a towering giant). Shirts are either too small in the chest or too large around the midsection.

I think it's about time that stores realize that short/tall/heavy/skinny/flat/busty women have money too, and we'd like to buy some damn pants that fit without alterations, for the love of Pete.

Taualumna · #27 05-31-2006, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by GeekyPenguin
Actually, it would. Limited Brands stopped making size 14 (not even plus-size) pants.

But the Limited isn't a big department store like Bloomies or Neiman.

33girl · #28 05-31-2006, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Taualumna
But the Limited isn't a big department store like Bloomies or Neiman.

However...pretty much everyone has a Limited and Express in their mall. Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale's are small, comparatively speaking.

Taualumna · #29 05-31-2006, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 33girl
However...pretty much everyone has a Limited and Express in their mall. Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale's are small, comparatively speaking.

True, when you compare it to the mall, since department stores are really just minature versions of the mall as a whole. But in terms of larger sizes, you can say the same thing about many other mall stores too. Banana Republic, for example, only makes petite sizes up to a 12P, but the average woman is a 14P or 16P.

To ADqtPiMel: Do you have long legs? Many stores (at least the ones I go to), sell pants with a 32 or even 33" inseam, which usually fit people your height.

GeekyPenguin · #30 05-31-2006, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Taualumna
But the Limited isn't a big department store like Bloomies or Neiman.

It wasn't just Limited - it was Limited Brands. In many many parts of the US, Limited and Express are about all a certain demographic of women have for "fashionable" clothes in their mall.

Bloomies and Neiman are not prevalent, at least anywhere I've lived. Neither of them are in the state where I grew up. There are two Neiman's here. Neither of them have ever had any clothing in a 14 that wasn't meant to be worn by somebody twice my age. A 14 isn't even plus-size.