Thread: Dance pants for shorties

Hi

I need some more dance/gym wear pants . . I like low rise-ish with slight flare or straight but medium wide leg (i.e. not ridiculous tribal flares but not skinny leg either). I am absolutely sick of having to get everything I buy shortened. I am 5'2" - it's not like I'm only 3' or something. I understand small one woman outfits (I still heart blume bauer) only doing one length but it's like the bigger companies (sharifwear, suhaila etc etc) are sticking one finger up at me for being short.

So far in my adventures trying to buy some dance pants 'off the rack' I have found some dance pants advertised as 30" inseam (pure lime) and when they arrived it was 35" (GAH), and found another set (USA pro flares) advertised with 28" inseam and between me ordereing and the company trying to send them they were discontinued!!!!

I am more prepared to have to buy from outside the UK than to get anything else shortened. I want something dance-y (i.e. with slimline yoga/jazz pants style waistband) but subtle so I can wear it to the gym not something with bellydance plastered all over it! I am pear shaped (hence why I like flares) so low-ish rise and shaped at the waist is better.

Any ideas from fellow short arses?

Z

Hiya, Zaf. Off the rack, I've had the best luck with yoga pants from Victoria's Secret, which have a slightly low-waist that sits flat for dancing (no tight elastic) and a slightly flared cut that flatters my wide behind. I order the plain ol' style they call "classic yoga pant" or just "yoga pant," which comes in a 30" inseam. Haven't tried any of the funkier ones, but there are some cute options.

Mine have all worn very well with normal care -- cold water wash, fabric softener occasionally if I think of it, line dry or tumble with low heat -- and they a get a LOT of use. They go on sale at 2 pairs for USD 50 three or four times a year, but VS usually has online coupons even when there's not a sale. Worth a try, I'd say.

Suzana

Originally Posted by Zana

Hiya, Zaf. Off the rack, I've had the best luck with yoga pants from Victoria's Secret, which have a slightly low-waist that sits flat for dancing (no tight elastic) and a slightly flared cut that flatters my wide behind. I order the plain ol' style they call "classic yoga pant" or just "yoga pant," which comes in a 30" inseam. Haven't tried any of the funkier ones, but there are some cute options.

Mine have all worn very well with normal care -- cold water wash, fabric softener occasionally if I think of it, line dry or tumble with low heat -- and they a get a LOT of use. They go on sale at 2 pairs for USD 50 three or four times a year, but VS usually has online coupons even when there's not a sale. Worth a try, I'd say.

Suzana

Hi, Zaf1. It's me, Zaf2, again! In addition to sharing dance names and issues with post offices, we are also about the same height: I was 5 feet 2 and a half inches tall, but I swear I've shrunk in recent years!!! I totally agree with Zana--I also really like the VS petite size yoga pants and have several of them; they're priced great, too, during their clearance catalog sales..g.:

Thanks, they look like a good bet - and affordable because of the exchange rate, sadly the international shipping costs ($25 for SURFACE MAIL?) negate that. Still I may well try them but keep the suggestions coming!

Originally Posted by Lesgemini_Zafirah

Hi, Zaf1. It's me, Zaf2, again! In addition to sharing dance names and issues with post offices, we are also about the same height: I was 5 feet 2 and a half inches tall, but I swear I've shrunk in recent years!!! I totally agree with Zana--I also really like the VS petite size yoga pants and have several of them; they're priced great, too, during their clearance catalog sales..g.:

Hi Zaf2!

When you say petite sized do you mean the shorter length or are there some actual 'petite' ones I am missing?

Z1

I'm a fellow shorty! 5' 2".

My faves are L. Rose, since I can get my 28" inseam with no prob! The worst are Sharifwear, which are usually 5" too long. I love their styles, though, and sometimes just resign myself to shortening.

I've also gotten petite yoga pants from Lands End. Their stuff wears like iron. I'm wearing a pair of antique yoga pants I got from them about 10 years ago. They're a little too funky to wear for teaching, but I wear a pair of these almost every day around the house.

I'll have to check out the VS pants, too!

Latifa

Another shortie vote here for both Victoria's Secret yoga pants and L. Rose's jazz pants.

Update!

I bought some VS yoga pants from ebay as I didn't want to go a spending on the VS site with their shipping charges when I wasn't 100% sure what size I was. They arrived today and horay! the sizer small 30" inseam fit perfectly! A whole world of shopping awaits . . . . .

Congratulations!

Originally Posted by Zana

Hiya, Zaf. Off the rack, I've had the best luck with yoga pants from Victoria's Secret, which have a slightly low-waist that sits flat for dancing (no tight elastic) and a slightly flared cut that flatters my wide behind. I order the plain ol' style they call "classic yoga pant" or just "yoga pant," which comes in a 30" inseam. Haven't tried any of the funkier ones, but there are some cute options.

Mine have all worn very well with normal care -- cold water wash, fabric softener occasionally if I think of it, line dry or tumble with low heat -- and they a get a LOT of use. They go on sale at 2 pairs for USD 50 three or four times a year, but VS usually has online coupons even when there's not a sale. Worth a try, I'd say.

Suzana

You mean someone actually makes these kind of pants for short people?! I will have to check these out. I always have to hem everything I buy!

Lisa

I don't know if they are on both coasts, but Lerner New York (which is owned by the same parent company as Victoria's Secret, Bath n Body, Structure, Limited, etc) regularly carries pants in all different lengths. I always get my dress-pants-for-shorties there, and right now they have nifty yoga pants in petite length with 29" inseam that are well-constructed and good for work or play.

Oh, looks like you can order the petites online now too (see page 2 for yoga pants):

New York & Company: Petite Pants