Wool suiting for me is always a highlight of every fall collection. As an Angelena, I’ve been thrilled to wear my wool when it gets chilly (now its a choice — it used to be a necessity). BCBG has a few great pieces with sizing that starts in XXS this season. Their suits this year are much more lovely than the last few seasons, and the designs won’t date too quickly. You will most-likely need to hem the pants but its worth it – the suiting is stunning.

As a professional woman and an XXS, I’m always looking for the right business attire. BCBG has always been one of my favorite lines to rock the boardroom. They do not disappoint; dress it up or dress it down their suiting will travel to Hong Kong with all the bling and minimal rumple.

Moi-Même is your one stop petite shop for professional attire made to fit the only body that really matters — yours.

And, ladies, I’m thrilled to announce that Moi-Même is offering serafina readers a $50 discount off orders through September 30, 2008. Yep, that’s right, stock up on your custom apparel for fall!

Just a few simple rules apply:

- To get your discount you must show a print out of Moi-Même discount entry from serafinablog.com to redeem (just print out the page), or mention the ‘serafina discount’ in your email order.

- One discount per shopper.

- Each discount may be redeemed only once.

- Discount expires on September 30, 2008, if not redeemed (so get your orders in!)

- You can’t redeem your discount for cash.

Also, don’t forget to join the Moi-Même mailing list to stay abreast of all new info about the line. Thanks again Dawn!

*Moi-Même reserves the right to change gift certificate terms and conditions at its discretion.

Girls, have you been longing for those classic staple pieces for your wardrobe but can never find them because you are a 00 and under 5’2”? Well you can sit back and relax because Below Zero Petites founder Debbiann has just made your life a whole lot easier.

I spoke with Debbiann about her first line this week.

Below Zero Petites is a new company that caters to the small-framed petite woman less than 5’ 2” who happens to have some curves. They differ from other petite lines as they cut in smaller proportions than the average 0 and 00.

Below Zero Petites offers four classic, sophisticated pieces necessary for every woman’s wardrobe: a suit, wrap dress, cocktail dress and elegant nightgown. Understandably, when you’re small its exceedingly difficult to find proper pieces that don’t need to be taken to a tailor.

“We provide a line of clothing that will proportionately dress you like the beautiful woman you are. We specialize in smaller than petite size clothing to fit the small stature women – Our first line of clothing will present the basics that every sophisticated, working or stay-at-home mom should have in her closet.”

Their garments are not vanity sized. The dimensions of the line will continue to be consistent with every piece of clothing that they design and cut.

Debbieann went on to say, “I would love to say that I am a size zero, but the truth of the matter is that I cannot find a size zero that accurately fits my small frame. I am a small -framed petite woman who has a plus size personality who loves clothes.”

“The lack of small framed petite clothing in the apparel industry is what got me motivated by the void in the industry to design clothes that respectfully, empower, the small-framed petite professional women to feel successful and powerful and to be taken seriously.”

“Below Zero Petites came to conception out of my own personal frustration as an educator who could not find professional clothes that fit my small framed petite body. I created my line of clothing– after years of exhausting myself from trying to find a name brand that didn’t vanity size a size zero. Below Zero Petites is a clothing line that is true to its name and sizes. Our XS petite starts out with a 29 bust/ 22 waist / 27 inseam and our XL petite ends with a 34 bust/ 25 waist/ 28 inseam.”

If you aren’t in the 0 or 00 range rest assured they are offering sizing that runs SP to XLP. Because as you know, being petite doesn’t necessarily mean ‘petite’ – just that you’re short. Questions? Send Debbiann an email or check out her sizing chart.

Us petites, we know a thing or three about a tailored fit, and how it’s near impossible to find it off the rack. So we all deserve to know about Moi Meme, Dawn Verbrigghe’s oh-so-appropriate personal tailoring service. Dawn is serafina’s guest editor for May. Take it away Dawn!

Like you — and most American women — I have a hard time finding off-the-rack clothing that fits. It all started when I moved to NYC from California a few years ago and realized the skirt suits I wore in California were too lightweight to get me through a New York winter. I spent months shopping for a smart, stylish pant suit (my legs are too long for most pants). To no avail. So I began thinking about custom apparel.

Last year, I launched my own custom fashion business, Moi-Meme Attire. We design two collections each year, and tailor our garments made-to-measure for our customers. We meet customers by appointment only at our showroom in the Garment District.

My mission with the business is to help women find stylish and great-fitting, custom-designed clothing — regardless of their size — at an affordable price. And we work with many petites. As I began writing this entry for serafina, I searched my database and discovered that fully 44% of my customers have a natural waist measurement of 28” or smaller. Our petite customers look to us for contemporary professional attire, which is more difficult to find in petite departments.

Our petite bestsellers include the Reykjavik jacket, Cairns pencil skirt and Cape Town pant. The Reykjavik jacket is new for spring/summer, and we designed it with petites in mind. The waistband is perfectly flattering and the fabric below the waistband is symmetrical with the fabric above the waistband (to the top button), so it evens out a petite’s proportions.

The Cape Town pant is simply a great fit. Because everything is custom, the rise will be the correct length and the waistband rests wherever you prefer on the body. Hemming, of course, is included.

Also new for s/s and great for petites: the Singapore shift dress. The waistband features a topstitch detail that matches that of the Reykjavik jacket, so they go well together. In a vertical stripe fabric (with a horizontal stripe waistband), you petites look long and lean.

As for shipping internationally, the answer is “yes,” but with the same caveat as any out-of-NYC order: measurements must still be taken by a trained Moi-Même Style Consultant and we are not responsible for alterations made outside our showroom (naturally).

Questions for Dawn? Leave a comment for a response!

Petite professionals, hear this: You don’t have to settle for Ann Taylor (and the like) for smart office attire.

Follow my lead: I frequent BCBG for stylish work clothes. And why? Because its size 0 / XXS fits me oh-so-well with a line that caters to a size 32 bust, 25 waist, and 35 hip.

BCBG suits are equal parts sexy and professional. Size XXS is a comfortable fit around the shoulders, and the leg length is perfect — a reoccuring problem for little me. I wear BCBG’s suits almost exclusively — not only for the fit, but because the colors and fabrics are more appealing than the usual, bland neutral-toned petite suits.

While in NYC last weekend, I paid a visit to the Flatiron BCBG boutique on 5th Avenue. And, as expected, its sales staff was duly educated in BCBG merchandise and sizing. So I asked about petite sizing, and just how many of those coveted sizes arrive per order. This particular shop generally orders five size XXSs in tops and dresses, and five size 0s in pants and skirts, and only one or two size 5s in all shoe and boot styles.

All things considered, I’m impressed.

Most shops order a mere one XXS size per style, and even that varies per order. Same goes for retail boutiques and larger stores such as Nordstrom’s and Dillard’s.

Another BCBG option for XXS is their BCBGirls lines. And while the styles are a bit more youthful, its flare adds a much-needed kick to the solid colors and straight lines of a typical professional gal’s wardrobe. Their size chart varies from BCBG: the size 0 / XS caters to a size 32 bust, 25 waist and 35 hip.

BCBG locations run the gamut in SoCal. In LA, you can find BCBG XXS sizes at the following locations:

BCBG: Max Azria - Hollywood & Highland Center
6801 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood, CA 90028
(323) 463–1922

BCBG: Max Azria - Rodeo Drive
443 North Rodeo Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(310) 275–3024

BCBGirls & BCBG: Max Azria - Melrose
8026 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 658–8083

BCBGirls at BCBGirls - Citadel Outlets
100 Citadel Drive
Commerce, CA 90040
(323) 722–8313

The best BCBG boutiques in NYC:

BCBGMAXAZRIA - Flatiron
168 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10010
(212) 989–7307

BCBGMAXAZRIA - SoHo
120 Wooster Street
New York, NY 10012
(212) 625–2723