Michelle

New owner set to open Petite Sophisticate stores

Charming Shoppes looks at the $10 billion U.S. petite business, aimed at women 5 feet 3 inches and shorter, as a growth opportunity, said Gayle Coolick, the company's director of investor relations.

The company will open 43 Petite Sophisticate outlet stores on Friday, including stores at Chicago Premium Outlets in Aurora and at the Prime Outlet Centers in Huntley.

The stores offer career and casual clothes in sizes zero to 14 with petite styling.

Women looking for dress suits and work attire comprised about half of Petite Sophisticates' customers before the full-line stores were shuttered.

"We are looking at a broader strategy," Coolick said Monday. "[Petite Sophisticate] is a fabulous brand name with lots of loyal customers. We'd like to look at expansion."