Day: October 13, 2021

Clockwise from top left: One // Two // Three // Four // Five // Six // Seven // Eight // Nine

Here in New England it’s just about time to do my seasonal storage swap and be reunited with my favorite coats and boots (so excited to break out these lightweight Sam Edelman combat boots again)! Below are a few of my staple categories for a robust coat closet. If you’re building up a timeless wardrobe or refreshing an old one, I’d start with the trench and the tailored coat, as together they’ll cover most of your outfit needs and the styles truly last the test of time!

• Trench coat
• Tailored wool coat
• Cozy teddy / sherpa coat
• Down puffer coat
• Plaid coat

Petite sizes in outwear always sells out first, so I’ve combed the web for classic picks that are well stocked starting in 00 or xxs petite. Macy’s actually has a great selection of petite coats from a range of brands, and is currently running a huge fall sale (ends 10/12)!

1. Trench

• Great reviews: Banana Republic timeless trench (xxsP – LP)
• Detachable hood, reviews mention running slim: London Fog classic trench (xxsP – xxlP)
• Oversized midi length fit in petites: Nasty Gal oversized trench (0P – 10P)
• Classic tan trench: Lauren Ralph Lauren petite trench (xxsP, xlP)
• Drapey trench: A+F drapey trench. Regular sizing only, so sleeves will fit long but the overall length works for someone petite. Have an older version that I love and wear regularly!

2. Tailored / Wool-blend

• Chic longer pick: Seven (xxs P – LP)
• Lady Day Coat for Less: J.Crew Factory wool blend lady coat (00P – 12P)
• MICHAEL Michael Kors belted coat in camel, black & fuchsia (xxsP – LP) 
• A+F double cloth blanket coat in cream, brown & grey (xxsP – xlP)
• Calvin Klein faux leather trim wrap coat (xxsP – LP) 
• A + F tailored wool blend dad coat (xxs P – xlP)

3. Teddy / Sherpa

• DKNY soft touch coat in a feminine rosewood or camel (XXSP – LP)
• Banana Republic Sherpa Cocoon coat (XXSP – LP) love the look with knit sleeve cuffs
• J.Crew double breasted teddy coat (XXSP – LP)
• Budget pick under $50: Boohoo teddy sherpa coat (0P – 12 P)
• Budget pick under $50: Missguided Petite borg teddy coat (2P – 6 P)

4. Plaid

• Love the soft colors: Calvin Klein Petite Plaid Coat (0P – 8 P)
• Lauren Ralph Lauren Petite Walker Coat (0P to 12P)

5. Puffer

• Classic parka with great reviews: LL Bean 650 fill Classic Down Parka xxsP – xlP)
• Under $100: Uniqlo ultra light hooded puffer (regular only, but xxs & xs can be petite friendly)
• MICHAEL Michael Kors Belted Puffer (xxs P – LP)
• Cole Haan down jacket w removable hood (Under $90 with good reviews; xsP – xl P)

With many of us now working from home for the foreseeable future, I’m always on the lookout for transitional pieces that can be dressed down with sneakers and dressed up for the occasional meeting or trip to the office! I’m partnering with Nordstrom to share this simple but chic dress that can be paired a number of different ways including with casual flats for everyday wear, since I know many of you have ditched the high heels over the past year!

Twist Front Dress

These feels soft and stretchy just a tee shirt dress but the twist front takes the look up a notch and the long sleeves make it a great seasonal transition piece. The ribbed material is medium weight so it layers nicely with your favorite blazer, moto jacket and trench coat. The length hits me (5’) right above the knees, so it can be work appropriate for petite ladies especially in the black color. The sleeves on the xs are a little on long on me, but beyond that the rest of the dress fits well without being bodycon tight. I chose the white since it shows the twist detail off more clearly, but the black is a little more camouflaging at the tummy area! 

Styled for On the Go

Styled for Work

I also welcomed in the new season by finally taking my chelsea booties from the Nsale out for a spin! They’ll be a little more flattering / elongating if paired with black tights as the temperatures drop. I love how they bring a little bit of an edge to this preppier outfit. This adorable plaid skirt sold out quickly but I’m keeping an eye for any restocks on it!

Thank you to Nordstrom for partnering on this post.

It feels surreal to finally share with you guys a project that’s been years in the making and a small labor of love! I started this blog over a decade ago as a creative outlet, posting my trials and errors as I learned how to dress my body type. As a fresh college grad working in a male dominated field, building a closet of polished, well fitting pieces was always about so much more than just shopping. Dressing well sparks confidence, brings a little joy to my day, and helps me put my best foot forward for others to take me seriously.

While my style needs and tastes have evolved over these years, I’ve kept a running list of classic pieces I’d love to add to my wardrobe, but have been challenging to find in the right fit or quality. I’ve also kept close track of the types of pieces I get the most frequent reader requests for, but can rarely find.

And so with Edited Pieces, we’re starting small. Making small edits to timeless styles that we’ll want to wear for years to come. Each style is either handmade or produced in limited quantities at small factories, and undergoes countless rounds of sampling and testing. We’ve taken extensive measurements, pain points, and info from YOU guys, from a detailed survey that thousands of you helped fill out 2 years ago, to the wonderful readers around Boston who have been helping fit-testing and share feedback on each piece.

I wanted to keep the EP initials of Extra Petite in the brand name for a couple reasons. One, while everything we make will be petite-friendly, we didn’t want it to feel petite-only. Every body truly is different and comes in different proportions that we hope to be able to cater to as we grow. And secondly, as a nod to this blog, my first passion-project turned career, which has connected me to this incredible community. Thank you for being here along the way and for helping me realize this dream.

Hope you had a wonderful weekend, friends! We’re hanging on to the last of summer in New England, which means playground hopping and picnics around the city as long as the weather allows! If you’re visiting Boston, here’s a few of our favorite weekend itineraries with the little ones:

• Charles River + Public Garden: Strolling along the Charles River esplanade, grabbing food from one of the many grab & go restaurants along Boylston or Newbury Street, and enjoying it at the Public Garden on a bench or lawn. Our kids love the three playgrounds along the esplanade ranging from toddler/baby age to a challenging big kid one closer to Beacon Hill. For food, we usually do Dig Inn just because it’s food allergy friendly with lots of things the kids happily eat (like sweet potatoes, half an avocado, meatballs, chicken). Little ones can also enjoy a very slow moving swanboat, or the merry go round or playground across the street at Boston Common.
• Castle Island: This family favorite spot in South Boston has a decent amount of parking, tons of outdoor space for picnicking, a long walking path with views of the water, and Sullivans is right on site for good ole New England fare (lobster rolls, fried fish) and affordable basics like hot dog and hamburgers. It’s easy to order online ahead of time, they’ve been great with my food allergy concerns and questions (they’re happy to prepare the food separately away from the allergens, use a fresh pair of gloves each time, etc), and Nori is a happy camper just with their french fries and a plain burger. The kids enjoy throwing rocks into the ocean or the playground right at Castle Island, but there’s also several other better (IMO) playgrounds in South Boston a short drive away.
• Coolidge Corner, Brookline: We’ve also found ourselves going back to Coolidge Corner, Brookline, where we loved living as young professionals out of college! There’s a book store we used to frequent, little shops, playgrounds, picnic tables along Harvard Street, and a surprisingly good assortment of Asian cuisine like Rod Dee Thai, Bab Bistro Korean, ramen, plus a popular bagel spot and a newer Tatte location. A welcome new addition since our days living there is Maruichi Japanese deli, where you can grab a bento lunch or reasonably priced sushi, and also some freshly made Brooklyn ramen noodles in their refrigerator section! (see pic below) These ramen noodles have the perfect chew factor and freeze well, too for quick weeknight meals!

Random but ever since Nori was little I’ve loved Surprize by Stride Rite at Target for standing up / early walking baby shoes! Not the cutest styles but they open up wide with velcro straps so are super easy to get on and off, have flexible bottoms, and seem comfortable for little ones.

It was such a beautiful weekend in the Bay! We got to see the Blue Angels fly (packed camp chairs and beverages), played at two playgrounds and ate a delicious dinner at Cotogna. Taking an extra day off today since Lucia doesn’t have school – we’ve planned a whole day together! Happy Monday!

PS: Just ordered this $168 dress – one of those easy, swingy dresses! Will be pairing it with thick oversized cardigans for Fall.

***

Blazer (here and here)
Tank (here)
Jeans (here)
Purse (here)
Heels (found the same style in stock here! The color is a little lighter than mine; or similar here)
Lips (here in “Rosewood”)

Currently wishlisting: