Best Brands To Shop For Petite, Tall, and Plus Size Clothing

Empty Nest Blessed by Suzy Mighell

Every body that God created is beautiful and wonderfully unique! I love the differences in the shapes and sizes of women, and I’m a big believer that finding the right clothing can make you feel confident and beautiful. Whether you’re petite, tall, or plus-size, there’s a perfect outfit out there waiting for you.

As always, click the pink text links or any image (including the collage above) for more information.

We all want to be healthy and strong to enjoy the sweet and special moments of this season of life. I’m all for working toward wellness and fitness. But you need to LOVE your body right where you are. As women, so much of the shape and size of our bodies has to do with the fact that God granted us the privilege of growing and nourishing the lives of our children. What joy! It’s a gift He gives uniquely to women, and I, for one, am grateful—even if it means some loose skin here and some extra fluff there! It’s time to truly celebrate your unique shape. Own it, baby!

Also, I think it’s important to remember that when it comes to women’s bodies, we may not know the whole story when we look at others. I’ll be brave and share my story: I’m 5’5″ and weigh 120. I’m a size 0 or 00 on top (small bust) and a 2 on the bottom.

I’ve always had a small frame. Guess why? Malabsorption issues and gluten intolerance. I’ve taken calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, etc., all my life. I’ve also always done weight-bearing exercises. However, due to malabsorption issues, my body didn’t absorb the nutrients (including calcium) that I needed. At 58, I’ve been diagnosed with osteoporosis and have had to start taking shots every 6 months to increase my bone mass.

That is a big factor in my small size. (But you wouldn’t have known it unless I made myself vulnerable and shared it with you.) People look at me and assume that I eat super healthy and exercise all the time! I do those things (most of the time 😊), but, the truth of the matter is that I have a health issue that is the main reason for my size. Just remember that the body you see on the outside doesn’t always tell the whole story! 😊

That said, shopping for good-quality clothes that fit well can sometimes feel like searching for a needle in a haystack! But don’t worry—here at ENB, we love to serve and encourage you, so we’ve got your back! Today, we’ve done the research for you and are sharing our favorite spots (as well as our friends’ favorite spots) for petite, tall, and plus-size clothing. Throughout the post, click the pink TEXT LINKS to go to the appropriate section for each brand.

Petite Clothing

Finding clothes that fit petite frames without alterations can be a game-changer. Here are some great spots to check out.

  • ANN TAYLOR: A classic choice for professional attire. Ann Taylor offers a great selection of stylish and sophisticated pieces that are perfectly tailored for smaller frames.
  • BANANA REPUBLIC FACTORY: For well-priced and on-trend petite clothing, Banana Republic Factory is a fantastic option.
  • BODEN: This British-owned brand is known for its bright colors and great quality! The website is easy to navigate, and offers petite clothes in sizes 2 to 22.
  • J. JILL: Look HERE for relaxed and effortlessly stylish clothing. Their petite line includes a variety of pieces that are perfect for everyday wear.
  • SPANX: The queen of brands when it comes to inclusive sizing, Spanx has a complete shop just perfect for petites. Also, you can’t beat the FREE shipping & returns!
  • LOFT: We love Loft for affordable, trendy, and well-fitting pieces specifically designed to flatter smaller frames. Right now, they’re having a HUGE 50% off sitewide sale! Browse HERE.
  • TALBOTS: Such a great place to shop for classic, timeless pieces! Their petite clothing is known for its quality and fit, providing you with pieces that not only look great but also feel comfortable. Also worth noting: if your regular height but small-busted like I am, the petite lines of Chico’s and Talbots may fit your frame better. (But be prepared for slightly shorter hemlines and sleeves.)
  • CHICO’S: Ya gotta love Chico’s for well-made, beautiful clothing that will make you feel fantastic and chic! No one thinks of Chico’s for petite clothing, but they have a great line!
  • NORDSTROM: Nordstrom carries a lot of petite sizes. Check them out HERE. FREE shipping & returns!

Tall Clothing

Being tall and statuesque is so lovely, but finding clothes that cater to longer limbs can be a challenge. Here are some brands that understand the needs of tall women.

  • J. CREW : Timeless and chic pieces with a tall section that includes dresses, pants, and outerwear.
  • LANDS’ END: Another great brand that offers sizing for petites, talls, and plus size women! I love their selection of tall (called “long”) swimsuits. They always have a sale going on!
  • LONG TALL SALLY: This brand is dedicated entirely to tall women, offering everything from jeans to dresses, all designed with extra length where it counts.
  • NORDSTROM: Offers a variety of brands with tall sizing, including premium and designer labels.
  • OLD NAVY: Affordable and trendy clothing with a dedicated tall section for jeans, dresses, and activewear.
  • J. JILL: One of our favorite size-inclusive brands because they carry styles for petite, tall, and plus sizes! Check out their tall styles HERE.
  • SPANX: Spanx tends to run long anyway, but they do have great clothing sized just for tall girls!
  • BODEN: My sweet, statuesque friend Kristen from my Sunday School class turned me on to Boden’s colorful, fun, high-quality clothing for tall girls! (Because she came to church looking so fabulous every Sunday!) This is the perfect spot to shop for dresses for weddings, showers, and other special occasions! Simply shop all of the styles as normal and click “LONG” rather than “REGULAR” on each style.

Plus Size Clothing

If you have curves, celebrate them! Make sure your clothing is comfortable and stylish, and embrace the details. I think these brands are the best places to shop for plus-size fashion.

  • LOFT: Such a great spot for plus size clothing! (They call plus size “curvy,” which I love!)They have so many stylish, high-quality pieces specifically designed to complement and enhance curvier figures. They’re having a HUGE 50% off sitewide sale right now! Click HERE to browse!
  • MADEWELL: Affordable basics and famous for their fantastic fitting plus size jeans.
  • PRINTFRESH: Known for its vibrant, whimsical prints and comfortable loungewear. Their pieces are designed to make you feel stylish and cozy at home or out and about.
  • QUINCE: From affordable cashmere to washable silk skirts, Quince has you covered with well-priced, high-quality versions of styles you will see elsewhere. (Scroll down on the page of each individual item to see the comparison charts. Fascinating!)
  • SOFT SURROUNDINGS: This brand is all about luxurious comfort and effortless style. They offer a wide range of plus-size clothing that is both flattering and comfortable.
  • TALBOTS: The brand is renowned for its classic, timeless styles, and high-quality fabrics is a great place for plus-size styles. They offer an extensive plus-size range that caters to women looking for polished, sophisticated clothing.
  • J. JILL: Again, we appreciate their size-inclusive sizing! Check out their plus sizes HERE.
  • SPANX: We love Spanx for carrying a full line of plus sizes (as well as petite & tall! FREE shipping & returns too.
  • NORDSTROM: Nordstrom has a fabulous plus size selection, and you can’t beat the FREE shipping & returns! Use the filter buttons on the left side of the page to filter by type of item you’re looking for, as well as price, designer, etc.

Tricky Areas

These are the special frustration spots we hear about from ENB followers!

Upper Arms

If your upper arms bother you, look for 3/4-length sleeves that end just above or below the elbow and offer a flattering look. Check out these chic elbow-sleeve tops from Talbots. (I love this one in chambray!) You can also opt for tops with looser sleeves, like dolman styles, which give more room and comfort.

Stomach

Look for pants and skirts that sit at or above your natural waist. They can provide a smooth silhouette and offer extra support. Tops and dresses with ruching or draping can create flattering lines and distract from any areas you’re self-conscious about. I just tried on THIS dress with ruching at Talbots, and it is ideal for tummy camouflage!

Bottom/Thigh Area

If this is the area you want to camouflage, try A-line skirts or Fit & Flare dresses that are fitted at the waist and flare out to give you an hourglass shape. Bootcut and wide-leg pant styles can help with proportions and provide a comfortable fit around the thighs and rear.

Embrace your shape! Shopping should be fun and empowering, not a struggle! Hopefully, we’ve helped you to find the right size for your unique shape. Everyone, no matter their size, can find clothes that fit beautifully and make them feel amazing! We’ve got you, girls! Check out the boutique we created at the bottom of this post with examples of everything we talked about, okay?

Let me know in the comments where your favorite places are to shop for your body shape!

Thank you for sharing my content!
custom signature for suzy of empty nest blessed.smallversion

Similar Posts

10 Comments

  1. Thank you for this. I wonder where there are tall cute clothing.
    I have found J Jill to have some really nice items for talls.

    1. Maureen,

      I’m so glad you found this helpful! As I said in the post, J.Jill is amazing, because it carries size-inclusive clothing, including petite, tall, and plus. Such a fabulous brand!

      Thanks for letting me know your thoughts!

      xoox
      Suzy

  2. I jumped right on that Boden link – thank you! I am in that weird space where I usually don’t need tall sizes even though I’m 5’8″. I don’t know how shorter women wear so many of the pants and skirts, because I know even the regular sizes are usually so long! Great post as usual.

    1. Shannon,

      I think you’ll love Boden! They have great sales and the quality is amazing. I love the bright colors done in a chic and classic way!

      It’s one of my favorite brands!

      xoxo
      Suzy

  3. Thank you for a great post! I am petite and it is hard to find clothes. I sure miss Steinmart!!!

    1. Paula,

      Ohhh, I miss Steinmart too! I used to shop there all the time!

      I’m so glad the post was helpful to you! I wanted to create a helpful resource where everything was in one spot and you could come back again and again!

      Thanks for taking a minute to let me know you appreciated it! That means a lot to me!

      xoxo
      Suzy

  4. I know this is irreverent to article, but I have osteoporosis also and I was wondering what medicine they have you on.

Comments are closed.