While Union Square and Hayes Valley has celebrated shopping, I love to shop in Chinatown for the odds and ends you can’t find anywhere else. There are always interesting things you can find to spruce up any wardrobe and all of it is at bargain prices. Almost all Chinese goods found in China can be found here… really you name it they’ve got it. And since SF has a much bigger Chinatown than L.A. — I’m always excited to meander through it.

Think baskets and baskets of plastic jewelry galore, silk bags in every color under the rainbow replete with bamboo handles, soft elegant scarves that dress up any ol’ pair of jeans and loads of cheap tanks and t-shirts for only a few bucks. And as you may have guessed all of the sizing runs small. Its always a great deal of fun and also worth stopping for great libations and eats.

You can also find legit fine jewelers with affordable prices, perfect for gift giving even if its for yourself. My favorite? The jade, of course.

If you are in the kitchen as often as I’d like to be, you know that having the perfect apron is important. Being petite its not always easy to find an apron that fits. Shopping this weekend I tore through the Anthropologie at The Grove to uncover this little gem. Its small! If you are a small petite chica the potato print apron is all about you. You’ll find this specific apron in the kids section — really. If you’re a 00P or 0P you’ll fit perfectly into these little numbers. And you’ll look hot in it too — gotta rock the kitchen.

Check out the large variety of aprons from Anthropologie. I love that they are designing for the kitchen, so important!

I had the chance to catch up with a few petite bloggers on what they’ve been purchasing for spring this week.

Christa Jean at Petite Fashionista

My most recent purchase was a pink wrap dress from Bebe. I’m a huge fan of wrap & shirt dress styles and this dress combines the details of both. This dress embodies the features that will flatter almost any petite frame. This will be my go-to dress to feel comfortable and look pulled together.

Plus you can make it look sexy depending on how you accessorize. For example, for a date you can wear it as shown or for a more demure look, try a basic cami underneath, pull your hair into a low ponytail, simple shoes and voila–insta chic!

Christina at Shorty Pantz

I simply adore is this cute little dress by Forever 21 in my new favorite neutral for spring - grey! It’s sold as a tunic top, but is the perfect length for a petite dress. The ruching on the bust adds curves where I want them, and the empire cut creates a narrow-looking waist. For a night out, I slip on the dress, accessorize with a long, beaded necklace, throw on some silver flats, and I’m ready to go!

I’m an 8P. The dress size I bought was a medium and I purchased it at Forever 21 in West Edmonton Mall. It’s wash and wear!

Ma Petite Chou

My most recent purchase is an accessory for my laptop. I bought three really cute laptop skins from www.gelaskins.com. It’s a site that sells artist-designed laptop and iPod skins. I think they’re really cool. Styles range from anime style, abstract art and classic paintings. If your readers are looking to dress up their gadgets this is the place!

serafina

I purchased a Cristi Conaway top at the Beige super sale. Its absolutely gorgeous. It pairs well with everything in my closet and all of my jewelry. And the XS fits perfect in the arm, bust and hip.

Cynthia at Shorty Stories

I just got a pair of Seven For All Mankind Flip Flop jeans from Muskat Brown. The waist size is 24 in a petite length, and the inseam is approximately 30”. They’re excellent and I don’t have to hem them!

My old apron was given to me as a gift. And, let me tell you, it may be keeping spaghetti sauce off of my cashmere sweaters but it is definitely not flattering. It’s enormous, hangs like a potato sack down to mid-calf, and (as if it could get any more heinous) has a great big cappuccino on it. Not something I like to sport during dinner soirees.

Peacock | S | $62

Jubilee | One Size | $42

Try the S if you are a 0 or 2. Both the Peacock and the Fujiyama aprons are particularly chef worthy. And they take special offers, so if the size or design doesn’t fit– they’ll work with you.

Fujiyama | S | $62

No need to feel frumpy in your apron any longer. As the company motto says: Life happens. Look fabulous.

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
Map