12 Best Petite Maxi Dresses, Picked by a Petite Editor 2024

 Posted on January 1, 0001  |  7 minutes  |  1432 words  |  Jenniffer Sheldon

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If there’s one thing to love about summer, it’s the incredible array of cute maxi dresses available. However, if you’re under 5’4″—like I am—you probably tend to skip over this adorable warm-weather trend because everything is too damn long and getting dresses hemmed is such a hassle. Rather than miss out on some of the cutest dresses of the season, though, I decided to hunt for petite summer maxi dresses—and I actually found quite a few. (If you want to do a little happy dance, feel free. I won’t judge; this is exciting!)

Best Petite Summer Maxi Dresses at a Glance

Best Overall: Cupshe Floral Print Knotted Maxi Dress, $35
Best A-Line Dress: Anthropologie The Somerset Maxi Dress, $168
Best for a Wedding Guest: Reformation Petites Kourtney Dress, $278
Best Strapless Dress: ASOS DESIGN Petite Bandeau Ruffle Maxi Dress, $52.99
Best Satin Dress: Pretty Little Thing Satin Wrap Detail Maxi Dress, $31 (originally $62)
Best ’90s-Inspired: Madewell Petite Square-Neck Midi Dress, $69.99 (originally $118)
Best Vacation Dress: L*Space x REVOLVE Nico Dress, $125
Best in Multiple Colors: Loveappella V-Neck Jersey Maxi Dress, $68
Best Floral Print: Nic + Zoe Scribble Bouquet Tiered Maxi Dress, $218
Best for a Gala: SLNY Ombre Satin Gown, $139

Table Of Contents

The day I discovered petite clothing was truly a glorious one. I try to buy petites whenever I can—especially in bottoms—because they make my life so much easier. (Of course, as someone who also wears plus sizes in certain items of clothing, petites in extended sizes are typically not readily available. This is a completely separate issue, but I wanted to touch on it, because I’m sure some of you petite gals also fall outside the classic straight-size range.) If you’ve ever known the pain of seeing a cute pair of jeans, a jumpsuit or maxi dress that you wanted but knew it would just be too long, this shopping guide is for you.

From shift dresses in on-trend floral to options you could wear to any summer party (and probably be the best-dressed guest), there are so many ways to rock these petite maxi dresses. There’s basically a maxi dress for any occasion, so you’ll want to stock up to keep your summer wardrobe ready to rumble. It’s time to free your legs from the confines of pants and slip into summer with these 11 super cute petite maxi dresses.

What to Look for in a Summer Maxi Dress if You’re Petite, According to a Stylist

We tapped stylist, fashion influencer, and the founder of CrashGal Couture Leah Wise to help out with this one.

“For maxi dresses, when I’m shopping in person, I do the classic measurement test of holding it up to my body to see how long it is,” says Wise. “When shopping online, I always refer to the sizing guide to help determine if a garment will have the right fit. I also like to refer to the size and measurements the model is wearing in the display photos online because this also helps me determine how something might fit on me instead.”

Additionally, “something I always look for when shopping is if a brand carries a petite line because then I know the clothing is more likely to fit well since it was specifically designed for petite people,” says Wise.

  • Cupshe Floral Print Knotted V-Neck Maxi Dress

    Cupshe, Floral Print Knotted V-Neck Maxi Dress

    This dress from Cupshe is lightweight, so it’s perfect for warmer weather, and it has the cutest details like a knotted front tie for extra dimension. Plus, the under 5’5 girlies are raving about it. One shopper wrote, “Super cute dress. I am 5’1 and it falls just at the top of the foot so i can wear it with flats or heels.”

    Sizes available: XS-XL
    Colors: 2
    Material: 95% polyester, 5% spandex

    Pros

    • Affordable pricepoint

    Cons

    • No extended sizes

  • Anthropologie The Somerset Maxi Dress

    Anthropologie, The Somerset Maxi Dress

    Coming in petite, standard and plus-size options, the Somerset dress is truly made for every body. This maxi has a smocked waist that accentuates curves and adds even more shape to the A-line number.

    Sizes: XXS-XL
    Colors: 9
    Material: not listed

    Pros

    • Comes in regular, petite, and tall

    Cons

    • Higher price point

  • Reformation Petites Kourtney Dress

    Reformation, Petites Kourtney Dress

    I could never forget about Reformation’s petite range—all of their options are so cute! This floral pick has the classic Reformation silhouette and is oh-so-versatile. Wear it to weddings, birthdays, brunches and anything else you have on your summer agenda.

    Sizes: 0-12
    Colors: 3
    Material: 100% viscose

    Pros

    • Slim fit
    • Free alterations

    Cons

    • Higher price point

  • ASOS Petite Bandeau Ruffle Maxi Dress

    ASOS, ASOS DESIGN Petite Bandeau Ruffle Maxi Dress

    ASOS has an impressive range of dresses for any occasion that are made specifically for petite girlies. This strapless ruffled number is so cute and can be dressed up or down.

    Sizes: 00-12
    Colors: 1
    Material: Not listed

    Pros

    • Specifically designed for petite

    Cons

    • Styles sell out quickly

  • Pretty Little Thing Satin Maxi Dress

    Pretty Little Thing, Satin Wrap Detail Maxi Dress

    On Sale 50% off

    I already love PrettyLittleThing because of how inclusive their sizing is, but their petite range really sweetens the deal. This satin maxi wrap dress comes in three colors, but I prefer it in black. Save this one for a fancy night out.

    Sizes: 00-10
    Colors: 3
    Material: 95% polyester 5% Elastane

    Pros

    • Frequent sales

    Cons

    • Limited size range

  • Madewell Petite Square-Neck Midi Dress

    Madewell Petite Square-Neck Midi Dress

    On Sale 41% off

    I loveeee the ’90s vibes of this dress. Dress it up with your claw clip (two pieces of hair pulled out in the front, of course), and your platform black slides, and you’ll be a vintage queen. Plus, it’s on sale!

    Sizes: 00-16
    Colors: 3
    Material: 60% cupro/40% Lenzing™ EcoVero™ viscose

    Pros

    • Designer styles at affordable prices

    Cons

    • Items sell out quickly

  • LSpace x REVOLVE Nico Dress

    Revolve, L*Space x Revolve Nico Dress

    If you’re petite, might I suggest shopping a midi dress and turning it into a maxi? This L*Space dress hits at the perfect length and comes in so many different vacation-ready colors.

    Sizes: XS-XL
    Colors: 4
    Material: 90% lyocell, 10% Elastane

    Pros

    • Stretch fabric for customized fit

    Cons

    • Only partially lined

  • Loveappella V-Neck Jersey Maxi Dress

    Loveappela, V-Neck Jersey Maxi Dress

    This dress is available in so many different colors and in petite sizing specifically. Customers note that it runs pretty true to size, so go ahead and pick up a few in different colors so you always have the perfect summer maxi for any occasion.

    Sizes: XS-XL
    Colors: 10
    Material: 95% rayon, 5% spandex

    Pros

    • 10 color options

    Cons

    • Cannot go in dryer

  • A New Day Puff Short Sleeve Midi Dress

    A New Day, Crepe Puff Short Sleeve Midi Dress

    Here’s another instance where a midi dress on an average-height person can become a maxi on a petite person. Since the hem of this dress cuts way above the ankles, you can still wear it as a petite maxi. Plus it comes in so many different prints and styles.

    Sizes: XS-4X
    Colors: 4
    Material: 100% rayon

    Pros

    • Extended sizes available

    Cons

    • Styles sell out quickly

  • Johnny Was Katie Tiered Dress

    Johnny Was, Katie Tiered Dress

    For anyone who’s most comfortable in black but likes to experiment with color every once in a while (*raises hand*), this color-flecked maxi from Johnny Was is perfect for summer. Pair it with your most colorful pair of sandals or heels for an extra pop of color.

    Sizes: XS-XXL P
    Colors: 1
    Materials: 100% cotton

    Pros

    • Petite-specific sizing

    Cons

    • Might slightly drink in wash

  • SLNY Ombre Satin Gown

    SLNY, Ombre Satin Gown

    If you struggle to find special event gowns as a petite person, look no further than the SLNY brand at Nordstrom, which carries petite sizes in gorgeous maxi gowns.

    Sizes: 6-16 P
    Colors: 3
    Material: 100% polyester

    Pros

    • Petite specific sizing

    Cons

    • Styles sell out quickly

  • Nic + Zoe Scribble Bouquet Tiered Maxi Dress

    Nic + Zoe Scribble Bouquet Tiered Maxi Dress

    Tiered dresses are so cute for summer because they appear flow-y while keeping you extra cool at the same time. This floral number is perfect for the transition from spring into summer. Plus, you can even dress it up for a special event with heels.

    Sizes: XS-XXL, petite-specific sizes
    Colors: 1
    Material: 67% recycled polyester, 33% polyester

    Pros

    • Petite-specific sizing

    Cons

    • No extended sizes

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