Petite Maternity Clothes for Small-Statured Moms
Do you measure under 5 foot 3 inches? Welcome to the petite club Mama! As most clothing is designed using statuesque mannequins, regular shirts and pants tend to swamp smaller frames. Fortunately petite clothing is specifically designed to fit people who are shorter in stature. But if you’re pregnant finding petite maternity clothes can be tricky. Granted, choices are a bit limited, but it is possible to find bump-friendly petite clothing—if you know where to look.
Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t sweat it! We’ve done the research and scoured the internet to find the best petite maternity clothes brands. And to help you build a capsule pregnancy wardrobe, we’ve selected our favorite petite maternity dresses, pants and tops to try right now.
While all body types are beautifully diverse, petite people tend to have a shorter torso, legs and some folks may have narrow shoulders too. So-called “regular” clothing features sleeves and pant legs that are too long and need to be rolled up or hemmed (which is a major inconvenience if you can no longer touch your toes). With this in mind, petite moms-to-be should pay careful attention to the fit and design of their maternity clothing. Read on to discover four key design elements common in petite maternity clothing.
- Shorter inseam. When it comes to petite maternity pants, always check the inseam measurement (aka the length of your inner leg). Pants with a shorter inseam will sit better and give you a tailored look, without the tailoring. As a good rule of thumb people under 5 foot 3 inches should go for a pant inseam of 27 inches or less.
- Hemline length Skirts and dresses with an above-the-knee hemline showcase your legs while cropped or shorter petite maternity tops flatter short torsos.
- Higher armholes. Some petite maternity tops may feature higher armholes to prevent gaping and your bra peeking out.
- Shorter sleeves. Items with long sleeves should hit your wrist for a flattering fit. Alternatively, try a roll-up button sleeve shirt that can be fastened in place to avoid dirty cuffs.
Aside from fit there are many design elements that look great on petite people (think: small-scale prints, vertical stripes, cap sleeves and slim-fit pants). With that said, style is a matter of personal preference, so our advice is to choose clothing that makes you feel your best self.
Looking for petite maternity clothes? Here, three online stores that cater to shorter pregnant people.
- Seraphine: This Best of The Bump award-winning fashion brand offers petite maternity clothing for women under 5 foot 3 inches. They’re the same stylish maternity dresses and jeans on offer elsewhere on the site, just cut a little shorter. From fancy frocks to tailored trousers, this store has something to suit every style and stature.
- PinkBlush Maternity: Looking for budget-friendly petite maternity clothes? Head straight to PinkBlush. This online store has a whole section devoted to “petite friendly” clothing and prices start at just $21. Read the “size and fit” guidelines for each item to determine whether the inseam, sleeve and overall length will work for you.
- Old Navy: Old Navy is a go-to brand for maternity jeans, athleisure and more—but we’re also big fans of their petite maternity clothes. Filter the site by size and fit to view items with a shorter inseam and petite-friendly cut.
While our favorite brands for petite maternity clothes are above, our favorite items can be found below. While most of these pants, dresses and skirts haven’t been specifically designed with petite people in mind the size, cut and design will suit smaller moms-to-be.
Best petite maternity party dress
Looking for a dress for your baby shower? This pretty petite maternity dress suits all types of celebration. A shorter bodice and mini puff sleeves are counterbalanced with a fit-and-flare skirt that leaves plenty of room for your bump. The hemline hits the mid-thigh on the model, but would likely be knee-skimming length on a petite mom-to-be. Available in blue, pink and green.
Best petite maternity midi dress
Wrap dresses are universally flattering whether you’re a petite mama or a leggy lady. Available in petite and regular sizes, this dress has pretty flutter sleeves and an adjustable tie waist for a flattering fit through all three trimesters. The calf-length skirt and cinched waist highlights your smallest point and elongates your lower half. We also love the delicate print and the fact that it’s made from a super-soft stretch jersey material.
Best petite maternity cocktail dress
Received an invite that lists cocktail attire as the dress code? Try this dress out for size. A cocktail dress should fall just above the knee and this frock, which measures 36 inches from neck to hemline, is the perfect length. The fitted lace bodice and ruffled collar keeps things classy, while the sleeveless style and short skirt won’t overwhelm your petite frame.
Best petite maternity work dress
Workwear can be tricky for shorter women—especially when you're pregnant. Shirt sleeves are too long, dress pants drag along the floor and midi-styles look more like maxi dresses. So you can imagine our delight to discover this petite maternity dress by Closet London. It boasts a work-appropriate neckline, subtle cap sleeves that cover the perfect amount of shoulder and an adjustable belt that accentuates your waist. Plus, the navy color is muted enough for the office but is still a little brighter than black.
Best petite maternity jeans
Sick of rolling up the cuffs on your favorite maternity jeans? We hear you. Old Navy is one of the few retailers to offer pants in three different inseam lengths to suit people of every stature. The “short” inseam is 28 inches in length, which hits just at the ankle. This dark denim pair features a seamless over-belly band and a slim fit that flatters shorter legs. Looking for something even shorter? Check out the brand's cropped jeans with a 27-inch inseam.
Best petite maternity leggings
Storq is a size-inclusive brand offering everyday basics for pregnancy and beyond. They have a small selection of petite maternity clothes including these elevated leggings. Thick and comfortable, they’re fully opaque and have a double fabric waist panel that can be pulled up under your bust or folded down for added belly support. Gold zips at the ankle add an air of sophistication and different styling options to this low-key garment. The best part? The petite size option has a 25.5-inch inseam that hits just right.
Best petite maternity dress pants
Tailored black trousers are a must in every wardrobe, and these petite maternity pants certainly fit the bill. The tapered leg and 26.6-inch inseam is perfect for smaller women and the over-bump waistband offers plenty of belly support.
Best petite maternity mini skirt
Show off those pins in this mini skirt by Angel Maternity. It has a smocked full-belly band that comfortably fits your growing bump and a swingy silhouette with a ruffled hem. The delicate details and ditsy floral print is pretty and feminine without overpowering a small frame.
Best petite maternity midi skirt
Silhouettes that add volume—for example skirts with pleats or lots of tiered layers—may engulf your figure. On the other hand slim-fit styles highlight your curves. That’s why we like this petite maternity skirt. Made from soft jersey fabric this fitted skirt cradles your bump and skims your hips. Better yet, drawcords on either side let you adjust the length.
Best petite maternity shorts
Biker shorts are incredibly cool, but to do the trend justice petite moms should go for a pair that are slightly shorter in length. Enter Beyond Yoga’s All For Run Maternity Short. Made from the brand’s signature Spacedye fabric, these shorts are soft, breathable and stretchy. The high-waisted cut supports your bump while the three-inch inseam hits the mid-thigh mark.
Best petite maternity blouse
A classic button-down shirt is a wardrobe staple, but finding a petite-friendly fit can be challenging. Our top pick is this chambray shirt from Ingrid + Isabel. The shorter length and split hemline at the back make it a good option for small-boned moms as do the sleeves that can be folded up and secured in place with a button.
Best petite maternity T-shirt
Style meets function in this layered nursing shirt, which has a criss-cross front for easy nursing access. We like it for petite moms as the cut is roomy without being oversized and the high-cut flutter sleeves flatter folks with narrow shoulders. Not to mention the touchably soft bamboo fabric that’s naturally stretchy and breathable.
Best petite maternity cardigan
A waterfall front cardigan is a must-have for pregnancy. Why? These cover-ups have an open drape front that leaves plenty of room for a blossoming bump and are easy to take on and off in a hurry (perfect for those pregnancy hot-flashes). Available in a 20-inch petite length, this fine-knit cardi can be worn a number of different ways for added versatility.
Creating a pregnancy wardrobe that’s equal parts stylish and functional isn’t always a breeze—especially if conventional sizes don’t work for you. To streamline your shopping experience, we’ve selected a few petite-friendly garments from leading maternity brands and trusted online retailers so you don’t have to. We considered several factors when choosing which items to include in our roundup, such as overall fit, inseam and hem length, material, sizing options, quality and, of course, style. We read user reviews to understand how these designs worked for real moms-to-be, and didn’t consider anything with less than an average four-star rating.
Interested in learning more about our editorial process? Read about how our team develops and reviews all articles here.
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