. . . BACK TO REALITY

When you're short, it can be hard to find jackets to fit. The waist hits you on the hips, the sleeves fall to your knuckles and you can only lift the garment up by the shoulders to see how it should really look. Petites ranges are often overlooked, maybe because the cutesy name evokes images of tweeness. This is a shame as they usually reflect what's going on in "mainline" fashion ranges. The Principles Petites range is excellent this season. All the styles have been specially cut to fit women of 5ft 3in and under in sizes 6-14, and each garment is proportioned for perfect fit - sleeves and legs are shorter, shoulders are narrower, waists are higher and details are scaled down. This grey pinstriped stretch trouser suit is truly exceptional, and not just because it is from a Petites collection. The single-breasted jacket has a breast pocket, and the fabric (a polyester/wool/viscose/elastane blend) looks magnificently expensive. The jacket costs pounds 85, trousers pounds 50; Principles Petites also do a pencil skirt in the same fabric, pounds 35.

! The Principles Petites Collection is available from Principles stores nationwide, telephone 0171 927 1443 for stockists and further information.