28 Best Petite Dresses for Short Women, Style Editor-Approved 2025

Whenever I ask my friends for the best petite dresses in their closet, a lot of them say they don’t really have any recommendations off hand because they have to get everything tailored. “Every dress I’ve worn to weddings, I’ve had to get the bottom hemmed,” said one. As someone who’s 5’2” I’ve often run into the same issue. Luckily, as a commerce editor I’ve had plenty of time to learn more about which brands and silhouettes are designed to fit someone my size. (Technically, if you’re 5’4″ and under that’s considered petite.) My best recommendation? Have your exact measurements in your notes app. That way when you’re shopping online, you can compare to the posted measurements for a definitive idea (unfortunately, sizing can be all over the place). I also pay extra attention to adjustability features that make it easy to tweak the fit.

So, whether it’s wedding-ready maxis, travel dresses, or cute budget-friendly Amazon buys, below are all the best petite-friendly dresses for early fall and beyond.

Glamour’s petite dress edit

Featured in this article Show more5 / 5

Best petite fall wedding guest dresses

Wedding guest dress shopping is tricky for petite frames because most cocktail dresses or gowns are extremely long. Nothing’s worse than oversized dresses that I’m tripping over even with super high heels. I always recommend knowing your proportions, and finding a fit that you know consistently works for you. I find that my petite frame looks great in A-line skirts and dresses, and Free People has a variety of fall wedding guest dress options suited to me. I own this FP A-line maxi dress and have worn it everywhere from the office to the U.S. Open in the past year. Of course, if you’re looking for fancier formal wedding options I included picks from Reformation and Net-a-Porter. On a budget from too many RSVPs? We found Amazon wedding guest dress picks, too.

Courtesy of brand

Reformation x Devon Lee Carlson Petites Britney Satin Dress

$298

Reformation

Courtesy of brand

Cult Gaia Caia Draped Fringed Stretch-Knit Midi Dress

$598

Net-A-Porter

Courtesy of brand

Hibshaby Floral Print Mini Dress

$37

Amazon

Courtesy of brand

Hutch Ridge Dress

$319

Free People

Best petite maxi dresses

Yes, it’s possible to find maxi dresses that work on petite frames. The trick is to find a silhouette that hits at the ankle or top of the foot, instead of the ground. A slit can help to avoid the feeling that you’re swimming in the dress, while a drop waist option visually elongates the body, and adjustable straps offer a customized fit. My go-to summer dress pick this year has been this linen Boden dress that I pair with wedges to look playfully fancy (and not like I’m floating). If you’re looking for other styles, Anthropologie and Nordstrom offer petite sizing. Plus, my best Amazon petite maxi dress suggestion is this satin number that I’ve worn to two fall weddings.

Courtesy of brand

Boden Halter Linen Dress

$139

Boden

Courtesy of brand

WeWoreWhat Drop-Waist Maxi Dress

$168

Anthropologie

Courtesy of brand

Marcella Melrose Denim Maxi Dress

$202

Nordstrom

Courtesy of brand

Realtix Satin Silk Backless Tube Tops Maxi Dress

$47

Amazon

Best petite midi dresses

IMO midi dresses are the most versatile. In the summer you can pair them with strappy heels or thong sandals, and in the fall you can swap them with knee-high boots and a denim jacket. Take a look at the options below: a tube dress, a polka dot dress (the pattern is so on trend right now), a long-sleeve option, and more.

Courtesy of brand

Arianne Elmy Smocked Parlour Dress

$265

Free People

Courtesy of brand

Doen Tahlia Belted Polka-Dot Silk-Blend Twill Midi Dress

$540

Net-A-Porter

Courtesy of brand

Banana Republic Viscose-Linen Ruched Long Midi Dress

$150 $45 (70% off)

Banana Republic

Courtesy of brand

Farm Rio Navy Winter Mix Long Sleeve Midi Shirtdress

$298

Nordstrom

Best petite mini dresses

If you’re petite, you really can’t go wrong with a mini dress, whether you want a LBD for going out or a bubble dress for a formal event. On my wish list is the stretchy brown Norma Kamali dress that’s perfect for the fall season, simply add a fringe jacket and a pair of cowboy boots and you’re good to go.

Courtesy of brand

Norma Kamali Pickleball Ruched Stretch-Jersey Mini Dress

$185

Net-A-Porter

Courtesy of brand

Reformation Babette Dress

$218 $153 (30% off)

Reformation

Courtesy of brand

Loft Petite Bandana Dress

$110 $66 (40% off)

LOFT

Courtesy of brand

Rixo Cely Dress

$285

Revolve

Best petite plus size dresses

The popular Nap Dress from Hill House is beloved by Glamour editors and the brand offers sizing up to 4XL. I also love the romantic styles from Doen, and the Rosalynn dress is made with comfortable smocking and is offered in sizing up to a 2XL on the site.

Courtesy of brand

Hill House Nap Dress

$178

Hill House

Courtesy of brand

Doen Rosalynn Dress

$348

Doen

Courtesy of brand

Good American Cable Knit Mini Dress

$162

Revolve

Courtesy of brand

Shestarr Plus Size Maxi Dress

$40

Amazon

Best petite dresses on Amazon

Amazon can be overwhelming to shop for clothing but take it from us, these picks are highly-rated by customers and editors who have worn them. When shopping on Amazon, my favorite trick is to keep an eye out for the material—anything made from silk or cotton is an easy yes from me.

Courtesy of brand

Prettygarden Spring Strapless Maxi Dress

$50

Amazon

Courtesy of brand

The Drop Britt Tiered Maxi Tent Dress

$60

Amazon

Courtesy of brand

Lioness Field Of Dreams Maxi Dress

$109

Amazon

Courtesy of brand

Ganni Shibori Smocked Check Minidress

$495

Amazon

Best petite work dresses

When you don’t want to wear your petite jeans to the office, a dress is always a nice option. I’ve been loving the shirtdress trend recently and plenty of retailers like J. Crew and Banana Republic offer styles in petite sizing.

Courtesy of brand

J. Crew Petite Cerise Shirtdress

$188

J. Crew

Courtesy of brand

Anthropologie The Tobie Double Buckle Shirt Dress by Exquise

$208

Anthropologie

Courtesy of brand

Banana Republic Streth-Cotton Poplin Pintuck Shirt Dress

$150

Banana Republic

Courtesy of brand

Madewell Seamed Long-Sleeve Mini Shirtdress

$138 $100 (28% off)

Madewell

Best petite vacation dresses

If you’re trying to make a statement when you travel, these petite dresses are functional as they are stylish. When I’m out of office, I love throwing on something beachy and colorful, and I often reach for shorter hemlines—its still summer, afterall! The linen options are breathable for a hot Europe summer in particular.

Courtesy of brand