I recently stumbled upon a collection of budget-friendly and petite-friendly pieces for work in the most surprising place – the juniors section at Kohl’s. I don’t often check the juniors section, but I happened to be in the store and saw these pieces on the rack. They looked small and they looked like Aritzia at a fraction of the price. The sizes were limited in the store, and the pants didn’t come in short, so I ordered them all online and hoped for the best. All in all, I’m impressed and excited to share these with you.
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Budget-Friendly Workwear for Petites
My Sizing: I’m 4’10”, and my bust, waist, and hip measurements are 32″, 24″, and 36″. My inseam is 25″ (the measurement from the inside of my leg to my ankle bone). The clothes shown are unaltered and show how they fit me right from the store. I list my sizing beside each item to help you compare when shopping online. When referencing my true size, that is often the smallest option available at a brand or petite xxs/00/24. I wear a size 5 shoe.
Crepe Longline Vest and Crepe Pull-On Pants
The longline vest is a perfect fit. It fits me well at the arm openings, and the vest’s bottom opening hits just right with a pair of high-rise bottoms. It’s fully lined and feels high-end, all while being under $30. I’m wearing it in XS. The vest is crepe, which I mentioned in a previous post: crepe can be made from different fabrics, but is often made from polyester, as is the case with this vest. The crepe pieces at Aritzia are polyester as well.
The pull-on pants are a nearly identical swap for the lodge pants. They’re crepe, but not quite as wrinkle-resistant as the Aritzia version. They are also 1″ longer than the Aritzia pants. In short, these pants have a 29″ inseam, which works for some petites, but is too long for me. I’m wearing a 3″+ heel here, and they are still touching the ground. I would need to hem these, but they are otherwise true to size. I haven’t washed and dried these yet – wanted to get them shared with you before they sell out – but I will update once I do!
Vest XS | Pants XS Short | Heels tts | Bag | Earrings
Crepe Dress
This crepe dress is nice and neutral. It’s long enough to wear to work, but it can also be worn for other occasions, like a graduation ceremony you may have coming up. I’m wearing the dress in XS, and it fits me well overall. The arm openings are a great fit, and it’s not snug across my hips. It’s an all-around win! It’s fully lined and feels well-made.
Dress XS | Heels tts | Bag | Earrings | Scarf
Sleeveless Cardigan + Crepe Pull-On Pants
This sleeveless cardigan is another great fit. The cropped length is perfect for wearing with high-rise bottoms, and the arm openings are a great fit. I’m wearing it in XS. The buttons do gape a little at the chest from the side, so I plan to wear it over a camisole. I paired it with the same crepe pull-on pants from above, just in ivory. They’re not see-through at all!
Top XS | Pants XS Short | Heels tts | Bag | Earrings
Navy Dress
This navy dress is a timeless staple piece. It looks great worn on its own but can also be layered under jackets, cardigans, and layered on top of button-down tops. I’m wearing the dress in XS, and it fits me well. Not too tight across my hips and a nice length overall. The arm openings are a little large on this dress, but don’t dip low enough to show my undergarments.
Dress XS | Flats tts | Bag | Earrings
If you’re looking for more work outfit ideas for petites, check out this post.
