GLC, I don't know how tall you are, but Athleta offers almost all of their pants in petite sizes. They are usually a 28.5 or 29 length... as opposed to a 30 inch length in most of the "regular" clothes I see. I can barely thread a needle and I have had to pay for hemming a couple of pairs of wool pants I bought last year. I also bought 2 sundresses from them. One is a petite and fits me great.. good for showing off the arms. The other is not a petite, but I bought it in a smaller size and it fits perfectly; I think it is supposed to be fairly short, but on me, it hits about an inch above the knee, which is fine for me. I do wish their tops were a little shorter, though, but most are OK in the x smalls.
And Oakleaf, you are right. My bathing suit size has not changed since I was in my late twenties.