10 Best Places to Shop for Petite Clothes Over 50

For those of us who are 5′ 4″ and under and over 50, petite clothes that are proportional can be a challenge to find. Add 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. Our options are much slimmer than the people who wear “regular size” clothes.

I thought I would round 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. Just because they are petite sizing does not mean that it will work for your body in a flattering way.

Brands and Stores That Have Good Petite Selections

What I will say is that 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 not 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 and they are age appropriate/stylish.

Department Stores

Nordstrom

Nordstrom is a go to for many things for me. They always two brands of jeans, Kut from the Kloth and NYDJ, that have multiple styles in a full range of petite sizes. Another category that I can always finds things is in petite dresses. Brands like Eliza J and Maggie London have nice selections.

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 winter coats in petite sizing. Their store brands Charter Club and Alfani also feature several styles each season in a full range of petite sizes.

Dillards

Dillards is a store that is more prominent in the southern United States. I am able to shop there stores near where I live. Granted they do not usuaully 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 no tforget about their store brand, Antonio Melani. Even though there 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. They actually make my favorite shorts for summer. You can see me in them here.

Brands With Good Petite Clothes Options

Boden

Boden is a UK-based retailer. They have a great, easy to navigate website. They value a great fit and offer petites in sizes 2 to 22. When I think of this brand I think of all of their dresses and their Richmond pant (they make it season after season). 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.

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 it you need true business or professional looks, then head to their site for plenty of options. Don’t discount them for your weekend looks too. They also offer some great caual wear. It’s always nice to be able to use your jackets with more casual bottoms so you get the most wears out of them.

What I do really 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 if they are for your body.

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.

Hobbs London

Hobbs London is a UK based brand that started out as a shoe label. The brand has evolved into a clothing label that is know for their contemporary, yet timeless designs. The are known for their quality and affordability. So when you do purchase a piece from them, you know that it will be something that you will reach for for many years to come.

Personally, their wool pieces and knits are something that I am drawn to. Who doesn’t love a classic blazer in their closet in a color that looks amazing on them. Since they are out of the UK, outerwear is another great option from this company.

Petite Studio NYC

Petite Studio NYC is your go to place for stylish, trendy well made petite clothing. This New York based company was founded by a petite woman and all of her design staff are also petite women. So they totally get it. You can read my review of the brand here.

They are a sustainable brand and make all of their things in small runs. So if you see something that you like just know that it can sell out. I will be honest and the pieces that I have from them did not need one alteration. That is nothing short of a miracle for me. They do have a few pieces that are made season after season. This Buvette blouse is one of them. Some seasons they will offer it in other colors as well. The Buvette pants are another and are a great weight for three seasons.

J. Crew

J. Crew is known for it’s 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 the their short sleeved tees and tops that are in regular sizing.

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. You can also always count on them for a good striped shirt or chambray shirt in petite sizing.

Spanx

Spanx is no longer a brand that is all about shapewear. Yes, when we hear the word Spanx we automatically think of shapewear. However, their website is a great option for pants with built in shapewear. Now what woman doesn’t love that. Sarah and her team know what women like and do a great job of designing it for us. So if you are looking for some great black pants, sorth thru their various styles and see what one looks and feels great on your body.

THANKS

Thanks so much for stopping by and making it all of the way down to the bottom of this post. I truly appreciate every read, share, comment, and pin. 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 souce for petite clothes today.