Petite

Petite clothing for shorter frames

The Forcast petite edit gathers the pants, tops, knits, jackets and skirts that suit a shorter frame: pieces where the waist sits high, the hem stops in the right place and the proportions stay neat. It is not a separate range but a selection drawn from across the collection, so you can shop the styles that fit without working through everything. Sizes run from 4 to 18.

Start with the pants

Length matters most below the waist, so this is the part of the edit worth shopping first. The Emily High-Waisted Skinny Pant sits high and finishes narrow at the ankle, while the Thea Bootleg Pants open slightly at the hem to do the same lengthening job with a heel. For the office, the Ash Adjustable Waist Pants, Merid Tailored Pants and Nevada Herringbone Pants are the tailored trousers in the range, and there are more cuts in work pants.

Tops, knits and layers

On a smaller frame, a top that ends at the hip rather than the thigh keeps the line balanced. The Catherine Short Sleeve Knit, Tania Crew Neck Knit and Vicky V-Neck Knit all tuck or sit at the waistband, and the Courtney Satin Spot Shirt tucks cleanly into a high waist. The Zafina Pleated Draped Top gives a softer shape when you would rather not tuck. For layering, look at the Joyce Knit Cardigan and the Clarisse Turtleneck Sweater, with more in knit tops and tops.

Jackets and skirts

The Safira Suit Jacket is the tailored jacket here, and matching Safira trousers sit in the pants range if you want the two together. Keep a jacket short enough that it finishes near the hip, and let the sleeve end at the wrist bone. With skirts, a hem that stops just above or just below the knee reads neatest; browse the wider run in skirts and jackets and blazers.

How to shop it

A high waist and a tucked top are the two simplest ways to add height, and they work across almost everything in this edit. If you are between sizes or shopping a fitted style, read the size guide before you order. When you are building a full work rotation, the pieces here sit alongside the rest of workwear.