The 20 Best Petite Stores of 2024

Why We Love It: Besides offering the kind of clothing you can have fun with—think leopard print jeans with scallop-detailed pockets or a silky, curve-skimming wrap dress—this Britain-based brand has a policy of serving every body type, be it standard-, petite-, or plus-sized. And while many of the label’s offerings come in sizes for those of smaller stature, the main collection is full of classic fits that are easily modified by way of a hemmed pant leg or sleeve. The one downside? The products sell out quickly, so you have to act fast.

Who It’s For: Shoppers who like to constantly experiment with their look—and aren’t afraid to stand out in a crowd. “I love how Never Fully Dressed offers stylish and trendy garments for petite women,” notes Leitz. “It makes it easy to stay fashionable without compromising on fit.”

Why We Love It: Whereas most brands offer a designated section for shorter customers, Petite Studio is solely focused on the under-5-foot-4-inch set. “This indie label ensures every fit is just perfect with pieces that are both feminine and timelessly elegant,” says Leitz. Translation? Fashion lovers will find basics (like lean and leggy trousers) and statement styles (ahem, floral babydoll dresses) alike here. 

Who It’s For: Those in search of easy, wardrobe-building staples—the label boasts an entire landing page of these—and the occasional head-turning dress. In general, the vibe is easy and romantic, like what you’d imagine a French girl wearing as she wanders a flea market along the Seine.

Why We Love It: The selection feels easy and elegant but also undeniably cool, like what your most intimidatingly in-the-know friend would breeze into brunch wearing. Better still, reports Los Angeles-based writer and consultant Lauren Caruso, Reformation really focuses on precisely scaling down the fit of the petite offerings. “The difference is significant,” she says, counting the label as a go-to for event-specific clothing that’ll work for her 5-foot-2-inch height.

Who It’s For: Women who not only want a closet full of practical pieces that’ll work well for their body type but also desire a certain It girl je ne sais quoi. A slinky satin halter gown? The up-to-there slit skirt of your dreams? Linen pants that wouldn’t be out of place in St. Tropez? You’ll find all of the above and more.

Why We Love It: You won’t merely discover essentials here—each style, while seemingly basic, has been crafted to be just the right fit to feel in line with the current style zeitgeist. See: a precisely pleated work trouser and the chef’s kiss selection of ruched tops. And while there is no designated “petite” line, every pair of pants is offered in a “short” (and, occasionally, “extra-short”) length, and many of the shirts are cropped. 

Who It’s For: Those in search of solid mix-and-matchable items that feel on trend but not overly trendy. Better still, most everything tends to be under-$100 so you can stock up without spending too much.

Why We Love It: Known for its vast, trend-driven selection and budget-friendly pricing, this beloved e-tailer also is very focused on inclusive sizing. In particular, it’s a fantastic resource for plus-sized pants with shorter inseams; most options are available in multiple lengths. This is key for plus-sized content creator Jessica Torres, who notes that the majority of labels don’t bother to do this. “What I really look for in the petite category are jeans, which just adds another layer to the struggle of finding a good pair,” she says, noting that silhouettes that are cropped to hit above the ankles on taller bodies also work well for her. “I wish more brands would remember that larger sizes don’t mean everyone is tall—most women are 5’4”!”

Who It’s For: Fashion lovers who like switching things up style-wise but don’t want to financially commit to a new wardrobe each season. The site is a goldmine for different aesthetics and sensibilities with pricing rarely above two digits, so you can try new fashion identities without going broke.

Why We Love It: “Universal Standard is one of my personal favorites,” says Leitz, touting the company’s 0–40 sizing, as well as petite and tall options, as huge selling points. “The quality and designs are top-notch, making every piece a wardrobe staple.” Better still, the site focuses on understated silhouettes that generally work for a wide range of body shapes and sizes, thus making it easy to modify anything that is a touch too long in the sleeve or leg.

Who It’s For: Universal Standard is a particularly useful resource for customers who are both petite- and plus-sized, as every garment is offered up to size 40.

Why We Love It: This sustainable and ethically-produced label has translated many of its sleek, city-cool offerings (like a cozy sweatshirt dress or a slouchy tunic) to finely-tuned petite sizing. “Our petite designs are specifically designed for petite-specific proportions so you shouldn’t have to worry about any fit areas—they’re ready to wear ‘out-of-the-box,’” says Junior Creative Director Eva Chung. However, she notes, the main collection often works for shorter shoppers as well—albeit not always in the way it was originally intended. “I am 5’3” and I personally love getting our midi dresses and wearing them as maxis.”

Who It’s For: Founded with the mantra of “minimalism with an edge,” Marcella caters to those who want an understated and polished appearance that still has plenty of personality. Many of the styles are made from soft and stretchy material as well, making them an excellent choice for those who put a premium on comfort.

Why We Love It: Beloved for its vintage-inspired denim, the chain currently has nearly 100 different jean options available with shorter inseams. There’s also a smaller range of jackets, dresses, and tops with sized down proportions but the main collection’s robust selection of cropped shirts is sure to suit a shorter body type as well.

Who It’s For: If you love a relaxed and unfussy downtown look, Madewell’s wellspring of breezy T-shirts and retro-chic denim is sure to delight.

Why We Love It: Although Everlane doesn’t have a petite-specific section, our experts have called it out as being a place where shoppers can successfully cheat the system a little. “It offers many styles in shorter inseams, which can be really helpful,” says Caruso of the label, which has more than a few enticing cropped pants. 

Who It’s For: It’s worth clicking over if you’re hunting for excellent quality basics for a reasonable price. The company was founded on the idea of transparency, so you can not only track how each design was made but also what it cost to produce.

Why We Love It: Every category across this long-standing retailer—tops, pants, dresses—offers sizing options for tall and petite frames. Sizing also goes up to a XXL in shorts and 30/4X in pants, making it a worthwhile destination for plus-size shoppers as well.

Who It’s For: Stop by if you enjoy having a wealth of choice and appreciate a good deal. Not only are most pieces priced below $50, but there’s almost always some sort of sale or promotion happening on top of that.

Why We Love It: This free-spirited favorite has a landing page jam-packed with petite pieces that exude an unfussy, bohemian air—see this puff sleeve romper and faux leather jacket for example. Consider it next time you want to invest in something that feels truly special to elevate many of the basics you’ll find on this list.

Who It’s For: If you’re the kind of person who loves coffee tables filled with stacks of photobooks, artfully mismatched crockery, and occasionally trading your Spotify for vinyl, you’ll definitely find clothes that speak to you here.

Why We Love It: Gap, of course, has been an invaluable stop for closet staples for a long while now. But lately it’s been doing an especially good job with its sizing by offering pretty much every piece in distinctly petite proportions. 

Who It’s For: If you need a basic on a budget, the beauty of Gap is you can always rely on it to have some version of what you’re looking for—and for a very reasonable price. Better still, there’s one at nearly every mall across America, so it’s easy to pin down an IRL outpost the day you want to make a purchase.

Why We Love It: A true lifestyle brand, Ralph Lauren has one of the most comprehensive petite sections in the business, with categories including outerwear, loungewear, and sweaters. And yes: Everything fits right in with the company’s signature Americana aesthetic, be it banker-striped pajamas or a crisp polo shirt. 

Who It’s For: Known for blending preppy and cowboy style, Ralph Lauren is always a wise choice if you want something traditional—but never stuffy—that’ll stand the test of time.

Why We Love It: Besides offering pretty much every denim cut, fit, and wash you can dream of, this time-honored purveyor of jeans boasts multiple inseam options on every style. This is especially helpful when ordering a bootcut or flared silhouette, which will often be drastically changed visually if you try to lop a few inches off.

Who It’s For: Denim-obsessives who like to switch things up—and don’t want to pay over three figures for each new pair of jeans.

Why We Love It: Fans of Good American jeans keep coming back for its comfortable, curve-hugging fits (each style is made with a bit of stretch) and ’90s-inspired touches (like ripped knees and baggy legs). Petite fans of Good American, however, also return for the multiple options with well-calibrated adjustments for shorter legs and torsos.

Who It’s For: Those looking for jeans that’ll stand out but are still streamlined enough to wear multiple times in one week. The styles are a little pricier than many alternatives on this list (between $100 and $150) but the quality is good and the cuts stand the test of time.

Why We Love It: Torres counts Lane Bryant as a reliable place to find a plethora of plus-sized items (sizing starts at 10/12) with shortened proportions. Options run the gamut from everyday dresses in pretty prints to tailored jumpsuits—really, there’s a little something for every occasion.

Who It’s For: If you’re over a size 10 and just want to browse a lot of cute petite clothes at once, it’s a fun place to sift around for something cute, practical, and excellently priced. 

Why We Love It: Much like Gap and Old Navy (which are owned by the same parent company), Banana Republic makes everything in its arsenal in a petite length. What sets it apart from these aforementioned stores, however, is its higher-end look—the offerings tend to have a more minimalist and sophisticated vibe, ideal for work pants and after-hours office events.

Who It’s For: Petites in search of elegant staples such as a beautifully draped suits or the quintessential little black dress. There are also some lovely and beautifully made off-duty looks, which reflect a similarly laid-back but polished mood (hello, striped maxi shirtdress!).

Why We Love It: Well-loved for its practical and outdoorsy choices, this heritage brand sells all of its bottoms—from trousers to workout leggings—in petite lengths. You’ll also find a special page dedicated to other styles, including dresses and swimwear, that have been specially adjusted to smaller proportions.

Who It’s For: This is the type of place you hit up for the kind of durable clothes you might want for a hiking or camping trip. There’s a nice array of everyday (and very vacation-ready) pieces, too, but it’s the rugged, weather-resistant designs that set this company apart.

Why We Love It: Finding petite-size activewear is no small feat, but this chain is working to change that with picks is most every category. Get excited to never have leggings that are way too long—or worse, meant to be cropped just so but hit an awkward spot instead—again.

Who It’s For: Gym fanatics under 5 feet, 4 inches tall who are sick of adjusting or rolling their gear mid-workout. There’s also a large number of athleisure looks on the site, so it’s worth checking out even if you only care about looking sporty.

Why We Love It: Color, print, embellishment—fun flourishes abound in this super feminine line, which offers a good portion of its stock in shorter (and longer) lengths. It’s an especially good place to look for vibrant dresses, as it currently has over 100 to choose from.

Who It’s For: If you love fashion with a little whimsy—but not so much it reads twee—there’s most definitely more than a few colorblocked cardigans and patterned skirts here that’ll tempt you to whip out your credit card.