Petite Fashion Secrets: My Go-To Brands for Stylish Women

Understanding the Challenges of Petite Fashion

If your sleeves are constantly falling into your dinner or your pant hems double as floor dusters (and perhaps your alterations place knows you on a first name basis), chances are you’ve dealt with the fashion challenges of being on the shorter side. I’m 164cm (roughly 5’4), right on the cusp of what’s considered petite, and even I’ve lost count of how many things I’ve had taken up.

Tailors are great. We all use them for different reasons. But if you’re the person constantly getting waists lifted and pant legs chopped off, it’s probably not a coincidence. A lot of brands design with heights in mind; you only have to look at the model dimensions on fashion brands’ websites to know that, which means shopping off the rack can often feel impossible.

Designing for a range of different bodies isn’t easy — we all have unique shapes and proportions. But the good news? Things are shifting. More labels are starting to niche down and design with actual intention, solving real fit problems rather than sticking to a one-size fits-most formula.

One of the most exciting areas of growth? Petite fashion. When brands do this properly, I genuinely applaud. Because not only can constant tailoring be expensive, it’s also time-consuming. Most women already have enough going on to add one more thing to their to do list.

What is Petite Fashion?

Petite fashion isn’t about being a smaller size. It’s specifically for women who are approximately 5’4″ (164cm) and under. You can be a size 6 or a size 16 and still face the same fit challenges if you’re on the shorter side. The difference is all in the proportions. Proper petite pieces are designed to suit a shorter frame, so things like inseams, sleeve lengths, rises, and even shoulder widths are all adjusted. These are the subtle details that make clothes sit where they’re actually meant to, without looking unintentionally oversized.

It’s not about shrinking down regular styles and hoping for the best, it’s about designing from the start with petite proportions in mind. And while you might not spot these differences on a hanger, you definitely feel them once you put the pieces on.

Brands Offering Petite Collections

Here are 9 brands offering petite collections or specific petite pieces that I think are worth knowing about:

1. Forever New
   
   Forever New has been ahead of the curve, literally and figuratively, when it comes to understanding the different needs of women in fashion. Not only do they offer an extended size range (from 4 to 18), and a Curve range (16 to 24), but they also have a dedicated petite line, specifically designed for women 161cm and under. Their petite offering includes dresses, pants, tops, coats and more, thoughtfully tailored with shorter proportions in mind.

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2. VIV the Label
   
   VIV the Label is a dedicated Australian petite brand that’s doing what so many others aren’t: designing exclusively for women 5’4″ and under. If I had to pick a favourite from the current collection, it’s the Emily Lightweight Knit Top in chocolate brown. Simple, elevated, and so easy to style.

3. Henne
   
   Henne responded to what their community is asking for. Their Valentina Jean, a straight-leg, high-rise style that’s become a firm fave, was often mentioned by shorter customers who loved the fit but needed a better length option. So, they introduced a petite version. Designed with 5’3″ as the base height, it sold out quickly and is now available for pre-orders.

4. Target
   
   Target were true pioneers in the Australian petite space. They launched a dedicated line with Dannii Minogue back in 2014 and continued the momentum with their own Target Petite range. The collection is full of wearable wardrobe staples, all thoughtfully proportioned for shorter women and still at accessible price points.

5. The Iconic
   
   One of my go-to online shopping destinations, The Iconic offers a small but growing curation of petite-friendly pieces. While it doesn’t have its own dedicated petite line, it does stock a range of brands that offer options such as Forever New and Abrand denim, making it a great spot if you like to browse across multiple labels in one place.

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6. AIM’N
   
   AIM’N is one brand that’s paying attention to activewear, offering their best-selling tights in a range of colours and styles with both regular and petite lengths. That shorter inseam makes a real difference in terms of comfort in the petite range, especially when you’re moving around all day.

7. Reformation
   
   Reformation, based in the U.S., has built a genuinely impressive petite collection combining sustainability with fashion-forward design. You can now shop a small range of Reformation pieces through David Jones, although their petite range hasn’t hit Australia just yet. Their online store ships here and it’s well worth a browse.

8. ASOS
   
   ASOS Petite is like a goldmine for petite women, with nearly 2,000 pieces to scroll through covering everything from event wear, casual, outerwear to jeans, pyjamas, and even activewear. With plaid trending hard this spring-summer, I’ve got my eye on these check trousers from Noisy May.

9. Leina & Fleur
   
   Gold Coast-based Leina & Fleur is a brand I love introducing to my personal styling clients. Not only are they size inclusive (everything comes in size 8 to 24), many of their pieces are also made here in Australia. Their thoughtful approach to fit includes pants in short, regular, and tall lengths, so they’ve truly covered all bases.

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