Are petite tops more narrow?

[Anonymous]

My tween is a women’s size small at 5’2” with those in between proportions that don’t fit into kids or adults perfectly.

She’s outgrown most kid sizes, but we’re struggling finding women’s tops that aren’t cut too wide in the shoulders. Even camisole tanks from places like Aeropostale and A&F slip off because they’re cut for someone who is slightly broader in the shoulders.

I don’t buy her petite because she needs the length to avoid everything being cropped (or too cropped!), but maybe that’s what she needs for summer tanks and tops to keep them from falling off her shoulders?

Any help is appreciated!

[Anonymous]

Not necessarily. More and more, petite has just come to mean short. Not more narrow and not slimmer. Look at specific reviews for items you are considering purchasing for your daughter. J couldn’t figure out why petite items were huge on me until I really scrutinized reviews and realized most purchasers are short 5’ to 5’3” but also quite busty or husky (DD, large waist, or over 125 pounds).

[Anonymous]

Sometimes they are more narrow in the shoulders, it really depends on brand. I have narrow for my frame shoulders, am 5', and weigh under or just around 100 depending on the day. It's brand dependent whether petite fits or whether I just can't shop there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not necessarily. More and more, petite has just come to mean short. Not more narrow and not slimmer. Look at specific reviews for items you are considering purchasing for your daughter. J couldn’t figure out why petite items were huge on me until I really scrutinized reviews and realized most purchasers are short 5’ to 5’3” but also quite busty or husky (DD, large waist, or over 125 pounds).

I'm a middle-aged petite woman and I believe PP is correct. BHowever, this is more true of the Size 10 and up cuts. There is no point in Petite 0-4 being for busty, husky women. That would be delusional even for vanity sizing.

I regularly see Size 0-2 petite clothes on the sale rack and they are for small, skinny ladies.

That said, it's common for petite clothes to be sized wrongly. I'm 5'2" and I often find petite pants that are 4" or more too long. The upper end of petite is 5'4" so that's kind of crazy.

For skinny tanks, you can try (no guarantees):

Uniqlo (not petite, but Asian customer fits)

Talbots Outlet (if you have one near you)

Lands' End petite might also work

LOFT has petites

[Anonymous]

OP, have you tried Brandy Melville? I know they cut specifically for skinny teens.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for the recs, PPs!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not necessarily. More and more, petite has just come to mean short. Not more narrow and not slimmer. Look at specific reviews for items you are considering purchasing for your daughter. J couldn’t figure out why petite items were huge on me until I really scrutinized reviews and realized most purchasers are short 5’ to 5’3” but also quite busty or husky (DD, large waist, or over 125 pounds).

If you are using DD as shorthand for "busty", you are probably wearing the wrong bra size.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not necessarily. More and more, petite has just come to mean short. Not more narrow and not slimmer. Look at specific reviews for items you are considering purchasing for your daughter. J couldn’t figure out why petite items were huge on me until I really scrutinized reviews and realized most purchasers are short 5’ to 5’3” but also quite busty or husky (DD, large waist, or over 125 pounds).

I'm a middle-aged petite woman and I believe PP is correct. BHowever, this is more true of the Size 10 and up cuts. There is no point in Petite 0-4 being for busty, husky women. That would be delusional even for vanity sizing.

I regularly see Size 0-2 petite clothes on the sale rack and they are for small, skinny ladies.

That said, it's common for petite clothes to be sized wrongly. I'm 5'2" and I often find petite pants that are 4" or more too long. The upper end of petite is 5'4" so that's kind of crazy.

For skinny tanks, you can try (no guarantees):

Uniqlo (not petite, but Asian customer fits)

Talbots Outlet (if you have one near you)

Lands' End petite might also work

LOFT has petites

But vanity sizing persists even in petites. From this list, LOFT petites are maybe the best in terms of accurate sizing. Lands' End petites are huge - I tried both their clothing line and swimwear. Uniqlo is also good, but keep in mind the current trends are for baggier/boxier/slouchier cut clothing, so that's what they carry.

[Anonymous]

Short person here and agree petite sizing is about vertical width, and if the S is too broad you need another brand. Gets much easier once you find the brands that work. Another tip: I have to order a TON online to try. They rarely have petite sizing in stores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not necessarily. More and more, petite has just come to mean short. Not more narrow and not slimmer. Look at specific reviews for items you are considering purchasing for your daughter. J couldn’t figure out why petite items were huge on me until I really scrutinized reviews and realized most purchasers are short 5’ to 5’3” but also quite busty or husky (DD, large waist, or over 125 pounds).

What do you mean “more and more?” “Petites” in women’s clothing sizing has always meant short. I’m 55 and have always shopped in petites. My grandmother who has been dead since 1991 shopped in the petites section at Daytons. It’s not some new thing meant to soothe larger sized short women.

[Anonymous]

Hmmm. In my experience, petite is usually cut smaller in all the ways.

And please don’t base anything on loft – they’ve had obscene vanity sizing for at least the past 20 years.