Theory is one of my all-time favorite clothing lines for office wear. They carry petite and small sizes in jackets, dresses, and tops, and 00-4 sizes in pants. Always exemplar, Theory never disappoints. As a P or 00 in the company’s sizing, the tops and pants fit me to perfection. The line caters to a hip, younger audience, and translates seamlessly into the workspace. When I want to look polished and professional at work and client meetings, I rely on Theory.

The downfall? The pant legs are always too long. This means my tailor must spend a bit of quality time with the length, in addition to removing the pockets.

Several stores in L.A. carry Theory; however, few carry the smaller sizes. Below is a list of stores and outlets in Los Angeles and Southern California that carry sizes 00 and 0.

If you like outlet shopping, Theory has two outlets in Southern California and one in Las Vegas. The Desert Hills outlet in Cabazon is by far the most accommodating, with an affordable selection. About an hour and a half outside of L.A., it is well worth the drive.

Aching for Theory outside the L.A. area? Their Web site has a store locator. And should you prefer the mall, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman and Bloomingdales carry this sophisticated line.

Online:

Shop Bop has a fantastic selection of Theory for the office and for play.

Stores:

Bloomingdales - The Beverly Center Bloomingdales has a large variety of petite sizes and a great selection of slacks. Manned with fantastic buyers, I always find a varied selection. Not to mention, the accommodating sales staff will pull everything off the rack and into your dressing room should you ask.

Saks Fifth Avenue - The selection at the Rodeo Saks had minimal pieces in 00 and 0, but carries an abundant selection of 2s and 4s.

Fred Segal
8100 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(866) 654-4577
Map

Jill Roberts
417 North Beverly Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(310) 860-1617
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Lisa Kline
136 South Robertson Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(310) 275-0729
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Theory Outlets — All outlets carry size 00 and 0.

Camarillo Premium Outlets
850 East Ventura Blvd., Space 0728
Camarillo, CA 93010
(805) 338-5628
camarillo@theory.com
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Desert Hills Premium Outlets
48650 Seminole Drive, Suite 912
Cabazon, CA 92230
(951) 922-1339
cabazon@theory.com
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Las Vegas Premium Outlets
875 South Grand Central Pkwy., Suite 1620
Las Vegas, NV 89106
(702) 386-5022
lasvegas@theory.com
Map

Last year, my friend Tracy and I found affordable last-minute Halloween costumes at the Los Feliz specialty store, Ozzie Dots. She was the randy pirate, and I was the racy French maid. The costumes, created by a company called Charades, were a perfect fit.

Here’s how it works: the costumes come bagged as kits. My Frenchie outfit came with a polyester dress, neck-tie choker, head piece, and a flirty white apron. Tracy’s was replete with a big hat, garter and dress. My costume cost $15.00– a small price to pay considering I was buying the costume on Halloween.

Ozzie Dots generally has a large selection of sexy bagged costumes. You know the ones: nurse, kitty, witch, schoolgirl, etc. But if you aren’t so into the sexy thing, Ozzie Dots carries just about everything else you can think of, so there’s room for creativity.

You can expect long lines at Ozzie Dots the week before Halloween. Maybe you’ll see us there…

Ozzie Dots
4637 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 663-2867
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Like most gals, when I got engaged, my first words (after the requisite “Yes!”) were, “I know JUST the gown for me!” Oh, the naiveté of the newly engaged. Most gowns looked exquisite on the rack. But on me, not so much. The material felt cheap, and the dresses were enormous. After a long game of hide-and-seek, I finally found a tailor that would custom-design my gown. But still, as much as I loved the design, it didn’t fit as well as it should have. Thus, I am committed to sharing everything I have since learned about dress boutiques, brands and styles that cater to the curves of the petite bride. My first interview is with my colleague and Editor of serafina, Amanda Vernor Miller. I sat down with my fellow petite bride and asked about her dress:

What size & height are you?

Just a shade under 5’4”. I’m 110 lbs., and wear a 0-2P

What type of dress did you purchase? Tell me about the material.

My dress was a sheath-style dress—a duly complementary style for petite frames. The sheath was made of French cotton lawn. Now, I know what you’re thinking. It was the softest and most comfortable fabric imaginable. It didn’t constrict my breathing, and it didn’t wrinkle—and a lot of brides can’t say that. The tulle overlay gave it an elegant dimension. I purchased the gown from the beautiful and extraordinarily talented Claire Pettibone. Her boutique is located on Robertson Blvd. in Los Angeles.

What specific details does the dress have?

The cotton sheath was an antique ivory color. Attached to the bottom hem was an antique-like, ivory cotton lace—this was one of my favorite features! The fitted bodice was made with the same cotton lace, and on both the front and back, Claire attached silver- and ivory-flowered appliqués.

Which shops did you research for dresses?

I had my library of bridal magazines, and I dog-earred my favorite designers and styles. My first stop was a sample sale at Claire’s boutique. I knew I would find my perfect gown the moment I walked in. Her design style is ultra feminine, very French-Victorian, and I immediately fell in love with her style. On my second visit—for her 2006 trunk show—I found two absolutely gorgeous gowns. It would’ve been torturous to choose one over the other, so she offered to combine elements of each in a custom design. Two shopping excursions, and I was done. There was simply no sense in looking elsewhere. All else would have paled in comparison.

Was your dress comfortable throughout the wedding?

Absolutely. As simple and delicate as it was, the gown was resilient and incredibly comfortable. I was comfortable and cool on an 80-degree day—and at 9,000 feet! And I easily traversed the rugged sagebrush and piñon pine that lay between my dad’s truck and our wedding site.

What did you do with your wedding dress after the wedding? And would you ever be interested in selling it on eBay or locally to petite-sized women in your area?

I was a spotless bride, so I considered storing it without a professional cleaning—but decided a few weeks later to have it preserved. I used a company out of Manhattan, J. Scheer. These folks use natural preservation techniques, including organic cleaners, and my dress deserved nothing less! It was returned to me in a storage-friendly box, and it came with a lifetime guarantee with no exceptions. That said, I would never sell it. I knew it would be an heirloom-of-sorts the moment I had it made.

Is there anything specific you would like my readers to know about your dress or the dress buying experience?

Simply put: Go for custom. True, it is more expensive. But with a custom gown, the entire shape and flow is designed around your petite figure. Most other gowns—even when altered—remain disproportional to smaller frames. I mean, it’s your wedding, ladies! You won’t regret the extra expense to look and feel absolutely stunning.

Claire Pettibone
Beverly Hills Boutique
236 South Robertson Boulevard
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Phone: 310-360-6268
Fax: 310-360-6271
bridal@clairepettibone.com
Map

What is sexy, yet elegant, and piled Mt. Everest-high in my boudoir? Lingerie. Like every gal, these sometimes-tiny-but-always-necessary threads are a terrible weakness of mine. And my addiction continues to grow with every visit to Panty Raid, the fantastic Silver Lake lingerie store. The name says it all. One foray, and I always find something fabulous to add to my mountain of under-goodies. I have never left empty-handed. And, as an undisputed panty aficionado, I must say, Panty Raid is an exceptional place for petite women to shop.

Shop owner Jen Abercrombie and her ‘Girl Friday’ Jessica Hlavac are incredibly erudite about the brands they carry. Both women know their customer base, going that extra strap to make sure your lingerie and loungewear preferences are attended to. And we all know the importance of such attention when you’re petite sized, or if you’ve sent your partner-in-panties out to purchase something special for yours truly. I know when I see that cotton candy pink tissue paper, my husband has purchased something delectable from Panty Raid.

Panty Raid carries all the scrumptious colors, styles, and fabrics to feed your habit, plus all the brands you’ve come to love. Unfortunately, they don’t carry size 30A, 30AA or 32AA; however, their smallest size is 32A is available in many styles. The good news: The brands listed below are specific to petite shoppers. Each and every one of them has climbed to the top of my mountain o’panties. Like any lingerie connoisseur knows, it’s so easy to find favorites.

Timpa
Ah, yes. My newest favorite brand. The Panty Raid girls describe the Timpa Duet Lace Demi Bra as a fail-less bra. Oh yes, there was not one, but two in my bag after I left the shop. A smooth, soft lace demi-cup with seamless support and a soft lift with no padding make it a firm winner. It comes in white, pink, beige, black, and brown. Sizes run 32A-38C. And, ladies, don’t forget to coordinate with matching panties!

Only Hearts
Small. Small. Small. Only Hearts runs small, which makes it an excellent discovery with an excellent fit for those of us on the petite side. Don’t skip the dreamy lacy boy shorts. They come in a multitude of colors and are absolutely heavenly to sleep in.

Cosabella
Cosabella. What can I say? We all know this line is baby-got-rack gorgeous — couture lingerie at moderate prices. When you want to go undercover, go with the molded bra. It shapes your tatas without any padding and smoothes out any bumps and lumps. A perfect under-T-shirt bra. Sized from 1-5, and available in numerous colors, the molded bra perfectly compliments the utterly fantastic itty-bitty matching g-strings. Really, does a girl need more?

Eberjey
The elegant India Bralette, in black, white and pink, sized S/M and M/L, is an unquestionable must under fitted and loose shirts. So comfortable I had to buy (of course) the matching Eberjay boy shorts to keep my little buns in. Ain’t no mountain high enough.

Mary Green
Va-va-voom. Cotton candy pink and teal. White lace and black. Magenta and siren red. Mary Green has cornered the market on sexy little lace bras, boy shorts, and low-riding boy thongs. Inexpensively priced, a woman can go to town on this line (and I have). Available in silk or nylon, the kaleidoscopic color combinations will make you want to buy, buy, buy.

Hanky Panky
Known for its signature lace g-string, Panty Raid carries the brand in nude, pink, black and white. They run a bit large so investigate before you purchase. Even then, it really is love at first spank.

Notable Mention: On Gossamer

This brand has come out with a petite small size. The girls insisted I return to check it out. I will keep you updated.

Panty Raid: Great customer service, excellent merchandise and sizes, easy location! Well worth the trip. Visit them often.

Panty Raid
378-1/2 Glendale Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90039
(323) 668-1888
Map

Hours:
M-F - 11:30am – 7pm
Sat – 12pm – 7pm
Sun –12pm – 6pm

Nothing says adventure quite like outlet shopping. But here’s one shop with a twist on the usual fare: Trina Turk. That’s right gals, our lady in fashion not only carries her classic-yet-contemporary threads in petite sizes, she also hosts a mark-it-down-and-get-it-while-it’s-hot outlet store. When I think about Trina, I can’t help but think about my favorite pieces – let’s get a description of a skirt, pant, blouse and/or jacket that you own. And the best part? She creates 8-11 lines per year — a far more interesting commitment to our closets than the common quarterly designers.

In SoCal, you’ll find boutiques in L.A. and Palm Springs, and an outlet in Alhambra. Granted, Alhambra is a bit of a trek, but, trust me, it’s well worth the journey. The outlet is known to carry past-season merchandise, samples, and garments with slight defects (you know the drill; no one ever knows but you). And petite sizes? Ample, and on sale at bargain basement prices.

But for those who live outside L.A., never fret. Trina Turk is available in national department and specialty chains like Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, and Barney’s. Or, for the time-impaired, you can shop online at the Trina Turk website.

I’ll leave you with a handful of lasting images — starring my recent Trina Turk purchases!

Fast Facts:

The outlet displays new fashion the second week of every month — which means we petites best get our teeny selves to Alhambra between Wednesday and Saturday.

Random sample sales are enormous in scale, but are priced otherwise. Every item is $25! I highly recommend calling the outlet directly to have your name and e-mail placed on their sample sale mailing list.

The Digs:

3025 W. Mission Road
Alhambra, CA 91803
Phone: (626) 458-7768 (x 25)
Outletstore@trinaturk.com
Map

Wednesday - Friday 12am – 6pm
2nd Saturday of every month: 10am – 2pm (Open this Saturday!)
Closed Sunday - Tuesday
Cash, Visa, Mastercard, Amex only — all sales are final.

I bought this excellent skirt for $25!

Don’t you just love October? The leaves are falling and so are the prices at Ron Herman’s annual fall sale at the Melrose location and online. Gallop, don’t saunter — the sale ends on October 15th. Shop online and get 65–75% off on brands like Stella McCartney, Rebecca Taylor, Marc Jacobs, and Ya Ya.

Ron Herman carries an abundance of XS sizes — pants as small as 23! — at the Melrose store and on their web site. Oh, how I cherish the season!

You can also find Ron Herman locations in Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Malibu, and Costa Mesa.

Ron Herman
8100 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90046
Monday – Saturday: 10am – 7pm
Sunday: 12pm – 6pm
Map

Ron Herman is now shipping world wide!

What jeans fit a 00P without bagging in the ass and sending your otherwise petite frame into frumpville? Kasil Jeans, of course. And like all of my favorite brands, they go with just about everything else in my closet — a tall order, mind you.

But you know how sometimes you find that perfect pair of jeans, and after, say, a year of regular wear — they were perfect, remember — they tear here, become a bit thread bare there, or lose their shape before your first A.M. client meeting? Well, not so with Kasil. The denim in these jeans is of exquisite quality, which means it’ll last longer than most of your relationships — and never get bent out of shape.

I personally favor the dark wash; I find them more flattering. For tiny petite sizes, Kasil makes sizes as small as 24 or 25. I find mine at Native on Franklin Avenue, as they tend to carry an abundance of denim brands in smaller sizes. But, even as they fit my rump and thighs in the most perfect of ways, Kasil does tend to run a little long in the legs. Nothing a quick trip to the tailor can’t fix.

Bottom line, you’ll wear your fantastic pair of Kasil Jeans often. So be sure to stock up on a pair — or three!

The Digs:

Kasil recommends these online shops Couture Candy and Revolve Clothing.

L.A. boutiques include:

Native
5915 S. Franklin Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 962-7710
Map

Blue Windows
219 N. Larchmont Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90004
(323) 461-4608
Map

B.Luu
340 E. Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91101
(626) 792-4140
Map

Flaucy
39 E. Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91105
(310) 753-8720
Map

Fred Segal Fun
500 Broadway, Suite G
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 394-9814
Map

* Call ahead to check on small sizes.

**Please visit the Kasil web site for all national locations.

As a 00P, I am forced to take the majority of my new clothing purchases to a tailor. After a lot of research — and more experience — I have assembled a list of five top-notch tailors in the Los Angeles area. Have one that didn’t make the list? Let me know and I’ll update accordingly.

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Hans The Tailor
8116 W. 3rd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 653 - 2957
Map

Need everything flawless and ready yesterday? Hans and Susan have been my tailors for six years and running. Collectively, they have altered almost every item of clothing I have in my wardrobe. Their work is always perfect and always on time.

Same Day Service: Yes
Weekdays: 9am - 6:00pm
Saturday: 9am - 4:00pm
Sunday: Closed

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Ann Tailor
729 Broadway
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 393-5756
Map

Too many weddings and insects this year? Located in sunny Santa Monica, Susie Lee (aka Ann Tailor) is talented with suits, bridesmaid alterations, and minor moth-eaten reconstructions (amongst other things). She has always done impeccable work and I use her when in a pinch.

Same Day Service: Yes
Weekdays: 9am - 6:00pm
Saturday: 9am - 4:00pm
Sunday: Closed

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Chaelli Tailor (ask for Tatyana)
1449 N Gardner Street*
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 874-7121
Map

Designer duds dragging on the ground? My girlfriend is a stylist, and, naturally, she drips flair and finesse. For her personal and professional alterations, she sees none other than Tatyana. According to my wardrobe-the-size-of-Manhattan girl, Tatyana is fast, reliable, and spot on.

Same Day Service: Yes
Weekdays: 9am - 5:30pm
Saturday: 9am - 1:00pm
Sunday: Closed

*There is no name on the building except a small sign that reads, ‘tailor’.

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Elegance of Brentwood
910 South Barrington Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90049
(310) 820-3440
Map

Looking for that vintage rags-to-riches repair? My girlfriend brought her grandmother’s vintage dress to Elegance and they repaired it perfectly. She now frequents the shop often and brings all of her own petite alterations. She promises a five-star rating.

Same Day Service: Yes
Weekdays: 9am - 6:30pm
Saturday: 9am - 5:30pm
Sunday: Closed

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Dina The Tailor
148 N. Sweetzer Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 651-2914
Map

Tear your impeccably tailored wool suit on a courtroom bench? My finicky corporate realtor friend trusts Dina to repair and alter her posh clothing. A very talented tailor who is often booked, I suggest calling ahead to verify her availability.

Same Day Service: No
Weekdays: 9am - 6:00pm
Saturday: 10am - 2:00pm
Sunday: Closed