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| What shape are you? How do you define your shape? Where do you shop for your shape? All common questions that frustrate many women every time we go to a store. |
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| Talbots has a great selection of Special Sizes: and they now have Special Size models! Petites (0-16); Womans (12W-24W) and Talls |
So Many sizes, shapes and silhouettes!
Where does one start?
It's hard to go into any store these days and choose a garment with out trying it on, knowing you may have to bring it back due to improper fit or shape. How many times have you gone into a store and walked out with nothing? I see this happen all the time to consumers that just can't find what they are looking for. Unfortunately, there is no written guideline to the perfect look or fit. No brand offers the same fit in every look and each style fits completely different.
I hear from customers daily, “I used to come in and know I was a size 8. I never had to try on anything and it fit” or “they just don't make clothes for my body type or age anymore.” These frustrations are daily occurrences with women who try to find their look or style within today's brands, fashion and trends. It can be hard and takes a lot of time and energy to find what works and fits.
Where Do We Go and Why?
Customers will go back to a store that employs trusted stylists who know the brand, care about their customers and offer exceptional customer service. With that said, this type of service is extremely hard to find and only a handful of retailers offer these services. Another type of service one may use is a personal shopper or personal stylist, such as the one we offer. A professional stylist or shopper should become familiar first with you, your lifestyle, personal taste and needs so that she can find what you are looking for or need. Once this is established, the stylist is able to go to her trusted retailers that fit your needs, wants and lifestyle. Their job is to know how the product will fit before she brings it to you or before you try it on.
There are 3 main types of sizes:
Misses – 5' 4 to 5' 8 (Talls are 5' 8 and up) 5'4 average height of American Woman
Petites – 5'3 and under (this is 40% of population of Amer. Women)
Plus Sizes – Generally are based on Misses height. Only a hand full of retailers cater to Plus Size Petites.
Many times Petite and Plus Sizes are called Special Sizing.
Petite Sizes:
Petite customers, unlike Plus Size Customers have had a voice a little longer in the fashion industry. For some customers, going back and forth from Petite sizes to Misses sizes is possible, but, for others who are under 5'3 this is less likely due to proportions being adjusted for height. Every piece of garment is adjusted for the proportions in the arms, waist, torso, leg openings, pockets and so forth.
Petite customers are just as likely to get frustrated with Brands and Retailers because options are limiting. Yes, you will find Petite lines in your big box retailers and in some specialty retailers such as Anne Taylor and Talbots and you will also find them in your discount stores such as TJ Max, Marshals, H & M and Target but, the selection is not going to be as large as the Misses selection and some pieces may be omitted altogether.
Many people say, “just alter it.” This is true in some cases, but, remember that petite garments are made with a petite pattern and altering it may or may not give the same look or appearance.
There will be more information to come in an ebook giving even more details for everything Petites. Look for it to help you in all your Petite shopping and styling needs. For now, we will update different looks for different body styles in our blog.
Check out these sites for all your petite needs:
JJill, Talbots, Chadwicks, Newport News, Ann Taylor and Nordstroms.
Ann Taylor Loft:
Petite Sizing: Sized for women 5'3" and under
Petite Size Range: 00-16; most dresses available in full size range
Selection: Over 300 petite garments available
Types of Garments: Dresses, tops, pants, jackets, coats
Dress Pricing: Under $100; some under $50
Paper Catalogue Available: Yes
Retail Stores: Over 480 retail stores
Company’s Claim: Ann Taylor Loft claims that its “collections are designed for value conscious women.”
Target:
Petite Sizing: Sized for women under 5'4"
Petite Size Range: 0-18; all styles not available in all sizes
Selection: Over 250 petite garments available
Types of Garments: Dresses, jackets, sweaters, skirts, pants, tops
Dress Pricing: $24.99 - $44.99
Paper Catalogue Available: No
Retail Stores: Yes, located in every state except Vermont
Company’s Claim: Petites can "get the trends and basics" they "want in a perfect fit."
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| Misses, Petites and Plus Sizes all have a body shape. No one is a perfect size and everyone has a "problem area" or a challenging area. |
Plus Sizes:
Plus Sizing has many names that can be used to describe or brand this market. Plus Sizing can also be called called Womans, Full Figure, Fat Clothes (I hate this name, but, actually saw it as a description), simply “W,” Curvy and so many more. Lane Bryant, Talbots Woman, The Avenue are all specialty retailers that cater to this market. All your big box retailers such as Macy's and Nordstroms, offer Plus Sizes. You can also find these sizes at your local discount retailers like TJ Max, Marshals, H & M, and Target.
What Sizes Are Out There?
This Market has taken a growth spurt over the last 10 years. Finding clothes in the 12W-24W use to be hard to find. Now, Plus sizes can be easy to find if you live in a Metropolitan area. If you don't your choices are more limited and can still be frustrating. Finding 12W is hard but is offered. Talbots carries 12W in their catalog and has a large variety to choose from. 14W is the standard for a beginning size in Plus sizing and 24W is a standard stopping size for most brands in your big box retailers and discount stores. Bloomingdales offers Woman sizes 12W – 44W You will find larger sizes in your specialty retailers specifically for this market.
Those Hard to Find Work Clothes:
Finding casual clothes is not the hard part for ladies in this market. Finding dressy or sportswear can be a bit more challenging to find especially if you go past 24W. However, I have found that Talbots, Lane Bryant and the Avenue carry a good selection of sizes larger than 24W in sportswear and work wear. In many cases if the item is offered in a particular brand in a misses or petite size, to get it in a plus size, you will pay a different more expensive price. Many ladies feel this is largely due to it being in a different market, but, the truth is that a different pattern is made, more material is used and it has to be marketed differently, therefore, driving your cost up.
Believe It or Not:
Believe it or not Women have some of the same problems as any other sizes. We have worked with plus sizes for the last 10 years and hear the same things from plus size ladies as we do Petite and Misses. All sizes will have body image issues and its the stylists job in the store or if you have a personal stylist, to know your style, body type and where to go for your needs. A woman can have larger hips and thighs with a leaner torso and upper body or the opposite with a larger torso and upper body having larger hips and thighs. Believe it or not, you can have the shape of a rectangle and still need plus sizes. All can be challenging, especially if you are somewhere in the middle such as I am in so many brands.
My Story:
I have lived in plus sizes for the last 8 years after having my children and have been every size from a 12 Misses / 14 Petite to a 20W in the last 10 years. My waist has always been my smallest assets but, I have always had trouble with my hips and thighs being several sizes bigger. Currently, I am wearing a Missy Large on top and a 16W on bottom. My torso is short but I am large on top. I have lost almost 40 pounds since last year and my body is so proportioned. I get discouraged at times because it is difficult to get the look I want with what is offered. Luckily, I do live in a Metro area where many stores offer Plus Sizes and Misses Sizes. It does take some searching but, in the end I usually find the right look, with the right fit and most importantly with the right price. Paying more doesn't always have to be the case to get the right fit or look, but I will tell you from my experience, finding those must have important pieces for my wardrobe are usually found at Talbots Woman. There I can shop both sizes easily, getting my bottom pieces in the Womans section and coordinating back in the Misses section for tops.
There will be more information to comemore in an ebook giving more details for everything Plus Sizes. Look for it to help you in all your Plus Size shopping and styling needs. For now, we will update different looks for different body styles in our blog.
http://www.talbots.com/; http://www.anntaylor.com/; http://www.anntaylorloft.com/; http://www.nordstroms.com/; I highly recomend these websites. Some of the stores such as Talbots and Nordstroms have very experienced teams of stylists that can help you find what you are wanting, needing or what you are struggling with:
