For those of us who are 5′ 4″ and under and over 50, petite clothes that are proportional can be a challenge to find. On top of that, the clothes need to fit our body type and look age-appropriate. Oh, and let’s not forget that we don’t want to look frumpy just because we are petite and over 50.
Since I have been short all of my life, I have had plenty of experience ferreting out where to find petite clothes that fit my body type. Trust me, it has been a trial and error process. Not all designers make and carry petite sizes. Also, if they do make them most likely there are only a few styles.
I have rounded up some of the places that I find to have the best selection of petite sizing for midlife women and beyond. Yes, this is for those of us who want to look stylish and not spend a fortune on alterations. What I will say is that it is a lot of try-on sessions to find the brand (s) that fit YOUR body the best.
Before we look at shopping options here are a few other petite fashion-related posts I have written that you might want to check out.
- 7 Easy Ways To Look Taller Without Heels When Petite
- How To Look Taller With Easy Stretches For Petites
- Petite Clothing Tips When You Can’t Buy Petite Sizing
- Petite vs. Regular Pants Sizing Guide For Women: Differences You Should Know
- The Best Shoe Styles To Wear If You Are Petite
This article may contain affiliate links; if you click on a shopping link or picture and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission (at no cost to you). Thank you.
Petite Clothes That You Will Want To Wear Over 50
Why more retailers don’t offer petite clothing, I don’t know. According to the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) almost 40% of American women are 5’4″ and under and yet the selection of petite clothing is limited. More petite brands would be welcomed by all of us who are short. And for those who do make petite sizing, it would be nice to have more to choose from. Until then, here is the list of places where I can find the best selections of petite clothing, both online and in-store.
Brands and Stores That Have Good Petite Selections
I will say there is no one place that is my holy grail go-to for petite clothes. Some brands will have good tops, others good pants. Some brands are a great resource for dresses. Unfortunately, there is no one-stop shopping for the “vertically challenged” (that’s what I call myself all of the time). So let’s take a look at some of the places that I found to have a good selection of styles that are age-appropriate/stylish for the over 50s.
Department Stores That Offer Good Petite Clothes Options
Nordstrom
Nordstrom is a go-to for many things for me. They always have two brands of jeans, Kut from the Kloth and NYDJ, that have multiple styles in a full range of petite sizes. If you like premium denim, they now carry a few styles of Mother in petite sizing. Another petite brand find at Nordstrom is Nic & Zoe. They have great knit jackets and sweaters.
Macy’s
I always find that Macy’s is a great go-to for a good selection of things from Lauren Ralph Lauren which are great closet staples. Also, they have a good selection of dresses in petite sizing. I think they have more petite dresses than any of the other major department stores. Another area where they have a good selection is jackets. No matter what the season, you can always find several options.
Dillards
Dillards is a store that is more prominent in the southern United States. I can shop at their stores near where I live. Granted they do not usually have many petite selections in the stores near me. However, they do have a nice selection on their website. I have found them to be a great go-to for dresses. Also, do not forget about their store brand, Antonio Melani. Even though their pieces are not offered in petite sizes I do find that I can wear many of their designs. The brand is well-made and offers nice pieces for the price point.
Brands petites need to know
Boden
Boden is a UK-based retailer. They have a great, easy-to-navigate website so I order online from them regularly. They value a great fit and offer petite clothes in sizes 2 to 22. When I think of this brand I think of all of their dresses and their pants. They always have a good selection of pant styles and colors. Another item that always comes to mind for this retailer is their selection of outerwear. No matter the season they always have appropriate jackets and coats. You can read my review of their line here. Here are some of my favorite styles for the season.
Ann Taylor
When it comes to classic, tailored pieces Ann Taylor always pops into my head. Yes, they will have office-appropriate jackets, pants, skirts, and coordinating pieces for you season after season. So if you need true business or professional looks, head to their site for plenty of options. Don’t discount them for your weekend looks too. They also offer some great casual wear and jeans. It’s always nice to be able to use your jackets with more casual bottoms so you get the most wear out of them.
What I do like about the petite pants is that in some styles they will offer a regular petite or a curvy petite. As a woman who is always having to have waistlines taken in the curvy fit is a dream come true. If you decide to try a pant that has that option I highly recommend ordering one of each fit in your size to see which is better for your body type. After that you will know for reorders which fit is for your body. The pants I am wearing above are great pants at least three seasons of the year. Another favorite pant that they make every spring and summer is this cotton cropped pant. I am wearing them in the photo above with a green shirt and drinking an iced coffee.
Here are some of my favorite styles for the season.
Land’s End
When I think of Land’s End I think of comfort. They have great knits and cottons not just for petites, but for the entire family. One of my favorite things from them is the cotton robe I use when I get out of the shower every day. It is just like giving myself a big hug while I get ready for my day. They are my go to source for petite robes.
Their selection of petites goes from bathing suits to rain jackets to t-shirts to dresses. Yes, you can find comfortable pieces to fit your style in all those categories and more. Oh, and let’s not forget their infamous tote bags. Every household should have at least one of these. I use mine on the regular.
Here are some of my favorite finds for the season.
Petite Studio NYC
Petite Studio NYC is a clothing company that designs clothing for petite women by petite women. In 2016 Jenny Wang-Howell set out to build a brand whose focus was to create fashionable clothing for petite women sustainably. She describes herself as a 5’2″ wannabe fashionista and prides herself on starting the first real petite shop offering women trendy, stylish petite clothing.
The company makes small-run curated collections online only. They source fabrics their fabrics from the same mills as many top high-end luxury brands. You will find beautiful wools for the fall and winter collections. Silks and premium cotton for the spring and summer collections.
Some of my favorite pieces are the Lexi Wool sweater (photo here) and the Pippa denim skirt (photo here). This spring and summer they have knocked it out of the ballpark with some great dresses. All of the pieces are well made and fit petite frames beautifully in the rise and lengths (sleeve and pant length). If you are looking for sustainable clothing items in petite sizing, then this company is one you should order from.
J. Crew
J. Crew is known for its classic, preppy clothing. They are size-inclusive for many of their things. So you will be able to find pants, blazers, tops, dresses, and skirts in petite sizing that is inclusive. I do find that I can also wear many of their short-sleeved tees and tops that are in regular sizing. This is a brand that you will usually have to order online for the petite selections. The Atlanta stores near me do not carry petite sizes in store for some reason.
Once you find their denim or pant fit that is good for your body, then you are good to go. They will usually make the same cuts season after season. The Kate pant is a good example of that and so is the Regent blazer. The Pixie Pant that I am wearing above has been around for years. You can also always count on them for good striped shirts or chambray shirts in petite sizing. I have also found their lady jackets to work for my petite body. You just have to have the sleeves shortened.
In the summer, you can’t beat their linen pants for petites. Whether you are looking for a style to wear to work or for weekends you can always count on them to have a great selection of styles and colors.
Here are some of my warm weather favorites this season.
Soft Surroundings
Another female-founded brand that provides women with stylish comfort and softness for our everyday. Their designs always have a special touch of artisanal details that are unique to their brand. They have a full line of clothing, accessories, and home goods full of softness to make your day.
This brand always has a great selection of tunic-style tops. So if you are a woman who doesn’t always welcome tucking in your tops, this brand should be on your radar screen. To go along with those tops that you like to wear on the outside of your pants, they make several options of pull-on pants and skorts so that you don’t have the bulk of zippers. Thus giving you a seamless, chic look.
Here are some of my favorite pieces for the season.
Talbots
Talbots is a US-based retailer known for its timeless, classic pieces. Each season you will find a full range of designs for your wardrobe in the current colors, patterns, and prints. They even offer many of their petite selections in plus sizing.
Some of my favorite things from this retailer are their perfect shirts and layering tees. They always have the basic colors your need for your wardrobe basic plus some fun prints or patterns. Here are some of my favorite warm weather styles from Talbots.
THANKS
Thanks so much for stopping by and making it all of the way down to the bottom of this post. These brands have some of the best petite clothes for women over 50 in my opinion. If you know a petite person that you think would find this informative and helpful, please forward it to them. I hope that I introduced you to a new source of petite clothes today.
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Updated May 2024.
