I'm pretty much 5' square myself, and have to wear dress clothes 6 days a week.
I wear a lot of dress/jacket combinations. I've bought some, made some and "arranged" some. I own several sleeveless "tank" shaped dresses, that I mix all sorts of jackets with! I even bought a couple of the "crochet" look short sleeved sweater/jackets and they look great with the tank type dresses too.
I have found that dresses that are too long look as bad as ones that are too short...yuk!! I try to have the hems below the knee; at the start of the calf of my leg. I like for the skirts to be A line rather than completely straight.
Pants: flat front, flat back... elastic in the side of the waistband. Straight leg to the top of the shoe in front and the top of the heel in back. Fabric that is not too heavy, but has a little ripple to the weave seems best for me...black, navy and dark brown. I wear dresses MOST of the time, but the pants with a pretty colored tank top and a nice jacket works quite well. I try to pair jewelry to the color of the tank top.
Shoes: pumps with lower chunky heels sqare-ish toe. The shoes that show less leather, don't balance you out as well as a pump. With slacks I wear a plain shoe that is sort of the shape of a loafer, but without the "penny slot" trim.
If I am wearing a plain colored skirt/pants and jacket, I often slip a long, skinny, print scarf under the lapels of the jacket and let the ends dangle. I choose a tank top to match the colors of the scarf. I also often wear dark skirt and matching tank, with a bright solid or print jacket!
My only HARD AND FAST rule(for me) is NO sleeveless or very short sleeves (I wear elbow or just below the elbow). Nothing below my skirt that is lighter in color. I wear taupe hose with black or navy shoes if I am undecided or wearing an odd color dress. With black, navy and brown I wear the appropriate color sheer hose and shoes. I ncver wear an entire garment that is pastel colored. I may wear a pastel tank with navy, black or brown suits, but I never wear a pastel dress, slacks or skirt.
I hope something in this LONG post helps you....as I said this is just what works for me....only my opinions!!! I certainly understand that wardrobes are a real problem if you can't shop at Walmart, Target...etc.. Sizing is so unpredictable that the internet is usually not a good source. Good luck!!

Jaybird, thanks for some great pointers. They are very much appreciated. I have a very short neck, of course with a double chin, and I have some very pretty scarves. I have not known how to wear them because they just made my neck look shorter if I had a scarf. I'll use the trick of slipping it under my jacket and letting the ends show. I do not wear sleeveless, either. I feel very comfortable in sleeves down to my elbows. You know, I don't think I have but 1 dress to my name. I usually wear slacks and tops or jacket and shell underneath. My pants are black, taupe, brown and hunter green. I have some white ones, but they usually just hang there in the closet. I have 2 pairs of shoes and need to work on that. I have one black pair that are flat Mary Janes and a brown pair that are Dexter's with a thick sole. Comfortable, but really not appropriate for the office with dress slacks. Thanks for your advice, I will certainly use it.

You also can find some very nice clothes at the thrift stores.I also sew but i can get like new and sometimes new blouses at the DAV thrift shop,for 3.00 and some change,At goodwill i pay even less as they give senior discounts,
Kathi

Hi, Kathi,
I do shop at the thrift stores, but my problem is I don't know what I need to be looking for to compliment my figure. I usually wear slacks and pullover tops, but I just don't feel like I am dressing like I should be dressing for work. Jaybird gave me some really good advice and I'm excited to try and find some different items for my closet. Thank you for your help, Kathi. I appreciate it.

One thing I notice is the fuller the bottom of pants legs, the more chopped a person looks. Tapered legs slim you. With the same color pants & blouse, put on a different color jacket. Wearing it open creates a vertical line. Tops that show a little more flesh in neck area, slightly scooped or V necks, are slenderizing. If you decide to go toward skirts or sheath dressses, bias cuts are forgiving on your body. They don't poof out but kind of cling but still can be a little full at the hem. They have a feminine feel to the way they hang. Jackets with each side of the front in 2 pieces, running shoulder to hem is easy to alter & having a seam down each side is good too for the vertical line.

Thanks for the advice, Joan. I have noticed when I wear a top open over a shell, I usually get comments on how pretty it looks. Maybe that's why, it is more slimming than just a top alone.

Joan should have added that she knows this from sewing things trying to outfit me, LOL. Not along ago she told a pair of pants made me look 20 pounds thinner and I needed to wash them and wear them again the next day!
I'm tall, but significantly over weight. I too have been wearing the crocheted sweaters as "jackets" with sheath dresses. I'm a supervisor in the mental health clinic I work in and I have a dress code to follow as well.
Good Luck,
Susan

I will give the crocheted sweater a try. I am excited to go shopping now that I know what to shop for. You guys have been a lot of help to me. Thanks so much
Kathie

I will give the crocheted sweater a try. I am excited to go shopping now that I know what to shop for. You guys have been a lot of help to me. Thanks so much
Kathie

Also look at http://www.petitepluspatterns.com/ if for anything to get an idea of some styles. My Mom uses these patterns and loves them. She is 5'2", but I am 5'7" so they are not for me....but come highly recommended.

Using a wardrobe plan you'll save money in the long run by just having the staples that mix and match. Having less clothes that fit well that can be mixed and matched trumps lots of inexpensive clothes that don't fit and fill up the closet everytime.

Start with your basics and get them to fit. Either sew them yourself or find a dressmaker, they will be worth the investment. Can also purchase ready made and have altered too. A pair of black pants, a pair of jeans, a few skirts, some pretty tees, a couple of silk crepe tops, maybe a jacket would be perfect.

Cathy