One thing as we have gotten older, my DH insists on travelling in first class. I do not overpack because that means I have to unpack and repack on our trips and I hate that part.

I don’t want to be taller but I wish my arms and legs were longer.

LOL I am having trouble imagining this

I guess it doesn’t sound right, but 2 of my sisters are my height but have longer arms and legs. So I want to remain 5’3 and 3/4” tall but I need at least one more inch in my arm length and up to 2 or more in my legs, so that I don’t have to hem everything. I know it was possible, because there’s living proof in my family. 😆 Hmm, they are both older sisters so maybe the DNA was getting lazy when it combined to make me. My younger sisters are slightly shorter but their arm length must be ok because they don’t have to roll up every sleeve. and their legs don’t seem so stumpy.

Hhierno, i understand totally.

Which is why some petite size ranged women might be able to wear regular tops or regular size pants.

Petite is proportion. Not such height but length of arms, lengths of legs.

at 5'6, I am not petite -- but I just wore my spanx wide leg air essentials cropped pants for the first time and thinking I should have gotten the petite! I am long waisted but still these are very high waisted and they are long-- a hair past my ankles.

I am also finding almost all the flare style jeans are way too long at 30"-32" length inseam.

I am not convinced the flare style is for me so I am just skipping past them for now.

I think it’s a trend, Funky, making pants so much longer that we have to have them hemmed or wear heels. I am also (now) 5’6” and have also been buying pants in petite sizes for the shorter inseam.

Aren”t petite pants shorter from waist to crotch?

Yes, "Hu" ... but as I specifically noted: the spanx are very high/long waisted. I don't think switching to petites will be an issue in this style even though I am long waisted.

"I am long waisted but still these are very high waisted and they are long-- a hair past my ankles. "

I have not considered petites in any other brand or style of pants as I don't think the shorter waist/rise will work for me... but as Kswl reports, it is possible. I suspect the higher waist styles are more flexible that way. I don't wear petites in tops ever due to arm/shoulder/body length.

Funky just fyi, I just got this white blouse from Zappos and I love it! It has an under-layer so it’s not see through.

Cute top Sue— and so much more wearable with lining!

Funky, I have learned never to say never… again. I’ve been assembling my clothes for our June trip and realized I need to take something warm that isn’t made of wool. Not enamored with the idea of damp wool that doesn’t dry easily and regardless of the chill it will still be early summer so I want something that looks lighter. I went back to our local boutique and tried on all the Spanx air essentials and came out with the polo top in white, and ordered the black and white striped sweatshirt and the black tapered cuffed pants as they did not have them in my size. The medium pants were huge— in fact the lady working that day remarked that they looked like jodhpurs, they were so baggy in the hips! Anyway, I think those three pieces will play nicely with the other things planned for the trip and I’ll have them to wear for next fall. I still am not in love with the weight but I think they’ll fill the ”athleisure” hole in my closet.

Oh I like the top, Sue -- I will have to check it out. Liverpool is generally a good fit for me.

Funny, Kswl, I was going to order a few more air essentials items but then it got hot-- high 80s and the thought of wearing the thick fabric in NYC in May was just too much. I think I will wait a few weeks and check the temperature predictions. It could be high 60s or high 80s .. and even both in the same day!

If I wont take them to NYC, then I will wait until fall to order more ... I am between sizes in at least some of the items and they are too expensive to take a chance that they won't fit come Nov.

I DO think they will be perfect for your trip!

Much too hot to wear now here, also—86 degrees today!

it was 89 on Monday ... expected to be 87 today!

Tomorrow drops into high 70s and then low 60s all weekend and into next week!

I thought the spanx pants were a very comfortable weight in the high 60s last weekend but I don't think I'd wear them above those temps.

I'm concentrating on buying big brimmed hats before the heat hits here. I'm still wearing a light jacket. It's 44F with a cold spike to the breeze.

The pink dress with feathers isn’t worthy of its own thread. Nevertheless, I wanted to let y’all know how well it worked out! I am so happy that I bought the dress! It looked great and was very comfortable. Even though the wedding was ”black tie optional,” the formality of the clothes ranged from very formal to Sunday church dresses. Probably my favorite adjective of the evening for my dress was ”sassy.” I’ll take it!!

I had to be mindful of where my feather cuffs were. A sleeve gaiter would have been helpful (jk). Happily, the feathers camed through the evening unscathed.

Tuckernuck has a top similar to my dress.

I’d get it if the sleeve cap weren’t gathered!

So very glad you loved the dress, bbstx! I am sure you were stunning!

Btw I love "sassy" .. it is a look AND an attitude!

I have NO doubt you were the belle of the ball, Bbstx! That’s a statement dress if ever there was one. AND with the shoes…. sassy is an understatement!

Bbstx, that dress is fabulous, and at the same time very simple…which appeals to me. Just slide on , nothing to adjust, and let it be its beautiful self.

Sueb, the light, airy shirt is perfect for the heat.

Just got these cute loafers from Rothys for our Italy/Switzerland trip. So comfy! I need better support than these for walking around all day but they’ll be good to walk to dinner or to breakfast at the hotel.

Give me a good herringbone pattern any day! Love those, Sueb!

So cute, Sue! Are you ready and packed? Your trip sounds awesome-- and what a nice trip for you and DH to unwind after the stress of the last few weeks!

I have now completed packing up all my returns-- whew! it is a lot! I give credit to you all though as I used to keep things that were "good enough" .. I have become much more selective.

Kswl, you mentioned ordering more spanx air essentials items-- I am about to place another order too under the guise of a mother's day gift! I got my mom the 1/4 zip in violet air ... and I added the air essentials skort (black) and polo top (white) for myself ;)

Also Nordstrom had *one* black and white stripe boat neck top in an XL. Must be a return as they are sold out everywhere. I don't usually order an XL unless it is an oversized fit ... we'll see. I really want the black stripe so it was worth a try. I am an air essentials convert.

Funky I am STILL waiting for my Spanx order! Two weeks ago I ordered the cropped wider leg pant in khaki (sand, I think they call it) and it arrived in a few days, so I expected these to arrive as timely. Our local shop did have the long sleeved polo top and that’s actually on the bed as a possibility depending on the looks and fit of the elusive striped sweatshirt. It’s funny…. I am an overall Spanx clothing convert as well. Everything fits me well and it is very durable. Last spring I ordered my first garment from them and now, well I am almost embarrassed to admit how much I love it! Even my nowfave black dress is Spanx 😎

Funky, I am partly packed! I am glad we leave late in the day Fri so I have time to reorganize as needed that day, and/or do last minute laundry. Yes, we need a vacation!

Sueb & Funky have a great vacation.

We are headed to Savanah & Charleston at end of month so I need to get thinking of what I’m packing sooner rather than later 😉

(Eagle Creek packing cubes /rolling rack )

Thank you, Irish .. I have a few weeks to wait yet but I am sure it will be great fun!

Love that you are going to Savannah and Charleston! This seems like the perfect time ... right before it gets stinkin hot!

Today I will be UNpacking…without leaving home. My dad went into the hospital yesterday, will make this brief since it’s a hijack but it is likely that he may have to have part of his foot amputated. For a guy who prides himself on his activity level at 89, it will be really hard (obv, in many ways). We will know more today but of course we have to cancel our trip. I am his only immediate family. Aaaggghh.

Oh (((Sueb))) I'm sorry your trip will have to wait and so very sorry your dad is likely dealing with major health/life issues. My brother has dealt with neuropathy in his feet (not diabetes related) for years and has had a toe and a portion of another amputated - not as severe as what your dad is facing, though. It is a rough hand to be dealt.

Sueb I am sending thoughts and prayers to you and your Dad.

Oh no - so sorry to hear this Sueb. Hoping for the best possible outcome for your dad and your family. Ugh.

oh no so sorry to hear that Sue.........thinking of you and your Dad.

Oh Sue, so sorry to hear. Sending wishes! Hope your dad has the best possible outcome ... and I hope you can reschedule your trip when things settle down.

Sue, sending prayers for your dad and for you too. It's not easy caring for parents. Take care of you too!

Sorry to hear this news Sue, and hope your father gets better with the least amount of intervention possible. ❤️

So sorry.

@Irish2 I just saw that the faux leather jacket at Talbots is on sale ... I believe you bought it in the black? What are your thoughts?

I don't normally like faux leather but I love the rattan color ... is it good for a cool spring evening in the 50s? I am thinking it may be a little much .. too warm.. but the color is great for me/my wardrobe and I think it would be a great jacket for my trip if it isnt too warm. What are your thoughts?

I am returning 3 other talbots jackets lol so I can just do a swap for this one! It is like it is free! LOL

@funkyart I would say buy it if you can get it on sale ! I have never IIRC purchased a faux leather jacket prior to this purchase. It was the look (moto style) and also sale at that time that sealed the deal. I was not sure if I could pull it off but I got many compliments.

I don’t wear it now but will again in fall/winter.

Rattan color you would get a lot of mileage out of …sorta like your RL long sweater that I love . Hope it works for you Funky !

Funky I hope you love that jacket!! I missed it when it was on sale, and did not find one when I checked for it on Poshmark. But—I did find a new-with-tags Chico’s jacket in the same color ultrasuede that snaps up and is cropped so I bought it instead. I will probably get more wear out of it than the moto style so I guess that foray turned out for the best.

Not nearly as stylish, but perfect for my existing wardrobe. (Threw it on with what i was already wearing to take this picture, cannot believe how wrinkled and baggy my linen slacks are already!)

Thank you, both! I read your messages while at the hair salon and submitted my order right there!

Kswl ... seeing how pretty you looked in the same color gave me the last nudge I needed! (PS.. they are even less expensive now than the previous sale and I think they had a wide range of sizes!)

And thank you, Irish2 for your experiences and encouragement! How funny that you remember my long RL sweater! I love it too! If the jacket is too warm for the nyc weather, I will be taking the sweater. I may even take both if space allows!

I have mixed luck with Talbots jackets ... they are often too big through the bust and gape in odd ways but I am hopeful that this still will work. What made it easier to submit the order is that there are plenty of stores in my area so easy to get an immediate return.

Yay! plus you don’t need to zipper it closed making you look even cooler 😎

In my next life I want to be cool and hip.

(Of course if I wait long enough in this life I will always be cold, with hip problems 🤷‍♀️)

I can’t remember where I initially posted about this dress from Loft. It is a linen blend. Comes in black and a chambray-ish blue.

It came in today. All I can say is if you are 6’5” tall, it is the dress for you! I’m 5’6” tall and it was at least a foot too long - I mean fabric laying on the floor! The sleeves hung down to my knuckles. And I could have smuggled a whole load of watermelons in the bust. I liked everything about it that did not touch on fit. I have re-ordered it in the next size down although I’m thinking going 2 sizes down may have been better.

If you buy from Loft and it doesn’t fit, they will exchange for a different size with no shipping charges.

I am a Loft shopper. The discrepancy seemed bizarre to me so I went to read the reviews.

Many said it ran large, was too long and to size down.

The description

I'm curious about the length of yours?

With Loft, I'm usually XS Petite. I ordered two dresses. One fit, the other I am exchanging for a smaller size.

It's frustrating. I don’t have many options out there.

@eld6161 from the high point of the shoulder to the hem of the Loft dress is 60”. For comparison, I looked up a similar dress at Chico’s. It was 52”. And at Tuckernuck, a similar dress was 51”.

whoa - 60" is crazy long!

I ordered a linen shirtdress from J Jill last year that was similarly oversized. The hem came down to my ankles (supposedly a midi length) and I could have wrapped the dress around me twice and buttoned it. I tried a size down and then another size down and they were all made like pup tents. Or marquees, now that I think about it. The color was such a beautiful buttery yellow, I really wanted it to fit. I have a hard time understanding how a mistake that egregious makes it to the stores.

Unfortunately JJill clothing seems to run extra large. I think most of you could try the petite choices!

I do like authentic jeans. I have them in denim, and a brown.

I also have the fringed crop.

JJill has always run very large ... but these days it is not as predictable. Somethings run very large, some a little large, some tts. That's what makes me most crazy-- inconsistent sizing within a brand!

I buy less and less from them .. but then every once in awhile, i get something super so I don't give up on them!

Well the rattan faux leather jacket arrived today -- I LOVE the color but it is too big. I ordered the smaller size .. and it was even cheaper today (plus i had a reward). My niece took me to the store-- and then also talked me into keeping the ivory jean jacket too (I was going to return it also).

NO MORE JACKETS! lol

I hear you Funky…his spring I added a pink linen blazer, two white linen blazers, the ultra suede jacket, a cropped trench, and another round neck, button up jacket (or top) in khaki colored cotton duck with contrast brown stitching (Poshmark). And more cardigans. I have that ”third element” more than covered so I know what you mean! I see you are exchanging the moto jacket for a smaller size—- how nice is that?? 😁

I wish I could claim a weight loss was the cause for the smaller size ... it is just cut large (as is often the case with talbots jackets and dresses).

You are really set for the seasons! I had wanted a cropped trench .. maybe for fall!