I checked out the Barney’s Co-op sale at The Grove last weekend, and I of course bought nothing on sale. Although I did get two great new classic pieces for my summer wardrobe.

Velvet Shireen Dress

Its super sexy on and I love the double layer of cotton gauze. And, it looks perfect without a bra. Did I mention it’s machine washable?

Theory Palmer Pant

I’ve been searching endlessly for a new linen pant and I’ve finally found it. What’s great is that its a blend and doesn’t rumple as easily. The Palmer pant is perfect for going from the office to dinner. Want it in another color? It comes in tan too.

Sizing isn’t true to the above image, they hit at the ankle for me.

I’m all about finding the tried-and-true brands, like Thoery, Raven, and J. Crew. And with them, I found both perfect classic and gorgeous white pants for spring. These designs will flatter your petite curves and grace your closet for more than one season.

Theory
Theory always fits well in the hip, booty, and thigh, and they make me feel polished. This label understands the power of flattering designs and the subtleties of stretch fabrics. The only drawback? Depending on the heel height of your favorite sandal, you may need a trip to the tailor.

Theory Tinsley Pant | $245

***

Theory Ani Pant | $225

Raven Tailored
Simply put, you can’t go wrong with Raven tailored trousers. The classic fit of the McKenzie trouser is flattering for any occasion, and with its cotton and polyurethane blend, it’s machine washable.

Raven McKenzie Stretch Trouser | 24 | $220

J. Crew
In general, J. Crew pants are cut for a 5’2” gal’s leg length. Those closer to 5’3” or 5’4” will want to wear a flat or low heel.

My favorite J. Crew petite fit is the Keaton Pant. This high-waisted cotton and linen pant is a true classic and will perfectly accentuate any petite frame. Trust me on this one: you’ll want a pair in every color. The Keaton Pant is perfect for a weekend in Malibu or a Hollywood soiree.

J.Crew Keaton Pant | 0P | $79.50

***

J.Crew City-fit Buttery Twill Trouser | 0P | $69

Here at serafina, we write a lot about denim because finding the perfect fit (and style and color) is an elusive task. Often, we end up paying a fortune. And that’s before the requisite trip to the tailor.

Well, things are changing, thanks to the new custom jeans brand indi. With indi, petite women can rejoice in custom-tailored denim. Shall I repeat that? Custom-tailored denim.

Each design is entirely unique with over a hundred style variations to choose from, including denim, wash, waist, leg style, distress, pocket-length, and more. indi also allows you to create your perfect jean from start to finish. Their philosophy: you aren’t mass-produced, so why wear clothing that is?

Accurate measurements are key, of course, so if you are unable to take them yourself, see that trusty tailor (because he’s sure going to miss you!).

And the best part? They’re competitively priced and shipped read-to-wear.

Blue Notch Jeans, a new Korean denim line, were featured at the Grammy Style Studio, complete with racks of the sexiest-ever skinny denim for sale. These jeans were ultra-comfortable and lightweight and are sewn with denim that is imported from the finest mills in Japan.

My favorite feature of Blue Notch is the stretch – they give a little in all the right places. They really do fit like a glove, accentuating all my sexy petite curves. And they go with everything in my closet.

If the signature charcoal wash and stretch factor aren’t charming enough, consider this: tethered to either the front coin pocket or the back belt loop is a signature barbell or horseshoe earring.

Blue Notch attended the GSS to promote their limited-edition silk denim values, which are valued at $1,000 per pair, a price exclusive to the GSS. Typical pricing for the line runs between $180 and $220.

Sizing starts at 24. Blue Notch is available at Planet Blue in Santa Monica, and Atrium and Henri Bendel in NYC.

At Ron Herman’s Jean Bar, it’s all about the denim. And let me tell you, a jean bar is the way to go. Really, its one stop shopping to score loads of small sizes.

Ksubi Black Skinny Jean with Black Stitching | 25 | $215

At Ron Herman’s, you’ll find every hip and cult brand of denim with sizing starting at 23 (and, occasionally, 22; call the Melrose location for in-stock sizes). Step inside and you’ll find 7 for All Mankind, Acne Action Jeans, Cheap Monday, Brown Label, Citizens of Humanity, Deener, Earnest Sewn, J Brand, Jenny Jen, JET, Kova & T, Ksubi, Loomstate, Paige Premium Denim, Rag & Bone, Raven Denim, Rock & Republic, Rich & Skinny, True Religion, and Kasil, my all-time favorite. If you don’t see your size online, contact the Melrose store as they may have the size available.

For those outside L.A., you’ll find an excellent online shopping experience. In addition to its denim guide and range of sizes, Ron Herman features the denim preferences of our favorite celebs, plus a live-chat option if you have questions for their stylist. (I highly recommend this service for small-size denim questions.)

Kasil Sullivan Trouser Jean | 24 | $220

Alas, most of their denim lines will run long for petites. But, never fear — the jean bar provides complimentary hemming for local shoppers.

Fred Segal / Ron Herman
8100 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 651–4129

You know the routine. You head out to find that pair of perfectly fitted trousers and, out of frustration, end up buying jeans. Finding a great pair of pants is tough — at least it used to be. These days, I look for Raven Tailored, a line designed by brothers Erez and Eyal Zaru. With the Raven Tailored line I get a choice of ass-flattering, not-to-high- and not-to-low-waisted trousers, with either a slim- or wide-leg design to complement each and every pair of heels in my closet. (No small feat, mind you.)

Raven is — by far — my favorite pair of winter pants. They’re a soft wool blend and lined to the knee, the pricing reflects the perfectly fitted design, but consider it a sound investment. I found mine at the Big Drop in SoHo.

For those outside of NYC, you’ll find Raven (Tailored or Denim) on any number of online boutiques, including Shopbop, Lisa Kline, Blue Fly, Shop Style, and Shop Twigs. In NYC you can find Raven at the Big Drop’s three locations; in L.A. find ‘em at Lisa Kline’s stores.

***

High Waist Striped Trouser Pant | 0 | $148

***

Classic Trouser Pant | 0 | $148

The denim warehouse sale is back in L.A. this weekend. I attended the last sale and got a pair of dark denim Citizens of Humanity for $80 and wide leg light weight Chip and Pepper jeans for $70. They had a huge selection of size 23, 24 & 25 jeans in all lines– not to mention skirts and shorts too. And they have all of your favorite denim lines: JBrand, Seven, James etc. If you need denim this is a great sale. Get there early ’cause the line will be long.

Saturday is VIP day with $15 pre-sale ticket that are $25 at the door.
Sunday RSVP for free admission or pay $5 at the door.

December 15th and 16th
Saturday and Sunday
10am - 4pm

Los Angeles Convention Center - Concourse Hall
1201 S. Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015

They are also in Santa Barbara this Wednesday December 12th from 12noon to 8:00pm.

Fess Parker’s Double Tree Resort - Grand Ballroom
633 E. Cabrillo Blvd
Santa Barbara, CA 93103

The Warehouse Sale travels to many other U.S. cities! Be sure to check out their sale schedule. There are sales listed for San Francisco, San Diego, Scottsdale and more.

Ladies, ever lament why all the world’s pants are designed for women who have gams longer than a football field?

An ongoing problem for petite gals of all sizes, and also the cry of help that Sunny Suppa, president, founder, and designer of the new pants line 5ft2in™, relied on in desperate moments. Being a petite gal who needed properly fitted pants, Sunny realized her calling and developed a new line especially for us smaller gals.

Introducing 5ft2in™, the pants line that caters to professional women sized 5’2” and under. Although not yet available in shops (keep faith, she promises very soon), they’re likely to change your world. I was lucky to get an interview with Sunny this month. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

1. What inspired you to begin your petite pants line?

Petite women inspired me! I was a design student who had just learned how to sew when professional petite women started to ask me to help them hem their pants for their office jobs. I never intended to do hemming work but soon the word spread and I became the hemming girl. I found myself surrounded by professional petite women who all encouraged me to start a clothing line for vertically-challenged women because there’s nothing out there in the stores.

2. Tell me about your line.

5ft2in™ is a pants line designed for professional petite women who are 5’2” and under in all sizes. My definition of a professional woman is woman who either works in an office or has her own business and she has to look professional in her work environment. I design pants that are perfect for business casual and can be worn from day to night. What’s special about these pants is that I did not use industry sizing standards to create them. Instead, I created my own sizing standards by studying the petite women’s bodies. The fit is really what make 5ft2in™ pants stand apart, and they don’t need hemming!

3. Can you tell me what your pants will be like? Materials, sizing, designs?

The material I used is a mix of rayon, polyester, and a touch of Lycra. It’s machine washable and extremely comfortable. All of the pants are made for petite women and they are tested on petite women. The first line for 5ft2in™ is a collection of classic inspired contemporary pants. As much as I enjoy fashion, it was important for me to create these classic pieces first to ensure that petite women out there have their closet essentials. Sometimes the hardest item to find at the store is a pair of simple black pants that fit!

4. When will 5′2″™ be available for purchase? Online/ in stores?

I’m talking to a couple of stores right now and there’s a possibility of a trunk show coming up at the end of the year. I’m also working on getting my e-commerce site up so petite women can shop to their heart’s content! Please check my website for updates, www.5ft2in.com.

5. What sizes will you carry?

Sizes offered right now are from 0 – 12, and the pants run small. As the company grows, I plan included other sizes from 00 all way to 28; however, for now, I have to start with what is manageable for my company size.

6. Will you only create pants or will you also have shorts, skirts, etc.?

In the beginning, there will be pants and capris. I plan to add more styles in the future, including shorts and skirts.

7. What pants do you currently wear? Can you recommend them to my readers?

Right now I usually wear Banana Republic or Ann Taylor. I have a really hard time finding pants that fits in the store for my height (I’m 5’2 ½”). I love Lucky Brand jeans.

8. I’m just barely 5′4″ and a 00P. Do you think you will leave enough material in the pant hem for girls my size to take the hem down?

I’m really glad you asked this question. One unique feature about 5ft2in™ pants is that they are made with generous hem that allows petite women the ability to cuff their pants and still have it look proper if they need to. For instance, they can cuff their pants during their commute on the subway, and let it down when they put on their heels at work. This feature has a great alternative benefit: if you happen to find the pants too short for you (a rare occurrence for petite woman) there should be plenty of material to take down.

9. Did I miss anything? Anything else you would like my readers to know?

In the beginning when I started this company, I hit some bumps in the road and it made me doubt what I was doing. I wondered: Did my company truly have potential? Once again petite women set me straight as I watch their reactions to 5ft2in™. From their feedback, I came to realize that in addition to designing clothes, I was doing something greater for petite women. I was making them feel good about themselves. And that’s when I realized the mission 5ft2in™ is about empowerment and giving back confidence to petite women. So I want your readers to know that I truly appreciate hearing from them and their feedback means a lot to me and the development of 5ft2in™. I do read all the e-mails I receive, and, though I may not always be able to write back to everyone in a timely manner, I am listening and please keep your feedback coming. My e-mail is info (at) 5ft2in (dot) com.

edited by serafina

Photo credit: Jennifer Graham Photography, www.jgrahamphoto.com

Ladies, I’m on a mission to save us that requisite trip to the tailors after an otherwise-perfect shopping spree. And, finally. Finally, I tell you! I’ve found the answer.

Introducing Petite Legs, a new UK-based line of denim designed exclusively for those 5’2” and under. President, founder, and designer, Samantha Loton, shares our passion for jeans that fit perfect the first time.

1. What inspired your petite-pants line?

As a 5-foot petite girl with an inside leg length of 26 inches and a UK Size 8 body, shopping for jeans would always border on impossible! I would scout the petite sections, find a pair I liked, and they would still be far too long at the leg. I would always have to pay extra for an alteration service, and it frustrated me how I wasn’t of abnormal size, and yet the shops wouldn’t cater for my jeans needs at all. I became aware of petite girls around me with rolled up jean legs and frayed trouser hems from too long trousers dragging along the ground, and realized just how difficult it is for us petites to buy jeans. So, to save myself and other petites from being banished to children’s sections, I created Petite Legs!

2. Tell me about your line. Where are you located?

Petite Legs is located in England; Norwich and Lincoln. Our boutique is currently on eBay, which can be found through our Web site.

3. What are the materials, sizing, designs like?

Currently, Petite Legs stock mainly denim jeans, as I felt buying jeans was the main problem for us petites, as they are hardest to alter. Petite Legs focuses on inside leg length/inseam as the most important factor, and we currently range from 26” leg to 29” — but plan to include smaller sizes. Our jeans are of excellent quality, with stylish and unique designs. We are still a new boutique, so we are working on expanding our selection of designs and sizes, but currently aim to stock to offer something to everyone’s liking. Styles currently include Straight Leg, Boot Cut, Flair, Wide Leg, and Tight Fit. Waist-wise, we range from a UK size 6 to a UK size 16, and are developing our range to include plus-sized petite leg jeans.

4. I see that Petite Legs is an eBay boutique. Will you be selling the line to any US or UK shops?

No, our line is available exclusively to our Petite Legs eBay boutique, with plans to open an online store: www.petitelegs.co.uk.

5. Will you have only denim, or will you also feature trousers?

We intend on expanding our range to include petite trousers as well as denim jeans, and plan on increasing our range of crop trousers.

6. Will you only create pants or will you also have shorts, skirts, etc.?

We plan to expand our whole range, with jeans available in a short-leg length from UK sizes 6 – 18. And if personal demand is there, we hope to stock sizes around this, so please contact us with suggestions! We also have exciting plans to expand to general petite-sized clothing such as shorts and skirts, and possibly upper-body clothing. So, bookmark petitelegs.co.uk and see how Petite Legs develops!

7. What size are you? Which designers do you currently wear? And can you recommend them to my readers?

I am a size 8 with an inside leg length of 26 inches, meaning I always struggle finding jeans to fit! I’ve only ever found one pair of jeans that fit me perfectly at the leg, and these were capri trousers from Gap. I love the style of jeans from Topshop, but I always find them too long at the leg, and have to pay for alterations. Next has a good petite range but, again, I had to get them turned up.

Petite Legs Straight Leg Denim

8. Anything new that you would like to share?

We encourage any advice and suggestions from petite girls, and would like to know what they want to see from Petite Legs. It’s also helpful to know what sizes people are, so I can take this into account when sourcing jeans!

9. Did I miss anything? Anything else you would like my readers to know?

I would like to explain that with Petite Legs jeans, our focus is on the inside leg length being petite, which means you don’t have to be a petite girl to have shorter legs. So we encourage suggestions from larger girls with shorter legs in order to expand our larger waist range.

10. Your smallest UK size is a size 6 (US 4). Any word on when you plan to offer smaller sizes like UK 2 & 4 (US 0 & 2)?

Currently the smallest waist size we offer is size 6 (UK), but we do aim to offer smaller sizes in the near future.

edited by serafina

There is oodles of affordable designer denim on eBay. I’ve found a few choices that may interest all of you in various small sizes.

Earnest Sewn Jeans | Viceroy Trouser Boot Cut Fit | NWT | Size 24 | $12

***

Seven For All Mankind | Wide Leg | NWT | Size 24 | $60

***

Kasil Midrise Boot Fit | NWT | Size 23 | $1

***

***

Juicy Couture Wide Leg Trouser Jean ‘Warhol’ | NWT | Size 24 | $35

The absolute best pair of skinny jeans I have found that fit my skinny lil frame impeccably are Diesel’s Lowky Lowrise skinny jeans. Available in their deep indigo wash, they fit divinely in the leg and make my ass look utterly marvelous. And, as a skinny jean, there are no pain points with the fit.

Over the years I’ve found myself purchasing Diesel when other high-end denim lines didn’t fit or were outrageously priced. For me, Diesel gives me the most bang for my buck and I’m never disappointed with my purchase, or the fit. Diesel jeans come in sizes as small as 24W/30L.

Diesel’s Lowky Lowrise skinny jeans can be found at the Diesel stores at Third Street Promenade and the Beverly Center for between $220 - $260.

DIESEL Santa Monica
1340 Third Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 899-3055

DIESEL Los Angeles
Beverly Center #778
8500 Beverly Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(310) 652-5504

Online you can find these jeans at eLuxury for $125.