Years ago (like over two decades) I went to Lane Bryants because I needed a leotard for my belly dancing class. The clerk (a tiny thing) looked at me (who was only a size 1x not a 4x or anything) and said,
"I don't think they make items of clothing like that in YOUR size.."
Pre-internet, I went home and looked through some catalogs and found one that specialized in all/nearly all cotton clothing. I called, the women who owned it who was also about 4'8" and weighed about 150 pounds. She had two 1X petite leotards come in and she sent me one and kept the other for herself.
I have not tried shopping at a Layne Bryant's since, but they then also tended to not be my style which is more folksy and less tailored.
expatriate Californian living in rural Ireland with husband, dogs, horses. garden and many, many cats