As someone petite, I’m used to paying the short tax: getting my clothes altered. At 5′ 3.5″, I’m on the taller end of petite and can sometimes get away with standard sizing. But sleeves are almost always too long on me. And even shorter inseams can still require hemming. So, it’s always a relief when I can find clothes designed specifically for those of us 5′ 4″ and under. Today I’m sharing a couple outfits for the fall season from a brand just for us shorties, Petite Studio.
Style wise, Petite Studio leans towards the romantic and feminine. Think puffed sleeves and lace panels. While that’s not my jam, I still found some pieces that play well in my wardrobe. Most of the garments I’m featuring today are from Petite Studio’s collaboration with SuggyL, an influencer known for her tomboy chic style.
So, how do their clothes fit? What’s the quality like? Read on for my review of four pieces from Petite Studio. And if you like what you see, I have a coupon code for Welcome Objects readers.
About Petite Studio (and its ethics and sustainability)
Petite Studio was founded in 2016 by Jenny Wang-Howell, a Chinese American who is 5′ 2″. The indie brand owns its own factory located in Jenny’s hometown of Jiangshan in Zhejiang province, China. This allows them to oversee every aspect of production. Factory employees work 40 hours a week, make a living wage, and receive benefits including health insurance and vacation.
As to sustainable practices, the brand produces in small batches and says that their garments require more time to make because of their commitment to creating long-lasting items. It takes 20 hours to produce the average Petite Studio garment versus 4 hours for typical fast fashion pieces, according to the brand.
Materials-wise, Petite Studio touts the quality of their fabrics, which run the gamut from natural fibers to synthetics. Browsing their website, I saw many cotton and linen items, but I also noticed some made of polyester, and their knits tend to be blends with nylon. However, in April of this year Wang-Howell announced that due to customer requests, Petite Studio would be incorporating more natural fabrics, which is welcome news.
Petite Studio gifted these clothes to me and this post contains affiliate links. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. As always, I decide what to write about and all opinions are my own.
Outfit 1: Casual in Relaxed Jeans
Petite Studio Shirt // Petite Studio Jeans // Nisolo Boots [review] // Everlane Tote [similar] // Narrangansett Leathers Belt
For an easy-going outfit, I paired the Brenda shirt, which comes in an earthy olive brown color, with the high rise, straight leg Bentley jeans. I kept my ankle boots, belt, and leather tote bag all in black to unify the look. I also rolled up the sleeves and cuffed the jeans. Not only does that work out better for my proportions, but it looks cool, too.
Brenda Cotton Blend Shirt
Petite Studio Brenda Shirt – $145. The sleeves were a bit long on me.
Materials: Made of 52% cotton and 48% tencel, the fabric is medium weight and has a crispness to it.
Details: When I took this shirt out of the packaging, I noticed details that were not apparent to me when I perused Petite Studio’s lookbook. For one, the buttons are not all the same. They alternate between rounded squares and a more organic shape. The gathered sleeves add a feminine touch while the cuff has an arrow shape. On the back are two buttons and an elastic loop to wear the shirt cinched.
Fit: I’m wearing my usual size of small. The fit is loose. It’s a tad big in the shoulders. The sleeves were also too long on me, which was surprising given that this is a petite brand. Hence, my need to roll them up. Perhaps a size down would have fit better. Alternately, the looser fits makes it a good choice for layering over a tank or t-shirt.
Bentley Straight Cropped Jeans
Petite Studio Bentley Jean in Dark Indigo – $165 (Also available in white.)
Materials: 100% cotton. This denim is thick, not flimsy. These are sturdy jeans!
Details: I love a high rise jean, and these are definitely high — the rise is 12.5″ by my tape measure — with a relaxed, straight leg. There’s slight distressing on the pockets. I’m happy to report that the front pockets are nice and deep! The back left pocket is embroidered with a cursive “PS.” Regular readers will know that I’m not into conspicuous branding, so I could do without this decoration.
Fit: I ordered a medium, which corresponds to my current jeans size of 29. But as someone pear-shaped, I found it tight across the front and the thighs. They feel fine when I’m standing up. But when I sit down, it’s another story — too tight! So, these are not for those of us with thick thighs or curves. And though they are described as cropped, I found that they skimmed the top of my foot. (But I have a long torso and short legs. If you have longer legs, this may not be an issue.) I cuffed these by three inches to get that cropped look.
Outfit 2: Ladylike in a Midi Pencil Skirt & Trench Coat
I built this outfit around the Debbie wool blend pencil skirt. The checkered pattern in brown and black makes it versatile for fall. I paired it with a black cotton sweater from the 2008 Thakoon for Target capsule collection. Its slight balloon sleeves go well with the ladylike elegance of the skirt. Heeled booties and a vintage snakeskin belt keep things dressy. Since there are so many neutral tones in this outfit, I decided to add a blue suede bucket bag. Topping it all is a classic trench coat.
Debbie Wool Pencil Skirt
Petite Studio Debbie Skirt – $165
Materials: 50% wool and 50% polyester. Fully lined with a polyester lining. The fabric is thick with a weight that gives it a nice drape. It’s also warm.
Details: We petites know that a midi length often actually means maxi on us. But this skirt is the right length. The long 17″ slit on the front allows for ease of movement — and a flash of leg. I didn’t feel constricted at all while walking. The front pockets are functional. I love the checkered pattern, but this skirt also comes in a brown faux suede and a washed black denim. Dressing for colder temperatures sometimes mean sacrificing style, but not with this skirt.
Fit: True to size. I’m a small or medium in bottoms these days, depending on the brand. According to Petite Studio’s size chart, I’m a medium. And it fit great. It’s not too tight, yet looks slimming,
Hagar Trench Coat
Petite Studio Hagar Trench Coat in Beige – $290 (Also available in olive brown.)
Materials: 51% cotton & 49% tencel. Fully lined with a polyester lining. The fabric is medium weight, and has a bit of heft, allowing it to drape nicely.
Details: So many thoughtful details make this trench coat special. First, there’s corduroy on the underside of the collar, the tabs, and the sleeves. You can wear the tabs either way: with the beige side or the corduroy side showing. I like to flip the cuffs up over the tabs entirely, which reveals corduroy. There’s also a tab on the back to keep the belt from moving or escaping. I love the classic storm flap on the back. The only thing I don’t like about this trench is the leather patch on the storm flap with branding.
Though the Hagar trench coat was first released for spring, it’s a perfect piece for transitional weather and works well for fall too. It also comes in an olive brown color that I was coveting. (It was not available in my size at the time.) And though I think that’s the more interesting color, the beige is a classic that you can’t go wrong with.
Fit: This runs big. Petite Studio suggests sizing down, which I agree with. I took this in XS and there’s still room to layer over a light sweater.
Closing Thoughts on Petite Studio
Petite Studio Shirt // Petite Studio Jeans // Nisolo Boots [review] // Everlane Tote [similar]
Overall, I was impressed by the quality of these Petite Studio pieces. The fabrics feel good to the touch. I didn’t see any shortcuts — the garments with linings are fully lined, none of this half lining stuff. I examined the seams and stitching, and it all looked well done. For example, on the Debbie skirt the pattern lines up at the seams.
As an online business, Petite Studio has one of the most detailed sizing charts I have ever seen — sizing runs from XXS to XL — along with measurements for each garment, which I so appreciate. If it doesn’t work out, though, exchanges are free and returns incur a small processing fee. Just make sure you do so within 20 days.
So, is Petite Studio worth it? I think the prices are moderate and priced fairly for the quality. Unfortunately, like many of the goods and products we use, tariffs from this current federal administration are affecting the brand, which has caused prices to increase. Even so, I think these are worth considering for quality clothes that are more likely to fit us short girls right. Buy less, but buy better!
If you found review helpful, consider shopping through my link. Save 20% on your Petite Studio order with Melissa20. Valid September 24 – October 3, 2025. If you’re seeing this post outside of that time frame, save 10% anytime with Melissa10.
