[Tips for US EC business] Petite size clothing situation in the US

1. First of all, what is Petite size?

Petite size is mainly made for short women. For people under 5'4" (about 163cm) tall, the shoulder width, length, inseam, and sleeve length are designed to be shorter than the regular size. This size is often favored by people with narrower-than-average torso or short inseam, as well as those below.

In the United States, the Asian race is expanding rapidly, and the number of petite people is also increasing. Here, I will explain the Petite size and hope that it will be a hint for the EC business in the United States.

The notation may be a P after the size (for example, "SP" for a S size Petite) or a Petite above the size.

Reference: The author is 152 cm tall and weighs 45 kg, and mostly wears XXSP (occasionally XSP).If it's XXS, there are things that can be worn even if it's not petite size.

2. Petite size brand available

Brands that offer petite sizes include the following. I have the impression that there are many popular major brands that are expanding throughout the United States or internationally.

・J.Crew

・Madewell

・Banana Republic

・GAP

・Athleta・Old Navy

・Anthropologie

・Reform

・Abercrombie & Fitch

・ASOS

・Ralph Lauren

Petite size is also available at independent brands developed by major department stores such as Nordstrom and Macy's. (Nordstrom's Open Edit, Macy's I.N.C. International Concepts, etc.)

3. Petite size facts

Petite size is like a savior for short women because even those who don't fit regular size can wear it nicely with just the right fit. As an author, I have often experienced that an item that feels like it is worn in a regular size fits the body perfectly in a Petite size.

However, it is true that there are many inconveniences when shopping.

1) Many stores do not have it

Even brands that offer petite sizes may only carry petite sizes online and not in physical stores. Even if you go shopping at a shopping mall or find a nice item at a street store and want to buy it on the spot, you often can't buy it because Petite size is not available at the physical store. Finally decided to shop online.

Actually, I visited Athleta's stand-alone store, which has a Petite size, which is also in the brand list above.

Again, the store didn't carry the Petite size. Large Athleta stores rarely carry petite-sized items, but basically petite-sized items are available online. If you want to buy a Petite size, you have the option of having the order arranged at the cashier and having it delivered to your home, or you can shop online yourself.

2) Depending on the item, there may or may not be a P

Even if there is a brand that handles Petite size, not all products are available in Petite size. So, even if I dare to visit a nice item, there is no petite size, and I have to give up on the purchase.

3) Which size Petite suits you depends on the item, even if it's the same brand.

Even items from the same brand, the petite size that fits your body shape may differ depending on the item. For example, 00P suits a dress, but 0P suits a jacket. It's only available online, so you can't even try it on, and depending on the item, which petite size suits you depends on the item.

(Supplemental information: In exchange, returns can be easily returned in the United States. I feel that the hurdles for returning goods are considerably lower than in Japan. There are cases where the size does not match the image. If it's not the same, you can return it even if it's not defective or defective (sometimes it's not possible to return the item when the price is greatly reduced on sale). If you are unsure whether to buy 0P or not, the store clerk will suggest that you order both and return the one that doesn't fit.)

4. Hints for the American EC business Fashion circumstances for Asian women who do not fit regular sizes

How do Asian women who don't fit regular sizes get fashion items that fit their body?

1) Always shop at the same brand.

After all, shop only at specific brands that sell things that fit your body shape, such as brands that have petite sizes, and brands that don't have petite sizes but are smaller and have sizes that fit your body. I have the impression that many women are doing So when I go shopping, I tend to limit the number of shops I see, saying, "This shop doesn't fit me in size, so I won't see it." Many people call it a brand.

2) I buy bras in my country

Also, I often hear people say that even if they buy clothes in America, they buy bras in their own country. Bras with smaller underwear and cups are less available, so I get the impression that many people buy them in their own countries because they can't find anything that fits them. In addition, some people buy products from their own countries because the bones of Westerners and Asians are different, or because products from their own country fit the body better, even if the underwear and cups are not small.

(This is my personal impression, but when I first visited an underwear shop in the US (Victoria's Secret), I found that there were no sizes that fit me at all, and that there was a bra that was so big that I thought it was a hat! I remember being very surprised.)

5. A 152 cm tall author living in the United States

1) The standard pattern is to check the product at a physical store and purchase it online.

As mentioned above, most stores don't have petite sizes, so it's become a standard shopping pattern for me to look at products in stores and buy petite sizes online that I like. increase. In my case, I want to see it with my own eyes, touch the fabric, and see how it feels when I try it on, even if it doesn't fit me, so I can buy the Petite size on the spot. Even without it, I will visit the store.

2) I still buy my swimsuits in Japan

In my case, I'm the type of person who wants to procure everything I can in America, but I still buy swimwear in Japan. The reason for this is, of course, that there are not many sizes that fit the body in the first place. In the United States, miraculously, even if you dare to find swimwear that fits perfectly in size, most of the time, your body will look flat or childish, so I bought a Japanese swimwear that is well thought out. I'm here.

3) It is difficult to buy a bra at a general underwear shop in a shopping center

It's quite difficult to buy a bra at an American underwear shop (storefront) such as Victoria's secret. In my case, I don't have very small breasts in Japan, but I feel like Victoria's Secret has a size that just fits. When that happens, rather than looking for a design I like even if I go to a shop, I wonder which one has a size. Shopping starts from I hear that in Japan, if you have big breasts, such as an F cup or larger, the lineup will decrease, but it's exactly the opposite version. This is the world view. However, even Victoria's Secret has more sizes in stock online, so I buy online, and there are online bra brands for people with small breasts, so I buy them there. .

3) In select shops and boutiques, there is often not even a single piece of clothing that fits your size.

As stated in H2 "Brands with petite size options", major brands have petite size options. Therefore, it is not uncommon for shops targeting local people, such as fashionable boutiques and select shops on street corners, to not have even a single piece of clothing that fits their size. Especially at such times, I feel the difference in body shape from people in Europe and the United States, and the inconvenience caused by that.

6) Summary

This concludes our introduction to Petite size, the reality surrounding Petite size, and the inconveniences that small Japanese and Asian people feel in the United States. There is no doubt that the Petite size is a savior for petites, but it is also true that shopping is more inconvenient than the regular size. Through fashion, I am keenly aware of the differences between Westerners and Japanese (and small Asians), but I believe that with the development of various fashion brands and sizes in the future, even Japanese people will be able to enjoy fashion even more in the United States. I'm looking forward to it.