For those who’ve been waiting to shop the Anniversary Sale today, I have a few new fit reviews for you guys along with a few different styling ideas for these pieces. See my big post of fit reviews, beauty / gifts + baby recommendations here + Nick’s men’s fit reviews here.
Zella 7/8 length leggings
Not pictured above, but if there’s one thing you get from the sale let it be these. Flattering high rise (xxs is very fitted on me), good petite-friendly length, and the addition of side pockets are great for holding my phone. Sadly the Barefoot dreams cardigan (perfect combo with leggings) is gone in S/M but worth checking back for restocks. Note: If you are very petite, I also tried on the kids Zella leggings and sz 10/12 fit me best. The kids fabric is not as thick and “compression” as the adults, so I’d still recommend the womens version. However for ladies 4’11” or under, the kids size 10/12 ran 1.5″ shorter than the womens xxs and might fit better in length.
Steve Madden OTK Boot (under $90!)
Fit: TTS. I usually wear between 5 to 5.5, and a 5.5 in this fit best with room for socks.
These are the faux suede boots I shared in my early access post! Wanted to share how they look on bare legs as well instead of skinny jeans (also works well with leggings). Although I recommended these as boots for narrow calves, I just read reviews and it seems like these also work well for wider calves due to the very stretchy elastic back panel throughout the shaft of the boots.
BP 100% cotton longline cardigan
I realized I didn’t talk much about this cotton cardigan last time but it’s a great basic – wanted to show three easy ways to style it (see below)! Length looks intentionally long on someone petite unlike the Leith one in this sale. I picked this one up in cream and the “brown cattail” which looks better and less orangey in person!
Right: Everlane striped tee xxs (from this post), Marc Fisher block heels 5
Paige cropped jeans (save $76! avail. in sz 23 and up)
The best petite-friendly designer jeans in this sale. Mid rise for those who want something lower than my usual high rise jeans. Stretchy, shapely, and the denim elasticity doesn’t feel like it would stretch out easily. I’m ~ 5 ft tall and the 24 is perfect on me as full length.
Blondo Waterproof Wedge Ankle Boot ($99.90; regularly $149.90).
Waterproof, comfortable with a lower wedge compared to their stacked heel boot. Zips down on both sides. If you don’t like heels but want a little extra height, give these a try. TTS (5.5 fit me best).
J. Crew Dover Blazer ($130.90; regularly $198)
Great quality blazer in petite & regular. Slim, tailored fit on me in 00 petite, fully lined with inner and outer pockets. Medium weight material is versatile and smooth – dressy enough for professional wear but also works with denim. The yellow looks incredible! I have an older blazer that color and love it with white jeans and floral tops.
BP slouchy sweater– $25
Low customer ratings due to a shorter length is usually music to my ears! Sure enough, this didn’t catch my eye in the stock photos but in person it has a nice slouchy fit, feels lightweight and fluid, and drapes well. I have a few BP sweaters from years past that I wear on heavy rotation as versatile basics. Scroll down for another way to style this casually with joggers, and it also look cute with a mini skirt and boots.
KFTC Donna high Rise Skinny Jeans ($59.90; regularly $89.95).
Skinny through the leg, true high rise and nice ankle length on shorties. However, these leave a 2″ waist gap on me in 00P so would work better on someone with a straighter waist to hip body type.
Right: Paige jeans sz 24 (fits like a glove), Everlane striped tee xxs, Sperry boots 5 (old color; new colors on sale)
Vince Camuto sandal (front strap runs narrow)
You can see the lighter nude color on me in my Early Access sale post. Both that color and the Caramel Corn suede (pictured above) worked against my skin tone, but I liked the darker suede for something different than my other neutral sandals.
Right: Caslon sweater xxs (super soft like barefoot dreams!), Zella 7/8 leggings xxs, Hunter Tour boots 5 (sale colors)
Treasure & bond leopard sweater ($31.30) – this is actually kids but runs big and should fit up to women size S/M. The girls XL was very oversized on me, so someone my size should do a girls L for a casual oversized fit. I thought the quality was nice with a thick weight, soft and tight knit (not snag prone), and on trend balloon sleeves! The darker color is also a little more understated than a regular leopard print.
Caslon plushy sweater
Great gift idea! This wouldn’t have caught my eye if I didn’t come across it in person. At first I actually thought it was barefoot dreams because it feels like my circle cardigan and is oh soft. XXS is tunic length on me – the front part just covers my crotch and the back part is curved and longer to cover the tush, making this an ideal sweater for pairing with leggings like the Zella 7/8 ones.
Left: Paige jeans sz 24, Vince Camuto sandal 5.5, Gucci bag
Halogen Wrap Front Peplum Top ($58.90; regularly $89)
Lots of colors, TTS, and nursing friendly with a snap button! Lightweight crepe-like material w/ comfy elastic waist. Sleeves are blouson style.
Halogen open front pocket cardigan
Trying on xxs petite. Compared to the BP longline cotton cardigan, this one has a more smooth finish and a tighter weave, and is a little lighter in weight.
Marc Fisher Arletta OTK boots
2 colors – also in tan. Narrow calf boot with a shapely pointed toe and block heel. Pull on style with inner side zipper and ties at the upper back. Not the best value because these are faux suede, but perhaps worth a try if you want tan colored OTK boots that fit slim in the shaft. For black, though, I think the Steve Madden ones I reviewed are a better value, however the heel on those is a little higher.
Right: BP joggers xxs (fleece lined; didn’t like the lack of pockets)(
For Nori I ended up keeping just a few pieces:
Bear hood sherpa fleece jacket sz 18 months. Very cute and cozy jacket in a swingy A line shape.
Nordstrom Baby Bath towel + washcloth set
I like that the washcloth here is in the form of a “puppet” mitt! I didn’t realize the value of these until recently when Nori gets SO easily distracted at bath time and tries to climb out.
Nike baby jogger set sz 18 months
In alphabetical order, a few popular Nsale pieces I tried on (in case it can spare you from ordering & returning):
All in Favor wrap top
I tried this on in search of nursing-friendly shirts, but it was too low cut on me. Good reviews though, so could work for someone who doesn’t mind the neckline or who plans on wearing a cami underneath.
Articles of Society olive jeans
Petite friendly length, but the fabric doesn’t have the stretch and compression of other denim brands that I like.
BLANKNYC Record Breaker Faux Leather Moto Jacket ($64.90; regularly $98)
Slim fit through the sleeves due to the ribbed knit. Sleeves are 2 inches too long on me in xs.
Blondo Over the Knee Boots ($169.90; regularly $259.95)
Too heavy and bulky on a petite frame. Boots do have a nice toe and heel shape and are lined inside the shaft.
BP Bishop Long Sleeve Blouse ($35.90; regularly $55 )
Looked old fashioned and unflattering on me. I much prefer my cotexmode button blouse, although be sure to keep that one out of the machine dryer (see my blog post)
Caslon Evelyn Mules in yellow and black ($69.90; regularly $109.95)
Pictured below on me in yellow. Sizing runs half a size small. I actually found these to be pretty comfortable and would recommend them. I just kept the Madewell spotted mules over these for a slimmer fit. These do have a little more cushioning and structure than the Madewell ones.
Caslon Willa Wedge Bootie ($84.90; regularly $129.95)
Good for someone who likes very round toe booties. Very lightweight with pull-on style stretch entry. Compared to the Blondo wedge booties reviewed above I would recommend the Blondo for the waterproof aspect as well as the easier on/off due to the zippers.
Chelsea28 Cowl Neck Sweater ($49.90; regularly $79)
Soft and cozy but way too oversized for someone petite with very long sleeves.
Gibson Rebecca Ruffle Puff Sleeve Blouse ($43.90; regularly $66)
I’m torn about this one. Material isn’t the best quality and a little sheer in white (skin toned bra is needed), but I really liked the print of the blue/white floral one. Note the puff sleeves are pretty strong shouldered on someone petite.
Gibson Marilyn Off the Shoulder Sweater ($41.90; regularly $64)
Material felt like paper. Raw cut edges along the outside of the sleeves and down the back added to the low quality look.
Gibson Teddy Bear Faux Fur Jacket ($58.90; regularly $88)
Fluffy material felt cheap, torso lining not as soft as outside, sleeves were thinner and unlined, and no pockets.
Leith crossover sweater
Tight, much too low cut on me and sleeves are long.
Marc Fisher LTD Zurri Pointy Loafer ($99.90; regularly $149.95)
See below left. I usually love Marc Fisher, but the leather on these felt stiff to me. Look is reminiscent of the popular M.Gemi Stellato flats (BTW, M.Gemi gave me code JEAN60 for $60 off! Valid on non-sale items for new customers).
Madewell Brenner Bootie ($139.90; regularly $210)
Classic shape, however leather is a little stiff and feels like it would need breaking in.
Madewell 10″ High rise cropped jeans
I also had high hopes for these based on the stock photo. I’m not sure if it’s just the pair that I tried on, but while the hips and legs fit me fine, the waist gap on me in size 24 was like none other – maybe 4 to 5 inches of a gap!
Sam Edelman Leahla Boot ($149.90; regularly $224.95)
Pull on style with no zipper entry. Wider shaft. I personally don’t love the wider slouchy shaft boots, since as someone petite, I like my boots to fit streamlined and not add unnecessary width!
Sam Edelman Welles bootie
These have great reviews from other shoppers, but I found the toe to be too long and “western” and unflattering on me.
Spanx faux leather leggings
I had high hopes due to the rave reviews but these were so thin / flimsy and looked liquidy on me! Petite sizing is still a little long on someone 5′ tall.
Treasure & Bond Rainey Mule ($59.90; regularly $89.95)
A decent mule in leopard and neutral colors, however in the realm of Nsale mules I preferred the Madewell ones (covered up less of the foot) or the Caslon Evelyn which felt more cushioned and comfortable.
Topshop Jamie Rip Hem Jeans ($49.90; regularly $75)
Fit is good per usual with Topshop Jamie jeans (waist runs 1 size small), however the very frayed hem looks like it got chewed by a dog.
Zella Live In Jacket ($58.90; regularly $89)
Very slim fit, however torso and sleeves (which have a thumb hole) and are too long to fit properly.
Hello, i know that the petite spanx faux leggings didn’t make the cut – also, you mentioned them still being a bit long on someone 5 ft. Was curious if you have tried the cropped version and if those fit better in length? I am 4’10 so wondering if the crop would fit more full length than petite. Thank you!
Thank you so much for recommending the Barefoot dreams cardigan!
I was able to get it in 2 colors (still waiting for the pretty cream color to restock), and I have been wearing them almost every day this winter!! The only problem is that they sometimes shed on my leggings, but they are perfectly comfortable and warm. Oh, and totally obsessed with the pockets that are deep enough for my phone!
Thank you again for all of your helpful recommendations!
Hi Jean,
Thanks for sharing all these finds. I used your post last year as a guide, and everything worked out perfectly. This year though, I am pregnant and due in October so fall clothes might have to wait a little longer. Just out of curiosity, how long did it take you after Nori to get back to pre-pregnancy size? I am already anxious for that day, as finding petite friendly maternity clothes has been a nightmare thus far!
Hi Jean! I ordered the Steve Madden Everly OTK boots recently and found that they were uncomfortable to walk in for me. Something about the construction just didn’t feel sturdy and maybe it’s because I’m not a seasoned heels-wearer. I’m considering the Marc Fisher Arletta ones because the block heels seem a tad wider and shorter. Also a narrower calf, as the Steve Maddens were still too slouchy on me in some points. Not a fan of the big price jump though. Do you think the Arlettas would be more comfortable for someone who doesn’t wear heels a lot?
Hi Jean! Where is that white jean skirt from shown in your photo above “what didn’t make the cut”? Love the style & fit!
I’m excited to be shopping the sale and for Fall!
Briana
Hi Jean. Great job on all the cute styles presented from the N sale. Do you have any suggestions on how I can make a pair of boots more slip resistant? I purchased the naturalizer boots and they are so cute, but the bottoms are quite slippery without rubber grip. Not sure how I can make safer to use, especially when the wet season comes. Thanks!
Where did you get your wardrobe rack?
Really, really loving your suggestions! So helpful and you’ve picked out some of the cutest pieces! ❤️✨
Thank you for the reviews Jean! I’m usually shorter than the average petite person at 4”9 xxs. Anything helps when it comes to petite sizing 😁
Loved your honest feedback on the best & worst for petites.
Picked up the BP cardigans & hoping they wash well and last as they are 100% cotton (which I love:)
I was just checking out Nordstrom’s petite sales today! Your post is so incredibly helpful as I was considering some of these items! Thank you!
Thank you for posting what didn’t make the cut. Very helpful!
Love all of the boots and coats <3 🙂 Can't wait for fall!
Just tried to use the code JEAN60 on M. Gemi’s website at checkout but got the following message “Enter a valid discount code or gift card.” Looks like it’s not working? Is there a limitation on it? Thanks!
Hi Josephine, sorry for the code issues. I asked them and they said it was for new customer accounts only and for non-sale items. Let me know if you still have any issues using it!
Hi Josephine, the code has been fixed! I just tested it. Apologies again for the issues!
Madewell is extremely petite friendly – and really, friendly for all sizes and shapes. They run big, consistently. Madewell carries size 23. I normally wear a 25 or 26 in most designer jeans, and I’m a consistent 24 at Madewell (I can squeeze into a 23 on a “skinny” day, but it’s not comfortable). I typically take XXS in tops. I take a 00 in jumpsuits and dresses. Also, many of their jeans stretch a bit, so it’s best to buy them feeling just a bit snug and then they will relax to perfection without bagging out. And they have petite, regular, tall, and taller inseams. For the first time in my life, I can buy jeans that are not cropped length, and have them fit as regular length/appropriately without any alterations. Madewell has truly changed my denim life and are the only jeans I will wear now.
Caslon Plushy Sweater: how did you find xxs?? Online sizes are only shown in S-XXL.
Fit: Is this more slouchy or oversized? Or just a lil loose? I’m between xxs/xs, and looking for something kind of loose/slouchy/comfy- but not oversized which just swallows me whole.
Hi JJ! It was available but once the size is sold out, for some reason it disappears from that listing. I’d suggest checking back as I’ve noticed restocks of other items thorughout the mornings. If you’re usually between an xxs/xs then a regular xxs in this sweater will fit you perfectly as a slouchy fit that isn’t too oversized.
Thanks for the sizing tip! I’ll monitor as you suggested; hopefully my size comes back before the sale ends.
Thank you for updating your recommendations! They’re really helpful, as always.