Petite Power Moves: Where To Shop For Petite-Friendly Activewear

As a petite woman, I know how frustrating it can be to find activewear that fits properly. Most workout pants and leggings are designed for women of average height (5’4″), which means they are often too long for petites. Wearing activewear that fits properly is crucial, so you can move freely and confidently participate in various exercises.

I believe that how you feel in the workout clothes you wear affects the way you workout and train. There’s nothing more distracting that tugging at and adjusting your outfit throughout your workout. Regular-sized v-neck t-shirts tend to be more like deep plunge tops on my petite figure, so when I try to run in a v-neck that’s not a petite size, I end up pulling up my shirt the entire time. You can imagine how uncomfortable that might be. Not wearing activewear that fits your body type can be really distracting, taking your focus off your actual workout.

However, there are a handful of companies that offer petite-sized activewear. These companies design their clothing to fit the unique proportions of petite women, so petites don’t have to compromise on fit or function when it comes to their workout clothes. Below, see 21 places to shop for petite-friendly activewear.

Athleta

Athleta specializes in activewear and athleisure for girls and women. The company was founded in 1998 with the goal of providing high-quality, stylish athletic apparel that would hold up during workouts and also be comfortable enough to wear all day. They offer extended sizes, both petite and tall, and their sizes range from XXS to 3X. Today, Athleta has over 150 stores across the US and continues to be a leader in the activewear industry.

LNDR

LNDR was founded by women and offers a versatile range of products that are perfect for any active lifestyle. You can shop their US store or international store online. They don’t offer petite sizes, but they offer three different lengths of leggings including: Ankle 7/8 Length, Full 8/8 Length, and Cropped 6/8 Length.

When shopping for leggings online, it’s difficult to truly know how the fabric will feel, the amount of coverage the leggings will provide, the compression level, etc. until the leggings are delivered and you try them on. LNDR’s website makes the shopping process much easier by providing this information for all of their bottoms. Their Size & Fit section clearly states the length, inseam, rise, coverage, fabric, and compression level. I don’t necessarily need high coverage leggings on days I simply go running. However, on days that I train legs, where I’ll be squatting and deadlifting, I definitely like to wear full coverage, “squat-proof” leggings. LNDR makes it easy to find bottoms that are perfect for various physical activities.

Gap

Gap offers a petite collection of activewear, including leggings, pants, shorts, jackets, sweaters, tank tops, t-shirts, and sports bras. Gap’s activewear collection is perfect for anyone who wants to feel comfortable and stylish while working out. Their activewear is made from high-quality materials that are designed to wick away sweat and keep you cool. The garments are also cut to flatter your figure, so you can feel confident while you’re working up a sweat. Unlike several athletic apparel brands, Gap offers true petite sizes, not just shorter length bottoms, so you can find an entire workout outfit to fit your petite frame.

Gap Factory

Check out the Gap Factory store for petite activewear at lower prices. I’ve personally purchased several petite workout tops from here for less than $15.

Old Navy

Old Navy offers a pretty extensive petite collection, including activewear, athleisure, and loungewear. Their activewear collection alone includes hundreds of different pieces, so you’ll have no trouble finding workout outfits here.

Fabletics

I’ve tried so many activewear brands, and Fabletics is my favorite, go-to store for petite-friendly activewear. Fabletics is a athleisure brand that offers premium quality, high performance, and fashionable workout clothes for women. The brand was founded in 2013 by Kate Hudson and has since become a leading player in the athleisure market. Fabletics’ success is built on its unique business model, which combines online shopping with in-store experiences.

In addition to its unique business model, Fabletics is also known for its affordable prices and extensive product range. The brand offers everything from sports bras and leggings to jackets and sneakers, making it easy for you to find the perfect workout outfit, regardless of your budget. They offer sizes ranging from XXS-4X. They don’t offer petite sizes, but their leggings come in full-length, 7/8 length, and capri. I’m 5’2″ and have several of their 7/8 length leggings, and they are the perfect length hitting right at my ankles.

They also offer significant savings for VIP members. New VIP members can get two pairs of bottoms for only $24 total. Other discounts are also available for new VIP members- this is just one of their more popular promos. With its combination of style, convenience, and affordability, it’s no wonder Fabletics has become one of the most popular athleisure brands on the market today.

Lululemon

Lululemon is known for its high quality, stylish activewear and its high prices. As an extremely popular brand with over 570 stores worldwide, you’ve likely heard of and shopped at Lululemon. Lululemon is a self-described, yoga-inspired, technical athletic apparel company for men and women. Their focus is largely on technical fabrications for fitness activities, are their apparel is engineered to shape the body, minimize distractions, and maximize comfort during physical activity.

Lululemon doesn’t specifically offer “petite” sizes, but they do offer a few different size types, including short, tall, and plus size. You can also shop their bottoms by inseam, which range from 17″ to 31″ for capris and pants and 2.5″ to 10″ for shorts. This is their brilliant way of catering to various sizes and heights. Whether you’re looking for a capri-length or full-length legging, or somewhere in between, Lululemon allows you to achieve the length you want by offering inseam measurements.

Sweaty Betty

Sweaty Betty is a British activewear brand that was founded in 1998. The brand offers a range of stylish and functional fitness clothing for women, including leggings, sports bras, and jackets. Sweaty Betty’s unique designs and commitment to quality have made it a leading player in the activewear market, and the brand is beloved by people all over the world.

While they don’t offer petite sizes, they offer several cropped and 7/8 length bottoms that are petite-friendly. They have sizes ranging from XXS-XXL. Similar to LNDR, you can shop their styles by the following features, so that you can cater your workout outfit to a specific physical activity: Compression, Bum-Sculpting, High-Waisted, Ultra-Lightweight, Thermal, Waterproof, and Sustainable.

Amazon

Amazon carries a wide variety of petite activewear for women. There is a style and size for everyone, and Amazon’s easy-to-use search filters make it easy to find exactly what you’re looking for. Amazon also offers free returns on most items, so you can shop with confidence. Another great thing about shopping on Amazon is that there are millions of people who shop on Amazon and you can almost always find several reviews on a product giving you several (sometimes thousands) of different perspectives before you buy.

Macy’s

Macy’s offers a petite collection for women who are 5’4″ and under, including activewear. Their activewear collection offers a variety of stylish and functional pieces that are designed to flatter the petite figure.

Everlane

Everlane is a men’s and women’s clothing brand that has a handful of stores around the world. They are all about transparency and are transparent about the materials they use, the factories they partner with (ethical factories only), and the trust cost of the products they make. Their online store includes significant detail for every product, including things like the model’s body type and size modeled, materials, care, the factory where the item was made, fit, inseam, and sustainability. Everlane has a lot of great closet staples, many of which are petite-friendly. They also have a collection of activewear.

ASOS

ASOS offers a wide range of petite-sized clothing, including activewear, to suit different budgets and styles. ASOS’ petite options are a great choice for those who want fashionable and stylish workout clothes without spending a lot of money. Their petite activewear collection includes leggings, sports bras, hoodies, jackets, and more in a variety of colors and designs. ASOS also usually offers free shipping on orders over $50, so it’s easy to get your hands on their trendy petite workout pieces.

Adidas

While their petite collection is pretty limited, they do offer petite sizes in some of their styles.

T By Talbots

Talbots is a size-inclusive brand offering sizes from 0 to 24 in petite, misses, plus, and plus petite. T By Talbots is their specific collection dedicated to activewear and athleisure. In addition to their wide range of sizes, they also have a wide range of styles, prints, and colors.

Intermix

Intermix is a multi-brand retailer with an online store and boutiques nationwide where they sell designer apparel, accessories, and footwear. To view their collection of petite activewear, filter by size, and select your petite size.

title nine

Title Nine is a clothing company that specializes in active apparel and gear for women. The company was founded by a woman and is committed to women empowerment. They offer clothes for a variety of sports, including running, yoga, surfing, and hiking and have several petite pieces to choose from.

Nordstrom

As a leading retailer for fashion, it’s no surprise that Nordstrom offers a wide range of sizes to cater to all body types, including petites. They have small collection of petite activewear ranging from size 00P to 18P.

Avo Activewear

Avo Activewear was created in 2017 by a petite woman who struggled to find clothes that fit, and she wanted to provide a solution for petite women who have the same problem. Avo Activewear specializes in affordable, high-quality athletic clothes for petite women. Their leggings are made to be shorter in length to better suit a petite figure.

Nike

Although they don’t offer petite sizes specifically, Nike does offer a variety sizes that are petite-friendly, including short sizes and varying length options (full length, 7/8 length, crop length, and capri length).

LacunaFit

LacunaFit is a petite clothing brand, created by petites. Their collection includes petite activewear and petite casual wear.

Target

Target offers an extensive activewear collection. I especially like that they carry a lot of activewear basics and essentials. Although Target doesn’t currently have petite sizes available for their activewear, they do have a handful of leggings and workout bottoms in short sizes.

Girlfriend Collective

Girlfriend Collective is an activewear brand for both men and women, and they’re passionate about sustainability and inclusion. They practice ethical manufacturing, utilize recycled materials, and their factory is SA8000 certified. The brand’s sizes range from XXS to 6XL, and their pants and leggings are available in two different lengths, with inseams of 28.5″ and 23.75″. The shorter inseam is great for petites who typically have trouble with pants being too long.

Kohl’s

Kohl’s is one of the largest retail chain department stores in the US with over 1,000 locations, so you’re probably already familiar with them- but it’s worth mentioning their activewear collection. They have an entire section dedicated to activewear, including petite sizes. When shopping online, simply select “petite” under the size range filter to view all petite activewear styles.

Having a great workout starts with an outfit that is comfortable and fits properly. Finding activewear that fits properly can be a challenge, especially if you are petite. Thanks to brands like the ones mentioned above, you can find stylish activewear that fits, so you can focus less on your outfit and more on your workout.