Are you really short?

laurenclaire1386 · February 2010

I'm 5 feet tall, exactly. Which makes buying pants that cover my ass and don't have six inches of material pooled at my feet an impossible task. So if you're short like me, where do you get pants and what style looks best on you? I'm assuming that I'll have to have my pants tailored, one way or the other. I'm hopelessly clueless about clothes. I'm going shopping this weekend for a wardrobe overhaul and I need some help. So anything you know about building a wardrobe from nearly scratch would be super helpful.

Sidenote: I hate wearing heels because they're unbearably uncomfortable. But I look so much better when I wear them. How do you get used to heels?

JessAndTrav · February 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_really-short?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:d5faea93-c510-42eb-ad2e-2ada1e273de4Post:e0381402-49e3-499b-8588-782a58e9f0cd">Are you really short?</a>:
[QUOTE] I hate wearing heels because they're unbearably uncomfortable. But I look so much better when I wear them. How do you get used to heels?
Posted by laurenclaire1386[/QUOTE]

It depends on where it hurts for you. Mine usually hurt at the ball of my foot, so I buy those little pads to put extra padding there. It works and makes it much more bearable.

I've not tried the Dr. Scholl's inserts for heels, but I can't imagine that those don't help.

squirrly · February 2010

You get good heels that have some cushioning to them. Cheaper is not better here.

I'm not short, so I don't have that trouble, but both White House | Black Market and Ann Taylor Loft have petites. Honestly, hemming is much easier than fixing other areas, so I would look for the best fit everywhere else and find a good tailor who can adjust the hem for you.

vallyhoo · February 2010

I'm the opposite. I wear heels so frequently that when I wear flats my feet hurt.

danieliza1127 · February 2010

I'm 5'4 so I'm often between a regular length pant and a petite. Kohls has good petites and so does New York & Co. I would recommend both of those places and just stay in the petites section.

As far as shoes, I don't wear heels but I do wear loafers that have a heel. That way I get the best of both worlds, a heel but kind of like flats. I think mine have a 1.5 inch heel on them, maybe 2.

mandapanda78 · February 2010

Old Navy usually sells pants in "petite" sizes. Now, my size 16 asss ain't petite, by any means, but all it really means is "hey, shorty! these pants will actually fit you with out trailing on the ground. Mostly." Same goes for all my work clothes that I usually get at Macy's.

laurenclaire1386 · February 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_really-short?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:d5faea93-c510-42eb-ad2e-2ada1e273de4Post:b7d2d7d4-f7e2-4bc1-b46d-108fed6d7c7a">Re: Are you really short?</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm the opposite. I wear heels so frequently that when I wear flats my feet hurt.
Posted by vallyhoo[/QUOTE]

How did you get to that point? Did heels just never bother you?
And Squirrly, I think that's been most of my problem: cheap shoes. I just don't want to spend good money on shoes that I'll never get used to. But I was looking on Dillards.com and there's this brand called Born and all their shoes look really well made and like they have comfortable footbeds. I'm going to the store this weekend to try on.

vallyhoo · February 2010

Oh no, heels definitely bothered me at first. But wearing them five days a week, they just eventually took. I love Nine West and ... I can't think of any other brands at the moment.
I'm also not really short, but on the shorter side (5'4" maybe) and I can definitely agree with the pant situation. Agree with Squirrly on AT Loft - I have some of their khakis on today

Nebb · February 2010

Im 5'1. I personally prefer wide leg dress pants and I get them at a chain store in Canada called rickis (excellent quality for the type of store it is). They have short regular and tall sizes, and the short fits me perfectly so I never have to take them up. I normally dont go searching for short sizes though, I go by fit on my waist and legs alone and then hem to fit m y height. I also never wear heels, I dont find them comfortable.

LadyJ10 · February 2010

I can't help with the pants, as I have the opposite problem of regular pants looking like high-waters! But, for the heels you really just have to invest in good quality! I've found Franco Sartos to be very comfortable, and can manage to wear them all day and night without any problems. Past that, inserts help depending on where they hurt, and you really just have to get used to them.

goheels05 · February 2010

I'm 5'2". I also hate heels. I wear 1/2"-1" kitten heels at most. I sew, so I just hem all of my pants. The main problem I have is with jeans. I like bootcut and flaired jeans, but when you hem them, they basically become straight leg. I've been wearing more trouser fit jeans for this reason. Also, Lucky Brand fit me without dragging the ground, but you're 2 inches shorter, so I'm not sure if that helps you. Have you tried Ann Taylor or Loft petites?

laurenclaire1386 · February 2010

Ok awesome. There's an AT Loft about a mile from my house, and it's next to Gap, which was another one of my planned stops this weekend. I'm making a pretty concise battle plan for shopping this weekend.

cengle · February 2010

Ditto Vally on Nine West heels--I now can't wear anything else.
I'm 5'3, by the way. All my pants are super-long, and I usually just have my mom hem the bottoms if they're too long to wear even with heels.

vallyhoo · February 2010

I also wear a lot of dresses when it isn't FREEZING, so that gets around the pant dilemma.

TeresaLovesDave · February 2010

I'm not super short, but having wider hips = buying bigger sizes = too much length. Thanks for the child-bearing hips, genetics. Appreciate that.

If you buy pants or jeans at Nordstrom, they'll hem them for free (or they used to, at least). Not all of the stuff there is ridiculously expensive, plus they often have fairly good sales.

Stackeye210 · February 2010

Definitely try petite sections.........

Also, if you shop at stores like Macy's, just save your receipt and tags, you have 180 days to return items that you find don't work for you - even if they are worn. They look for total satisfaction, so even if you just don't like the way something washed you can take it back for a full refund.

laurenclaire1386 · February 2010

Thanks ladies. I feel a little less lost than I did 15 minutes ago.

squirrly · February 2010

Lauren, you might also look at Clark's and Aerosoles. They're not horribly expensive, and they're not super dressy - a middle ground, with lots of squish in the shoe, if you will. I have these (except in black) that I wear with black/grey pants at work a lot:
http://www.aerosoles.com/product1.asp?P=CINCHWORM

caseyandlizzie · February 2010

I'm 5' 4" and really do not like heels......I started wearing Naturalizers and they are more pleasant than most. I have some Born flats that my FMIL gace me which are very comfy and very well made, but I can't justify spending that much money on a pair of shoes. One day I will just have to suck it up.

squirrly · February 2010

hey heels - when I have to have jeans hemmed, they usually take the hem off and move it up for me to preserve the shape. But that's only when I (rarely) splurge on pricey denim.

ETA - that's how the jeans in my sig pic were hemmed. I forgot that pic was the one I have up right now.

AlexiaANDRobert · February 2010

I'm 5'1" and I either buy NY&Co pants or Old Navy.

I wear Sperry's almost every day. If I wear heels I have one pair of jeans and two pairs of pants that are regular length (instead of short) so they look good with heels.

tenofcups4me · February 2010

I'm 5 feet tall. I assume that I'll have to hem any pants or jeans I buy. On a rare occasion, I can buy a petite or short that doesn't need to be hemmed, but most times, even a short length is too long. I can count on one hand the number of times I've bought jeans that don't have to be hemmed.

AmoroAgain · February 2010

I'm definitely not short, but for trying to get heels that don't hurt, make an attempt with platforms. I found that because there's a thicker lift under the ball of your foot, it hurts less, even when you're working the 4incher. I haven't worn heels much in the past couple of years because cobblestones+heels= bad news. Prior to this though, I worked in retail and had to wear heels on tiled concrete for 8+ hours a day.

punkyb2b · February 2010

I am also 5 foot tall. I don't know what size you are, but I shop in the kids section for a lot of casual stuff. H&M, Gap and higher end brands like True Religion kids lines fit me pretty well. My style is like Nicole richie's and I'm built like her, but I don't know how her clothes always look so good on her. I can't seem to get the same results even with tailoring.
For more dressy/put togetehr stuff, I love Anthropologie, Theory, and Marc Jacobs. It all has to get hemmed though, I spend a lot at the tailor. I have the same issue Heels does with bootleg looking like straight leg, so that sometimes sucks.
As for shoes, I find that platform type heels are the most comfortable. I live in a pair of Marc Jacobs. I also have a few Michael Kors (comfy)and Aldo (which need the pads if I wear them for more than an hour), which add height and look great.

Mrs_AF · February 2010

I buy jeans at American Eagle, they have a short size. Also, NY&Co has reallly nice dress pants in petite.

As for heels, have you ever looked into Naturalizers? They used to just be for older people and nurses, but now they have some really cute styles and are really comfortable.

http://www.naturalizer.com/Shopping/Results.aspx?N=4294967173+6207

laurenclaire1386 · February 2010

Tenofcups, same with me. I just haven't bothered to have them hemmed and end up with raggedy pant legs. I've got to seriously update my wardrobe from slouchy college kid. I've been dressing like this for far too long. My office is incredibly laid back and my boss works in PJ's a lot of the time, so it's not imperative for work. I'm just tired of looking unkempt. So yeah, a trip to the tailor's is in order, after shopping.

goheels05 · February 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_really-short?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:d5faea93-c510-42eb-ad2e-2ada1e273de4Post:9310b514-9258-4ead-8021-4ecd2347f8bb">Re: Are you really short?</a>:
[QUOTE]hey heels - when I have to have jeans hemmed, they usually take the hem off and move it up for me to preserve the shape. But that's only when I (rarely) splurge on pricey denim. ETA - that's how the jeans in my sig pic were hemmed. I forgot that pic was the one I have up right now.
Posted by squirrly[/QUOTE]

That's amazing, and beyond my skill-level. But it's a good argument for justifying buying a pair of designer jeans. I like where your head's at.

andyandhillary · February 2010

Ann Taylor, Ann Taylor LOFT, and GAP are the best places for me.

punkyb2b · February 2010

Also, since I spend so much on tailoring, I shop sales and have found great stuff at TJmaxx and Filenes.
I love shopping

danieliza1127 · February 2010

Also, sometimes if I find a pair of pants that I just have to have and they're on sale for a low price, I'll go ahead and get them and spend a little money to get them hemmed. Sometimes it's worth it.

classyashley918 · February 2010

I'm 5'1 and I find my jeans at JCrew -- I wear a 28 short and they fit perfectly :-). Express also has short-legnth jeans and dress pants....

Are you really short?

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