Clothing shopping can be tricky at the best of times, but as soon as you throw in an addition variable—like being shorter than the average person—it inevitably becomes even more difficult.
Very few brands understand petite dimensions, and even fewer understand that petite people come in all shapes and sizes. Contrary to what you may think, petite fashion doesn’t refer to a small waist size, but rather, the the length of garments.
Shopping for petite clothing becomes particularly difficult when hunting for items that aren’t so easily altered like jeans or pants. Plus, swimwear, eveningwear, and dresses are often more difficult to find at the right length or flattering proportions if you’re under 5’5″.
To help aid your shopping experience, we’ve rounded up the best petite clothing brands to shop in 2024.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
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Madewell
As the name suggests, Madewell’s goal is to create pieces that are made… well. That translates to a petites range that includes all styles of denim and wide-leg pants (plus slip skirts and dresses depending on the season). We’re big fans of Madewell’s Harlow Pant in its petite and curvy size options for the perfect fit.
Shop Madewell
Madewell The Petite Harlow Wide-Leg Pant, $, available at Madewell
PAIGE
One of the most common gripes for shorter women is finding denim that fits. Paige offers just about every style in flattering petite sizes (from skinny to wide-leg) for those who stand 5′ 4″ and under.
Shop PAIGE
PAIGE Gemma Petite Jeans, $, available at PAIGE
ASOS DESIGN
ASOS’s petite range includes styles from brands like Topshop, Glamorous, and Miss Selfridge. But the petite styles from ASOS DESIGN are particularly extensive and include many jeans, coats, crop tops, and midi dresses that range from casual to elegant.
Shop ASOS
ASOS DESIGN Petite Knitted Fit & Flare Mini Dress, $, available at ASOS
Never Fully Dressed
Never Fully Dressed is the label for those special occasions when you need a bold and bright outfit. The brand’s petite clothing collection spans summer cocktail dresses, leather bottoms, wrap skirts, and chic jackets designed to fit women who are 5’3″ or under. While most of the petite styles only go up to a size 12, the regular styles go up to size 24.
Shop Never Fully Dressed
Never Fully Dressed Petite Havana Short Sleeve May Dress, $, available at Never Fully Dressed
Everlane
R29 reader-favorite brand Everlane doesn’t go out of its way to promote a petite range but naturally bakes it into its collections. Click around the jean selection and you’ll find many best-selling pairs in a variety of lengths, like The Curvy ’90s Cheeky Jean (26.5″ inseam) and The Way-High Jean (25.5″ inseam).
Shop Everlane
Everlane 26.5″ Inseam The Curvy ’90s Cheeky Jean, $, available at Everlane
TALA
TALA was created in 2019 as a sustainable and inclusive activewear label, and the petite girl edit does not disappoint, with a range of shorter full-length and 24-inch 7/8 styles. Most of the petite styles also go up to 4XL, ensuring that more shoppers can find the perfect legging.
Shop TALA
Tala 7/8 DayFlex Wrap High Waisted Legging, $, available at Tala
Abrand Jeans
Abrand’s ethos is to create wardrobe basics that fit just right. The petite jean range designed for women under 5’4″ carries high- and low-rise styles, as well as skinny jeans and baggier fits—all available in both regular and petite lengths, which are up to 2.5 inches shorter.
Shop Abrand Jeans
Abrand Jeans 99 Low Straight Petite Walkaway Jean, $, available at Abrand Jeans
Reformation
The petite range at sustainable LA-born label Reformation is regarded as a favorite amongst petite shoppers. The selection is varied, with mini dresses as well as maxi skirts, trousers, and even leather pants (a true rarity in the petite world!).
Shop Reformation
Reformation Petites Nelle Knit Dress, $, available at Reformation
Lane Bryant
The popular plus-size clothing brand features an extensive and inclusive range of clothes, including intimates and activewear. The inclusive size range also includes its Petite Shop for under 5’3″ proportions. Here, you’ll find sleeve lengths that are 1.5 inches shorter and pant inseams that are 3 inches shorter.
Shop Lane Bryant
Lane Bryant Petite Signature Fit High-Rise Ultra Wide Leg Jean, $, available at Lane Bryant
Uniqlo
Hailing from Japan (where the average woman’s height is roughly 5’2″), the leg length of Uniqlo’s trousers runs particularly short. But Uniqlo also offers other styles in cropped silhouettes, like this jacket, that are perfect for shorter statures.
Shop Uniqlo
Uniqlo Jersey Relaxed Jacket, $, available at Uniqlo
Cupshe
Inclusive and affordable swimwear brand Cupshe has an extensive range of swimsuits, coverups, and resortwear in many styles and sizes. Cupshe’s petite swimsuits are designed to “elongate your legs and make you look taller,” per the brand, and run across the bikini, tankini, and one-piece styles.
Shop Cupshe
Cupshe Midnight Elegance Tummy Control One-Piece, $, available at cupshe
Abercrombie & Fitch
Another R29-reader favorite brand, Abercrombie & Fitch, has a large petite section (mostly encompassing short jean lengths, but also including dresses, skirts, and jumpsuits). These pieces, which are perfect for everyday wear and special occasions, are great for shoppers who are 5’3″ and below.
Shop Abercrombie & Fitch
Abercrombie & Fitch Petite Plunge Cutout Jumpsuit, $, available at Abercrombie & Fitch
Levi’s
Levi’s has always created its classic jeans styles in petite sizing, where you can select some bestsellers in leg lengths that are as short as a 26-inch inseam. We’ll be honest, there aren’t many styles or colorways that currently have 26-inch options, but if you look hard enough and get lucky enough, you may find your perfect pair of jeans.
Shop Levi’s
Levi’s 26″ Inseam Wedgie Straight Fit Jeans, $, available at Levi’s
J.Crew
If you’re in your office siren era and looking for work staples, look no further than J.Crew’s petite matching sets. Women from 5′ 0″ to 5′ 4″ can enjoy the brand’s classic blazers and trousers.
Shop J.Crew
J.Crew Petite Stretch Linen Helena Blazer, $, available at J.Crew
J.Crew Petite Stretch Linen Carolina Pant, $, available at J.Crew
Ann Taylor
Ann Taylor lets you know exactly what goes into its efforts to make its petite collection a perfect fit. From tailoring hemlines and scaling down prints to busting the myth that cinched wais lines and cropped pants aren’t compatible with petite frames, no stone is left unturned.
Shop Ann Taylor
Ann Taylor Petite Relaxed Raglan Trench Coat, $, available at Ann Taylor
Good American
You know and love Khloe Kardashian’s clothing brand for its curve-hugging and plus-size jeans, but did you know it offers size-inclusive options in “Good Petite” styles, too? From skinny and straight cuts to baggy and bootcut ones, you’re bound to find a pair of petite jeans here.
Shop Good American
Good American Good Petite Bootcut Jeans, $, available at Good American
Faithfull The Brand
This brand is best known for creating resortwear that lasts in your wardrobe for years. We love the dresses and think the mini dress hemlines are great for petite people.
Shop Faithfull The Brand
Faithfull the Brand Penne Mini Dress, $, available at Faithfull the Brand
Gap
For women 5’4″ and under, Gap offers clothing that’s “perfectly proportioned and ready to wear” in its Petite Shop, meaning you can score petite boyfriend jeans, crewneck tees, and tunic sweaters that you’ll be able to wear for years (and not have to tailor).
Shop Gap
Gap Petite Linen Boyfriend Shirt, $, available at Gap
SIR.
Another brand that gets the hemlines on its mini dresses just right for petites is Australian label SIR. While they may be ultra-mini on tall people, the mini dresses and skirts hit at a comfortable mid-thigh on shorter people.
Shop SIR.
Sir Leonardo Pleated Mini Dress, $, available at Sir
If you’ve got short legs, short arms, a short torso (or all three!), finding basics that really, truly fit can be challenging. For women 5’4″ and under, Gap offers clothing with “perfectly proportioned sleeves, knees, and hems,” meaning you can score boyfriend jeans, crewneck tees, and tunic sweaters that you’ll be able to wear for years (and not have to tailor).
Gap The Archive Re-issue Crop Denim Jacket, $79.95, available at Gap.
If ASOS’ petite section isn’t already on your radar, it needs to be. From standard petite sizes, to petite maternity, to petite plus, every and all petite women are covered. The e-tailer also has a cool curation of petite sizes from brands like Fila, River Island, Glamorous, its in-house wedding collection, and more.
New Look Petite Cropped Jacket, $53, available at ASOS.
Petite-specific sizing is a game-changer, especially at a retailer as huge as J.Crew. Now ladies from 5′ 0″ to 5′ 4″ can enjoy the brand’s classic styles, too.
J.Crew Petite Pleated Ruggle Top, $88, available at J.Crew.
We love Petite Studio so much, we’ve even given it its own brand spotlight. The label is a dream for every fashion-minded female on the smaller side. For pieces like minimalist jackets and mini skirts with an inseam specifically tailored for shorter legs, petite gals will want to bookmark this site.
Petite Studio Irving Suede Jacket, $179, available at Petite Studio.
Adela Mei describes itself as a “carefully curated online boutique dedicated to contemporary petite fashion” and it delivers just that. Search through selection for the best fitting pieces from your favorite designers.
C/MEO Collective Fall Back Skirt, $150 $104.50, available at Adela Mei.
If you absolutely love pants and hate the cost of heading to the tailor after every other shopping trip, Topshop is your new BFF. Its range of petite offerings is amazing, but its assortment of pants for women under 5′ 3″ is the true winner here.
Topshop Petite Crop Wide Leg Trousers, $80, available at Topshop.
One of the most common gripes for shorter women is finding denim that fits. Paige offers just about every style in petite sizes for those 5′ 4″ and under.
Paige Jacqueline Straight, $239, available at Paige.
Ann Taylor let’s you know exactly what goes into their efforts to make their petite collection a perfect fit. From tailoring the sleeves, shoulder, and necklines, to ensuring that their pants flatter any leg length, no stone is left unturned.
Ann Taylor Petite Culotte Jumpsuit, $139, available at Ann Taylor.
Stop by Anthropologie’s curate boutique for petite clothes, where you’ll find petite-specific sizes from its in-house line, as well as pieces from outside brands that make a solid fit for small frames.
Floreat Embroidered Luna Slip Dress, $168, available at Anthropologie.
Eloquii is a popular stop for plus-sizes, but did you know it offers petite plus-sizes, too?
Eloquii Studio Off the Shoulder Chambray Dress, $110.90, available at Eloquii.
Missguided’s motto is that “good things come in small packages,” and when it comes to its petite designs, we have to agree. For the fashion crowd 5′ 3″ and under, its petite collection is a trend haven with bold, lace-up skirts, ankle-length parkas, and cut-out mini dresses.
Missguided Petite Exclusive Khaki Lace Up Mini Skirt, $45, available at Missguided.
Bomb Petite boasts exclusive designs from emerging and independent designers with a focus on women 5′ 4″ and under. The site isn’t just a destination for edgy pieces to add to your closet, but it’s a great editorial resource for styling tips and tricks too.
Petriiski Petite Liza Cherry Blossom Crop Top, $98.60, available at Bomb Petite; Petriiski Petite Liza Cherry Blossom Skirt, $113.10, available at Bomb Petite.
For comfy and classic, look no further. Eileen Fisher offers petite sizes in just about all of its designs. Head over to their petite tab to shop.
Eileen Fisher Straight Cropped Pant, $218 $119, available at Eileen Fisher.
Express is one of the latest fast-fashion shops to expand to a petite line. The featured pieces are sized for those 5′ 4″ and under and are available through its online shop only.
Express Petite Striped Off The Shoulder Cotton Blend Shift Dress, $69.90, available at Express.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
A Guide To The Best Petite Jeans For Short Legs
