J.Crew Petite Items - Fit Reference Guide for the Extra Petite

Are you a tiny petite who has been eagerly eying the pretty items at J.Crew? Pondering how the vibrant pencil skirts and cozy coats will fit your child-sized frame?

Over the past few months, I've been trying on popular J.Crew items so that I could share reviews with you guys when a great sale hits. Although that hasn't happened yet, a decent sale is upon us this week. From now until Thursday, November 6th, code "FALLSALE" will take 25% off your entire order of $150 or more, sale items included! Here are some items that I have tried on:

1. J.Crew Double-Serge Pencil Skirt in 00P (on sale for $68.60 - $88.50 from $118), comes in 7 colors!

This skirt fit me perfectly right off the rack! Hallelujah!

 Continue reading for more photos....

Just kidding. Oh, that would just be way too spectacular, wouldn't it, J.Crew? To offer a 00P that actually fits remotely like how a 00P should fit? As I had feared, this skirt requires several inches of taking in at the waist and slimming down both sides (my tailors would charge about $25-$30):

 Off the rack, this is how a 00P fits on me (for reference I am 5 feet, 94 lbs):

Petite Double Serge Pencil Skirt in 00P, "Bronzed Ochre" color

Despite the ginorm fit, I would still recommend this skirt if you can afford the $30 or so for alterations. I love almost every color it comes in (except for black...you can get a basic black skirt anywhere) and the quality was excellent. The wool was heavy and cozy (feels like a felted wool), and the lining and grosgrain ribbon details added a nice touch.

Other petites' reviews: Check out this same skirt in 00P on Callandra here, and the non-wool version in 00 regular on Elle here.



2. J.Crew Double Cloth coats in petite sizing, on sale for $223 from $298.
Note: the coat below is NOT petite sizing. There is no petite sizing in-stores, so I tried on a 0 regular. A 0 in petite sizing will run significantly smaller than women's sizing. I wanted to assess the weight and quality, and overall I was tres impressed again.  Regular "double cloth" is probably not heavy enough for bitter winters, but it still makes a lovely coat.

After seeing a photo of a 0P coat on my reader friend Claud (click here), I think a 0P will fit someone my size just fine with about two layers underneath. For reference, Claud is 5'2" and 94 lbs. By the way, you can call J.Crew customer service and get measurements on any size for any item. Per Ping, she called and they said the size 00 regular runs slimmer than a 0P, but is longer in the sleeves and torso.

J.Crew Double Cloth Coletta Coat in regular 0 (comes in 0P which is much smaller)

This is similar to their Double Cloth Lady Day Coat which also comes in 0P. Both options are offered in at least 10 colors, but my favorites are "dark cypress" and "dark plum" - gorg. for Fall/Winter!


Other petites' reviews: J.Crew Petite Stadium Cloth Peacoat - See it here on Ping in sz 0P. This is on sale for $148.50 $258.


3. J.Crew Twill Minnie Pants in 00P - on sale for $52.12 retail $79.50
These are touted as an all-time J.Crew favorite...but in reality I have encountered VERY few people who find the fit to be flattering. When I first put them on, I noted that the hips and legs fit me decently throughout. There was a small 1" or so gap at the waist, but there are little belt loops to solve that problem.

But the length, oh the length...quelle horreur!!

Here's the derriere view (like I said, the hips fit decently), and how the length looks with heels. I think one needs to have either longer or shorter legs than me to rock the petite minnies (they have a 24" inseam). They need to either come several inches above the ankle, or hit below the ankle. As a side note, I did try these on in a regular 00. The fit throughout the leg & length were okay, but the waist was HUGE.

Other petites' reviews: See how the minnie pants fit on Gigi here in sz 6, Jen here in 00P, and Ping here in sz 00P.

4. Little elastic-waiasted skirts in women's regular size 0/00.
Who didn't love this skirt on Kelly? A womens regular size 00 fit tiny and didn't require any alterations on her. This piqued my interest in other J.Crew skirts that have an elastic waistband:

J.Crew Severn Lace Mini Skirt in womens 0 (I don't see 00 online, but Claud found it in-stores):

Please pardon the tee and jeans! I was lazy. This is a very pretty, fully lined lace skirt with an elastic waistband. A 00 would've fit much better but a 0 was not terrible (fit low-rise on my hips). I immediately envisioned this with dark gray tights, ankle booties, and a long cardigan or blazer. Price right now is too high for me, but I am eying the little skirts on sale below:

Cord Atlee Skirt in regular womens 00, $37 from $59.50, comes in 4 colors.

Wool Bell Skirt in regular womens 00 (Kelly's skirt), $45 - $60 from $79.50, comes in 6 colors.

And lastly, I was eying the silk Calista cami that is left online in size 0P for just $22.50 from $79.50. But then I remembered TinyinTX's review here on a sz 00P - yikes! At just $22.50 though, the alterations are definitely easier to swallow.

Whew! That was hard work. If you are petite and have also reviewed one of the above items, let me know.

Readers - Any thoughts on the items above? Are any of you planning to shop during this 25% off sale?

Fall Favorites: Gap is Back (for cozytime)

Back in middle school (and even into high school...yikes) I used to think Gap clothes were the epitome of cool. And they were, I guess, compared to the K-mart stirrup leggings and Route 66 tapered elastic-waisted jeans that Mom usually bought me. It was a treat in my household to own anything "brand name," and I proudly wore my GAP logo hoody to school picture day, for several years straight.

I then went through a phase during which I couldn't be bothered to shop at the Gap. To an aspiring fashionista, their clothes were undeniably drab, and few things were tiny petite-friendly.

Flash forward to Fall 2010. Three awesome, super cozy scores at the Gap have me back on board with this brand. Their petite legging jean has caused me to retire all my H&M and Abercrombie kids skinnies (!). I've worn my soft Gapbody sleep romper to pieces. I am also occasionally enticed by their chunky womens' sweaters which fit "casually loose" on tiny petites. Although finding something good at the Gap is still like finding a needle in a haystack (no petite sizing in stores, boo), at least there are some finds to be had.

Floral Top: Topshop Petite 0

Earrings: J.Crew   
Necklace: Vintage "Peri" cameo pin/pendant from ebay 

Cardigan: Gap Moto Knit Blazer womens XS

Jeans: Gap Legging Jean sz 00P in faded dark (buy here)

Shoes: Mossimo Palani Gladiator Sandals sz 5.5 (buy here, online only)

The under-ensemble:

Continue reading for more photos...

Check out these jeans on fellow bloggers Petite XXS, Curls n' Pearls (and here in black), and Chloe. I was totally sold after seeing them on PetiteXXS because she is tiner than me! These jeans in 00P fit amazingly throughout the hips and leg, and the length is perfect on shorter petites if you like some scrunching. They are so stretchy and comfy that I've fallen asleep in them several times after a meal (versus regular "skinny jeans" in which I can't unbutton the waist fast enough to allow breathing after a meal).

My only complaints are a small waist gap, plus the faded dark color is more medium than a true dark. Nevertheless, I love these to death and will be picking up the faded black wash during a future sale.

(below left) Waist is higher-rise, which I'm liking. Is that a sign of middle-agedness? Uh oh...

I hope some of you had the chance to pick up this moto cardigan. This cardi is gone now but I had it on my sidebar several times when some sizes were still in stock. This came in XSP, but I wanted bright yellow instead of navy, so I called about 5 stores to find the yellow in regular womens XS (ended up having it shipped from the NYC Gap). It's definitely roomy, but is oh-so-warm and cozy for throwing on during brisk Fall days.

And these shoes! Such a cheap thrill. I can wear them around town without worrying about scrape-ups cuz they were only $20. Buy them here before 5.5 sells out, and don't forget to use the retailmenot $5 off $50 coupon, and ebates for 3% cash back! I am guilty of buying doubles...and just got a 2nd pair of these, go figure.

A word of warning about the Gap legging jeans...size 00 regular does NOT fit anything like a 00 petite. Gap was having an in-store only sale so I reluctantly gave the 00 regular's a shot...compare the fit of these to the ones up above!

 Gap legging jeans, sz 00 regular

Although the jeans didn't work out, this Varsity Shawl Collar Cardigan (in XS) piqued my interest:

The varsity jacket aspect is a little juvenile, but the boyfriend liked it and it was plenty warm. Sleeves are long but can be folded or scrunched. "twas full price at the time but I will be keeping an eye out for sales.

Readers - Any good finds at the Gap lately? Share share...

*PS - click here to enter my Rent the Runway $100 giveaway. Not too many entries, which is good news I suppose for those who did enter : ) Thank you free!grechen and fellow bloggers for posting about it!

Yay or Nay: LOFT Scuba Seamed Pants

Now it's LOFT's turn to have the 40% off 3 or more full priced items sale. Here is a quick post because I know some of you have been wondering about these scuba cropped pants. When I first tried them on I didn't love the thicker material on a fitted pant, and felt "fat" in them. After I looked at these photos however...they actually look streamlined and not chunky as I had feared. I'm thinking I like them! What do you guys think? Your opinions would be appreciated.

Top: H&M sz 2

Pants: LOFT Scuba Seamed Pants sz 00P (buy em here)

Shoes: Ann Taylor perfect pump (buy em here for over 50% off using tips from my previous post)

Continue reading for more photos...

 MEASUREMENTS:

Inseam: 25.5"

Waist: 13.25" across

Hips: 16.25" across

MATERIAL:

46% polyester, 45% rayon, 6% cotton, 3% spandex. "Dry Clean"

These definitely fit smaller in the waist/hips than any other LOFT 00P pants I have tried on previously. I don't think any alterations are needed on me, however if you are smaller than these may be a little big. I paid $45, so approximately the same price as they are now with the 40% off. Sophia also ordered these, so keep an eye out for her review.

I ordered 4 of these long cardigans in XXS Petite and am keeping at least 3 (black, dark gray, and olive green). They are lightweight, slim-fitting, and look great over pants, skirts, and dresses alike. If you haven't gotten any yet, I highly recommend them!

PS - the Scuba Trouser pants which I reviewed in a previous post are starting to pop up on fellow petite blogs. Strange that they don't look as flattering as I had initially thought in the fitting room. Check em out on Hanna and Vicky (let me know if I missed anyone). 

American Eagle Jeggings Review in sz 00

I purchased these AE jeggings a while back during a sale for $32, and was initially excited about how they fit and felt. After some thorough nitpicking, I decided to send them back and instead bought the Gap Legging Jeans in 00P, which I now love love love. Since these photos were already taken, I figured I'd share my thoughts anyways:

Jeans: American Eagle jeggings in "Dark Indigo" sz 00

Jacket: Lucca Couture sz XS

Heels: Marc Fisher, thrifted

Continue reading for my review...

What I liked: 

- the weight of the denim. These shouldn't even be called "jeggings" ... more so "very stretchy jeans"

- The dark wash of the denim

- The fit in the waist and hips (12.5" across the waist and 15.5" across the hips)

What I didn't like:

- The non-petite length (30" inseam)

- The AE signature embroidery on the back pockets

- The low rise (6.25"). Refer to pics below on how low the rise is. Butt crack galore when bending over!

Verdict: Return. However, for someone who doesn't mind a low rise plus contrast stitching on the back pockets, these are not bad. The fit was very decent plus the material was sturdy and comfy...not at all flimsy like leggings.

More funky fit...note the itty bitty gap above by my crotch. Probably means the thighs are too tight. I know a reader (Bella) mentioned she was going to order the AE jeggings in sz 14 - if so I'd be interested in hearing how they fit. If anyone else ended up getting these, I'd love to hear your thoughts as well.

The Gap Legging Jeans I ended up ordering in 00P, "faded dark wash" provided a solution to all of the above complaints. I paid about $50 for them which is pretty expensive, but I think they are worth the premium over the pictured AE's. *However* the color of the Gap's are a little more medium blue than true dark. Keep an eye out for those later : )

Petite Lookbook: Little Red Jacket

For those of you who have an H&M nearby, I can't recommend this sweatshirt-peacoat enough. It's affordable, well-constructed, warm, and runs small...what more can I ask for? It also comes in three colors, so if tomato red isn't for you, try hunting down one in black, or my favorite - heather gray.

Jacket: H&M sz 2, fits like 00P

Jeans: H&M kids "super sqin" sz 11/12

Ankle booties: Target Mossimo sz 5.5 (were just $7!)

Continue reading for my review...

Fit: A womens sz 2 fits just like a 00P, and I throw in the "P" because the sleeves are the right length for my short arms. Although "puffed," the shoulder detail does not overwhelm a small frame. A size 2 is snug on me when buttoned up.

For reference, I know a lot of petite bloggers modeled the Urban Outfitters peplum jacket in sz XS. Here's how the two jackets compare when buttoned up. The H&M one is much thicker and structured:

Affordability: Quite affordable at $35. I tried on some ill-fitting 100% poly blouses that cost more than that.

Quality: For the price, the quality exceeds my expectations. Outer is a comfy sweatshirt-like material made of 65% cotton and 35% polyester, and the jacket is fully lined in a boldly striped material. There are flap details at each sleeve cuff and nice contoured seams along the back.

The buttons are sewn on firmly and shockingly do not look cheap. My biggest qualm with places like H&M are their cheap-looking buttons, but I was quite thrown off by these nice pewter-colored buttons.

Verdict: This jacket is a keeper for me, but I can't decide whether to keep the bright tomato red or continue searching for the safe heather gray!

In these photos, I'm testing out my Revlon falsies in #99503 "Flirty" gifted by Diane : ) Thanks so much, Diane! These have adhesive strips instead glue, which were very easy to apply. The lashes were so soft and fluttery, but the adhesive strip lost sticky power the second time around. I wonder if I can apply regular lash glue to these too?

Readers - will any of you be picking up this little jacket?

I've included the tag in case anyone wants to call ahead and put one on hold. I called about 4 stores searching for the gray - no dice, but they said the item will definitely be re-stocked!

Review: Gap "Premium Black Pants" - Slim Cropped in 00P

This summer, Gap introduced their "premium black pants" in 7 cuts, retailing from $49.50 - $59.50 (at least 40% less than their sister brand, Banana Republic). Intrigued, I ordered several styles to try on in size 00P. Gap does not offer petites in stores, so I had to get everything online.

Blouse: LOFT Ruffle Halter in XSP (love this!)

Pants: Gap Slim Cropped Pants in 00P

Belt & Shoes: Banana Republic

My favorite of the bunch, by far, were the slim crops. I'm a legging lover, so these were a welcome alternative for less casual outfits. They are comfy, like a cross between jeans and pants, and have nice trouser details like the tab waist and pockets. I've seen a lot of Gap employees wearing these, so I think it's safe to say they are a universal favorite.  

Continue reading for my review...

 
Pros: 
- Sturdy & stretchy 95% cotton/5% spandex material- Slimming & versatile cut
- Affordable (especially with Gap's frequent coupons & sales)
- Runs smaller than all their other pants

Cons:
- Extra room in the tush and thighs causes creases (on my body type, maybe better for curvier types). However, I have not washed these yet. Since the material is 95% cotton, they might shrink.
- Material is a lint magnet
- Waistband is a little big, yet the hips and thighs were snug

Measurements: 13.5" across the waist, 16.5" across the hips, 24" inseam, 7" rise

On Saturday I wore these with a simple tank and flats. The waist problem is fixed by a belt, but you can still see visible creasing in the back view.

Bunchy back:

Overall, I recommend these pants for those who are either my size or bigger. I'm interested in seeing how they look on fellow petites with different body types.

Side anecdote: When I went online to write a review for these pants, I did a double take:

Jean Lover...who are you, and can we be friends?

Readers - What do you think? Will you be trying on these pants?