I wanted to do a post comparing pieces from some of the most loved categories of the Nordstrom sale (BFD, joggers + leggings!) and how the styles fit a petite frame. I also wanted to include some simple outfits with pieces I got in previous years that are back for this year’s sale!
Barefoot Dreams Cardigan Guide
Around this time of year I always get questions on the cuddly Barefoot Dreams cardigans, and which style is best for a petite frame. I have a small collection from over the years and pretty much lived in them during pregnancy, postpartum and for travel back in the day. They also make a cozy gift for mom, MIL, aunts, sisters, even grandma!
For fit reference, I’m about 5 feet tall, size xxs / 24 in jeans
1. Barefoot Dreams Long Cardigan size xs
Weight: CozyChic Lite
In recent years, this has become the favorite of my BFD trio! A while back I didn’t even consider it, thinking it was too long for a petite frame. But tastes change, and as I’ve gotten older I find this length more flattering and versatile with the casual outfits that I usually wear. This one is cut a little slimmer throughout the body and the sleeves, helping it look sleek and drape well. Like with the other styles, I do cuff the sleeves up on this one.
Right – fall outing: Spanx Kids leggings L, SM boots (very similar), similar Rag & Bone hat on sale
2. Barefoot Dreams Drape Rib Cardigan size xs (Updated version)
Weight: CozyChic Ultra Lite
This made a cameo last year as a limited edition style. It’s the lightest weight out of the bunch but only by a little. UPDATE: they updated this cardigan to be a few inches longer and the sash belt is now removable, versus stitched on like it was beefore.
3. Barefoot Dreams Circle Cardigan size XS/S
Weight: CozyChic Lite
The most popular style of the BFD family! And my first step into this cozy, snuggly world many many years ago. I think this cocoon shape is the most universally flattering cut out of the bunch, and the sizing is a little more flexible, so would be my pick if you’re shopping for one to gift a friend or loved one.
If you’re debating between the long and the circle cardigan ~ same outfit, slightly different looks:
Leggings Guide (Zella, Comando, Spanx)
I rotate my Zellas for running, light workouts, lounging and travel while I love a good faux leather legging for everyday fall-winter outfits. Here’s a rundown of some popular styles and how they compare:
1. Zella Studio Lite Pocket 7/8 leggings size xxs
My favorite Zellas for everyday wear thanks to the shorter length and convenient, generously sized pocket for holding my phone! Mine in the photo are a prior year version, and they’ve since moved the pocket up to make it more flattering and flush against the leg (I do own this year’s but they were in the wash when I snapped these photos!). The 7/8 length in a regular size XXS hits nicely right below my ankles. Update 2022: I tried the 2022 version in store and find them to be the same quality as mine from a few years ago. I suggest sorting the reviews by most recent, as I think they may have changed these back to the original after some complaints!
2. Zella Live In leggings size Petite xs
The original Zellas with nice and smooth compression fabric (a tad thicker than Studio Lite) and a little slot pocket hidden in the waistband. I personally wear the Studio Lite Zellas more due to the pockets and shorter ankle length!
3. Commando 7/8 faux leather leggings xs
Just added these to my staple leggings collection! After two babies, I’ve been wanting a slightly higher rise and more compression, and these delivered with a subtle pebbled faux leather finish. The Commando have the look of lightweight leather pants with a higher rise, while the Spanx below are more like stretchy activewear leggings with a slinkier feel. Heads up, the Commando leggings fit small with a lot of “shaping” power and took me a little time to wiggle on at first. The length is a little long on me but have a raw cut bottom hem that is very easy to fold under.
4. Spanx faux leather leggings
These are thin and light, liquid style leggings with a wide banded waist and side seams. A Petite XS was a little too much like a tight second skin on me and showed my knee grooves, etc (and was ~ 2 inches too long), so I had to return. Compared to Commando, though, they are a lot stretchier and more like athletic leggings, so I can see how comfy they are for all day wear and sitting!
I was curious about their very affordable kids sizing so gave these leggings another try, unfortunately the Kids XL pictured here is too loose throughout and pretty long (hems are folded under a few inches in the pic), though might suit someone who is a Womens XS and taller. Someone my size should fare better with their girls size Large.
Zella Joggers Guide (Restore vs Live In)
Next, a quick look at Zella’s two most popular jogger pants and how they fit a petite frame!
1. Zella Restore soft joggers (regular inseams only)
There are my old favorites (read my review) and one of the top items I’d recommend from the sale! Even though they are regular sizing, the xxs length is petite-friendly on me. The fabric is incredibly soft and comfortable, but still has a smooth finish which is nice (not “fleecy” which can get pilly or nubbly on pants).
I’ve also heard that some of you got the kids version of these! I haven’t tried the kids in this particular style but I usually take a kids size L in Zella bottoms.
2. Zella Live in joggers (regular + petite inseams)
In comparison to the Restore, the fabric of the Live In joggers is less cozy against the skin and more of a lightweight woven material, making these better for athleisure outfits and running errands, compared to the Restore which I wear to at home to curl up at my desk or on the couch in! They also have a small zippered pocket convenient for things you don’t want to lose while working out, like keys.
I am korean born and raised in Uzbekistan. Loved your last post about parenting.
Love your blog! Fun fact: My mother and I were born on the same date (25 years apart) – my brother (3 years younger) was close, but born one day before! Makes for a real big birthday bash!
I so appreciate your petite-minded tips! Fun fact: I can guess the title of most songs after hearing the first 5 seconds!
Fun fact: I don’t wear black tees or tanks but I will for a anything else, jackets , bags, shoes.
You are the cutest! I love your fashion advice (yay for great petite options).
Fun fact: I grew up in the city, but now I live in a rural area and I’m married to a farmer!
Love your blog! I’ve been following for years!! My go to fun fact is I don’t like french fries!
Been a long reader of your blog and always love your style, Jean! 🙂
Fun fact: I truly enjoy shopping at Costco/WF/TJ in my spare time 😂
Those joggers ate definitely tempting. A fun fact about me is that I use to have aversions to red foods but now love watermelon. Never had a traumatic experience with red foods just always avoided them as a child.
Thanks for doing the research on this sale! My fun fact (or frustrating fact) is that I’ve spent more money on alterations in my lifetime than I would have wanted to! I would prefer to have that budget for more shopping.
Hi! Thanks for doing this giveaway 🙂
Fun fact: I was in a local magazine talking about fitness and how it’s changed my life. But for most of my life, I fell into the Asian skinny fat category.
Hi Jean, always love your Nsale posts! A cool fact about me is that I am a huge F1 racing fan 🙂
I am 4’9 and 3/4! Got to add the 3/4…
Fun fact: I had a rare disease as a baby and got treated at MSKCC.
Now I am back in school for my masters in social work to help children with cancer.
Huge fan of your content and find it so relatable. Fun fact: I’m a first time mom at age 40. Truly believe that my baby came to me at the exact right time
I appreciate that I can trust your recommendations for everything from Trader Joe’s to underwear!! Thanks for all your awesome work! Fun fact is that my son is 3/4 asian but somehow the 1/4 white really took over and he barely looks asian at all!
My husband and I visited Japan three times in four years (after we got engaged, for our honeymoon, and then with our firstborn)!
Love your blog Jean and especially all your recipes! Fun fact: your recipes are considered guaranteed yummy successes in this house! Garlic noodles, braised pork belly, foolproof pan pizza, the list goes on and on! Thank you for always sharing the best stuff with us!
I started a food picture blog as a fun hobby to document my cooking and didn’t tell any friends or family about it (although some have randomly found it haha)
Hi Jean! I almost exclusively online shop (I have a 14 month old) and it’s so stressful. But I ADORE your blog; we have the same measurements so when I see something on you I can auto add it to my cart and not think twice. Love this!!! It’s appreciated.
Hi, long time follower and fellow petite person! Learned and inspired a lot from your style guide and recs since my early uni days so it’s been some years. Really appreciate your addition if food content and your voice in social justice on your IG. Means a lot and deeply appreciated.
Fun fact: after all these years, I think only in the last couple of years am I truly actually comfortable and confident in my style and clothes, as it changes and I experiment. Thanks for being a part of my growth there 🙂
You give such great shopping + style advice, I’ve been following you for so long now! Fun fact about me is that i’ve been collecting hot sauces for a while and can definitely give some recommendations 🙂
Nordstrom sale + giveaway! What a way to start the next work week! Fun fact: I used to do Chinese lion dancing and was on an episode of America’s Next Top Model 🙂
Fun fact: My hubby and I just moved to Boston a few weeks ago. I have loved following you for Boston fashion + lifestyle! 🙂
Love all of your shoe recommendations! Fun fact: My grandpa, dad, sister and I all share a birthday.
Hello My name is Clara C. I am here for all the cute fashion tips and food recepies you share. I am single but have nephews and all your kiddo tips are great.
Forgot to add my fun fact! I’m the first person in my family to graduate from college! And now I have three degrees.
Love all of your recommendations, Jean! Hoping to get my first Barefoot Dreams cardigan from your recs! IG:@nola_ames
I have a difficult time finding jeans that fit well, not just because I’m petite but also the waist gap! Thanks for sharing all your finds!
As I child I grew up surrounded by Pineapple fields and then later in life developed an allergy to pineapples.
I follow you because I Love your style!!
Fun fact: My husband and I met through MySpace 10 years ago, he lived in AR and I lived in NC, he moved to Nc 2 years into our relationship and we’ve been together ever since & married. Long distance relationships can be successful lol
I love watching your stories featuring Nori, she’s the cutest especially when she’s speaking mando! 🙂 watching how cute she is makes me want to have a little girl of my own, one day =P
Love your classic style. It’s evolved but I still feel like your earliest outfit ideas would still work today! Fun Fact about me: I have 35 nieces and nephews and I love them all!
I thought I didn’t need anything from the NSale, but you’ve proved me wrong with your recommendations. This happens every NSale. Lol!
Fun Fact: I was in Girl Scouts for 8 years (5th to 12th grade).
I recently found out I have an extra bone on both of my feet. It’s called the accessory navicular bone. I thought that protruding bone was normal and everyone had it. When I walk a lot, that bone will hurt 😭 and it only started hurting so bad.
Thanks for all your petite recs!
Fun fact: I teach at my high school alma mater, where my dad once taught too. I also met my hs sweetheart and our children will attend this school soon too!
Love your blog! Fun fact about me, even though I’m in a family of 4 girls then a boy lastly (my parents really wanted a boy!) All 4 girls (my 3 sisters and I) have a total of 2 kids each with 1 boy and 1 girl in each family!
Love your blog and IG! I’ve been following you since I first found your posts on Pinterest years ago. Appreciate the time you take to educate us on how to be a put-together lady/mom/wife! 🤣
Fun fact: I ran the Disney half marathon in Jan 2020 right before I got preggers and COVID hit— it was the one thing I wanted to accomplish before turning 30 and having a baby!
Thank you so much for your endless style tips for us petite gals! I am about to begin my first year in business school and will be copying many of your outfits. My fun fact is that I lived in Japan for a little over a year making handmade watches and traveling. I walked nearly 400 miles a month, taking photos and eating. There was a lot of eating. This was my first time outside of the US.
I love your blog! From your TJ’s recs to your cooking inspiration and of course all your posts about fashion, and your family… just adorable!
Fun Fact:
I met my husband when we were literal kids, I was 8 and he was 12 and we reconnected when I was 20 and been together ever since, almost 15 years now!
I love leftovers for breakfast! Like it way better than breakfast food 🙂
Long time blog and ig follower and just want to say thank you! Your work helped me to gain more confidence and love the body I’m in!
Fun fact: I’ve worked as a chemist for a local brewery and in chemistry/R&D for a local hair care company!
You and I are the same size! I bought the j crew cameron pants and it fits so well with your exact size!
Fun fact: I’m so nervous for my first day of teaching in 2 weeks!
Fun fact: I am a yoga instructor 🧘♀️ but also a corporate event planner 👩💼 and a mom! 🤍
Love your posts and especially appreciate all your lifestyle posts! Your Vietnamese pork recipe is one of our faves! Fun fact: I had my first baby (a girl!) during the pandemic through IVF – we were super lucky to get our transfer done right before treatments started getting delayed!
You are my favorite person to follow ever. You have the best and helpful tips about everything and I always look forward to your posts. Thank you!! Fun fact: I have 2 kiddos as well and both my kids were born just a couple of months ahead of Nori and Rio. They are also part Filipino and part Chinese 🙂
Hi Jean! Thank you for all your recs on the NSale – it really helps to navigate the madness every year.
Fun fact: my son’s birthday happens to be the same day my dad died, 12 years earlier. It sounds sad but it’s actually really special to me! Makes me think the universe speaks in mysterious ways.
Love your NSale content! Fun fact: I’m also a Boston gal!
Hi Jean – love your recipes. We make the turkey meatballs and garlic noodles all the time. My fun fact – my husband and I found out that we were having two babies last year at the half way point of our pregnancy during our 20 week ultrasound. Talk about a surprise of a lifetime! We didn’t find out genders and had identical girls who just turned one 🥰
I love your blog, videos and posts. Fun fact about me: I’ve wear comfy “grandma” underwear ever since I was a teen and I’m so excited to see is on trend now.
I’ve been following your blog and social media for a long time. I enjoy everything you post. Thank you!
Fun fact: I’m also very petite, and look very young for my age. I often get mistaken as the older sister of my four children.
I really appreciate your petite styling tips & mom hacks.
Fun fact: I started following your blog when neither of us were married with kids. Now I’m married with 3 kids under 5 years old :-).