Where to buy women's petite sizes in clothing

I've gotten to hate shopping here. I'm only 5'3"3/4 and clothes don't fit. Loden-Frey has some petite things, but they're expensive. There was so much interest in Toronto's OBVIOUSLY Escada-based thread, maybe some of you shoppers out there know where short people can reliably find short people clothes? I'm to where I only buy clothes in the US anymore, but it's a heck of an expensive outing! I'm thinking of resorting to ordering from US companies like LL Bean, but I do like to try things on first.

And does anyone know where to get khakis now that Gap has closed?

I have the same problem... I haven't found ANYTHING in Germany that fits me. I lost a good 5-8 pounds since I arrived to Munich...and with a 23" waist line, I dont fit into pants and skirts anymore. It doesn't help that I'm short too.
My only solution is to buy clothing I like in the smallest size possible and have them altered. Almost everything I own is altered.
If you want to try shopping here (which I don't suggest) go to the mass market stores like Zara's and H&M, their patterns for clothing varies depending on the country they are manufactered in. So if made in China, it will be a much smaller fit. If made in the States, then it will be a bigger fit. Lengths are made to be altered, so its okay if you are short.
Gucci, Prada and other luxury designers are usually made for really thin gals, and Escada...well, bigger girls. But clothing like that is unneccessary unless you are a socialite or an actress. I do this for a living, and you wouldn't believe the mark up we put on the garments... okay, um... I didn't say that...I take that comment back.
I have to admit, I buy clothing only when I travel to other cities for work. I haven't bought anything to wear in Munich, I can't even buy underwear. Oh, and the shoes here...ewwwww...so un-chic.

Sadly, I don't share Toronto's 23" waist problem, but I do know what you mean, Gen, about leg-length.
Only tip I can give is what a German friend (same height as you and I, 5'3") shared with me, and that was to pick up the 7/8 or 3/4 trousers that they have here in summer and wear them as normal trousers.
Although she did also say she goes on a major shopping spree whenever she's in the US with work.
I'm the same as you, though, I shop when I go home. The Germans are too tall for me, and taking things up is not a realistic option for me - anything I buy that's not the right length can be found 3 years later at the bottom of the wardrobe with the label still on.

Dunno if it's any good (and it's shut this week, but back open on Monday), but Projekt 3 on the corner of Turken and Blütenstr. do stuff for what appears to be slimmer ladies - there's also a shoe shop next door (which is open right now). Whether the shoes are chic or not, I don't know - most of the stuff there is 'designer' - D&G, Boss etc etc.

Can anyone recommend an inexpensive seamstress to do basic hemming? Afraid that I haven't found a good place in Munich for slacks or dresses, but it does give you an excuse to go to Italy, Spain or the States! Shoe stores on Hohenzollernstr are apparently very Italian based, if anyone has the money to shop there.

Hi, I thought we were looking for clothes for short people, not thin people.
Thin people can shop everywhere in Germany, especially if they're tall!
Try shopping for short people, that's the challenge.

Im around 5'2", hell I might be even 5'1". I understand that cutting a foot of fabric away from your pants is ridiculous. When I hold up a pair of pants...the pants usually are taller then me.
My colleagues make fun of me, because a mini skirt is a knee length shirt on me... and a knee length skirt is like an amish skirt.
But seriously, when designers make patterns for the pants they kept this in mind and design the pant SO that you can alter the hem. Design companies must cater to people who are 5'0 to 5'9. FInd your fit size, and have them altered...ask stores if they have free alteration services.
But finding sizes for thin people? Have you ever shopped in the children's department? Now that is embarassing.

Thin people: Mango in the ped zone seems to cater to the thinner side of the world.

Petite/thin people: There's a shop just off of Sendlinger Tor that is for small sizes. I've never been in it, obviously not fitting either of those categories very well, but it might be worth checking out. It's right at the start of Kreuzstr, just past the Milchladen and Bodo's cafe.

I'd love to be able to shop in the children's department. In fact before I grew in horizontal stature (ahem) I used to do just that. Not embarrassing at all, in fact it's a lot cheaper (in the UK at least) because you don't pay VAT on children's clothes. You can't go wrong, really. For t-shirts and basics and stuff.

Ok, I beat you all. I'm only 5' 0" tall (er...short)! Can't help as far as shops go though, because I do it the cheap way. I just buy bulk lots of clothes on ebay DE and UK and then sell what doesn't fit or what I don't like. Works good for me, but I've always been a 2nd hand store shopper. I do agree with Topsy's comment about the 7/8 pants. I've gotten some that fit me perfectly as normal length pants.

Try looking for shoes when you wear a 34...it's a pain in the ass (unless, of course, you're content with glitter and/or scooby doo).

For thin people (not officially, but I can't find anything there) there's a shop called Snap (or something similar) on Sendlinger Str. (betw Sendlinger Tor and Marienplatz). There's a few other semi-designer shops there too but this Snap shop is more normal. Don't know about short though but as has been said you can always have it altered. For cheap seamstresses I would check in the big stores and see if they would alter other clothes as well.

My colleague at work is both small and thinner than 'average'; she's around 5 ft 1 or 2, and size 32/34 (so GB 6/8). The only places she says she can shop in are Mango and Zara. H&M isn't worth a visit.

However, I believe that she isn't always lucky in those shops and sometimes still has to take the trousers up.

I personally hate Mango and Zara with a passion because none of the trousers ever fit me!

Ladies, just give me your clothes. I always shrink the b**tards in the wash.

Shop in the UK where short and curves are the norm. Or get a good tailor.
Or do both which is what I do.
Really thin women should have no problem shopping at Miss Sixty, Mango, Zara, Kookai...oh the list goes on. If it is so bad to buy small things, drink more beer and that problem will be solved (I am being sarcastic).
Zara has just changed their sizing so now fit me (and it is nice being able to buy something which doesn't say extra large on it - I take a UK 12 or US 8 for my 5ft 3ish, which is hardly big, although this appears to be obese by Munich standards). Tintoretto also has a shorter curvy cut (Spanish women are built like slim Brits so my Spanish friends swop shop tips with me, we have a short arse gang at work ha ha).
Benetton shirts and tops are cut short as are things by Patrizia Pepe. Gap was a good source for short trousers but is alas no more. Some Hallhuber things work too. Outlets can also be helpful (try Italian Stock House in Sendlingerstr.). I still buy more in the UK though as it is nice to be able to buy off the peg. Try catalogues too though Boden and Land's End both do short sizes.
Frankly there isn't much of a market in Germany for short ladies (but being a small man is worse - Herr Indoors is not a giant either )
Katrina
PS am in UK now, fly back tonight then off to Baden-Wüttemberg on wedding duty. Usual service resumes next week.

Try shopping at some of the teeny-bopper shops in US malls. Before I moved here, I tried on some clothing in one of those mall shops aimed at the 14-20 crowd. At the time I was a size 0/1, and several of the shops I went into had me at a 9! Sheesh, who are they sizing these things for?

Isn't that ridiculous?! I wear small sizes and find myself in xlarge in those places!

From what I've seen on this thread-- is everyone in munich really skinny? I'll be moving there in 3 weeks- am i in for a major self esteem drop?

Hi Julieslo, you'll love it here in TT, it's great :-)
If you're mid-height/tall you'll have no bother at all, I'm sure. I think compared with US prices you're better off price-wise buying in the US, tho, so you might be advised to bring along a wadge of clothes to be on the safe side.
But I'm sure you're better at working out the exchange rate than I am (I am crap at exchange rates, so being better than me is no achievement) ;-)
If you happen to be a shortie like many of us here (i.e. less than 5'6"ish), then you should definitely bring some stuff from home, specially trousers (unless you're a whizz with the needle and thread, which I most definitely am not).
They are not all skinny here, though, and I know plenty of people who kit themselves out quite happily in TT with no difficulty.

i am definitely with y'all girls out there. i am 5'4", but have hips and a butt (can you say melting pot!) and i can only fit into a size 40 (on stretch days, maybe a 38) and HAVE to take in the waist at least 2-3 inches. i have gotten lucky with esprit however, cause they do sell pants in my size (32-30). i also bought some jeans (jeans warehouse here in town) from big star and bought them also 32-30, so no hemming and taking in at the waist. but i've decided if there are pants that fit the butt well, then i will pay to take them up. i'm tired of just not buying clothes cause of the not so perfect fit.

unfortunately my favorite pair of jeans are from the gap.

i know this was mentioned before, but c&a makes petite sizes. ok, not the best quality...

i, too, am in the short category...5'2" (maybe). i haven't had any luck here. i've been in munich for almost a year, and have done plenty of shopping , and i haven't bought a single pair of pants. i wait until i go home where, sometimes, i can get lucky. i get so frustrated though b/c i see pants and jeans that i want that can't be altered (if they have a drawstring, or a nice hem or something). it's not fair!

Well I haven't bought pants here in Munich for a few years either, not having been able to find something that fits nicely without insulting me sizewise. I get my jeans from Ireland or wear skirts. And I'm not even short! Everything seems to be designed for what I call the potato shape, i.e. hips are smaller than the waist, which is not how women were originally designed, and neither am I. I go in at the waist, and I want my jeans to do that too. I was very happy when pants started to be worn on he hips. Still, no luck in Munich.

Me too! It’s somehow nice to know that there are so many “fellow sufferers” out there I am 5’3 and also have major problems when it comes to shopping for trousers in MUC, I tend to buy things when back home in the UK <<hoorah for Next Petite wear>>, occasionally buy from Wallis Petites in Kaufhof, Esprit have a short length too OR failing that, resort to having them taken up – it usually only costs about 12eur so not too bad. Skirts, dresses are fine and I tend to avoid trousers altogether in the summer. I can definitely relate to the comments about Mango – I am a size 10 but I’ve tried on a pair of trousers there and not even managed to get them over my thighs!? ..So not somewhere to go when you’re not feeling your best… Back home in September so I’ll be taking an empty suitcase with me to fill…..

Wallis closing news Dec. 2005

I had to buy a pair of smart trousers at very short-notice, and found a pair in the Wallis concession in Hertie - they have about 3 racks of "petite" clothing, and the trousers I got don't need taking up! Yippee!!! (I'm 5'3" btw). Worth a look if you haven't seen it yet, but it is definitely not casual wear and probably not for the under 30s, I guess.

Wallis in Kaufhof has a petite range, also in Hertie.

Thank goodness! You make me feel ok again! I am the same height and have exactly the same problem with trousers - Esprit only have short lengths theoretically - they never have them in stock. I also wondered about the sizing - I am also a size 10, at most a 12 in the UK. an Esprit 38 fits but I often wonder if German woman go straight up and down - no bust, a thick waist and no hips. Any other help available to curvy size 10 Brits?

Marco Polo and marella

Basic hemming is really very easy, I do that myself all the time and would be your cheapest option


Before I came to Germany, I took up dressmaking/tailoring as an interest. I can draw, cut and sew. It's not only altering the HEM especially pants with a slight flare and round skirts. You can't just take up 1-2 inches for example. You have to take up the side seams too. That's why a lot of alteration which only take up the length is "weird". They don't "flow" as what it was designed to be.

Don't forget the necessary alterations at the waistline -- the rise has different proportions in petite wear.

basic hemming is fine for people who are not lazy and disorganised...
i've still got a pair of trousers i bought 6 years ago that "just need hemming" - now that wallis are leaving, i might have to finally get round to it

I thought about starting a thread for petite or average women (height 5'4 and under) who have problems with the fact that most trousers and jeans here are size 34 inch length, but found this one.

Victoria Secrets has yoga and workout pants with various lengths:

http://www2.victoriassecret.com/collection...GZZZ&rfnbr=2249

because I am soooo tired of having to cut 10 inches off my workout pants!

I ordered some Christy Fit trousers from VS a couple of months ago, length 30 inches. They fit great and with the material, you don't feel like you need a lining.

I will be ordering from VS again in the summer. If anyone wants to order and share the cost, I have an American mailing address through a mail forwarding agent, so I can avoid almost all customs fees.

cheers!

p.s
The fold-over yoga pants look great

I must have a long upper body or something, as I'm 167cm tall but need trousers with a leg of 29 inches! I do have problems but sometimes am lucky with trousers.

I am 163.5 cm. I need a length of 30 inches with flat shoes and 32 if they have any kind of heel over an inch or 1.5 inches.

VS also has a page on their site called "Short and Long lengths" http://www2.victoriassecret.com/collection...GPAN&rfnbr=2263

Then you have long legs and a shorter body! I don't know about you, but I'm no way petite. Bit taller than 'average' too *sniff*

maybe I just have a long bum!
hehehe..

Hi All,

I will go to my bf's graduation party next 2 week. It is the official party.
I need the nice cloth for official party. Yesterday I went to some street shops but there are no my size.

Do you know where can I find out the nice dress for my size (155 cm, 48 kgs) in Munich?

Thank you in advance for your response.

Thanks, Patama P.

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You may find some useful information here: Petite sizes in clothing - where to shop.