I received a comment from a San Francisco reader, Begonia, about Macy’s and Nordstrom stores sizing in Union Square. Begonia wrote:

“Wait. You’re a 00P who finds clothes at Nordstrom and Macy’s in my city!? Do share the details. I don’t even bother going in there cos I’ve been under the impression that all the so-called petite sizes are too large or too fuddy duddy.”

Well Ms. Begonia today is your lucky day.

You can find clothing that fits you at both locations. Think beyond the word petite and the tired petite department, and look for the designers that work for you.

Shopping in department stores is sometimes overwhelming for me because I know that my choices are limited. However I find the designers that work for me and ask the sales divas for sizing help!

At Macy’s the lines that work for me are Theory (00), DNG, Cavalli, Trina Turk (00), Yohanna, Mint, Twinkle and Cynthia Stesse and M Missoni– I fit into the size 00 and 0 in these lines. Theory and Trina Turk are highly recommended. Go to the Impulse department and you shouldn’t have a problem. Also try INC in the petite department.

Macy’s also has designer denim sizes that start between 24 and 25, but hemming will of course be needed. I recommend Citizens of Humanity, Paige Preminum Denim, Joes Jeans, Hudson and 7 For All Mankind. The overall Macy’s website is much more boring than what they have in stock in Union Square location.

You’ll of course need to try things on, but I’ve had excellent luck with these brands and I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

For Nordstrom go to the Individualists department for Theory, BCBG Max Azaria and Nanette Lapore. Nordstrom carries Tahari, Alice & Olivia, Ella Moss, Trina Turk and Diane Von Furstenberg but the sizing begins in size 2. They have an excellent alterations department that will provide free tailoring. For designer denim, you’ll be pleased to find the same lines as Macy’s. Sizing generally starts between 24 and 25 here too.

For shoes, you should look for the ‘Overs and Unders’ events that take place once yearly if your foot is a size 4.5 or 5. This is at Nordstrom only. You need to call the shop to check details. I’ve been told that Nordstrom does carry a large selection of 4.5 and 5 sizing.

I’d stay the heck out of the so called petite departments. Occasionally I’ll find something interesting but it’s a lot of digging. Nordstrom does have BCBG however that was it. The petite departments are generally fuddy and duddy. I do, however find the petite department online shops to be a bit more interesting than what they all sell on their sales floors.

Furthermore, both chains will locate whatever size you are looking for within their universal inventory system. They only hit up the West Coast (including AZ, HI and TX) for deliveries. If you like a design and its not in your size they’ll order it and deliver it to your doorstep.

Feel free to comment if there are any other brands that work for you.

This entry was posted on Sunday, August 10th, 2008 at 3:56 pm and is filed under Shops. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.