The ultimate dress guide for petite women + the best places to shop!

If you are a petite woman, you know how hard it can be shopping online and seeing the dresses on models that are much taller and not even close to our proportions.

I never really trust the photo on the website which ends up with me ordering way too many dresses and returning what doesn’t work.

If you have a petite frame and are trying to find the best styles to fit, here are my tried and true styles and shops for those of us that don’t want to solely shop in the petite department!

I am 5’2″ and constantly looking for pieces that are easy to wear but don’t overwhelm my frame. My personal style is very girly.

Dresses are my go-to outfits on most occasions from work to casual to just everyday mom life, so I’m constantly on the look out for dresses that will work for someone like me with a smaller frame.

Women’s petite clothing is tough as sizes can be different and if you have a longer torso or longer legs, even if you are petite, the specific petite sizing may not work for you.

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The best dresses for petite women

The best petite dresses for women

Petite sizes are great, don’t get me wrong, I love that more companies are making clothes specifically cut for petite women, but not all petite sizing are the right fit especially for the upper body.

They don’t always work for my body type even if they are the right size, so I keep my eye out for regular size pieces that aren’t necessarily petite specific but also don’t need alterations or hemming.

A few things that I look for are sleeve length, especially for long sleeve dresses, but also for short sleeve styles as they can really hit differently on those of us with shorter arms and smaller frames.

The best choices for petite tops is similar, but for dresses you need it to fit throughout the body.

Classic styles can be great and easier to find but I’ll share a few sites below where I love to shop for styles that I find to be a great fit for short women.

Petite Dress styles for every occasion:

PETITE LACE A-LINE DRESS

Petite Summer Dresses

I can safely say that I wear dresses pretty much the majority of summer. I love the ease of not having to pick out a full outfit and just pop on a dress and go.

A few petite summer dress styles that I love are smocked dresses, flare dresses, maxi dresses and short casual dresses.

For summer dresses – it’s all about swingy, flowy and nothing fussy. I try to look for dresses that I can slip on, without zippers and buttons.

Also look out for details like bows, ruffles or a floral print. Gingham is also adorable for the summer and I’m a sucker for anything with pom poms!

Summer is also a great time to have fun with your accessories so if you want to add a bit of flare to your dress, just add a cute clutch, hat or fun earrings!

Petite Maxi Dresses

The best tip that I’ve found is that instead of looking for maxi dresses, I look for midi dresses. These dresses usually will end up hitting about ankle length on me which is the perfect length!

If you want a true maxi dress, then that’s where I would look for petite specific sizing for maxi dresses.

These do tend to run longer (they often will sweep the floor) but with petite sizing they won’t be as long in length so you don’t need to worry about alterations.

maxi dress for petite women

Maxi dresses on petite women are always a good choice as they really help elongate the body and help you look taller! You can also pair them with a high heels or tall wedges to really help you look much taller!

Another tip is to look for vertical lines which help make you look taller.

midi dress for petite frames

This dress below is not a petite sized maxi dress but it did end up fitting me very well which I was happy about!

Look for reviews on the website from customers who often will mention the fit and length of the dress.

Petite size dresses are not always necessary. It’s great when a store carries it but if not, look for midi style or get it hemmed to your length but always remember to bring the shoes you are planning on wearing with it.

maxi dress for smaller frames

Classic Styles for petite women

Finding classic styles for petite sizing is probably the easiest as designers tend to make these styles as they know that they flatter all body types. I love the swing dress, shift dress and wrap dress for all occasions.

The swing dress like I’m wearing below is great on it’s own but I love to pair it with a colorful suede jacket.

To dress it up, I’d add a nice purse and heels. I was going casual that day so I wore it with sneakers and was able to chase after my kids and still be comfy!

classic style petite dress

A wrap dress is always a good choice for so many reasons but I find it to be so flattering on everyone.

One of my favorite dresses that I’ve worn is a faux wrap (you can’t adjust the wrap on it as it’s sewn on) but the style is similar and I love that it’s can be dressy or casual.

You could also look for vertical lines on a dress, which are a great addition for those of us on the shorter side. This detail helps makes us look a little bit taller!

Short sleeves are also a good length where it’s not too short and hits right above the elbow which can be a good choice if you are self conscious about your upper arms.

Casual petite dresses

Dresses are great for everyday, even when you are super casual! Petite casual dresses can be easier to find as most places like Target, Amazon and Walmart carry a lot of different styles.

Look for cotton dresses that are breathable and easy to move in. I love the additional details like the tie dress I’m wearing below – you can adjust the tie to fit your body.

And a simple colorblock dress like this is so great if you want to be comfy while traveling or even if you are headed to the beach! It’s actually a cute swimsuit coverup as well!

casual maxi petite dress

A sleeveless swing shift dress is so comfy for those hot summer days. You can wear it with sandals or wedges or it also looks great paired with sneakers for a more casual look!

An easy way to transition these pieces to cooler weather is to simply add a jacket. I love putting a jean jacket over these but if you want to be a little more fancy, look for a suede moto jacket that can be worn with jeans or dresses.

For moto jackets, look for petite jackets that can fit a bit more cropped and are not too baggy so that it doesn’t overwhelm your frame.

Special Occasion Petite Dresses

It can be hard to find special occasion dresses to fit short women as I find that so many of them just expect to be altered or tailored to your body type.

I used to get so many things altered to fit but after awhile I realized I was spending too much money on clothes to make them fit so instead I know read lots of reviews and know my measurements well enough to know what will fit and what won’t look great on me.

special occasion petite dress

Look for dresses with great details like this. The texture, lace and ruffles makes the dress look so much more expensive than it is!

ruffles and lace details on special occasion dress

These are both great dresses to wear for so many special occasions. If you are a bride, the white dress would be the perfect engagement party or even reception dress! But both are great for baby showers, birthday parties, anything where you want to feel dressed up!

If you really don’t want to deal with things that might not fit, look for details like the dress below where the waistband is all elastic so it really fits to your body and you don’t have to worry about zippers or buttons.

petite size special occasion dress

Short dresses for smaller frames

Finding short dresses for petite frames sounds easier than it is! I find that most dresses actually are way too long. A good length for those of us with short legs is usually above the knee.

This dress below is actually a romper which is so fun! I love that because they are shorts, they do run a bit on the shorter side but you can feel safe when you are wearing it that you aren’t going to be flashing anyone.

Most short dresses for petite ladies end up right around the knee so I usually add some tall nude heels to elongate the legs.

The best places to shop for petite dresses

I tend to stick to a few places where I find that they make pieces that are the right fit for smaller frames. Here are the ones that I shop at frequently.

Stores with petite departments

Check these out for more petite style tips

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