Dresses for petites is always one of the most requested topics in my inbox. Through every season and for different occasions, a dress is an easy one-and-done outfit. If you’re looking for early-fall options you can wear now and pair with boots as the season progresses, I have four petite-friendly styles to share.
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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.
Louise Cord Midi Shirt Dress from Boden
I love Boden dresses. They’re always showstoppers! With bold colors and unique prints, Boden is one of my go-to places when I’m looking for something special, and I’m so thankful they carry petites.
The Louise Cord Midi Shirt Dress is a printed corduroy option with small puff sleeves, functional buttons down the front, and a tie belt. I especially love the functional buttons because you can unbutton a few at the bottom when you wear the dress with knee high boots later in the season. Showing a little bit of your legs and boots as you walk helps break up the midi length rather than creating a straight visual stop, which I find especially flattering on a petite frame.
This dress is true to size; I’m wearing it in Petite 0. It’s unlined but not sheer—and it has pockets!
It’s also fair to note this dress would be so pretty in fall family photos.
Adele Jersey Dress from Boden
Another Boden dress with a pretty print and a great fit! The Adele Dress is one of their jersey styles, so it’s soft, stretchy, and doesn’t wrinkle easily. It’s true to size without being clingy, even across the hips. I’m wearing it in Petite 0.
It has functional buttons at the top, a button-free skirt, and pockets. I opted to wrap the belt around twice and knot it instead of tying it in a bow for a slightly different look. This is another dress that works well with heels or flats now and will look just as great with knee-high boots as we get further into fall.
By Anthropologie Twofer Mini Dress
This little black dress is a great fit for petites. The all-black base makes it easy to layer with cardigans and jackets, and it looks just as great with flats now as it will with knee-high boots later in the season.
It has a twofer design with a sweater-knit top and a cotton poplin skirt, giving you the look of two pieces in one easy outfit. The skirt is structured and not see-through. I’m wearing it in Petite XXS and love the length on my petite frame.
Dress Petite XXS | Flats | Bag
Bettina Corduroy Shirtdress
The Bettina Dress from Maeve at Anthropologie is a style they bring back throughout the seasons in different colors, fabrics, and prints. It has an oversized swing fit with a tiered skirt and lots of volume.
I actually prefer the fit of this dress in the standard length. Because the silhouette is so voluminous, the petite version feels a little too short for my preference. It definitely runs oversized—I’m wearing XXS, but if you’re able to, I recommend sizing down. I especially love the standard length for pairing with knee-high boots in the fall.
If you’re looking for more petite-friendly fall dresses, especially some in a lower price point, check out this post.
