Petite Friendly Amazon Dresses

Is there anything more satisfying than pulling on a summer dress that fits just right? When the weather warms, dresses are a uniform for me. You can’t beat the comfort! However, if you’re under 5’3, that ideal fit can be elusive. In an effort to save you time — and the hassle of returns — I’m sharing a round up of petite friendly Amazon dresses.

We’ll also cover a few of my tips and tricks for finding those petite gems in the first place. Let’s be honest, Amazon fashion is hit or miss. That’s especially the case in the affordable fashion category, which rarely offers petite sizing. These styles met the mark for me and I think you’ll love them too!

Before we dive in, you might be wondering…

What classifies a person as petite?

Contrary to what many people think, petite (when used in a fashion context) refers to stature not weight. Petite women come in all shapes in sizes, whether they’re a size 4 or 14. Petite describes women who are 5’3 or under.

Petite-specific clothing is cut to flatter narrower shoulders and shorter vertical proportions. This is why it can be so challenging to find petite friendly Amazon dresses! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve ordered what I thought was a cute dress, only to look like I was wearing a paper bag.

Dress (wearing size small) | Flower Earrings

Best Amazon Dresses for Petites

When I shop name brand retailers, I always opt for petite sizing (if available). However, you can’t take that approach with Amazon affordable fashion finds without severely restricting your options. Scroll down if you’re ready to shop my favorite petite friendly dresses. For those looking for a bit more guidance, here’s my method:

Getting the Right Fit 

• Want a maxi dress?

Search for styles that appear midi length on the model. Skip full length maxi dresses altogether. They are almost always too long

• Mini or babydoll dresses are your best friend!

Amazon has a lot of mini or babydoll styles with shorter hemlines. In fact, I feel like some are even too short for me (and I’m 4’11).

• Always, ALWAYS take time to look at customer photos. 

I never buy a product if it has no reviews. To me, it’s too risky! Instead, I look carefully at the customer photos for women with a similar body type and study how it fits them. Written reviews can be helpful too, but I feel like photos are the real goldmine when you’re searching for petite friendly Amazon dresses. They reveal what the fabric looks like and how it hangs on the body.

That said, you also need to take reviews with a grain of salt. Many Amazon sellers inflate their ratings by sending free product or paying for positive reviews. While Amazon doesn’t allow this, I know it happens. Why? I get multiple emails each week from random sellers requesting this. Sorry… but no. I’m not in the fake review business!!

Okay, now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s dive into these petite friendly Amazon dresses. For your reference, I’m 4’11 about 110 lbs with a relatively flat chest. I’ll try to offer as much detail as possible with each style. This first dress, is ideal for vacation. It has pockets, can be styled two different ways with the strap, and comes in seven other colors. I took this one to the beach and literally jumped in the Gulf of Mexico with it (reels make you do crazy things).

It held up to the sand and salt water. More importantly, this beachy find is an incredibly flattering cut for petites. The length works with sandals or wedges and the strapless shirred bodice stays put. I ordered the size small and thought it fit like a dream. I’ve had good luck with Merokeety styles and would recommend this seller as a safe bet.

• Click here to browse the MEROKEETY storefront

Dress (wearing the small)

Next up? This one shoulder style is another example of a style that appeared midi-length on the model, but fits me like a traditional maxi. It comes in a plethora of prints – solids too (mind is the grass green). My favorite element is the tiered detailing on the skirt. It’s hard to make out in these photos, but adds so much interest.

I ordered the small in this one and it fit me like a glove. Since the bodice is shirred, you have some flexibility in the top. If you’re between sizes, opt for the smaller. The fabric is machine washable rayon. It’s from Zesica. I’ve found this brand carries quite a few petite friendly Amazon dresses. Enjoy boho styles? I have a full post dedicated to Zesica’s boho options.

Dress (size small) | Earrings

Have a special event to attend? This side-slit maxi dress oozes femininity, while allowing easy movement. The layering of the fabric and sheer top layer provides such an elegant look. This one just skims the floor for me when wearing wedges or a moderate heel. If you are under 4’11, it might be too long. In contrast, ladies 5′ and above will adore it.

I’m wearing the small. The shirred bodice has flexibility to it, so this is another one that you can size down in if you are between sizes. It is lined, comes in a ton of different colors (mine is plum), and machine washable.

Dress (size small)

In a very similar fabric, this floaty dress is also a great length for petites. It comes in tons of colors and has a sweet tie in the back to emphasize shape. As a petite, I love puffed sleeves. Not only do they add dimension, but they can also help balance your frame by drawing attention to and visually slimming the waistline. The fabric is polyester and machine washable.

It’s a great option if you want to dip your toes into the cottagecore aesthetic. I’m wearing the small. This dress has some stretch to it, so you can size down if between sizes.

Dress (small) 

Finally, we’ll wrap up our list of petite friendly Amazon dresses with a number that draws compliments every time I wear it. This open back adds a lot of drama and the maxi length is just right for wedges! Terrific for vacation, it packs well and comes in a variety of prints/colors if this isn’t your vibe. I’m wearing it in the tangerine colorway.

This one does not have stretch to it, so you need to be more careful with sizing. I found the small worked best. However, if you are busty you may want to size up. The brand itself notes that this dress fits smaller than other styles. But for petites, that’s a wonderful thing!

Questions about fit or sizing? DM me on Instagram or drop a comment below!