On my recent trip to The Big Apple, I had the pleasure to sit down with Dawn Verbrigghe, CEO and founder of Moi-Même. We met at her showroom in the Garment District and chatted about suiting women, petite sizing, fashion and her fabulous line, Moi-Même.

After all of my sampling, I’m absolutely excited with the quality of each piece. Moi-Même will thrill women looking for proper, high-quality suiting. Not just the fabric, mind you, but the immaculate tailoring of her line. And because each piece is custom-fitted, there is nary a sizing tag.

Dawn walked me through the new fall collection and I have to say the new fall tweeds rule. (I want a Reykjavik coat in tweed. So hot!) Soft wools and tweeds flatter like nothing else. And, since the U.S. is moving away from fast fashion, purchasing those classic pieces is a worth-it investment for your wardrobe.

And because many of her customers are petite and 5′2″, she can easily identify her best-selling pieces for our frames: Reykjavik jacket, Buenos Aires pencil skirt, Singapore sheath dress and, of course, all pants.

We all know what an issue it is to find pants that fit perfectly without a tailor-made overhaul. So Dawn took it upon herself to study us petite gals, coming to our shared conclusion: the rise of a regular pant is too long. Same with the leg length.  All of which are perfected in her line. It was extremely interesting to hear about her line and the petite sizing of her customers; she mentioned that women have left the showroom in tears because they are so happy to finally find clothing that fits.

When I asked her about what was next on her list she said: shirting. Because, in general, they are too long for petite gals. And buttonhole placement makes them difficult to alter. Dawn is embracing this challenge — Moi-Même will launch a new shirt line at the beginning of 2009. I’ve seen the samples, and let me tell you, they are lovely!

The details: three colors to choose from with more coming later next year. The ‘Dublin’ shirts fit, ladies. The construction is well-thought and precisely what every petite woman needs in her closet. They’re sewn from a cotton-stretch fabric and the button area is covered by a plackin to hide any peekage from the twins. Plus, they’re machine washable and iron free. We couldn’t be luckier with this upcoming shirt.  Say farewell to that hefty bill at the cleaners.

I simply can’t rave enough about Moi-Même and Dawn. Her commitment to fashion is evident in her designs — but it doesn’t stop there. Dawn is also a professor at Parsons and writes a fashion column for 85 Broads, using her business as a case study. It was a true delight to meet her and I look forward to meeting up with her again in the near future. Her entrepreneurship and the success of her line was a real inspiration. (Stay tuned for Part Two: The Fall Collection…)

San Francisco’s very own petite fashion blogger CuteMess is a wealth of fashion and shopping information. I’m pleased to have had the opportunity to chat with her and introduce her to all of my readers! If you’re a petite and in the SF area, she’s outlined a number of shops and brands that are available to you. Ladies, feel free to leave a comment if you have any other shopping advice!

Tell me about your blog.

What brands work best for your size/stature? What is your shoe size?

With the plethora of tunics in the last few years and baggier styles I’ve been less concerned with a perfect fit for blouses, sweaters and tops in general, although I prefer a good fit for a jacket or coat. I really don’t have a brand I go to again and again purely on the basis of size. On a looser fitting item a size small will suffice, or buying a medium to achieve a looser fit might work. Usually if there is no XS or 0 in a dress I have to pass it up.

I am a total jean freak and generally wear them every day out of a tad bit of laziness and also because jeans fit better on me than a normal trouser. I don’t like jeans that have too much stretch and I prefer them as tight as possible (unless it’s a wide leg version). I still enjoy skinny jeans and I look for a fit that is narrow through the thigh and knee, although I don’t mind a straight leg opening. It’s nice to have both skinny and a straight leg opening as options; small leg openings work a bit better for tucking into boots. One of my favorite jean brands is Aristocrat. I loved the Kent style from last year. It’s hard to find the Aristrocrat line of jean styles online right now unfortunately, I’m curious what the future of the brand will be. I just bought my first pair of Cheap Monday Tight Jeans in unwash and I love them. I got the 32″ length which is perfect. I could only find a 26 in the wash I wanted and they fit really well but are a tad big in the waist, curious to see if I could squeeze into a 25. They don’t seem to be stretching much and by a fluke (lazy salesgirl) I got them for $29. I also own Acne’s (Hex in DC wash), Sling and Stone, J Brand, Skull (japanese selvedge denim), Marc by Marc Jacobs, Built by Wendy for Wrangler (1st generation), and Earnest Sewn. Although I hate the skull tag on the back of my Cheap Monday’s, I am incredibly happy with the price point as well as the fit.

Where are you shopping in SF?Good for shoes: I have a average foot, size 7 or 7.5.
Nordstrom
Shoe Biz

Good for intimate apparel:
Macy’s
Nordstrom
American ApparelNeighborhood shopping in Mission district:
Candy Store (dresses, shoes, tops, gifts)
House of Hengst (for a great splurge on unique dresses - I have this one, although goes to my ankles)
Self Edge (for Japanese denim and I’ve purchased amazing coats, button down shirts here)Other places to shop:
Therapy (no website- they are open late though!)
Minnie Wilde
Dema
Sunhee Moon
The Bell Jar

I’ve read that a Built by Wendy store is opening June 15 x street 24th on Valencia as well as an American Apparel.

Other places outside of my neighborhood:
AB Fits for denim
Azalea for everything
Anthropologie usually for underwear splurges, sweet sweaters, and blouses.

I do the occasional H&M, Forever 21, Zara, Urban Outfitters run through, tend to buy basics and frequently retire items quickly from my wardrobe and occasionally experience buyers remorse when I pick things up but they are great for cheap accessories.

Where are you shopping online?I usually try to shop for things I know will fit. I am usually searching for something specific.
My latest online purchases were from:

American Apparel: I needed some yoga togs
etsy: charm school design for a feather barrette and peacock feather headband
Zoe:Repetto houp flats in white (order a size up in Repettos!)
Anthropologie: red strappy sandal flats and grey sandal flats by Pink

Vintage? Any favorite haunts in SF? Do you buy a lot of vintage? If so why?I haven’t been buying much vintage lately. I used to buy a lot on ebay. I would buy from sellers who posted their models measurements to ensure a good fit. And I know my own measurements. San Francisco has many amazing vintage stores though.

I’ll stick to my neighborhood:
Retro Fit Vintage (I found some tiny high wasted vintage jeans from the 40’s)
Thrift Town
Painted Bird (buy, trade and sell- vintage and new)
Idol Vintage (just got two belts there)
Clothes Contact
Schauplatz

I think my favorite store to go for vintage clothing and also, mid century mod decor is The Other Shop on Divisadero Street at Scott. Amazing stuff! Last weekend I got the cutest purse there. One of my favorite vintage dresses was purchased there. I had to take it in from a size huge to my size but managed somehow. While you’re there check out Brown Bear vintage, a newer store down the block heading towards Haight street, they usually have great emerging artist art on the walls too. I got an amazing pair of metallic silver Hush Puppies last month.

I guess I still do shop vintage!

Outlet malls in the SF area? Do you have any recos for the petite lass?

An hour out of SF to the North at the gate of the wine country in Napa check out the Outlet Mall of Highway 29 at First Street. There is a BARNEYS! outlet and when my parents still lived in Napa I frequently walked out with a fun hand bag for under $50 or with discounted denim. Really great for accessories.

For the adventurous, trendy super petite gal I recommend hitting China Town off the main street (Grant Street). There are many small boutiques with uber trendy and cheap (but super fun) clothing that run reeeeeeeally small. I tried on a pair of knickers once and the sales woman informed me that I was a Chinese medium! It’s fun to trek around looking for these boutiques. Lots of cute shoes too. Loehmann’s on Sutter Street is hit or miss but I’ve scored some cute stuff on occasion.

Allow me to introduce to you Yo Shorty, a new petite website out of the UK. Vikki Taylor, Yo Shorty’s editor-in-chief covers everything from business attire, hottie evening wear, maternity – you name it! If you’re a petite lass in the UK and Ireland, she’s got you covered. I had the opportunity to chat with Vikki about her new site.

1. Tell me all about your new website.

Yo Shorty is a petite clothing blog with a twist. I’ve used a magazine theme for the site so it looks more like a fashion e-zine than a regular blog, with features displayed on the homepage and a lot of classic clothing images edited to relate to the different parts of the site.

I’m planning to make it a resource for petite ladies in the UK to help them save time when looking for the best in petite fashion.

2. How tall are you? What size?

I’m 5”2’ish and a size 12 to 14 in the UK, I can never get my head around why I’m different sizes in different shops; they should be the same everywhere!

3. Where do you shop? Any favourite haunts in London and /or Europe? What are your favourite petite brands?

My favourite shop with a petite range is Dorothy Perkins. The thing I love about it is that you can pick up a pair of size 14 petite jeans and walk out (paying first of course!). Their sizes never vary and their clothes are always on trend for the season.

I also like to shop in New Look, they have lots of lovely things but yet they don’t have a petite collection! I have a reasonably long body compared to my height so they are perfect for getting a pretty top for a night out!

My favourite boutique chain in London is Oliver Bonas, they stock a lot of Vero Moda clothes which I love. Vero Moda is a Swedish clothing designer who brings out 8 ranges a year, they are not specifically for petites but they’re great anyway.

4. What about shopping in Europe? I’ve found that the sizing is cut much smaller and with more options. Can you elaborate?

I’m not sure because I don’t have any US clothes to compare them too! The thing I can say is that the worst thing about clothing in the UK is how much their sizes vary from shop to shop.

Marks and Spencer is a classic English shop which is massive in the UK and it’s great to go shopping in their petite clothing section as their sizes are very generous. I’m always a size 12 there, and sometimes even a 10!

5. Where do you shop online?

I like to shop online at ASOS, which stands for As Seen on Screen. They’ve just started a petite section which has a great selection of alternative clothing which is quite different to that on the high street.

What impresses me the most about ASOS is that although they are purely online they have managed to become an established clothing brand in the UK, being featured in all our girly magazines!

6. What are your recent purchases? Can you send me a link and or image of them? If you don’t have any please send me a list of links/images for your wish list.

I’ve just got my hands on these great petite skinny jeans from Dorothy Perkins, at £15 you really feel like you’re getting a great bargain.

I am also planning on getting this dress from Miss Selfridge; I’m going to add a nice waist cinching belt to it.

7. What is your inspiration? How was Yo Shorty conceived?

Basically I was on the net searching for cool and unusual petite clothing in the UK and noticed that it was not as easy as it sounds. So I came up with Yo Shorty, it’s a bit tongue and cheek but I think it catches the attention of petite ladies and is definitely a lot of fun to write, so I hope my readers think it’s fun to read to.

At the minute I’m getting my key articles together like petite clothing site reviews. But moving on from there I’m going to put together top tips, petite celeb must haves and loads of other great stuff that I can’t think of at the moment!

8. Any additional words you’d like to share with my readers?

Well seeing how my site is so new it would be great if your readers could get over to www.yo-shorty.co.uk and have a look around. Once they’ve done that it would be great if they could let me know what they think about the site by going to the Your Comments section.

9. Could give me the low down on the current trends in London right now?

Over here I think nautical is going to be big this summer with red, blue and white featuring in a lot of shops in the UK. And if Victoria Beckham is wearing it, it has to be right on trend!

I also love the block brights that are everywhere at the moment, check out Cheryl Cole, in this photo with Girls Aloud. (She’s my favourite petite celeb because she’s from Newcastle like me!). The girls’ belts in this photo are also a great example of how a fantastic belt can just set off the perfect outfit!

The lovely petite Brooklyn resident Stacy Manning and her new bride-groom Tom were married this December in Arizona. This wedding would have been so much fun to attend — and Stacy looks absolutely amazing. Hope it gives everyone great ideas about their wedding planning!

Where and when were you married?

We were married December 23, 2007 in Chinle, Arizona on the Navajo Nation.

Where did you find your wedding dress and what size & height are you?

My cousin is a fanatical bargain shopper and lives by our family motto “don’t buy it unless it is on sale”. She lives in Pittsburgh and when she heard that I was getting married she told me that she wanted to check out this great discount store that carries J.Crew overstock bridal dresses. Sure enough, we went to Gabriel Brothers (looks a lot like an 80’s Kmart with plastic hangers and linoleum floors) and they had just 1 dress in size 3 FOR $19.99.

Was it hard to find a dress in NYC? Which other shops did you reference?

I am sure it would have been super easy to find a dress in NYC but at what price? I really fell for a Lela Rose A-line wedding dress and probably would have gotten it if I had not found my other dress.

Would you recommend this discount store and gown to other petite brides?

I’m not sure I’d recommend Gabriel Bros because I was kind of lucky to find a great dress, in my size for $20. But overall J.Crew bridal is great.

Gabriel Brothers
3625 William Penn Highway
Monroeville, PA 15146

Tell me about your dress. Why did you choose it?

It was very simple. I wanted something comfortable without princess-y petticoats. I didn’t want to feel different than I would any other day.

Did you need any alterations to your gown?

I shortened both the bottom edge and the straps.

I love your jewelry. Where’d you get it?

My jewelry was an amazing collection of things!! My necklace and earrings were a gift from my best friend and her family. They were art nouveau inspired turquoise pieces. Is there a shop or designer for the jewelry you wore (love it!). My husband got my engagement ring from Fay Cullen.

My mother also lent me her wedding band which was my great grandmother’s wedding band. I also carried a handkerchief that goes back four generations in my husband’s family. Every bride has carried it!

Gimme some info about your fantastic socks, jacket you wore during the ceremony or that great navajo wrap you’re in in one of your pics.

I wore big warm angora socks that I got at TJ Maxx, it was very cold! I also had to wear a jacket during the ceremony because the culture is very modest. As you can see, my dress was a little too low cut. I wore a jacket for the ceremony that is vintage Pendelton my mom gave me.

The Navajo Wrap was from Pendelton too.

My wedding band is from Pave in Oakland. My ring size is a 7.5.

What shoes did you wear?

The shoes I wore to my wedding were moccasins from the Navajo Nation –I think they were around $100 or $150. My shoe size is a 7.5.

Any words of wisdom you would like to share with my readers about buying a petite wedding gown?

You’ll look great no matter what!! Don’t get too caught up in the details.

I had the pleasure to speak with Christina Dennis, Editor-in-Chief of the fantastic new petite e-zine Shorty Pantz. Published quarterly, Edmonton, Canada-based Shorty Pantz is a comprehensive resource for petites and petite sizing. (For the latest scoop on everything petite, be sure to sign up for their email list.)

Tell me about your e-zine shortypantz.com.

Shortypantz.com is a quarterly e-zine for the chic petite woman. Our articles focus on petite fashion and beauty, petite nutrition and fitness, and general issues that petite women face on a day-to-day basis. We also promote community through our social network, forum, and blog.

You welcome guest editors, right?

We definitely welcome guest article writers. We’re so excited about all of the trend-conscious, fabulous petite women that want to share their advice, and we love to publish articles from petites of all backgrounds, shapes, and points-of-view on our e-zine. If you’re interested in contributing, please contact us via the contact form on our site.

Tulle Shawl Collar Belted Jacket | XS | $58

What was your inspiration for Shorty Pantz?

Like many other petite women in their 20s, I felt there was a lack of stylish petite clothing and general advice both online and in other media. I wanted to bring a sense of community to petites like myself, and a sense of awareness to the fashion industry at large. We’re petites, but we’re not your momma’s petites! We’re trendy, chic and there are a lot of us out there!

What size / how tall are you?

I’m 5′3″ tall and wear a size 8 dress. I’m a curvy petite.

Delia’s Sophie Ultra Low Rise Wide Leg Jean | 00 | $40

Where do you shop in Canada, both online and boutiques?

I shop all over. Currently, I’m loving my petite jeans from Wal-Mart (yes, Wal-Mart — the “George” line often has some great petite items), my winter jacket from Fairweather Canada (they seem to carry jackets with a variety of sleeve lengths and shoulder widths), and my basic black skirt from Reitmans (they usually have a decent petite section). A similar skirt to the one I picked up at Reitmans is the Banana Republic wool pencil skirt. Online, I’m about to buy my first pair of jeans from Delias.com - they carry jeans in inseam lengths as short as 26″ and have great prices for thrifty petites like myself. The Tulle online shop also has a great petite friendly cropped jacket.

Banana Republic Wool Pencil Skirt | 00P | $78

Do you have a favorite clothing line?

I don’t really have a favorite clothing line at present. I purchase fashion items from a variety of sources and always shop by appeal (gotta love it at first sight!), fit, and price, in that order.

What am I missing? Anything else my readers should know about your e-zine?

We’d love to read comments on shortypantz.com from other petites! Please feel free to contact us through our site and let us know what you think of the e-zine, how we could improve it, and ideas for topics you’d like to see in future issues. With the help of petite women worldwide, we’d like to continue to publish the e-zine and grow together.

I had the opportunity to chat with Cynthia C about petite shopping in Toronto and about her blog, Shorty Stories. Her blog is an excellent resource for me, especially in the realm of sizing conversions and shopping trends north of the border – not to mention North America’s resident expert on shoe sizes smaller than a 5.

Fortunately for us, her dedication to petite sizing goes much further than fashion sense. Cynthia champions petite sizing by writing to both major chains and designers, requesting that they expand their sizing selection.

Tell me a bit about your blog.

The purpose of Shorty Stories blog — and my Web site — is to make people aware of petite issues, something the media rarely pays attention to. I got the idea after being sick and tired of plus-sized celebs making a big deal about their size issues.

Shorty Stories was developed a year after my main site, www.shorty-stories.com made its debut. I thought that it was a great idea to start a blog, which can be updated more frequently, and also allow more public participation. With the main Web site, people had to e-mail me before their quotes (which I later termed “Shorty Stories”) could be posted. With a blog, they could do it themselves. Most of my posts are regular written text, but I’ve also posted videos, including one encouraging mainstream media to promote petite and other non-standard sized designers –read the post.

What size are you? Pants, tops, shoes.

At most stores, I take a 0 or 00 in bottoms, tops, and dresses. I’ve been as big as a 2 or 4, but that’s usually at places like Zara or H&M, where extreme vanity sizing hasn’t happened. In terms of shoes, I’m a 5 (sometimes 4 ½). It’s tougher for me when it comes to shoe shopping because size 5 doesn’t always exist!

As for my shoes, I’d say that most of my shoes are Stuart Weitzman. He’s one of the few brands that actually make 5s or smaller! It’s virtually impossible for me to find shoes that cost less than $100, just because of my size. Size 5s (and I guess 12s) are always the first to go. Holt Renfrew (a high-end department store in Canada), which is where I usually get my shoes, seems to carry more 5s than other places. They do have Asian clientele, which is probably why. I also get shoes at Muskat Brown.

Do you have a favorite site or blog?

I visit Petite Fashionista regularly, and I also enjoy Laurie Roe’s blog. Laurie Roe and Lori Peffer own Petite Boutique in suburban Nashville. Just for fun, I read blogs in Glamour magazine and Jezebel.com.

Where do you shop — online and boutiques?

I’d LIKE to shop online more often, but I live in Canada, and many stores don’t deliver north of the border. In fact, many don’t even take non-US credit cards online. GAP Inc. stores used to, but stopped doing so in 2007. I only found out about it a couple of months ago when I tried to purchase a pair of pants from Banana Republic. So, yeah, I usually make it to the boutiques or regular mall stores. Never really had that much luck in department stores. The non-juniors clothes there, especially petite sizes, are mostly what I call “Old Lady Yuck.” I’ve found a few decent items, such as INC and Nine West, but I mostly stay away. I go to Ann Taylor and Ann Taylor Loft whenever I’m in the U.S.

Here are great places for petites to shop in the Toronto area:

Mavi, Paige & 7s

Muskat Brown (2528 Yonge St, Toronto) is okay if you’re looking for higher-priced items, work items (especially for women 35+) and small-sized shoes (they sell sizes 4 to 7 ½.) Here, I purchased the Sevens and Paige Premium Denim. I bought the Mavi jeans at Next Exit (202 Princess Street) in Kingston, Ontario, a university town two-and-a-half hours east of Toronto.

Pacific Mall is just north of the city proper. Because the clientele is overwhelmingly Asian, you’ll find lots of things that fit the petite figure (that is, the THIN petite figure.) However, if you’re very preppy or looking for work clothes, Pacific Mall is not the place to be. Pacific Mall is surrounded by competitive malls, but not all of them have Web sites.

As for mall stores:

Reitmans is a good store if you are on a budget (I’ve never really seen anything over $40 there), but it isn’t a good place if you’re small framed. The smallest size they carry is a 2, and it’s roughly the same as a Banana Republic 2 (maybe a bit smaller). Clothes are great for a casual office or for the weekend.

Laura is another mall store. The prices are higher than Reitmans, and they carry brands like Jones New York. Again, size selection isn’t the best for small-framed petites, as the smallest size is a 2P. But it’s great for everyone else, especially those over 30.

At the department store level, The Bay carries INC International Concepts in petite sizes, as well as Nine West in petites, which are both great for the younger petite crowd.

Hermes Kelly Handbag

What’s on your wish list?

Gosh… I’d have to say a Kelly bag from Hermes. Dress pants that I don’t have to alter, clothes that don’t swim on me, shoes that fit, and shoes I can buy on sale. I also wish that Ann Taylor would come north of the border, to Canada!

Anything new and exciting you’ve found? Petite brands, shopping etc?

House of Hsueh. It’s great to see more petite designers out there. I actually wore the eggplant-coloured dress to a gala movie premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. The designer, Benita Hsueh is based in Toronto and I had the opportunity to speak with her back in June– the interview is up on my blog. Recently, I saw jeans that were very petite-friendly at BCBG (they were labeled as “ankle” length.) Didn’t buy them, but did get a pair of Sevens. Other petite/shorter length jeans (from places other than Ann Taylor or Gap) I have are by Paige Premium Denim, and Mavi.

What else would you like to tell my readers about your blog or petite shopping?

The only way to inform people about petite sizing is to write about it and to spread the word. Come visit Shorty Stories and contribute!

A couple of weeks ago, I sat down with two girlfriends, Makiko and Mayumi. Like us, they’re petite. And, also like us, they love to shop.

Samantha Vega Purse | $220

What is your favorite Japanese handbag designer? What can’t you live without?

Makiko: I love my purse. It’s by IKCB and is well designed and totally functional.
Mayumi: My Samantha Vera bag.

Banana Republic Slide Sandal | 5.5 | $70 (sale price)

Where do you two shop in L.A.?

Mayumi: Macy’s, Hollister, Nordstrom, American Eagle Outfitters, Banana Republic (for the sales), and Forever 21 for accessories.
Makiko: J.Crew, Ann Taylor Loft, Garnet Hill, and J.Jill.

Many visiting Japanese women go to Robertson to shop at Kitson and also Fred Segal shops.

Any last words for my readers? What should they know about shopping in Japan?

Well, there is quite a bit of practical information to share:

You should know that the sizing is different. Everything is in centimeters.

While department stores will take credit cards, many boutique stores will not. So be sure to ask your sales staff before making a purchase.

The customer service in Japan is among the best in the world. Be prepared to have a sales person give you their utmost attention.

Wear a good pair of walking shoes. You’ll end up walking between the neighborhoods while shopping, so you’ll need a sturdy shoe to get around. The train is expensive to take (unless you get a JR pass). Also, be sure to get English rail maps, because they aren’t available in the stations. Taxis are really (really) expensive. The meter starts at $7.

Also, avoid trains during rush hour (7–9am) because people are literally crowded in them like sardines. This is where frequent pick pocketing happens. The last train runs at midnight, and the squishing is the same.

Furthermore, don’t show too much skin. You’ll want to wear tops and bottoms that cover above your collarbone and below the knee.

If your sales girl won’t make eye contact, it’s not because she is being standoffish, but because eye contact is considered rude. Look at people’s noses if you are unsure.

Are there any Japanese online shopping sites you could recommend to my readers?

We recommend Rakuten. It has everything and is a good online shopping experience. It’s also translated into English. In addition we recommend these online shops too:

Private Label Top

Jill Stuart Skirt

Jill Stuart – Everyone in high school wanted a Jill Stuart skirt!

Natural Beauty

Natural Beauty — They have a nice selection good for the office.

Pinky Girls

Pinky Girls — Source of my favorite coat!

Pinky & Dianne Jacket

Pinky & Dianne — There are really cute boots here.

Laissé Passé

Laissé Passé-- Good for a little of everything you may need.

Cecil McBee Dress

Cecil McBee — Affordable, though some of my friends think it’s for kids, or “gyaru.” I don’t agree. I still like this brand.

Share your petite-shopping woes with an Asian girlfriend, and they’ll impart sound advice: “You should go shopping in Asia.”

Of course, I’d love to cross the pond to Asia every time my wardrobe needs an update. But such extravagance is simply out of the question. So, I did what any petite gal would do. I invited my friend Makiko and Mayumi to brunch in West Hollywood. And, I interrogated them on the world of petite shopping in Japan. I was enlightened!

Jill Stuart Top

Where are you from?

What size are you?

Makiko: I’m a 2P in J.Crew and a 0 in J.Jill. At home I’m a size medium.
Mayumi: I’m a medium in Japan but a small here.

Where do you like to shop when you’re home?

Mayumi:
The malls are much higher scale in Japan/Tokyo than in the U.S. They’re more like Neimans or Saks.

We shop at a mall called 109 and another called OIOI in Tokyo. Both have a great selection, are affordable, and have great quality merchandise that caters to young professionals. We like the majority of shops there – it’s one stop shopping.

What are your favorite Japanese designers?

Mayumi: I like labels that are feminine like Private Label, Vicky, Samantha Thavasa, and Samantha Vera.

Makiko: I like to buy my lingerie in Japan. I think Japanese brands are better than U.S. brands. The quality, sizing, and material is more feminine and cut for smaller women. I also think that Japanese lingerie has cooler designs and is more functional.

Amo’s Style Lingerie

For instance, I have a lot of bras that have detachable straps. The bra is simple and comfortable, but it’s great to have the option to change up all the straps with whatever I’m wearing. I have some in multi colors and others with designs. This way it’s more acceptable if they are showing outside of your top — like if you have a wide-cut t-shirt. It adds a bit of sophistication to the bra and your overall look. There is a brand called Amo’s Style that is excellent. They’re really cute, comfortable, and priced well. You can get a matching bra and panty set for $20.

Edwin Jeans

Makiko: I also really like Edwin Jeans. I can’t live without them. They have a higher cut waist so your thong doesn’t hang out and a boot cut leg (which isn’t too wide). The denim has very little stretch to it, too, which I prefer.

Makiko: I really like Uniqlo. The styles are casual — it’s stuff you would wear on the weekend. They also have great cuts and colors. You can choose from almost every color under the sun and each season they introduce new ones. Another great thing about Uniqlo: there is a sale there every weekend — you never shop there on the weekday except to determine what you plan to buy that weekend. Everything is well made and is versatile with all your clothing. I own tons of their clothing — in Japan everything is designed to fit the small woman.

Uniqlo Yukata

What else is cool about Uniqlo is that they have started selling Yukata. These are similar to kimonos but much more casual. We wear them for the summer festival Natsu Matsuri– especially for watching the fireworks. You’d never wear the Yukata everyday — historically they were considered bed clothes — but today we wear them for informal, special occasions. You can get them for about $300 at Uniqlo, which is a good deal.

What U.S. designers are popular in Japan?

Jill Stuart, Victoria Secret, Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister, Mark Jacobs, and bebe.

Look at the magazines Can Cam, JJ, and Ray for great Japanese designs. These are three of the top fashion magazines that all the girls read. You can find them in West L.A. on Sawtelle at Asahiya Book Store. There is a Harakuju magazine called Non-no that would be interesting for you, too.

What about trends in Japan?

Trends in Japan start and end quickly. The fashion magazines control the trends so you need to read them to stay on top of everything that is new.

What is in style right now in Japan?

It’s about the same as here. The Japanese designs follow a lot of Western designs. For instance, short pants are in style in both places. If you are college age and female you have at least one expensive bag like a Louis Vuitton or a Gucci bag. Foreign brands are really chic.

Why?

Mayumi: You just do.
Makiko: I don’t. But many girls do.

Check back in a few days for Part 2 of this interview!

I’ve recently had the opportunity to chat with Peaquah, editor of the blog Kyushyu Chronicles, about her shopping experiences in Japan. Here you’ll find a wealth of information for your future Japanese shopping extravaganza.

What size are you? What is your height?

I am 4′11′’ and weigh in the upper 80’s, pound-wise. I used to be a size 0, but with all the size changes that have been happening I’ve been cast off to a petite 00. In Japan, most stores stock only mediums and larges, and I fit the medium.

Tell me where you are located and a bit about your blog.

I am located on Kyushu Island, the third largest island in Japan. My blog, Kyushu Chronicles, is primarily about my experiences working as a foreign language teacher in a Japanese high school. I also talk about strange everyday experiences, like the 16-category recycling system and the surgical masks people wear all winter. Perhaps the oddest thing for me so far has been that I “fit” (size-wise) in Japan, and can shop anywhere I want, but as a Westerner I still stick out like a sore thumb.

Hanjiro Second Hand Store

A fantasy of many petite gals is to go shopping in Asia where everything fits. Where do you like to shop?

I love shopping in Asia, and the cheaper countries — China, Thailand — are on my list of travel destinations in the next two years. I mainly shop in Fukuoka City, the largest city on the island and a half-hour train ride from my apartment. The city has all the traditional Japanese brands, plus an area with hundreds of boutique stores that sell everything from $1,000 vintage dresses to $3 Superman t-shirts. This area is also famous for its second hand stores. And while the prices aren’t as competitive as their USA counterparts, I’ve still found all kinds of goodies.

My next big shopping extravaganza will probably be Korea. It’s a short 3-hour ferry ride from Fukuoka City. I’m excited to check out the gigantic fabric stores in Seoul, funky Korean designers, and high-end fashion discount markets.

Muji

strong>Please give us the skinny about your favorite Japanese lines.

Hands-down, Uniqlo and Muji are the two stores in Japan that should export their petite (Japanese-sizing) lines. Uniqlo stands for “unique clothing” but they mainly cater to fashion trends in neutral colors. Right now the rage is shorts with suspenders and you can find them at Uniqlo in varying shades of tan, black, and cream. They also stock jeans, well-priced cashmere, button-down shirts, lingerie, and run a t-shirt contest in the summer. If you’re shopping at Muji you will find Gap-style pieces in navy, black, and white. Muji is great for basics — leggings, shirts, skirts — and everything purchased goes well with everything else. Both stored are well-priced (shirts for $25 and under) and, literally, on every street corner. It’s much cheaper than buying Gap in Japan (although they are sized down over here).

My Mare Mare Sandals

Any favorite articles of clothing?

I have a few cute dresses that I’ve picked up at second hand stores. Hanjiro, Super Spinns and WeGo are the most popular second-hand chains, and they’re found in most of the major cities. My favorite recent purchase is a dress I bought from Hanjiro that has giraffes and flowers in a graphic pattern. I also bought a pair of sandals from Mare Mare Global Market, a Japanese shoe store that sells funky well-priced sandals (mine cost around $45).

What’s your most recent purchase? Or, what is on your wish list?

My most recent purchase was a shirt from Uniqlo with a comic book-style store of Cinderella as a Japanese princess. Some of my favorite shopping in Japan is looking for “Engrish” t-shirts. These are shirts that have either badly translated Japanese, or are just meant to be funny. I nabbed this one with the elephant and ladybugs last Saturday. They’re always on my wish list.

Second Hand Shop Dress

Any words of petite shopping wisdom for shoppers on their way to Japan for a shopping spree?

Stock up on the basics in places like Uniqlo and Muji (who’s excited about coming to Japan to buy navy shirts for work?) and then have fun buying wild stuff in a second-hand area of town. Tokyo’s Harajuku springs to mind as well as Osaka’s Namba area. In Asia’s second hand stores, you don’t have to sort and sort to no avail, or come away with a single pair of ugly size five shoes you feel you HAVE to buy to make the trip worth it. Petite American shoppers are “Japan-sized,” and the second hand-stores are your mecca.

What brands are in your closet?

I’ve bought a few Gap items in Japan for work, but the rest is mostly Muji and Uniqlo for the basics. My fun stuff is from all over the place, but mostly places like Super Spins, Hanjiro, Lowry’s Farm, or a chain called B.L.U.E. that hand-sews their clothes.

Uniqlo Tokyo

Do you have any favorite online shops? Or, are there any great Japanese online retailers we should know about?

Shopping online in Japan is not without its own challenges — namely the language. Many of them won’t ship internationally, although the Japanese are famously kind so it’s worth sending an e-mail just to ask. Both Muji and Uniqlo have sites online, but I honestly don’t know if they ship Japanese sizes to the States.

Anything specific you would like to see on serafina in the future?

I think serafina does a great job of getting all levels of petite shoppers interested. I’d personally like to see more small businesses or individual people trying to start a petite line. Living in Japan has made me seriously consider starting my own petite clothing business, so I like to look for people who are already doing it to give them a leg up.

Coupled with my love of all-things-fashion, I’m fascinated with fabrics that are recycled into new, modern designs. Which is why I was elated to receive an email from designer Jen Sertl introducing her recycled vintage cashmere line Angelina Accoutrements.

Jen designs for women, using vintage cashmere as her main textile source. Everything is one-of-a-kind, as well as versatile and feminine. And, her creations fit petite woman just as beautifully as those over 5’4”.

How long have you been inspired to design with recycled fabrics?
Working with vintage cashmeres is something I truly love and enjoy every moment of. I hand-select each sweater based on quality (2-ply or more), style, and color. I find it invigorating to work with each vintage piece as each has inherent flaws to work around and with. It is a challenge I look forward to each time I pick one up. I incorporate Italian silk velvets, using embroidery and appliqués work.

What’s new in your studios? Do you have any new designs you would like to share with my readers?
New in my studio this season is my cashmere wrap, embellished with Italian silk velvet flowers, or plain and simple — which was my best seller this past season. They sold out at every trunk show. The best thing about them is their extreme versatility… they pair as easily with jeans and a tee, as they do with a skirt and boots. AND, the best discovery was how perfectly it suited a pregnant client of mine — it draped nicely over the belly and tied beneath it for a comfortable feel and look. She was thrilled to have an item of clothing that she could wear after the baby, too! They can also be worn in reverse and pinned with a vintage brooch.

New for this Fall — in addition to the ruffled edges of the cashmere, I have begun distressing it and then over-stitching those areas. Next, small neutral, hand-stitched seed beads nest themselves within and around the stitching. The look is subtle, and goes from day to night with a change of accessories.

What inspires you?
I was first inspired to work with recycled textiles out of necessity, though now from a larger sense of obligation. When I hand-select the cashmere and stumble upon beautiful designer pieces like Emanuel Ungaro, Michael Kors, etc., they might have one small hole or flaw, which, to some, seems irreparable. I love to give something a second life by working around it or cutting it up and starting over. I also like to incorporate the idea of a second life into the hang-tag by making a hand-written note that may say “I used to be boxy,” or for the beaded pieces, “In my next life, I am a Rockette!” It adds a little fun, and it lends itself nicely because coming up with a “style” name for each one-of-a-kind piece is nearly impossible.

Where is Angelina sold? Online and boutiques.
My designs are currently sold through private trunk shows, online, and local St. Louis/Chicago boutiques. This Fall, they will also be available at a boutique in Montana. Truly this year is the year of the big launch: of both the Website and getting out of my Midwest studio — Saint Louis.

What is your size range? Do you take special orders?
Sizes range from XS to XL. And, I do take special orders.

What else would you like to mention to my readers?
I also do A-line skirts which are mostly raw silk, or silk dupioni with hand-made, raw-edged silk ruffles — wrap-style, knee length, long opera length, and adjustable elastic waists.

Petite fashion blogger, Moi of Ma Petite Chou, blogs voraciously about everything under the sun. Namely, Hollywood fashion, Asian designers, and fantastic finds worldwide.

She kindly accepted my interview. And below, her two cents about her blog, fashion, and what’s hot online.

Tell me a bit about your blog.
It’s a fashion and shopping blog where I talk about fashion trends, where to shop, where you can find great deals and discounts online, my love for shopping, and all things pretty and girly.

Inspiration? Do you have a favorite site or blog?
I frequent so many blogs on a daily basis I could never narrow it down to just one favorite.

You are an avid eBay shopper –- is it easy to find petite sizes?
I find that sellers in Asia offer a much better selection for smaller sizes, which I really like, aside from the ultra-cute and girly style that I’m crazy about. My favorite Asian eBay seller is Ever-Pretty US.

MNG | Tad Esfera Dress | $55

Banana Republic | Empire Waist Dress | $148

Any favorite articles of clothing?
My dresses; they are very versatile. I can wear them in so many ways, dressing them up or down. So, I have lots of fun with them. I love dresses from H&M, Le Chateau, Banana Republic, Mango, and Zara, among many, many others.

Shopping haunts?
I’m located in a small town an hour away from Toronto, Canada. So, If I want to do some serious shopping, I go to Toronto and shop ‘til I drop at the larger shopping malls, such as Yorkdale and Eaton’s Centre — these are my favorites.

Aldo Slovakia Pump | $109

My choice stores: Le Chateau, Aldo, H&M, Banana Republic, Club Monaco, Mexx, and Jacob. I also spend an obscene amount of time on online stores like Style Violet, Rampage, Lulu’s Fashion Lounge, Shopbop, Girlshop, Intermix, Mandee, YesStyle, GoJane, Daisymaze, Cutesyshoes, and so many others.

Your most recent purchase?
Ultra low-rise boyshorts from Garage Clothing. They have the cutest prints on them — I got some with monkeys and hippos — and they are insanely comfortable.

Any words of petite shopping wisdom?
Although I haven’t done it, a petite friend (at 5′0″ tall) buys clothes in children’s section (usually for girls, age 10-14). She has a closet filled with cute skirts and tops that fit her just right.