my ex girlfriend who shall we say had a few extreme opinions reckoned that why we see predominately tall and very slim women on the catwalks was that a great deal of designers were homosexuals and had no appreciation for the curves of the average woman
My current girlfriend who is 5'0" echoes the thoughts of most of you on here that hardly anything of the moment unless bought in petite fits right ,too long in the leg ,too long in the sleeve too much material around the hip and crotch area etc etc.

fox, I always think of models as being 'living clothes hangers'. I guess the longer and thinner a model is, the more you see of the clothes, and not the 'hanger'.

A curvaceous and/or short model would cause people to actually look at the woman, and as egotistical as most of these designers are, that just wouldn't be acceptable I suppose.

try softsurroundings.com.

Catherine, it sounds like you could wear all the clothes made by haute couture designers! Too bad they can't be snapped up in The Bay on surprise sale day!

I'm 5' on a good day, and over the years gone from 8's to 14-16's depending on the brand. I buy much from catalogues, finding macy's petite too old-looking in recent years. Try Chadwicks of Boston, they have petites, very basic styles, altho they are getting more trendy recently. For my voluptious sisters, there is Jessica London. I admit I sometimes have to have hems altered just an inch or two. I also like Silhouettes, their clothes fit well, and their blouses are actually ok, not too long length or sleeves. Drapers and Damon's has stores and catalogue sales, elegant looks, very well made, for the more mature woman, and their petite sizes fit me well.

I think these stores are making a big mistake in eliminating/downsizing petite departments. Had I been able to find unusual, age appropiate (read no plunging necklines) in Macy's or Robinson-May years ago, perhaps I would still be spending my hard-earned dollars there.

A double GRRRRRR to them all, they will reap what they sow.

I'm only 5'1.....the shortest female in my family by a good ten inches *tear*.

As for petite's clothing, I am with all who say Nordie's...their stuff is timeless and looks as good on me as it does someone twice my age and then some...good tailoring is never out of fashion. I find I also have luck with lane Bryant, being extremely curvy and short, they are the only store around whose shirts don't give me the dreaded "gap-osis".

I noticed when I was younger that many of the petite lines were boxy and boyish, not at all pretty and not cut for anyone with curves but that has delightfully changed. praise be!