St. Catharines Standard e-edition

Where can I find pants that aren’t too long for me?

LEANNE DELAP

“I have a question related to petite sizing. I’ve been on a wide-leg soft pant spree for never-ending WFH life, and finding that many of them trail along the ground (I’m fivefoot-three). I’ve been rolling over the waistbands to compensate but that is inelegant and not that comfy for the crotch region. It feels silly to take jersey lounge pants to the tailor, so I’ve been paying more attention to the inseam lengths and going for versions that are “cropped” (for a model). But perhaps there are other tricks or great petite shopping destinations I’m missing?" Tripping Over My Pants in Toronto

If you are looking for hot tips on where to find sleeves and pants that are long enough, I’m your gal. I’ve been cresting six feet since I was about 12, so I’ve had a lifetime of “How’s the weather up there?” and “Flood’s over!”

Which is to say that while I can empathize, I have no insights into petite shopping issues. Luckily for you, this column is about seeking out experts and I found a great one for this. Truc Nguyen is a fashion market pro thanks to her years of experience as a stylist and writer. She is also, at four-foot-10, a petite customer with lots of personal experience on the subject.

“Petite is a niche market,” said Nguyen, “and it can be tricky for people. Plus, things have changed. Some stores I counted on have closed during the pandemic. And others that used to have petite departments have moved those sizes to online only.” She also acknowledges the disappointing reality that finding petite clothes is easier if you are petite and slender; the options for petite clothing to fit curvier bodies are even harder to find.

A little altering can go a long way to bridge the gap: making things smaller is easier than making things bigger. As every stylist (Nguyen included) will tell you, one of the secrets to great style is great fit and that means developing a relationship with a tailor.

She gets the frustration of a bulky rolled-up waistband and a too-snug crotch. “I understand the reader not wanting to take too-long lounge pants to the tailor,” she said. “But we are currently at home a lot, so it may be worth it.” One of Nguyen’s tricks, for simple alterations such as wide-legged lounge pants and jeans, is to take them to a dry cleaner that also does alterations or, she added, “I go to the places in the subway that charge $10. Shortening tends to be pretty easy unless there is a special finish at the hem.”

The pants styling tricks Nguyen would use in “normal” times — w heels or platform shoes — don’t work when you are at home because who wears heels alone at home?

Nguyen says that being petite means you have to be a more meticulous shopper, as in taking note of listed inseam lengths (as sizes vary so wildly between brands) to gauge whether online purchases will fit or not. She sometimes buys the cropped version of a pant — adding that Aritzia is a great source for cropped pants that work for her own petite proportions — to wear as a “regular” length pant.

Nguyen points to the world’s most famous petite designers, Mary

Kate and Ashley Olsen, both around four-foot-11, as proof that petite women can wear oversized items. “They wear oversize all the time, layers and layers of it, from blazers to coats to looooong pants and skirts,” she said.

Moving beyond pants, Nguyen said, “A wardrobe must-have to pull things together is an amazing wool coat. Is the length of the arm right? It should just graze your first knuckle. Does the shoulder line hit the right spot?”

She’s been wearing Aritzia coats “since high school; they sell them in 00 or XXS, and the proportions are right.”

Nguyen also suggests you have a couple of well-fitted blazers, properly proportioned for a smaller frame. In designer labels, she recommends Comme des Garçons and Junya Watanabe: “They fit reaaa and I’m confident wearing them.” For more affordable options, she says to check out Banana Republic and J.crew, which both have great petite sections, albeit online.

She reminisces about the early 2000s, when she would go to kids’ uniform stores to buy blazers for that shrunken look so popular in hat moment. Indeed, she said, kids’ stores can be a great option, if you’re comfortable with that. “I’m a size 12 or 14 kids,” she said. “However, I’ve noticed that even designer brands’ kids’ clothes are not made with fabrics that are as nice as their adult clothes.”

“It’s also really, really tricky to get a dress shirt that fits,” she said. “When you want to wear it untucked the right torso length is important.” She has a great one from The Row but also a couple of nice ones from Uniqlo U premium collection. “Their stuff fits me and it’s really good shirting.” She has also found good value dress shirts at Gap, Club Monaco and Reformation, which can be great sources for petite finds.

To get petite-sized clothes to fit the way you want takes a bit more shopping around, a little more change room time. You also have to read reviews, study online measurements and carve out an alterations budget. SEND YOUR PRESSING FASHION AND BEAUTY QUESTIONS TO LEANNE AT ASK@THEKIT.CA. THE KIT IS YOUR ALL-IN-ONE GUIDE TO THE BEST FASHION TRENDS TO TRY AND THE BEST BEAUTY PRODUCTS TO BUY. VISIT THEKIT.CA/SIGNUP-NOW FOR DAILY NEWS

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2022-01-27T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-01-27T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://stcatharinesstandard.pressreader.com/article/281655373461990

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