The floppening of fashion

October 14, 2014 9:03 AM

I need help finding non-floppy tops to wear to work. As a petite woman with a nice figure, all I can find is tops that are loose and baggy; I'm looking for clothes that are a little more form-fitting.

I wear XS and need new work clothes for a business casual office.

If you look at J.Crew, Ann Taylor, Express, and Limited, they all have that baggy look that goes straight down from the armpit to the hip.

I am pretty petite (110 lbs, 5'2'') so this floppy style kind of overwhelms me. I am looking for some tops that are a little more form-fitting and give a little definition to the bust and waist, while still being appropriate for the workplace. Bonus if they have 3/4 sleeve.

Thanks for your suggestions!

posted by jschu to Shopping (20 answers total)

I will be following this because I was just searching for the same thing.

I did find this boat-necked 3/4 sleeve shirt from Ann Taylor Loft and they have it in Regular and Petite.
posted by hydrobatidae at 9:31 AM on October 14, 2014 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Good find. Here is pretty much the only thing I can find that fits my criteria. Ann Taylor Petite Crepe Wrap Top.
posted by jschu at 9:41 AM on October 14, 2014

Give up now. I occasionally find fitted and
weird stretch fabric tops at cheapo stores like Fashion Bug.

Macy's wants you to believe they can help but things are not always as fitted as advertised.

If you are short and have a waist, you are doomed to look like a fire plug in inexpensive corporate drag.

Sweaters help.
posted by Lesser Shrew at 9:47 AM on October 14, 2014 [3 favorites]

Something like this might work, and a few of the other tops at Downeast seem cut in a more tailored way (I'm looking at the "Sparkler," and some of their sweaters...)

(Fellow petite with an actual figure here, current fashion can bite my ass. Everything just looks awful.)
posted by like_a_friend at 9:48 AM on October 14, 2014 [2 favorites]

Michael Stars has some nice pieces that are fitted in flattering ways. I have this top and would highly recommend. There's also usually a big selection of Michael Stars from older seasons on eBay.
posted by magdalemon at 9:49 AM on October 14, 2014

Oh, one other thing I have been known to do is buy those dumb floppy crud-looking tops, and then take them to my tailor to un-floppen them. It usually just involves a couple of quick darts and voila, I don't look like my mom.
posted by like_a_friend at 9:50 AM on October 14, 2014 [2 favorites]

If you have the budget, I recommend Ureshii, which is custom-fitted and in my experience well-made. Sleeve-length is customizable on almost every top and pretty much everything is intended to be worn form-fitting. The merino, bamboo, terry and linen tend to tolerate wear better than the modal.

Looking for stuff labeled "layering top" might help. Modbod is often recommended for layering tops, cut close to the body but still outerwear as opposed to underwear, but I have no experience with it. I like Sweet Pea tops for close-fitting, but it varies year to year. I second the recommendation of Michael Stars (I know Bloomingdale's and Nordstrom carry the brand) and would add James Perse (which I have not been impressed with in terms of cost per wear
posted by crush-onastick at 9:54 AM on October 14, 2014 [1 favorite]

I have this problem too. Two strategies: James Perse fitted buttondowns, Three Dots fitted t-shirts layered with sweaters or jackets. (The Three Dots British T-shirt is a 3/4 sleeve boatneck that might be good for your purposes.)
posted by clavicle at 10:04 AM on October 14, 2014

Oh, one other thing I have been known to do is buy those dumb floppy crud-looking tops, and then take them to my tailor to un-floppen them. It usually just involves a couple of quick darts and voila, I don't look like my mom.

Yeah, darts are your friend in the fitting department. Also, weird phrasing here in the OP and comments with "nice figure" and "actual figure" - I'm petite but have big boobs so some of the draping looks work for me, but yes not too much. I have a plenty nice actual figure though. Different clothes work for different figures.

Do you have a pretty small chest? In that case tailored button downs might be your best bet.
posted by sweetkid at 10:07 AM on October 14, 2014

If you're petite on top, it seems to me that you're the perfect person to be wearing button-downs. I'd recommend either shopping at a store that caters to petites, or having things taken in. Definitely don't try to get them at the Gap, their button-downs are always ridiculously blousy.
posted by Sara C. at 10:12 AM on October 14, 2014

Response by poster: Sorry about the phrasing. I meant that I have a slim figure, didn't mean to imply that other body types can't be nice, too :) This current fashion is simply a bit overwhelming for smaller frames and it's frustrating.

Thanks for the answers, I almost cried in the mall last week trying on all these baggy tops. Glad to know it's not just me!
posted by jschu at 10:14 AM on October 14, 2014 [2 favorites]

You could try Brooks Brothers, they do fitted, 3/4 sleeve petite button downs.
posted by nanook at 10:28 AM on October 14, 2014

I'm 5'2" and 117 lb with a large bust, and I'm sorry to say I'm not having any better luck than you are :( Everything looks ridiculous on me too. when I want to look nice, I live in stretchy cotton tops from places like Patagonia, EMS and REI that fit very well. I'm not in the business world so I rarely have to dress up on a businessy way, but on the few occasions that I have had to, I just wear the plainest silk blouse that I can find. It still doesn't fit well, though. I hope you have better luck than me.
posted by Cygnet at 10:57 AM on October 14, 2014

Boden's 3/4 sleeve wrap shirt comes in petite now. I'm tall and quite busty and wear the regular size with a cami to hide cleavage, but women with smaller chests might find these office-appropriate without the extra coverage.
posted by immlass at 11:04 AM on October 14, 2014

Honestly, current fashion is a nightmare for petites right now. Even just a few years ago I had way better luck finding clothes that actually fit me, even if it took a while. Now, it's next to impossible. Have you tried any thrift stores or the like? You might be surprised with some of the clothes you find but I guess it's worth a shot if you're looking for "not current floppening fashion". Also, tailors will be your best friend and maybe try getting some staple wardrobe pieces custom made.
posted by lunastellasol at 11:22 AM on October 14, 2014

eShakti might work. They also do custom fitting (for like, $7 or something else ridiculously cheap. They will also add/reduce sleeves to any of their tops) Like this shirt, for example.
posted by FirstMateKate at 11:28 AM on October 14, 2014 [1 favorite]

H&M does a decent job when it comes to scaled-down clothes. At a lot of big-box stores, all the clothes seem to be cut, styled and embellished as if they're plus-sized. The smallest sizes are scaled-down versions of much larger ones, and the proportions don't usually seem right. H&M has its own line of plus-sized clothes, and I've noticed that most of their non-plus-sized things seem to be cut for smaller frames.
posted by Flipping_Hades_Terwilliger at 12:58 PM on October 14, 2014

(Also, check out their kids' basics for things like neutral-colored, drape-y cardigans and other sweaters. Sweaters cut to be below hip-length on a kid might fall slightly higher on you, but not be so big through the body. )
posted by Flipping_Hades_Terwilliger at 1:01 PM on October 14, 2014

There's a particular style of thin sweater that would probably work really well on you. Even in standard sizes I think these would work. They do not hang, but skim curves. Thin enough I wear them under blazers in winter.
Charley sweater
Merino crew neck sweater from Boden
posted by purple_bird at 1:11 PM on October 14, 2014

Oh, also Uniqlo is cut for smaller frames.
posted by crush-onastick at 2:02 PM on October 14, 2014 [1 favorite]