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Petite Clothes — 5 Perfect Pieces You Can’t Live Without

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If you’re slightly smaller in stature, it is tricky to find pieces to flatter your proportions perfectly. For those of us under 5’3″, we face too-generous leg-lengths and tops and dresses that are too long in the body on every shopping trip. And when we shop the official petite clothes section, well, let’s face it. It takes a lot of hunting to find those perfect petite pieces.

Thankfully, the high street is catching up with the needs of us smaller ladies. More retailers than ever are offering bigger and better petite ranges. To make your spring shopping efficient this year, we’ve scanned our favorite stores and edited down our top petite picks to snap up now.

Petite Flora Midi Dress

ASOS Floral Organza Bardot Midi, $145, ASOS
ASOS Floral Organza Bardot Midi, $145, ASOS

No spring wardrobe is complete without a floral prom dress. A go-to option for weddings, parties and special summer occasions, this lightweight organza option is a timeless classic. The off-the-shoulder bardot sleeve is super-flattering and the below-the-knee hemline is oh-so-feminine. Team it with neutral heels and a simple clutch to complete the look.

Petite Denim Utility Suit

Sleeveless Utility Denim Jumpsuit, $88, Nordstrom
Sleeveless Utility Denim Jumpsuit, $88, Nordstrom

Casual, lounging jumpsuits are the ultimate in lazy-day dressing. They’re both chic and comfortable, and seriously on trend this season. Pair with simple flat sandals on sunny days or, if the weather is cooler, layer up with lightweight knits.

Petite Trench Coats

Petite Lightweight Jacket, $160, Topshop
Petite Lightweight Jacket, $160, Topshop

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Transition your wardrobe from winter to spring in one easy step with a new trench coat. This belted, pink number works equally well for days in the office or days in the mall. Designed specifically for petite frames, this sharp tailored belted jacket is an effortless way to inject some lighter colors into your wardrobe.

Petite Daisy Tube Pants

Petite Daisy Tube Trousers, $24, Dorothy Perkins
Petite Daisy Tube Trousers, $24, Dorothy Perkins

Step out of your comfort zone this spring and ditch your go-to jeans. These daisy print tube pants are super-flattering thanks to their form-fitting design. The monochrome print will instantly liven up your favorite cream shirts and add interest into an otherwise plain look. The ankle-grazer cut will help to create the illusion of longer legs too.

Petite Moto Style Cardigan

Ralph Lauren Moto Style Cardigan, $49, Bloomingdales
Ralph Lauren Moto Style Cardigan, $49, Bloomingdales

Bold colors instantly brighten up your mood. This cropped moto style cardigan jacket will pull together any jeans and tee combo, instantly giving your outfit a more polished feel. And don’t let the yellow hue scare you. Match it with dark trousers and a light tee and you’ll have a foolproof smart-casual look.  

Emily

Friday 17th of June 2016

I love that TopShop sells petites! It can be hard trying to style some "average" sized clothing when you're only 5'1"! I did find some other tips here that maybe you'll find useful, like how to wear cropped pants as regular pants!

Miss

Friday 8th of April 2016

I like the jumpsuit. Thanks for sharing.

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Tuesday 5th of April 2016

great blog and thanks for sharing it.

Queen-T

Tuesday 29th of March 2016

Being only 5 feet I’ve never felt like being vertically challenged/short/petite was a curse. I’ve never understood why women seem to have such a hard time shopping or finding (petite) clothes. It should go without saying that one of a petite woman’s best friends should be a very good tailor. I learned that early on and it’s been my saving grace!! Sure, it can be a little bit of hassle having to get clothes shortened, but I’d rather have a well-tailored, semi-custom made look than a sloppy looking outfit. I prefer petite sizes but I’ll buy ‘regular’ sizes too – I’m not going to let my height be a deterrent to my style!!

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