I LOVE nothing more than the feeling of wearing a sundress in the sunshine, especially as there’s more opportunity to dress up.
Whether it’s going to the pub or a picnic in the park, summer dresses are the perfect all-in-one solution to any hot weather dressing.
But when you’re petite, like me, at 5’2, it can be tricky to find a flattering dress without it fitting too small or too large.
I often drift towards dresses that hit the mid-to-upper thigh, as I find that this helps lengthen my legs, and silhouettes that highlight my shoulders and collarbone balance out my frame.
I found this red gem from Mango last year and it’s my go-to sundress as it can be glammed up with heels, or paired down with trainers and evokes summer with a bright colour that cheers me up.
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When shopping for the best petite summer dresses UK finding retailers that specifically design petite dresses, rather than clothing in smaller sizes such as extra extra small, is key.
Why? Because petite clothing needs to be proportional to the wearer, who is considered 5’3″ tall or under, not just a smaller size.
Several retailers such as M&S, New Look, Boden and John Lewis have great petite sections, but it is always a good idea to check the measurements before adding to basket, and compare to your body length, just to be sure.
The best petite summer dresses can vary from slip dresses to crochet designs, milkmaid styles with Bardot and puff sleeves, as well as bohemian style wrap dresses.
Without further ado, here are the go-to retailers to shop for the best petite summer dresses in the UK.
READ MORE:
Where to buy the best petite summer dresses UK?
ASOS
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When shopping for dresses the first place we head to is ASOS because we know there will be a wide variety of styles to shop to suit our preferences.
Summer dresses, in particular the best petite summer dresses, can be found at ASOS, though you will need to sift through almost 400 styles, hence why it is our most recommended shopping destination.
From the mini and maxi length, crochet designs perfect for the beach, puff ball mini styles, ASOS has it all and to suit all occasions, from summer parties, and beach attire, to destination wedding guest dresses for a balmy summer’s day.
- Vero Moda Petite crochet beach maxi dress, £48 – buy here
- ASOS DESIGN Petite satin halter maxi dress, £40 – buy here
- ASOS DESIGN Petite ruched bodice bubble hem mini dress, £45 – buy here
- ASOS DESIGN Petite plunge elastic tea mini dress with ruched waist, £28 – buy here
Boden
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Boden is the retailer to head to for more elevated and premium style dresses, no matter if they are sun dresses, crochet, rap dresses, or mini designs.
What we love about Boden is it does not compromise on style or quality when it comes to petite, or plus, clothing, as every shopper has access to stunning staples no matter their shape.
We are stumped to pick one favourite petite summer dress from Boden as we love them all.
The Louise Linen Midi Shirt Dress is perfect for everyday wear, heading to the office and summer parties, while the Amelie Jersey Dress is ideal for casual days in the heat, or to wear over your swimwear on holiday.
- Louise Linen Midi Shirt Dress, £101.25 (Was £135) – buy here
- May Broderie Midi Tea Dress, £108.75 (Was £145) – buy here
- Amelie Jersey Dress, £41.25 (Was £55) – buy here
- Cotton Maxi Tie Neck Dress, £116.25 (Was £155) – buy here
- Liv Pleat Detail Midi Dress, £101.25 (Was £135) – buy here
Nobody’s Child
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Nobody’s Child is one of our favourite retailers, if not our number one, fashion house for stunning summer dresses.
What we love about the eco-conscious brand is it caters to every shopper’s size and style, offering tall and petite creations.
But more than that, the designs are always perfect for summer dressing, and every year there are new designs dropping, which simply scream summer.
From Fearne Cotton’s range to the main collection, there are gingham designs, floral printed numbers, and postcard prints, as well as milkmaid dresses, max, midi and mini length designs, all perfect for every day or more formal occasions.
We are stumped to pick one favourite as we love all of the petite summer dresses.
- Petite Yellow Gingham Dionne Midi Dress, £75 – buy here
- Petite Green Lemon Print Sandra Midi Dress, £45 – buy here
- Petite Yellow Linen-blend Maddy Midi Dress, £65 – buy here
- Petite Cream Puff Sleeve Zora Midaxi Dress, £120 – buy here
- Petite Khaki Green Linen-blend Maya Maxi Dress, £75 – buy here
New Look
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New Look is best known for being an affordable shopping destination we know and trust to fill our wardrobe with stunning staples that are comfortable, on-trend, and cost-effective.
From Nadine Coyle to Anne-Marie the high street label has previously collaborated with high-profile A-listers, and while their collections are impressive so is the main collection too.
Admittedly when shopping for summer dresses we don’t want to spend a fortune, so to see us through the warm seasons comfortably but without being left with the guilt of spoiling expensive summer dresses, New Look is a great place to shop.
- Petite Pink Satin Scoop Neck Midi Dress, £33.99 – buy here
- Petite Blue Strappy Keyhole-Front Shell Print Midi Dress, £27.99 – buy here
- Petite Off White Floral Tiered Ruffle Midi Dress, £42.99 – buy here
- Petite Black Strappy Cut Out Ruched Midi Dress, £35.99 – buy here
- Petite White Cotton Broderie Mini Smock Dress, £38.99 – buy here
- Petite Black Lace Back Midi Dress, £35.99 – buy here
- Petite White Cutwork Embroidered Midi Dress, £33.99 – buy here
River Island
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Whether you are heading to the beach or a rooftop bar, a summer wedding or garden party, River Island has plenty of stylish petite summer dresses to see you from day to night.
If you prefer a low key everyday dress, or an evening ensemble to look the part without overheating, there are plenty of designs to shop.
We also think a few designs look very similar to more expensive designer buys, such as the Petite Cream Glitter Belted Swing Mini Dress, which is giving major Zimmerman vibes.
- Petite Blue Denim Button Up Shift Mini Dress, £40 – buy here
- Petite Blue Denim Puff Sleeve Mini Dress, £40 – buy here
- Petite Cream Glitter Belted Swing Mini Dress, £45 – buy here
- Petite Blue Stripe Belted Mini Shirt Dress, £50 – buy here
- Petite Cream Halter Neck Shift Mini Dress, £38 – buy here
Marks & Spencer
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M&S never fails to deliver, and the new in collections that keep dropping are making our hearts skip a little every time because they are that good.
When shopping for petite summer dresses at M&S we recommend whittling down your search by heading to the dresses category and then adjusting the fit drop down to petite rather than searching for petite dresses, just to see more options.
M&S has stunning petite summer dresses from its own collections, as well as other fashion houses stocked online.
From everyday summer dresses to work appropriate creations, there are plenty to shop.
- Denim V-Neck Tie Detail Midi Tiered Dress, £39.50 – buy here
- Cotton Rich Embroidered Square Neck Dress, £55 – buy here
- Pure Cotton Geometric V-Neck Mini Smock Dress, £39.50 – buy here
- Pure Cotton Printed Bardot Midaxi Beach Dress, £39.50 – buy here
- Pure Cotton Square Neck Midi Beach Dress, £35 – buy here
- Linen Blend Embellished Midaxi Column Dress, £69 – buy here
John Lewis
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John Lewis is another popular department store you can rely on to shop a variety of brands, garments, sizes and styles to fit all body shapes.
From John Lewis’ss own brand to other popular fashion houses stocked online, such as Whistles, Reiss, Hobbs, Phase Eight and Ro&Zo, there are plenty of petite summer dresses to secure this summer.
What’s more, John Lewis currently has a sale on so you can secure unmissable savings on your favourite buys, which is perfect timing too with summer holidays fast approaching.
- Phase Eight Petite Lara Midaxi Dress, £79.20 – buy here
- Phase Eight Petite Penele Swing Dress, £71.20 – buy here
- Ro&Zo Petite Tiered Hem Strappy Gauze Maxi Dress, £89 – buy here
- Reiss Petite Olivia Abstract Print Strappy Midi Dress, £148 – buy here
- Reiss Petite Heidi Linen Blend Sleeveless Midi Shirt Dress, £178 – buy here
Whistles
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Whistles is stocked on numerous retailers, such as John Lewis, but it is also available to shop directly on the brand’s own website too, which we recommend so you can see the wider collection, including more petite summer dresses.
While Whistles is a high street brand, we consider it more of a premium high street retailer, as the fabric quality is better, and the prices reflect that.
Whistles has a dedicated petite category to make shopping designs to fit your frame even easier, which we love.
- Petite Sketched Cheetah Dobby Dress, £143.20 (Was £179) – buy here
- Petite Linked Smudge Heidi Dress, £119.20 (Was £149) – buy here
- Petite Nellie Frill Detail Midi Dress, £151.20 (Was £189) – buy here
- Petite Anna Dress, £111.20 (Was £139) – buy here
Want to find more savings on your online shopping? Then head to Sun Vouchers where you can get discounts and voucher codes from hundreds of top retailers including B&Q, Boots, Iceland, Lookfantastic, Dunelm, Adidas, Marks & Spencer and more.