This article was originally published on wardrobe oxygen.
Why do most clothing retailers no longer offer sizes down to size 10 (if they do at all)? Considering the average height of American women is 5’3″ and size 16/18, this makes absolutely no sense! As someone who is 5’3″ and has worn a size 12-16 my entire adult life, I decided to do some research and make a list of where to find plus size clothing in sizes 10+.
Below is a list of what I collected. The linked names take you directly to their smaller products and let you know their sizes. I was delighted to find so many retailers offering petite plus size clothing in a variety of price points and styles.
Some of our favorite places to shop small and large
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- Alice Alexander is an ethical and sustainable clothing brand based in Philadelphia, available in sizes 4X/30, small (and tall!).
- american eagle Shorts are also available, but not in small sizes, up to size 24. I have a few pairs of American Eagle short jeans and find that they don’t sit too high on the waist; You can see them on me through this link.
- anthropology There is a surprisingly wide range of sizes, and while they offer plus sizes, they only Offers a small selection of up to 16P.
- Asian Operating Systems Association Available in sizes up to size 22 Small. I’ve had mixed experiences with ASOS; like Old Navy, quality and size are inconsistent. However, they are my go-to for things like bachelorette parties, cruises, trips to Las Vegas, and any other time you want something fun to wear without spending an arm and a leg.
- banana republic Available in sizes up to 14 Small. This is my favorite petite retailer because the clothes fit my personal style aesthetic and I find their clothes generally flatter my curves. I have a few of their little suits, pants and dresses. I have had mixed results with their jeans, they are sometimes too short in the waist but usually still too long.You can see all my Banana Republic themed looks, including the sizes I wear at this link.
- Catherine’s Available in petite plus sizes up to 34WP.
- Cato fashion Petite sizes are available up to 28 WP.
- guys Carry sizes up to 22 Small; note that they have a unique size format so 4 is the largest.I have a lot of clothes from Chico’s, you can See all my looks including sizing information at this link. When in doubt, I find it’s best to go with the small size from Chico’s.
- christopher and banks Available in sizes up to 16 Small.
- I spoke They don’t sell petite plus, but they do have a variety of pants styles, short sizes 12W – 28W. I find that the waist and hem of them are still too long for me, but I have friends who find that they fit perfectly.Worth a try, especially their khadi pants.
- eshakti Not petite per se, but you can get any style that fits your height or is custom-made to your unique measurements at a reasonable price. eShakti offers clothing up to size 36. I haven’t tried custom sizing yet, but know many readers have had great success. However, I ordered the ones that fit my height and found them to be the perfect length. You can find all my reviews of eShakti at this link.
- foscroft The shirts are great (I find them great for larger chests) and they offer shirts up to a size 16P.
- All round beauty Available in small plus sizes 12-44.
- gap Also available in sizes up to 20 Small. I find they fit better for their size and petite sizes.
- HSN There are also a variety of styles to choose from, from Petite to 24 Plus Petite.
- JCPenney Available in petite and petite plus sizes up to size 24
- J. Crew The sizes are not large, but they do come in small sizes up to size 12.
- J. Crewe Factory And with 12 petite ones.
- Jill Available in petite sizes up to 18P; not only that, almost every one of their styles is available in petite sizes.
- Kohl’s Available in sizes up to 18 Small.
- ends of the earth Available in petite models up to XL/18 and petite plus models up to 3XP/26W. If you’re looking for petite swimsuits, petite outerwear, or just some great petite wardrobe basics, Lands’ End is a great option. I have a few winter coats from this brand in small sizes. I also like that Lands’ End has extensive customer reviews to help you decide which size and style is best for you.you can see For all the looks I have at Lands’ End, including sizing details, follow this link.
- Lane Bryant There is a range of petite plus sizes and cropped garments in sizes up to size 28.
- LL beans Available in some sizes up to size 20 Small.
- attic Available in petite jeans up to size 16. I think LOFT is a great place to buy small size jeans and pants.
- macy’s department store We have our own brand range of petite plus sizes, as well as a range of well-known retailers (up to size 28). I’ve previously reviewed Macy’s Plus Size Petite Collection.
- madewell A large portion of their range is available in sizes up to size 20. Madewell is famous for its jeans, which are loved by people of all shapes and sizes.
- MM La Fleur Doesn’t carry petite per se, but they do have a Various options for petite styles, most available in sizes up to 22W. This is the perfect place for elegant work attire.
- Nordstrom There are various brands in small sizes, some up to size 18.
- old navy Available in sizes up to 20 Small. I have had mixed experiences with the Old Navy small. They cost less, and I found the sizes to be inconsistent, but at least they have options.
- QVC Available in sizes up to 28WP Small. I haven’t ordered from QVC in a long time, so I don’t have any personal experience. I do appreciate their wide range of sizes, not only for clothing but also for shoes.
- Talbots We not only provide trumpets within XL/16, but also provide trumpets within 3XP/22XP. Don’t think of Talbots as a place only for those who like a preppy or conservative aesthetic. I love Talbots, they have great fitted dresses, chic suits, and they are one of my favorite places to get high quality jeans that fit. You can see all my Talbots looks, including the sizes I wear, In this forestk.
- tropical There may not be an exclusive petite range, but they do have an extensive denim selection The length of many products is described as “extra short.”
- common standards Small jeans available in sizes up to size 40. I own a lot of Universal Standard clothing and have even been interviewed by them and appeared in a video where they released their Petites clothing. You can see all of my looks in General Dressing via this link.
Surprisingly, in this day and age, Average height There are also American women’s clothing sizes, the list is not long! Especially now that retailers are struggling to stay in business, I’m surprised more retailers aren’t making an effort to embrace a variety of women’s sizes so they can remain successful. I know the taller ones among you also have a hard time finding clothes that fit your size.
I can only hope that this year inspires retailers to stop looking at what worked in the past and instead look at current demographics and the success of brands that have embraced a wider range of customer sizes and heights.
I really hope this list isn’t exhaustive and if new brands come out I plan to update this list to make it a valuable resource for petites.
