Petite Fashion Fails: Avoid These Expensive Mistakes | Fashion Over 50

Marie-Anne LeCouer, a great French YT stylist, says something like “if there’s a doubt, it’s a no, it has to beca wow”! This has helped me a lot in deciding what clothes to keep, I have to really love a garment. I ignore having to hem them, this almost always has to be done anyway.

I liked the blue flowered dress on you better than the green.

Nordstrom used to be my go-to place for petites. I remember the day I walked into the store and went to where the big petite department was, and it was gone. Then the petite section was gone from their website. I am so over that store. I don’t need to dig and dig and dig to find something that fits me. Of course you presented the shopping dichotomy we all face - particularly when you’re short and struggling to find anything in a petite size. You had the fairly dependable quality of Nordstrom against the cheap fast fashion offered by Amazon. We want pieces we love that will last. We also want clothes that fit our unique body needs. The Venn diagram there doesn’t have much overlap.

I think a list of sustainable brands for petites over 40 would be FANTASTIC!!!

I vote no on the green dress. Aside from the polyester fabric, it doesn’t have the structure you said you prefer. I also think that although it’s not as overwhelming as the pink one, it’s still too long. I think you can do better. If it’s the color you like, look for something else in that color. PS I agree with you about Nordstrom-their lack of petites and other “special” sizes is really awful. I buy mostly shoes and jeans there now.

And yes! The sustainable petite brands would be awesome!!

Oh my gosh, I am so glad I found your channel. I'm 5' and cannot find any clothes. I either look like a teenager or an elderly lady. Most stores don't even carry petite anymore. Help

I know what you mean about having a junior’s cut. Junior clothes are cut smaller in the bodice than women’s clothes. I never could wear junior’s after about age 14, my bust was too large. My Mom, with a completely opposite body shape, wore only juniors’ her whole life. Asian designed-and-made clothes are usually cut this way, because their models have smaller frames. I have a tiny frame, too, especially for a European, but not a flat bust!

Helpful video. I've learned to stay away from anything with elastic waists. Manufacturers sell them as a sort of one size fits all but of course they don't. I choose garments that are straight and add a belt, or those that use darts or flare designs to accentuate waist. Elastic hikes up with a shorter waist and flares out at high hip, both non-flattering for my figure.

I'm 4'11" and can relate to all your above mentioned issues: the lack of petite affordable or even quality items, the juniors fit and style conundrum and the influencer recommendations traps. I too tried a number of items during both the Nordstrom sale and Amazon Prime days that were recommended by Petite or Petite friendly u-tubers. I figured..."Hey, they did the ground work for me. How Amazing!" Anyway, most were fails. I find I need to purchase only rayon items from Amazon and choose my size, planning for shrinkage. I get a Small and i wash and Dry it and ...voila'......It's a petite extra small. Sometimes!!! I have a short waist, so this can be very advantageous when It works. Other than that it is a non stop order online and return process. I might average about a 20% keep rate. I try to apply the rule...it is a 100% YES or it is a Hard NO, however it find i need to bend that rule for a color choice or slight personal style choice or I might end up naked. I am happy to be petite but it is a struggle to find my color, style, and budget friendly items.

You are correct in that you, like me, look best in more fitted and structured styles. I am 5’2” have trouble carrying off a more relaxed cut. Thanks for this video!

I am all in for sustainable petite sizes!! Thank you for this! I just discovered you and I'm excited to follow a fellow petite looking for well fitting, quality clothes that make minimal impact on the planet.

I agree. If it's not a wow, it's a non! It is so frustrating shopping on line. So many returns. Trying to visualize yourself in something being modeled by someone 5' 10" in an XS, so frustrating.😅

IMHO - I think none of these dresses were sophisticated enough for your style. I would return them all! You have too much class for these! It like these are designed for my young piano students. I think you deserve classic clothing, not outfits designed for college students. ❤️🥰❤️

Return! Very Mehhh. I'm certain that you could locate that color in a breathable fabric. Thanks for the vids! We vertically challenged girls need direction!!

Being 5'2" I struggle with finding petite items, and I'm always surprised how little Amazon carries. Appreciate your channel and would love the list of brands you've found.

I have noticed stores like Fox's in Florida have some cool looking clothes if you're very tall!! Maybe they haven't noticed that there are millions of petite women!!! Oddly enough, I rarely have trouble finding jeans and tops without a problem on Ross, TJ's and Marshalls. Sometimes even at Sachs Off. Be well everyone and enjoy the day🎉🎉

Staples you buy more expensive and keep longer , but trends buy cheaper and use for season or two

Definitely would like to see more picks that work for you. I have the same exact body shape and I am horrible dressing it. I’m having a hard time with the boxy shirts. I can’t seem to find anything that is not boxy

WOW! I dont know where to start! I have some health issues. I had one choice of a medication that would make a big difference for me. My sis and other person said basically so what if you gain a few pounds. Easy for them to say. A different dr ealier had given me a med and said if you gain 10 lbs and get no help stop. I did stop the med but my weight gain didnt. I STARVED myslef down. Back to current time a year ago. I did go on this new medication. It has helped with a price you can probably guess. I did not gain a few pounds I gained A LOT! I am 5 ft tall. I have been slim all my life & could wear anything. I was in tears when I really looked at myself today in the mirror, and cried. It does not help there is a very very skinny very tall man in my life I have been with before weight gain, that is obsessed with slim tall females I found after the fact. I watched several of your videos and HAD to subscribe. I had already been watching some petite videos. This time I could not starve myslef. I will not get on the scales. I started on a new wardrobe, I had not found you yet. I started with the dresses with pockets on Amazon which now look with all the lower fabric horrible on me. I sew, and have always tailored my clothes, so I tried to no avail. I tried more online clothes from Shein where I had gone at times before weight gain. I have spent and lost $ I could not afford. I did put away most of skinny clothes and was left with ziltch. I feel I had done more than one whole wardrobe as by the time I got one I was already out of that size. I went mostly monocram but I didnt even want to open the packages this time. I was in tears again. I tried going off the med but I could not take the suffering. I did just try the first thing out of the big box from Shein. It hit me at the wrong place on my hips. It made me look worse. If I take out the wardrobe which should have worked in my closet now. I think I can find something to wear. I have alot stored away already. I can not tell you how good it felt to turn on the computer and find you, Lori. I know most petite video hosts are kind to all sizes. I have been so eager to watch the next video on this subject from you. I have heard the comment from the man I have mentioned who has said cruel comments about 'overweight' women on tv. Until today I was in sort of denial. I started out underwieght so I could follow "rules" and get away until today. I do chucked at some of the compression and shapewear that pushed now back fat up until it shows now as I have continued since last purchases to gain. I am in too poor of health to starve myself down. I dont know when I will go off the med but I will probably still gain. It is what it is and I am still in a state of shock because I can not exercise and diet down out of this. Right now it hurts but you have helped me more than words can say. We need more like you online. Tears still in my eyes as this is so new right now... the realization. I know this was long and too long for it to be in comments, and maybe too long for you to read. I just needed to write it. Thank you Lori for being there for me. I know you are helping so many of us out there. To the person you read the rude remarks about stripes, etc. I feel more sorry for her attitude as it may happen to her someday.