The Best Coats for Petite Women

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Hello, my name is Karina and I am short. Five feet short to be exact and if you’re a fellow petite woman, firstly, “Hi, glad you’re here!” and secondly of all you know how tough it is to purchase clothing that fits. Therefore, read on for the Best Coats for Petite Women.

Thus, the reason I am searching for the perfect petite coat is that my family is taking a trip to Cambria, CA and the weather in this coastal town in California is COLD. They had unprecedented snow just a couple of days ago! So being a California girl, I had to purchase a warm, winter coat! I ordered 3 coats by L.L. Bean and two coats from Obermeyer from Zappos, 2 coats from Free People, and one coat from Athleta. Happily, I tried all of them on, some were great some were just plain awful on me. Read on for a completely honest review of each coat and find out which one(s) I kept and which I returned.

The Six Contenders for Best Petite Size Coat

I am five feet tall and weigh 135 lbs. I have a short torso, long legs, and a 34DD bust. The 3 coats by L.L. Bean I purchased on Zappos.com were size, Small Petite. The two Obermeyer coats were the same coat in 2 different colors, one was black and the other grey. The black coat was a size US 6 Petite and the grey coat was a US size 8 Petite. The two coats from Free People were size Large Regular (these didn’t come in Petite sizes). I actually ordered 2 versions of the All Prepped Ski Jacket one in Aqua Haze and the other in Neon Pink (both size L – Large). The Athleta jacket was somewhat of an impulse buy because it was inexpensive (but also a final sale). It was a size, Small Petite. At any rate, let the Petite Girl Fashion Show begin…

L.L.Bean Petite Ultralight 850 Down Jacket

This jacket is one that L.L. Bean brings back season after season in different colorways. Hence, it’s one of the most versatile, all-season jackets out there. The color I chose was Ocean Blue and it was beautiful. This ultralight 850 down jacket is full of high-quality goose feathers.

The Details and Features

The length hits at the hip. Fitted style with flattering seams at the side that give you a cute hourglass figure. The placement of the puffs is strategic to ensure a flattering, shape-enhancing look.

Full Vislon® zipper closure front with a zipper that matches the color of the jacket. This jacket has a collar and no hood.

Elastic at the cuffs. Cinch this jacket with the hemline drawcord to keep drafts / wind out and keep you warm.

Although I don’t see myself using that feature it’s a clever design and changes the look of the jacket.

Also, there are several pockets including 2 zipper-closure pockets at the hips. L.L. Bean branded zippers with bungee cord pulls. The interior of the jacket boasts 2 pockets.

A zipper closure pocket on the inside at the right, near the top of the jacket, and a large pocket on the left-hand side near the bottom of the jacket.

Outfit Details: L.L. Bean Ultralight 850 Jacket in Ocean Blue (SOLD OUT – Similar Styles Here), Free People Fireside Slouchy Beanie in Wine (OS), Alo Warm Airbrush High-Waist Nocture Leggings in Black (size S regular), Golden Goose Midstar Sneakers (SOLD OUT – Similar styles here)

Basic Technical Specs

Trying to be more environmentally friendly, L.L. Bean has produced this jacket with a minimum of 20% recycled polyester. Additionally, the Pretex Quantum nylon shell is windproof, water resistant, and created out of 100% recycled fabric.

DownTek PFC- Free down is the loftiest and more advanced goose-down fill. This special process of treating down makes it 50% more water-resistant while preserving the lightweight and warm nature of goose down. As a matter of fact, the 850-fill-power goose down is one of the highest quality available for the price on the market. Hence, this jacket is recommended for temperatures between 25 and -25 degrees Fahrenheit depending on the level of activity. Wear this jacket with midweight layers such as thermal, waffle, or lightweight tops and sweaters for optimal comfort in the cold.

The Measurements

Please note that measurements may vary by size. In this case, the size Small Petite measurements are as follows: length: 27 in, sleeve length: 32 in. Ultra-lightweight construction that will keep you warm. Surprisingly compact and packable ideal for travel as it folds into its own stowaway pocket.

Final Thoughts on the L.L. Bean Petite Ultralight 850 Down Jacket

Overall, I really loved the blue color. The jacket had a slight fit and flare silhouette which is super flattering. The fabrication was high quality, it didn’t have too much of that annoying nylon “swoosh” sound when in motion.

The weight of the jacket was optimal and I really appreciated the fact that it was ultra lightweight and did not take up a lot of room when hung up in the closet or packed up in a bag/suitcase. Consequently, I ended up returning this particular jacket because of three main reasons:

1. I already own a short and more fitted jacket (from Zara) that is basic black and fits beautifully.
2. I just naturally prefer a hood on my jackets because I have a short neck the collar makes me look like I do not have a neck at all!
3. Even though the other LL Bean jackets I purchased were a size small petite, this one, in particular, felt a little too small and I would have preferred a size medium petite.

Finally, I wanted to quickly share these wooden coat hangers that I just discovered and I am hooked! My old jackets used to get these annoying “wings” on the shoulders from thin hangers, but no longer is that the case! These hangers changed my life and increased the longevity of my jackets. Undoboutly, I highly recommend these when you purchase your new jacket.

L.L.Bean Petite Ultralight 850 Down Hooded Coat

One of L.L. Bean’s best-selling, most popular coats and it is no surprise why. This coat fits exquisitely, it seriously looks like it was custom-made for me! Very impressed especially since the price is great! Shop around but you can definitely purchase this style for less than retail especially if you are not too picky about the color.

The length of this coat is really flattering above the knee so it covers the bum for extra warmth. Lastly, the waistline is slightly fitted and the seams on the puffs reflect a beautiful hourglass silhouette. There are a couple of variations of this jacket floating around. The one I am wearing has slightly wider puffs, there is another version that has thinner puffs. See the image below for more details. I tried BOTH of these and both are flattering and beautiful I just liked the “wine” color of this jacket more.

The Details and Features

L.L.Bean Petite Mountain Classic Down Parka

Obermeyer Petite Tuscany II Jacket in Grey and Black

Athleta Whisper Featherless Jacket

Free People FP Movement All Prepped Ski Jacket

Free People FP Movement Lift Love Jacket

Use Rakuten to get Cash Back for FREE!

Bonus tip: Undoubtedly, Install RAKUTEN on your browser to get cash back on your purchases! It’s FREE and easy to sign up for. For example, when I purchased these coats on Zappos, I got 8% cash back on them. Rakuten costs you nothing and you’ll get a “big fat check” once every few months with all the cash back you accrue.