kris I hear ya!  And guys think we take forever at the mall b/c we LIKE to shop!  I often wish I could be like the movies where I just sit and drink wine while someone my size comes out and models all the clothes :)  My husband has it so easy with clothes, he doesn't even know.

Dresses are difficult too b/c of the way they are fitted.  Like you said, it will fit perfect in one place but not everywhere else.  I know many of my friends buy it anyway and then get it altered, but I don't.  I want it to fit right the first time.  PJs are easy though :)  I could shop all day for those!!

Good theory about the reverse designing of clothes!  That makes perfect sense, b/c we all know women are smarter ;)

Jo, for some reason Ialways imagined you were tall!  but you're the same as me :)  I won't get them hemmed either, it never comes out right!  What's weird about petite is it isn't just the height that changes, the entire size changes.  I once thought I could get petite OR average in my same size at this one store, tried them both on and the petite was so small I couldn't even put them on!  I always thought it was only the height that was affected. I guess I'm forever Average!