I’m 5’1”—These Are the Best Dresses I’ve Found for Petite Women

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If you’re like me and under 5'4", you already know that finding the best petite dresses for women to fit your frame is no easy feat—especially if you’re also not a regular heels’ wearer and are mostly shopping online where you can’t try before you buy. I’ll level with you: At 5'1", finding a dress that fits isn’t as challenging as finding trousers or jeans, but that doesn’t mean I get right each and every time.

A pants lover at heart, over the years I’ve learned to appreciate what a great dress, and skirt, can do for me: it can make me feel more elegant, confident and even more relaxed in the sweltering heat. A trip to the tailor is something I avoid unless absolutely necessary, so what’s a girl to do?

For starters, I stick to brands and silhouettes I know will work for me. I own some great pieces from Toteme, Matteau, Dôen, and Maria McManus (various versions in this edit) that are a bit more minimal in style. In part because my own personal taste leans more pared-back than maximalist, but also because I find that loud print and dramatic volume weighs me down.

I also like to keep tabs on brands that offer petite sizing—many now do, both on the luxury and high street. Cos and J.Crew offer select petite sizing for instance, and more recently, Toteme, who has been making styles in XXS for a while now, just introduced a new DK30 (!) size, which would probably fit smaller frames even better than the DK32.

As far length specifics go, I don’t pore over garment measurements as much as I do with trousers, mainly because I like to see where the dress lands on the fit model and decide from there. If it’s above mid-calf, it’ll usually hit me above the ankle; if it’s mid-calf on the model, it’ll be closer to a maxi on me. (Call it an educated guess with a 60/40 success rate.) I also avoid maxis (an ankle-length midi is that for me anyway), and wear minis sparingly since those too can be hit or miss. For a more measured approach, 51 inches and under is a good place to start. Almost all retailer sites will provide these measurements, and if they don’t, I’d check a few different places to compare sizing details. Over time, you’ll cut through the clutter and find that sweet spot length that works best for your style and frame. A few summer favorites to get you your own way, below.

Great White Dresses

Light, ethereal, airy—a white dress is my default. For a puff-sleeve moment, Dôen makes dependable favorites, while a more minimalist style from Staud or Jonathan Simkhai is perfect for the office.

Dôen

Quinn tie-detailed midi dress

Simkhai

Nina pleated poplin midi dress

Rixo

Clarice lace-trimmed midi dress

Ganni

belted tie-detailed midi dress

Dunst

shirred sleeveless midi dress

Minimalist Day Dresses

Classic in pattern and silhouette, everyone should have a few simple dresses in timeless prints (stripe, check) and color (chocolate, butter yellow, and red are great for summertime) that are a blank canvas for styling.

Toteme

pleated cotton-jersey midi dress

Matteau

gathered organic cotton midi dress

Proenza Schouler White Label

Vince

checked ruched midi dress

Prints and Color

When opting for print and color, styles in lighter fabrics that hug the body just so often work to provide length—try something knit from Ulla Johnson or silky from Dôen. Faithfull’s stripe, open-back dress will likely fit as a maxi, which is exactly what you might want for a relaxed evening look in Pantelleria.

Dôen

Benoit floral-print midi dress

Faithfull

Lison open-back midi dress

Agua by Agua Bendita

Nispero tiered midi dress

Proenza Schouler

Ella floral ruched satin dress

Ulla Johnson

Nadine sweetheart cami midi dress

Polo Ralph Lauren

shirred striped silk-blend midi dress

Rixo

Kendall floral cotton voile dress

Mango

striped flared midi-dress

Event-Ready

It’s still wedding RSVP season! Whether it’s your own or you’re simply attending as a guest, find a few joyful options below from Tory Burch, Bernadette, and Victoria Beckham for the occasion. Plus, a (mini) surprise for the bride-to-be, courtesy of Loewe and Self Portrait.

Zimmermann

cascadian stripe cutout asymmetric dress

Victoria Beckham

gathered crepe midi dress

Bernadette

Josselin one-shoulder taffeta mini dress

Tove

Dipti strapless tie-front mini dress

Self-Portrait

embellished crepe mini dress

Sweet Summer Minis

A variety of vacation and weekend-friendly styles in linen, lace, and gingham, and a tropical floral print from favorites Matteau, Leset, and Sea.

Leset

Rio stretch-ponte mini dress

Sea

Camden sleeveless tunic dress

Hill House Home

The Cosima mini nap dress

Matteau

shirred organic mini dress

Posse

Luna floral-print halterneck mini dress