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?

Building a professional wardrobe for work - Part I

Hi readers! I had some time this weekend and recorded a video, but bear with me as my macbook fan went crazy during the intro. By the time I switched computers, the sun was almost gone...oh, winter : (

I get a lot of questions from women who are just starting to work in business casual / formal environments, regarding where to begin when shopping for work clothes. My answer is usually to invest in black suiting separates (which also comes in handy for future interviews) and wear them as coordinates with what's already in your closet. After you have the basic suit down, you can then start building up with pretty blouses and more jackets & skirts in different colors and textures.

When I graduated from college I had just one black Theory jacket and an H&M suiting skirt that were altered to "fit." I pretty much wore that skirt every day with casual tops & cardigans that were already in my wardrobe, and threw on the jacket occasionally as needed. In this video I showcase those two basics, with tips about alterations:


Items shown:
- Black blazer: Theory "Branden" sz 00, retail $375 paid about $150 from outlet and $25 to shorten sleeves
- Black skirt: H&M suiting skirt sz 4, paid $30 retail and $20 for alterations (take in waist and sides)
- Basic pumps: Ann Taylor suede pumps sz 5, retail $155 paid $70 with their last stackable sale

Pretty costly, but since these are classic foundation pieces I am more willing to spend the $. I also started a small compilation of suiting reviews by extra petite bloggers. We definitely don't cover all the bases (ie. Ann Taylor suiting, LOFT suiting, Talbots petites, Brooks Brothers petites, and J.Crew now has 00P suiting) so let me know if you have reviewed a full suit from one of the above retailers.

Readers - what are the "foundation pieces" in your work wardrobe?

Reader Request: How to Look Older in Casual Attire

Reader Request: "I'm a 23 year old 5ft 90lb Asian girl who often gets mistaken for a 15 year old (or an 18 year old on a good day). Can you offer any fashion advice on how to look more your age? Specifically when it comes to casual clothes. I'm in grad school in the sciences and don't have the benefit of wearing nice professional clothes."

Being the approximate age and size of this reader, I set out to illustrate her situation. I put on my "grad student of the sciences" ensemble: sweatshirt, jeans, sneaks, and a curious face. I avoided makeup and pulled my hair back into a simple ponytail. I pictured my parents nodding vigorously in approval (their mantra is: a minute wasted on makeup, hair, or fashion is a minute that could've been better spent on studying). End result - below left.

Before (left): Ready to get carded for a PG-13 movie.

After (right): A few changes make a big difference in age.

 Left: Gap hoodie PXS, A&F kids tee sz M, True Religion "Joey" kids sz 12, New Balance sneaks kids sz 4

Right: BR top PXXS, J.Crew cardigan XS, True Religion "Stella" kids sz 12, Cole Haan flats sz 5

To keep casual and grad school-appropriate (I'm picturing long treks across campus and hours studying in the library), I avoided high heels. I wouldn't call myself fashionable, so keep in mind these aren't tips to look more stylish, or taller - just more mature:

And although this isn't fashion advice - I feel that looking more mature or sophisticated truly starts at one's face. Asians, especially, tend to have young baby faces that can really be transformed with a little eyeliner, mascara (on curled lashes), and bronzer. I am wearing the products from my "5 minute face" video except NYC liquid eyeliner instead of pencil. Huge difference:

Continue reading for more suggestions...

I decided to put together another outfit for casual weekend-wear:

Before (left): going to jump rope in the park

After (right): going to an outdoor bistro lunch w/ handsome date (yea yea, humor me)

Left: Abercrombie tee XS, A&F kids shorts sz 12, Old Navy flip flops

Right: Gap white tee sz XS, H&M shorts sz 2, Alfani sandals (Macy's) sz 6 "borrowed" from Mom, BR earrings

You'd be surprised at how many people I see around Boston donning jorts (jean shorts), a graphic tee, and rubber flip flops. What could look acceptable on a normal sized woman, though, is devastatingly childish on a tiny petite. My tips for the casual "tee and shorts" outfit:

Low wedges and strappy sandals are my must-haves for summer. I love strolling around Boston, but I don't enjoy doing so tottering in heels or flopping around in rubber thongs. I've amassed several pairs of summer "walking shoes" from Macy's and Target at decent prices.

Hope you guys found this post somewhat helpful, or at the least - entertaining! I also hope I didn't offend any grad students. I have no idea how the reader in question dresses typically, so just gave it my best shot.


Readers - please share your tips on looking or dressing your age : )

Finding the Right Skirt Length (Petite Edition)

In your opinion, which of the skirt lengths below look best on me?

A. 2 inches past the knee; B. at the knee; or C. 2 inches above the knee:

Please, please excuse the zombie expressions and gnarly hair in this post. I couldn't bother to get dolled up for these photos.

A while back, one of my readers (thanks Elaine!) emailed me a link about determining one's ideal skirt length. The formula seems complicated, but the concept is simple: the most visually appealing skirt length shows 50% skirt and 50% leg. I will now walk through the "formula" ...

 This will be the cover of my first book, titled "How to Look 10 Years Old."

Formula to find your ideal skirt length:

Step 1. Measure from your hipbone (that protruding bone) to the middle of your kneecap. This is A. For me, A = 17 inches.

Step 2. Measure from the middle of your kneecap to the middle of your anklebone. This is B. For me, B = 13 inches.

Step 3. A-B = discrepancy between your leg proportions. For me, this is 17-13 = 4 inches. 

Step 4. Divide the number from Step 3 by 2. For me, this is 4 / 2 = 2 inches. 2 inches is my "Magic Number."

Now, if you have short calves (A is greater than B), your ideal skirt length should be kneecap minus Magic Number. Per this formula, my ideal skirt length is 2 inches above the knee.

If you have long calves (A is less than B), your ideal skirt length should be kneecap plus Magic Number.

Do I personally follow this formula? Loosely, maybe. There are some "variables" that the formula does not factor in, for example:

- Heels. 3 inch heels elongate the lower leg visually by at least 2 inches.
- High-waisted skirts versus low-waisted skirts. The formula has you measure beginning at your hipbone, assuming that is where the skirt will be slung.

To mitigate these variables, I wore flats in all three photos and wore ninja black to distract from the waist of the skirt. I do agree that above the knee looks best on me, but knee-length should also be okay with heels. A brief look into my skirt history...

Above the knee 

(17.5" H&M on left, 14" H&M on right)

At the knee 

(20" Theory on left, 21" Ann Taylor Petites on right)

Hope this wordy post wasn't too boring. For those who actually did the "formula"... do you have short calves or long calves? Where do you prefer your skirt lengths to hit?

The Verdict: J.Crew Petite size 0 (P0)

**This post has an update. View the dress post-alterations here.**

I was very excited for the arrival of my J.Crew goodies. My expectations were low, after the comments and input from this post, but needed to see for myself and put my curiosity to rest. I also wanted to see whether the fit could be correct by alterations, and if so, for how much $.

First up, the Terra Paisley dress in 0P. On the J.Crew model (left) and on me (right):

Side and back view:

 

Measurements: 16 inches across from armpit to armpit, 13.25 inches across the waist.

The fit was loose and blah, but it was not swimmingly huge like I had feared. A petite lady 1 or 2 sizes up from me could probably fit perfectly into this dress.  

When I took this to my tailor, she said it needed alterations in the following areas: straps shortened so that the neckline could move up (it was a little gaping), sides taken in, plus hem shortened slightly. Because there was a side zip and side pockets, she would have to take it in via the two back darts instead of the sides, thus shifting the symmetry of the dress. 

Loose arm holes:

 

Waist and torso about an inch or two too big:

Because this dress was silk and fully lined, the alterations were costly - about $50 total. With my discount this went down to $40, but still a lot for me to fork over for one dress that was pretty expensive to begin with. The dress was final sale (silly me) so I ended up going for the alterations. To make myself feel better about spending all that cash, I returned my Theory Chanesa Dress, since it was still hanging in my closet with tags and all.

Click "Read More" to see the fit of a J.Crew P0 blouse.

I've had my eye on this pretty little thing since months back. It comes in ten gorgeous colors and two of my favorite shades are on sale (plus EXTRA30). I gave into ordering after I discovered that it was not part of final sale, and thus, returnable.

Click for more info

The misty lavender (poor ruffles are crushed from shipping):

Same problems as the dress. Loose arm holes:

and wide torso:

Measurements: 16" from armpit to armpit, 18" across the bottom, and 23" length. Well, I was warned by a number of readers. J.Crew's silk blouses really are generously sized. My mom who is a Petite 4 could probably fit into this top. I was quoted about $25 to have this blouse slimmed, since it is 100% silk. It's not worth a total of $80 to me, so...back it goes!


Final Verdict: P0 sleeveless (sleeves add a new dimension of difficulty!) items work for someone my size with the appropriate alterations. Sorry to ladies more petite than I am - no hope for you and the Crew! If I didn't care about eating well, or higher education, or buying a house or a car, then I would splurge more often on J.Crew P0 clothing and shell out for alterations. In my opinion, the design and fabrics, prints, and colors are just a notch above WHBM, Banana Republic or Ann Taylor. 

PS - Just picked up the silk paisley dress, and the alterations turned out even better than expected (view it post-alterations here). This is bad news for my wallet, now that I know the potential of J.Crew pieces after a trip to Hemmingway ...

Banana Republic Regular 00 Short Pants - Tiny Petite Friendly?

First things first - two more days to enter the winter casual outfit giveaway. I must have picked some bad timing (or an un-tempting prize) because there's only 1 entry so far! There were over 10 votes for this giveaway theme, so I figured there would be at least 3 entries : )

Secondly, after much hesitation I just added a pic to my blogger profile so to put a face to the blog. The pic is taken from a "photoshoot" that my boyfriend gave me for our 5 year anniversary - don't laugh! Just got the pics back and they turned out great...perhaps I'll share some later when I'm not feeling so shy. I don't want to scare away readers who stumble upon this blog looking for petite work clothes and instead find pics of an awkwardly hugging couple.

On a different note, got this email from BR today: "Our customers love: The Martin Skinny Pant"

Well, I love myself a good skinny work pant too. They are slimming, edgy, and show off your shoes. Over the past year I've accumulated about 5 pairs, all from Theory. Not that I love Theory (okay, perhaps I do), but it seems that it's the only brand to really have embraced the slim-cut work pant and are able to make it well (nice fabric, flattering fit, not too skinny).

I was a little surprised that I've never heard of BR's "Martin Skinny Pant." I peruse the BR petite's section online probably once a week, and I've been on the lookout for skinny work pants. Alas, my oversight is due to the Martin Skinny Pant being available only under regular and tall:

However, petites need not be discouraged ... looks like there is size 00 and the option of a "Short" inseam. I like that they offer a charcoal color which I've been looking to add to my slim pant collection. But now the question is - how does BR's regular women's size 00 with short inseam fit relative to their 00P? Have any petites out there tried this size, or these pants in particular?

I was also eying these lovelies from BR Monogram. The taupe fabric looks divine, but only available in 0 with regular inseam. Why oh why?

A Disappointing Petite Shopping Trip

I recently noticed that some items of interest on Banana Republic's website have gone on sale for pretty cheap. Since there's a huge BR Petites near me, I figured I'd just go try them on in person. The visit, if the title has not yet given me away, was not fruitful.

Actually, one good thing did came out of my visit. I learned today that BR presales for their major sales, such as Thursday's "After 5" event. Cardholders may have gotten a 30% off total purchase coupon in the mail. The manager said she would hold anything I wanted until Thursday. I know stores like Saks and Bloomies do presale, but never imagined that BR would as well.

1. BR Petite Silk Tiered Top, $70.00 on sale for $39.99, still available in XXS in green, gray, and grape:

Model ---> Me

Ok, many apologies, my pic is TERRIBLE. I have shaky arms to begin with, plus I was nervous about taking pics in the dressing room : )

Online, I thought this top was pretty and romantic. I tried on a PXS (since no XXS's are in stores), but it was so overwhelmingly huge that I knew that even one size down would not work. Not to mention, the neckline is low and gaping (peek show with the slightest movement).

2. BR Jackson Flannel Trouser, $98 in 00p available in Dark Charcoal and Taupe Heather:

Model ---> Me

These are not on sale, but I loved the warmth of flannel for winter and wanted to give them a shot. I realize now that Jackson is the "curvier" fit, which explains the excess 5 inches of baggy fabric around my upper thighs. But what the heck is going on with the length? In the second pic I'm on my tippy toes and there was still so much excess length. I double checked the tag to make sure it was petites! Don't I look polished and professional in the above ensemble?

3. Petite Pleated Plaid Dress, available online still in 00p. $132.00 on sale for $59.99 online, but was only $30 in the store I went to:

Model ---> Me

I really had high hopes for this dress, because I like the colors, not to mention it would be dirt cheap ($21) after the "After 5" discount. Online user reviews were super mixed, but a number of ladies expressed that the neckline was too low for work and that the bust area could not be filled out. Yup, they were right on:

Once again...scandalous!!

A belt may have mediated the shapelessness of this dress, so I went to grab an elastic black one in XS:

The XS was so big that the clasp fell apart on it's own and the belt tumbled off my waist.

4. Petite Wool-Blend Lady Coat, $198 in Black, Misty Taupe (creamish), or Dark Taupe. Available in PXS as the smallest size:

Model ---> Me

I've been eyeing this coat for a while because I'm a sucker for anything taupe. It's not on sale, but with 30% off I could consider it. Also, the shape is classic. But why why why does BR not make outerwear in PXXS or 00p? They really went the lazy route with their coats this season...only four meager sizes versus the numerical spectrum of 9 or 10 sizes. This coat was the right length, but that's about it. Shoulder width, sleeve width, body width, and sleeve length were all too big. It could probably be altered for $100+, but it wasn't worth it for me.

All in all, a disappointing trip which reaffirms my beliefs that BR's petite fit is slipping. However I did find a nice little dress on sale....to be purchased "After 5" on Thurs : )

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