I was interested in the letter you had from a 5ft 2in woman from Canada. I, too, am 5ft 2in (size 8 or 10) and find that it has become almost impossible nowadays for me to find any clothes that don’t come down to my feet and aren’t too large in the waist. I search in the petite ranges of course, but they always form a minimal part of any shop’s range and “petite” does not mean in fashion terms what it does to me, ie, a small, short woman. Not only is the sizing curiously large but there seems to be no realisation that a small woman does not look good in clothes with large patterns, chunky shoulders or fussy shirts. What has happened? I never had any difficulty until now. I’m not young any more but still look young (so I’m told) so I should have a wide choice. I wonder if you ever go shopping with a 5ft 2in woman?

Dear reader, I too, am 5ft 2in, so I go shopping for a small woman all the time and I have a daughter-in-law who is even tinier and we do not seem to have such a dreadful time of it (though it is only fair to add that I am a size 10-12 and not a size 8). But both my daughter-in-law and I are resigned to having to have some alterations done quite often. I frequently have to have hems put up or sleeves shortened but I guess that’s the price one has to pay for a high street that on the whole gives us clothes at unbelievably low prices. The great advantage of current fashions for very short skirts is that many of the dresses around at the moment may well be mini-length on the 5ft 10in beanpoles their designers have in mind but they look utterly decent on people of our height.

If you shop on the internet you should take a look at a website (www.petiteaffair.co.uk) which was started by Debbie Major, a banker, who had the same trouble finding clothes that fit as you do.

The problem with the site is that nothing on it is very fashionable, but the clothes do come in small sizes. So I’d look on it for certain basics, such as trousers, and there are some good tops, in particular an attractive red jersey one with a twist around the bust that stops it being too dull.

Other labels that go down to a British size 8 are Monsoon, Jesiré (stocked by the John Lewis group), Reiss, Vera Wang, Issa, Diane von Furstenberg while agnès b is always worth checking out. Marks & Spencer does things such as trousers and coats in small sizes and short lengths and it has plenty to offer in plain colours.

But what have I found for you this week? I am in love with the Pringle label. I think Clare Waight Keller has done a stunning job in reinventing the brand and I want almost all of it. The only problem being that, on the whole, it’s alarmingly expensive. But I’ve found an elegantly simple black jacket and skirt from the slightly less costly Pringle 1815 label. The jacket comes in a size 8 or 10 and it is in the sale on www.net-a-porter.com for £150, reduced from £250 while an elegant black skirt is £148, reduced from £185.

If you like a slightly funkier label, Marni often caters for small women, so you could check out the store in Sloane Street, London SW3. For high days and holidays I think it's hard to beat this fantastic red dress by Marni. Made from 75 per cent silk and 25 per cent viscose it comes in an Italian size 38 (UK size 6) and upwards. It is not cheap at £770 (from www.brownsfashion.com) but you could wear it to any smartish event. I think it is gorgeous.

And finally from agnès b, David Downton has drawn a looseish white dress with black edging. As you are so tiny you could belt it with as big a black belt as you think suits. For winter, wear it with a black polo-neck sweater and thick opaque black tights and in summer, wear it on its own. It’s £175 from agnès b shops (020-7520 6915), where you should find quite a lot of choice for women of your size.

asklucia@thetimes.co.uk or write to Ask Lucia, times2, 1 Pennington Street, London E98 1TT, describing your style dilemma. Please include your personal details. Lucia regrets that she cannot enter into personal correspondence.

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