Women who are 5'4" and under are always more than happy to find stores that sell petite fashions. Petite-friendly clothing goes beyond clothes that are smaller - they are also sized differently in a variety of fit aspects. They are frequently shorter in the seat, higher in the waist, and shorter in arm and leg length to accommodate the proportions of a truly petite woman. It can be quite a challenge finding great clothes that fit the petite frame well. Stores that either specialize in them or offer full petite departments are great finds.
Department Stores
Nordstrom
The petite collection at Nordstrom is an extensive one, and they offer petite collections from many contemporary and higher-end designers such as Guess, Eileen Fisher, and Citizens of Humanity. Their online selection is more extensive than their brick-and-mortar stores, and they are great for petites who find it more challenging to find well-fitting clothing as they offer free shipping and returns.
Macy's
If you are looking for a wide and affordable selection of work wear from brands like Jones New York and MICHAEL Michael Kors, Macy's is the place to go. They offer over 200 suit separate options - a wide variety to fit any work wear need. They offer free shipping for purchases over $99 and free in-store returns.
Specialty Retailers
Ann Taylor
Ann Taylor's petite business wear and dress offerings are extensive and wide. Their business suiting section has over 100 options for blazers and bottoms, coming in a variety of styles from 00P-16P. They offer free shipping for orders above $175 or $8.95 flat-rate shipping.
Talbots
For classic, enduring garments that promise to be with you for years to come, check Talbots. The company carries petite average and petite plus sizes, so any woman smaller than 5'4", no matter what her weight, can find something she loves. The selection is quite diverse, but Talbots is especially revered for its timeless, work-appropriate looks. This is a great place to find a chic little black dress or a structured suit. Shipping is a flat rate, starting at $8 for standard shipping.
Banana Republic
Banana Republic offers a wide range of petite options, but their stand outs are their casual dresses, skirts, and tops, which come in a wide range of patterns, cuts, and colors. They usually offer some representation of their petite line in their brick-and-mortar stores, but the selection varies greatly depending on the size of the store. A better bet would be to shop online - where almost every regular-sized apparel offering will have a petite sizing tab for petite sizes. They offer free shipping for orders over $50.
Anthropologie
For niche designer clothing with some boho-chic flair, there's no better place to go than Anthropologie. Their petite line has expanded in recent years, and they offer petite options from many smaller designers, like Ace & Jig, Aryn K, Cynthia Rowley, and Zimmermann. Anthropologie is a great option for casual or more formal party attire. It is also best to shop online, where they have a more extensive range of petite options than in stores. Shipping costs depend on the total order, but start at $6.95 for orders under $49.99.
J.Crew
J.Crew's petite line has grown over the years, offering a wide range of casual and business wear options, including petite versions of their hugely popular No. 2 pencil skirt and Minnie pants. However, their range of party dresses and bridal wear options is unparalleled, and their petite offerings include many of the same styles as their regular-sized line. They have a small petite section in their brick-and-mortar stores, but it is usually best to shop online for their party wear. They offer $5 flat-rate shipping and free shipping on orders over $150.
Petite-Only Stores
Allison Izu
Forget about parking yourself in a department store dressing room for hours, trying on pair after pair of jeans to no avail. Better to shop at Allison Izu instead, where the products are custom designed for petite women. The line is full of all kinds of jeans: bootcut, trouser style, skinny, straight and wide leg, plus shorts, capri pants, mini skirts and tops.
Sheez Petite
Helmed by petite women, Sheez Petite claims to intimately know the needs of petites - and their offerings certainly prove that. Look especially at their work wear section, where they have a wide range of work-appropriate dresses that are also very affordable.
Find Your Favorite Petite Fashion Retailers
While shopping for petite clothing can be challenging, it certainly is not impossible if you know where to go! Get to know the salespeople at your favorite petite retailers; they will quickly become your best friends and help you build a wardrobe that is functional, stylish and flattering all at once.
