Basics have never been so fashionable.  Investing in classic items feels very right in a shaky economy.  Denim and khaki have become staples for every petite wardrobe and nobody does these basics better than Gap.  Visit http://www.gap.com/ for a great selection of basic styles in sizes 00P – 16P specially fit for a smaller frame. Gap’s petite pants feature a shorter length, higher waistline, narrower hips, shorter rise, shorter inseam, and higher knee positioning. 

Gap’s selection of petite jeans is unbelievable – over 30 styles are offered online in petite sizes.  Get the perfect petite fit in denim basics including the Perfect Boot Cut, Sexy Boot Cut, Real Straight, Long and Lean, Curvy, Always Skinny, and Boyfriend styles. 

Budgets are tighter than ever this season, so here are 4 quick questions to ask yourself before making new purchases for your petite wardrobe: 

 1.  Is it versatile? 

Will this piece work with at least 3 items that I already own?  Can it go from desk to dinner?  A career look like a classic white shirt and black slim skirt can be instantly dressed up with a dramatic necklace and stiletto heels. 

 2.  Is it good quality?

Buy the best quality you can afford.  Look at fabric, construction, and detail.  Check for loose threads, buttons, and beads.  Make sure that the fabric matches at the seams.  The best quality isn’t always the most expensive, and the most expensive isn’t always the best quality. 

 3.  Is it seasonless?

Can you layer it up or down depending on the weather?  The most important all-season factor is fabric.  Choose seasonless fabrics like rayon, wool gab, wool crepe, and matte jersey. 

4.  Is it a timeless classic?

Trench coats, cardigans, pearls, and Chanel inspired handbags are worth the money because they simply never go out of style. 

I have been a big fan of the great white shirt since college when my uniform was a starched white oxford button-down with jeans or khakis.  This timeless classic is being touted as one of Fall 2009’s “must have” items for every petite woman’s wardrobe. 

So last week, I headed to my favorite mall to find a white cotton shirt perfectly proportioned for petite sizes.  My search ended up being much more difficult than I anticipated.  The problem wasn’t selection.  The stores that I shopped – Banana Republic,  Gap, Talbot’s, Ann Taylor, and Nordstrom offered at least one style in a basic white shirt.  The problem was finding one that fit. 

Gap had the perfect white stretch fitted shirt priced at $44, but not in petite sizes.  Petite sizes XS – XL are available online.  The salesgirl tried to convince me that a regular XS is the same thing as petite.  It is during these moments that I know my work as a petite educator will never be done.  Petite does not mean tiny.  Petite does not mean Extra Small.  Petite sizing is based on height, not weight.  Her total incomprehension of what I was saying told me that it was time to move on.  The only white shirt I found in petite sizes at Nordstrom was on the sale rack marked down to $37.90.  When I tried the shirt on, I was very surprised to find that the sleeves nearly reached my knuckles.  I have fairly long arms for my height.  Maybe there was a reason the shirt was on sale.  At Talbots, I found a great basic white shirt priced at $69, but was hopelessly stuck between sizes.  The 6P was too tight in the bust; the 8P was too big.  Ditto for Ann Taylor.  As frustration began to mount, I finally found my winner at Banana Republic.  Their $59 no-iron fitted white shirt fit me perfectly in a Petite Medium. If you’re like me and hate to iron, the new cotton/lycra no-iron fabrics are a girl’s best friend. 

Three hours, eight shirts, and a tussled hairdo later, my quest for the great white shirt was complete. 

I’ve been in the petite business for over 20 years and a petite customer my entire adult life.  I can honestly say that I have never been more concerned about the shrinking state of shopping options for petite women.  It is true that the current economy is adversely affecting retail at every level, but the toll seems especially high for those of us who stand 5′4″ or under.  We have officially taken the place of our “big beautiful” counterparts as the forgotten woman.

Petite specialty stores are closing on a daily basis and the selection of petite merchandise in department stores and national chains has been drastically reduced.  The latest casualties:  the closing of Giordano’s – a New York City shoe store that catered to women wearing small hard-to-find sizes and Saks Fifth Avenue’s decision to once again eliminate their Petite department.

Here is what I really don’t get.  How can you ignore a segment of the consumer market that is 20 million strong and reported to spend billions on clothing annually?  The retailer rationale seems to be that petite women can just alter regular sized clothing or go shop in the Junior department.  Anyone who has been to the tailor recently knows how expensive alterations have become.  Not the best option in today’s economy.  I refer to Junior departments and Junior specialty stores as “outlets for disposable clothing.”  The quality is generally pretty poor and the styles purchased are good for a maximum of 3-5 wears with normal laundering.  Also not a good option when clothing budgets are limited.

So what is a petite shopper to do?  I am sending out a call to action to anyone reading this post who feels the same frustration over the sad state of shopping for petite women.  Pick up the phone.  Write a letter.  Complain to the Store Manager or President of your favorite store about the shrinking state of the Petite department.  Be proactive before petite sizes become as extinct as the dinosaur.  We simply cannot afford to see our shopping options get any smaller.