A thread for the Petite Vintage Lady

ShoreRoadLady · Oct 5, 2009

There are threads about vintage sizing around here, but I couldn't find much information for the petite ladies of the lounge! I thought it would be nice to have a thread with petite-specific tips and vintage resources.

Strictly speaking, I'm not really petite. I'm what I would call an "almost petite": I'm not short at all, but I have narrow shoulders and a slightly shorter waist. I buy blouses and tops in petite sizes, and pants and skirts in regular sizes. (Buying suits off the rack is out of the question. I either drown in the jackets or squeeze into too-short skirts.) I've found that modern offerings for petite women are pitifully scarce, and I suspect that many have similar problems with vintage.

I understand that there was such a thing as short (or half) sizing during the Golden Era. Likewise, I've seen a few patterns designed for women under 5'3". (Stupidly, I passed them up when I saw them on Ebay. :eusa_doh

I would be very interested in knowing whether these were just shorter, or actually scaled to fit petite women.

So, petite and almost-petite ladies: Share your strategies with us! How do you go about finding original vintage that fits properly? *Do* you buy vintage, or do you prefer to make your own repros? Any great alterations tips? Articles/resources from the Golden Era addressed to shorter women? How about vintage-inspired or vintage repro pieces that work for petites?

retrogirl1941 · Oct 5, 2009

Just to preface my comment, I am 5"7 but have a very short waist. (seriously my waist ends 2" below my bust!)
I usually buy my tops(f I buy at a store) in the petite section but my bottoms have to be bought at a tall womens store. But I prefer to make as much of my own clothes as possible. If you make your own you can alter and shorten the waist(and lengthen the skirt!). My .02 cents.

Samantha

NicolettaRose · Oct 5, 2009

I'm 5'3 3/4, and a size 4 some times 2, so sometimes finding clothing that fits in general is kind of hard. I have a hard time through the bust because while I am a 2/4, I am also a 34D, which sometimes makes me have to get something larger, then tailor it down in the waist and hips. Most vintage fits smaller anyway, so most of the time I can get a pretty good fit through the body, its the length it things like evening gowns that really trips me up. Sometimes I have spent more money altering evening gowns then I have actually spent on the garment!

C-dot · Oct 5, 2009

I'm in the same boat as NicolettaRose. I'm 5'3, and I'm a 32D-25-34. Pencil skirts are absolutely no issue for me, but full skirts and all tops are. I have to alter nearly every top and bodice. Commercial sizing seems to believe that small women have no 'girls,' so I always have to buy tops and dresses in larger sizes and take them in. As for pants, I haven't bought a pair yet that I didn't have to take up at least 2 inches.

ThesFlishThngs · Oct 5, 2009

Not quite petite here either, but unevenly enough built that this thread might offer some useful tips for me. My legs are plenty long, but they're topped by a short torso. Shoulders are broad enough to rip the seams of some otherwise right-sized vintage tops

, but they're short shoulders too, if you know what I mean. Even with size small strappy things, I often have to stitch the straps even shorter than their smallest setting.

Lauren · Oct 6, 2009

I'm the same as some of the other gals who posted- although nearly 5'8" I have a short torso and long arms! It's really hard to get a fit with vintage because it's too short in the legs and arms and too long in the torso- I usually either take things up 1" at the waistline from the top only or shorten my patterns 1"- sometimes with modern patterns I also have to take them in 1/2" at the yoke. Fun with fitting!

Lusti Weather · Oct 6, 2009

As a petite person myself, I am so happy to see this thread!

My biggest problem with authentic vintage is skirts and dresses that are too long (I'm 5'2"). They always seem to hit at the most unflattering part of my calves! I know I could have stuff shortened, but I always feel bad/am lazy about actually having it done. lol I've found that '60s pencil skirts are good for me since they're shorter.

As far as modern clothing goes, the biggest problem is definitely pants...I have to get everything shortened. One nice exception are the capris Bernie Dexter sells on her website. They're more like full length pants than capris for me, but they fit great and don't need to be shortened!

Snookie · Oct 6, 2009

At nearly 5'6", I'm not petite, but I was going to mention the length issue too - I see so many petite girls who wear skirts that are way too long on them. Not only does it frequently cut them at an unflattering part, but I think it makes them look older, since longer lengths usually go with more mature styles.

Plus, I feel like petite girls generally benefit from wearing their skirts slightly shorter than taller girls even, since they appear a little longer to someone looking down from higher up. Meaning, I might hem my skirt 1" below the knee, but a girl who's 5'1" should hem it at the knee, a little higher. Thoughts?

IMHO, hemming is the most innocuous change you can make to a vintage piece, it's not changing any stylelines or removing important elements, so why not?

miss_smith · Oct 6, 2009

Like some others above me, I'm 5'3" and have a short waist and short waist to hip lengths, but my worst problem is I have a very "feminine figure"...I'm very busty, stomachy, etc. So while I fit in a regular size 8, everything gets scrunched on me and the shoulders, sleeves, and hem are always too big or long

Whenever I can find a petite vintage sized pattern I buy it!
I recently tried doing one of those graded for height skirt patterns, but it is still rather long...

texasgirl · Oct 6, 2009

I'm only 5' and I've never had to hem a pair of pants. What department are ya'll shopping in

I shop in Petite and they work fine. Same for skirts. Dresses- it depends on the cut, sometimes I wear petite and sometimes regular. I also wear Petite for sweaters, because the arm length works better. As far as my vintage dresses, I haven't come across any problems in length. Although I usually get 30s and they are supposed to be longer. Yes Snookie, I agree though, a little shorter for us vertically challenged usually looks better.

Foofoogal · Oct 6, 2009

I like texasgirl shop in petite section but some shops do not have them. I have hemmed many a pair of slacks.
I am 5'1 3/4

and short waisted. Until about 10 years ago bought a lot of my clothing in Jr. dept.
With vintage I have to make sure of the measurements and even then I have an assortment I have bought that do not fit. They generally go in my shop to sell.
Fitted vintage blouses I hesitate to buy especially.
I have definitely found lately even in malls the sizes vary. Even on shoes.
Makes it hard. IMHO any petite should not wear capri pants unless the outfit is maybe all one color.
http://sandysfancypants.blogspot.com

C-dot · Oct 6, 2009

Foofoogal said:
IMHO any petite should not wear capri pants unless the outfit is maybe all one color.

I agree about the capri pants. I can't wear them unless I want to look like a bowling pin. One look that does work, is rolled up jeans with high shoes, a la Christina in the Candyman video. She is petite herself!

Antje · Oct 6, 2009

I'm not tall either but I don't know my heigt in your measurements
I'm 1,57 meter, not big I guess.
I also am searching for a pair of capri's but I never found the ideal ones myself

Foofoogal · Oct 6, 2009

There are 3.28 ft. in 1 meter. Therefore, you are 5.1496 ft or 61.7952 inches. Or approx 5ft. 2in.
-----------
about like me. lol

I think Christina is gorgeous.

maybelaughter · Oct 7, 2009

I'm a bit under 5'4" (not sure of exact height...), am very short waisted, wear a size 34/36AA bra, have blacksmith biceps, and am decidedly pear-shaped (35-28-41). I have trouble finding clothing that fits me perfectly, new or old.
I always have to hem my pants (usually take the waist in, too, unless they're made to cinch a bit in the back), and take in tops. (I wear an XS in 'women' sized clothing, but that's harder to find in cheap places/thrift shops - in Juniors, I just find things big enough for my arms, and take the chest in from there. many time things are just too long waisted for me, and I get frustrated easily - so I turn to sewing).
Of all of my vintage dresses, I have maybe three that didn't need altering - and they were an amazing find on ebay, bought together, and fit my perfectly.
I have a number of amazing dresses, with higher necklines, which I am starting to doubt if they're even able to be taken in to fit me, as I am short waisted.

(lower necklines, sleeveless, means I can take in the straps instead, sometimes lowering the armholes - much easier than trying to figure out a way to take the waist up!)
Vintage patterns tend to fit me fairly well, though - which I find odd. I always take the bodice up by 1.5" to shorten it. I generally buy for my bust size (which fits perfectly in bust size 32 patterns), and just make the waist/hips a bit bigger as needed. As for skirt/dress length, I like things mid-calf/below knee - I dislike the size of my thighs, and don't want anyone seeing my knees!

Modern skirts are a great length - I buy trendier brand sizes, and just wear them at my waist instead of slung low on the hips = perfect!

Shrunken cardigans were big at some point recently, and they fit much nicer than normal cardis, great alternative to the petites department, which, quite frankly, I've never seen anything in there that wasn't frumpy or came in a smaller size...But I don't shop at expensive stores, I'm sure things are less frumpier there.

Antje · Oct 7, 2009

Foofoogal said:
There are 3.28 ft. in 1 meter. Therefore, you are 5.1496 ft or 61.7952 inches. Or approx 5ft. 2in.
-----------
about like me. lol

I think Christina is gorgeous.

thanks I try and remember this, in Holland most people are a lot taller than me, but I see there are more small ladies around

Foofoogal · Oct 7, 2009

maybe petite women have good taste.

Delia's Gone · Oct 7, 2009

I'm 5'4 and plus sized so anything that makes me look taller and leaner is good haha. I think this is a useful post on shoe vamp and what to wear different shoe vamp heights with to make your legs look longer.

ShoreRoadLady · Oct 8, 2009

Delia's Gone said:
I'm 5'4 and plus sized so anything that makes me look taller and leaner is good haha. I think this is a useful post on shoe vamp and what to wear different shoe vamp heights with to make your legs look longer.

Good article. I'd also argue that the shape of the vamp is even more important than the height. I have a pair of pumps with a fantastic curve to the vamp that helps my legs look elongated, even though the vamp isn't incredibly low.

Antje · Oct 9, 2009

Foofoogal said:
maybe petite women have good taste.

ofcourse they have

A thread for the Petite Vintage Lady

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