Monday Musings- Finding Your Size
Happy Monday, ladies! This week I’m musing about sizing and how women who do not fit the “average”, struggle to find clothes that fit. Lands End sent me a few tees to style on Instagram, (this is not a sponsored blog post), and the more I dug into their sizing, the more I realized how some retailers are letting women down.
It’s no secret, I’m a huge fan of stripes so I gravitated to this one. It’s a Pima cotton blend that also comes in solids with 42 options in sizes 2-26, in regular, petite, tall, and plus sizes here. That’s an impressive size range and the color options are pretty inclusive as well.
These straight-leg white jeans come in sizes 2- 26W, regular, petite, tall, and plus sizes here with an inseam of 28, 30, or 34″. Lands End petite is intended for women who are 4’11”-5’3″ but I’m 5’4″, and they work for me.
These jeans, on the other hand, are so long I had to hem them 2″ and wear my tallest espadrilles. They don’t come in tall, but the inseam is 28″ or 30″.
This tank (plus here) is long enough that I folded the bottom under 3-4″ rather than tucking it in. I’m wearing a small in regular and realize a petite would have been better for me but the website did not list garment length so I didn’t think of it.
Unless it’s a specialty store, most retailers focus on the average-sized woman. This makes sense for them from a financial standpoint but leaves many women struggling.
Nordstrom used to have a dedicated petite department in the store. Several years ago they removed it and the product was mixed in with everything else. They added little rings on the hanger so you could spot them on the rack, but honestly, it doesn’t help because the volume is just not there. Online has the best selection.
One of my local Chicos has also removed their petite section but it is available online. Loft carries petite, tall, and regular but decided to discontinue carrying plus sizes. Banana Republic carries regular, petite, and tall, in many things. Gap has regular, petite, and tall. Old Navy has regular, petite, tall, and plus in most things.
Talbots and J. Jill carry large selections of petite and regular in-store with more online. Coldwater Creek carries petite and plus but they have closed all their brick-and-mortar stores so everything is online.
Madewell carries petite, regular, tall, taller, and plus. Ann Taylor offers regular, petite, and some talls. J. Crew offers many things in regular, petite, tall, and plus.
Many of you have mentioned your increasing struggles to find garments for your size so I’ll be keeping more of an eye out for you.
What stores do you shop for your sizes?
Thanks for reading ladies and remember to wear what makes you feel confident.
Thank you listing the stores that carry petite clothing. I struggle so to find petites. I would like to try Chico’s petite but no stores carry petite and I refuse to send for clothes when I have no idea what size to order. Love your dressing room try on !! Talbot is close to my home, so most of my shopping is done there. Thank you🥰
Such a helpful post! For years I shopped almost exclusively at Talbots. I’m 5’3” and 66 years old. I still like Talbots for pants and cardigans, but can’t wear their pullover sweaters, tees, or turtlenecks any longer. They are just too form fitting for someone with no waistline and a bit of a tummy. Jjill has some very nice tops that skim the mid section. I like Lands End for casual tees and coats.
I find that the quality of both J Jill and Talbots pieces have really declined over the past few years, and their trend toward boho? coastal grandmother? – I don’t know what – has left me without my usual sources. This season, Eileen Fisher has come through with both more petites and more sales, but newer styles are a bit floppy. Sometimes I feel I’m down to good jeans and a white shirt…as a pastor, that doesn’t work on Sundays in the pulpit😬. Thank you for your advice and commentary!
I HATE the armholes that are so big!!
Me too!
The struggle is real for us petite girls! Especially sleeve length, pants length, and overall length of tops, just as you have pointed out. And you are also right that a number of stores have removed or lessened their petite selections which makes shopping more difficult. That retailers are letting a number of women down is a statement you made that resonated clearly with me. I read your blog daily and will definitely keep coming back. I need this type of help! Thank you!
I hope to line up some more resources for us…for all women because it needs to be easier to find properly fitting clothes.
I’m glad you brought this up. I’m 5’9” and sometimes I fall in the tall range and sometimes regular. I buy most of my clothes from Eddie Bauer, Lands End and Old Navy. Lands End has the best sizing information because they usually have the actual dimensions for the garments. A big issue for pants is the rise needs to be longer not just the legs. Lands End usually gives this information. I search Eddie Bauer for clothes that work for a casual lifestyle but that don’t look like I’m about to hit the trail. Old Navy has Talls in many different styles of jeans. I will check out the other retailers you listed.
I need to be checking out Old Navy for sizing options for women
Thank you for sharing this info on sizing. Good to reference!
On where I shop – Talbots is primary for well made basics. My second choice is JCrew for cashmere sweaters and other basics//pants primarily .
I like Jill for certain pieces and do shop Anthropologie and local boutiques for pieces that are unique. I’m all over the place! Got my best sandals this year st Marshall’s! (Made in Italy and so comfy ).
This so-called average sizing has really made my shopping one big headache. I ordered the same size jeans (Sonoma) from Kohls that I have worn for years. All three were at least 2-3 sizes bigger. These jeans were my “knock-arounds.” I don’t want to ruin other jeans I have ($$$). I won’t wear pants with a handful of extra fabric at the hips and rear. Oh and guess what? The waist fits me. It is the same size as the old ones (I compared them). No change in my waist. Returned them.
So it’s not just Petites. Mall department stores like Macy’s and Pennys don’t even have a size 0-4 in my area. Online… sometimes. Or try the Junior department. What a mess sizing has become!
They offer what sells to the largest audience. I like JJill for jackets, etc. because I am a petite on top. I do a lot of online shopping (once I figured out what sizes worked for me in what brands.) It’s sad that traditional department stores have largely vanished. I used to enjoy a leisurely afternoon shopping in one with a tea room and valet parking.
Hi – That is so true about petite departments in stores. I noticed this happening in my mall and also
Marshall’s and TJ Max in Massachusetts. They no longer carry many petites. Talbot’s and the Loft seem to be the only stores I can shop. I definitely wear a petite. Very disappointing. Thank you for all your information.
Thanks for the info regarding sizing. I just do not like that most department stores have taken away their dedicated petite sizing departments, it is so difficult to wade through racks to find things in my size (petite small/extra small), online is great but I live in Canada, so not as much to choose from, so when I am visiting the US I spend a lot of time wading through the racks. I really do not understand why they make it so difficult especially when you used to be able to park yourself in your little area and shop!
I love Land’s End and get so many basics there for great prices as they always have sales. My sizing issue is with pants. So many brands are going with waist sizes and I just can’t figure it out. I am shortwaisted with a 33inch leg. I am also pretty straight with smallish hips. If I got my waist size the pants would be baggy on my thin legs.
Do you have any ideas about waist sizing for jeans?
That is a hassle. I’d suggest you buy for the waist and have the hips and legs taken in. Or look for brands that carry straight vs curvy. Talbots and Loft both have that. I struggle with that issue because my hips are straight.
Really enjoyed your pointing these sizing issues out! I have 2 pairs of capris from the same store, same style, same size. After gaining a few pounds, one pair still fits me but the other one doesn’t. Go figure. Also, I have found that the inseams on pants keeps getting longer. I wear a 30 inch inseam, and that used to be the average length. Now it’s 32 inches or even longer, so I end up ordering petite and maybe have ankle pants instead or go to the trouble of getting them hemmed. I’m not going to start wearing high heels just so my pants don’t drag on the ground!
I hear you. I look at some pants and know I’d lose all the shape if I hemmed them enough to fit me.
I am enjoying your blog on sizing today but also enjoying all the comments on here. I noticed one lady mentioned the petite sizing in Talbots. I tried some on in the store and the petites are sized smaller in the bust and waist than in the regular size. I don’t know if they are the only store that does that but you have to watch for it when ordering clothes. I am 5’4″ so almost a petite but not always especially because I have a long torso. I also buy ankle pants in the regular size which are then regular length for me. I live in a small town so whenever we travel I go to stores and try things on for size. That way I know what to order for sizes online. It is a never ending struggle for women to find clothes to fit.
When I wear petite, I always go up one numerical size because everything is scaled differently.
I am an Old Navy shopper because of their extended sizes. There are also some Canadian brands that still carry my size. I’m an XL mostly, but take an L or XXL in some items, depending on whether they’re relaxed or fitted.
I like Old Navy’s linen blend shirts and pants. The fit is better for me than their sister store Gap. However, I steer clear of most sleeveless items, which seem to have great gaping armholes. Cropped lengths never work for me because I have a long torso. Also, long sleeves from Old Navy can be too short at times.
The other issue I struggle with is strange hem lengths — cropped, ankle, etc. Some pant lengths jump from a 28″ inseam in regular to a 32″ inseam in tall. I have a 30″ inseam. This is the standard regular inseam, but there’s nothing standard any more. Cropped pants in tall often work as regular-length pants for me.
I’m on hiatus from online clothing shopping at the moment, as I’m tired of the shop-and- return drill. Finding the right fit is tricky.
Pant lengths are such a tricky subject for many women. Part of the issue is the “intended” length vs personal preference which is why it’s so critical for brands to supply that information in their online garment description.
I agree with the tiring shop-and-return drill. I was never an online clothing shopper until the pandemic. Although at the time I didn’t need very much, (who was going anywhere?) but I still needed a few items. So I plunged in and bought some tops and a pair of jeans. I’m a full-busted, short-waisted 5’7″ with curvy hips and long legs. After comparing my bust size with the size chart, I ordered 3 tops…what a mistake! I could have fit almost another “me” into all 3 of the tops, plus the fabric wasn’t at all soft. This only confirmed my need to actually go to the store and touch the clothing items.
I usually don’t have a hard time finding jeans that fit with a 30″ inseam. But the ones I ordered, again after consulting the size chart, were so long that they actually covered part of the bottom of my foot. Heels are not a shoe option for me anymore, let alone stilettos which may have brought the jeans up off the ground! I can’t imagine what someone slightly shorter than me would have been facing.
Sadly, all these items had to be sent back. What an exercise in wasted time and frustration! I just refuse to order clothing online again.
So glad to see you featuring Landsend clothing. I’ve been a loyal customer since the mid-80’s for myself, daughter and husband and in recent years grandchildren and great grandchildren. Their tee shirts, turtlenecks and tanks are comparable to much higher priced items. And they last forever. A note, they are always having a sale and sometime free shipping. Get on their mailing list for catalogs, many times they have free shipping in their catalogs that isn’t offered on the on line site,just change to the code from the catalogs.
At 5’ you would think petites would be perfect for me, no so. I have broad shoulders, long torso and very short arms and legs. Petite dresses with a waist hit at least 3”above my waist. Most petite pants are to short in the stride and still to long. I don’t think I own a long sleeved blouse that the cuffs aren’t turned up. Believe me I keep my seamstress busy.
As someone else commented Macys used to have a wonderful petite section and is down to almost nothing and getting very dowdy looking. Loved Coldwater Creek when I could try on things. Have discovered Talbots in recent years, I do pretty well with their sizing. Chicos just doesn’t work for me , feel like it overwhelms me.
As always thank you for all your hard work in letting us know what is out there and how it fits.
I too am a loyal lands End Customer. I have found that the sizing is generous in general but they do a great job of offering petites, longs, plus sizes, etc. To Jennifer and others I would just suggest trying a few sizes to find what fits best for you. The quality is great.
I’ve been a dedicated J Jill shopper the past seven years or so, but lately I’ve gravitated to Ann Taylor and Talbot’s because they don’t seem to lean toward vanity sizing (i.e. oversized) as often as J Jill. For the record, I’ve been pleased with customer service at all three stores and especially like the Live Chat at J Jill because you can ask for the measurements of specific garments.
I need petites in pants, dresses, and coats . I bought a knee length petite black dress from Land’s End on sale recently. I have bought jackets and coats in petites, and they are made well. I wait for the sales. I like pants in petites in Talbot’s, and our local department store Dillards. I never see petites in our local Chicos. I mostly buy in store for clothes, except Land’s End. The Land’s End store here has such a limited choice of clothes.
I hope there will always be petites . I sew , but do not want to pay money to buy something, and then have to take the time to alter things.
I’m 5’1″, 72 years old, and buy 90% of my clothes at Talbots because of their petite department. I am finding that their pants are still very long and require hemming. I am currently buying their ankle jeans and pants as they fit me as regular length petite pants would fit. As the other commenters found, Lands End and Talbots are my go -tos.
I’m 5′ 8″ but am short-waisted with long legs. I’ve been wearing petite tops for several years now. Most of my shopping is done on Talbots website, but I have to check the length. Anything longer than 25″ usually doesn’t work for me.
At 5’10” I have the opposite problem and love the stores that do Tall sizes, especially for tops. Athleta is another one that does it. I also love when websites put the height of the model in the picture information and what size they are wearing.
Me too, Kate. I’m tall all over…not just long legs…so I really appreciate stores that carry Tall size tops, blazers and jackets.