outside of paying twice in order to have things altered what can a petite woman in her late 20's do to look more mature, without looking like a grandmother. I feel like I must resort to juniors clothing in order to fit anything, and so my wardrobe is poorly made and too young. Most petites lines are just too conservative and outdated. I'm looking for everyday casual clothing that makes me feel sophisticated and hip. I prefer simple lines, and incredible fabrics. oh, yeah, and though I'm tiny, I'm still muscular and curvy (teeny waist, broad shoulders, shapely hips and thighs).

I'm just under 5'4" so I'm a sometime petite and I'm on the border with plus sizes too! Double whammy. I really enjoy Lord & Taylor's for my basic's. Of course each store has it's own buyers so you might have to look in a few stores to find a good petite section. Talk to managers also, tell them what you are looking for and then they talk to buyers. What I find works for me is getting GOOD basics and being in your 20's, you can go to the juniors and mix them up and create your own look.

I just found out I lost a 1/4 of an inch and just under 5'4". I also do L&T for basics as well as Nordstrom. Because of long arms and legs most petites no longer fit me. I stick to basics because of this and change the look with accessories. I'm stuck as I'm 55 and don't want a teen look or a grand mother look. Have you checked out Saks petite dept.?

Ann Taylor Loft, J Crew, and Banana Republic offer petite sizes. Old Navy does so also. I personally like the styles at Ann Taylor and J Crew. I'm 5'5'' and they're sizes tend to run on the long side for me.

What about Forever21 and H&M?

Alloy and Delia's are a bit too teeny.

The Gap also has special sizes too (short, regular, tall). Being 5'3", I know my tailor very well haha. Sometimes you just have to sacrifice a few bucks to get the style and fit you want without sacrificing quality. I too am a curvy girl, so I feel your frustration! I find having my own sewing machine is very helpful when I end up buying pants that are too long, but just need a simple hem. Anthroplogie has a nice variety of clothes and they have great sales! While they don't have special sizes, I often find skirts and pants there that don't need any alterations (hooray!). I tend to have less pants because of the sizing issue, but the ones I do have are classic (jeans, trousers) and good quality so they last awhile. I then get creative with my upper half (aka I buy a lot of tops) to mix it up. If I do find a unique skirt or pair of pants that fits well and I love, I'll snatch 'em up if the price is right!

When I find an off the rack outfit that fits with no alterations I buy in every color! Scarves or jewelry change the look so no one notices,I think?