Maeve Colette Plaid Pants & Blazer Review: The Petite-Friendly Suit That Actually Works

I am a big fan of versatile plaid suiting, and the Maeve Colette Knit Crop Pants from Anthropologie have become one of my favorite pieces this season. When paired with the matching plaid blazer and a classic cashmere sweater, this navy windowpane plaid suit is both professional and stylish—but here’s what I really love: it doesn’t feel stuffy or overdone.

The knit fabric offers comfortable stretch while maintaining a tailored appearance, which means you look polished without feeling restricted. And the cropped wide-leg silhouette? It’s one of the most flattering styles for petite frames because it doesn’t overwhelm your proportions the way full-length wide-leg pants can.

What You’ll Find in This Post

In this post, I’m breaking down the Maeve Colette plaid suit and why it’s perfect for petites:

• 👔 Why the Colette pants need zero alterations
• 🧥 How the matching blazer creates a coordinated look without feeling costume-y
• 👚 Three different ways to style this versatile suit
• 👠 The Mary Jane flats that elevate the whole outfit
• 📏 Proportion tips for wearing wide-leg cropped pants when you’re petite
• 🛍️ More styles from the Colette collection worth checking out

1. The Pants: Cropped Wide-Leg That Actually Works for Petites

Let’s start with the star of this outfit—the Maeve Colette Knit Crop Pants. These pants are part of Anthropologie’s Colette collection, which comes in an array of fabrics, styles, and prints. What makes this particular pair so special for petites is the combination of the cropped length and the knit fabric.

Here’s why they work: the cropped length means no alterations are needed. For petites, finding pants that don’t require hemming is like finding gold. These hit right at the ankle, exactly as intended, which creates a lengthening line from your hips to your feet.

The knit fabric is a game-changer. It has structure (so you don’t look sloppy) but also stretch (so you’re comfortable all day). The navy windowpane plaid pattern includes thin stripes in red and camel, which makes these incredibly versatile for styling.

✨ Kelly’s Petite Style Tip: When wearing cropped wide-leg pants as a petite, consider pointed-toe shoes. This creates a continuous leg line and prevents the pants from visually shortening your frame. The crop should hit right at your ankle bone—no lower.

2. The Blazer: Coordinated Without Being Costume-y

The Maeve Plaid Crop Blazer is the matching piece that takes this outfit from “nice pants” to “polished suit.” But here’s what I love—you don’t have to wear them together. The blazer works beautifully on its own with jeans or trousers, and the pants look great with a simple sweater or blouse. I am wearing a standard size XXS.

When you do wear them together, though? Magic. The matching set creates a put-together look that requires zero thought. You look intentional and polished without trying too hard.

✨ Kelly’s Petite Style Tip: When wearing a matching suit as a petite, break it up with a contrasting color in between (like this burgundy sweater). This prevents the suit from looking too uniform and adds dimension to your outfit. It also creates horizontal color blocking, which can actually be flattering when done intentionally.

3. Styling Option One: The Burgundy Sweater

For today’s look, I styled the suit with a burgundy J.Crew Classic Fit Cashmere Crewneck Sweater. This rich, wine color picks up on the red stripe in the plaid and creates a cohesive color story without being matchy-matchy.

The cashmere sweater adds warmth (both literally and visually) and makes the suit feel more approachable and wearable for everyday situations. This is the kind of outfit you could wear to a casual office, a lunch meeting, or even holiday gatherings.

✨ Kelly’s Petite Style Tip: When building a color palette around a plaid or patterned piece, pull one of the accent colors (like the red stripe in this plaid) and build your accessories around it. This creates a cohesive, intentional look.

4. Styling Option Two: The Navy Sweater

I first wore these pants, sans the jacket, in our Taste of Thanksgiving Fridays with Oscar post.  For that look, I played up the navy color palette with a navy sweater and added a pop of red with my Greta Ballet Flats to tie into the red stripe in the plaid. This styling played up the navy in the plaid and created a more monochromatic look that was still interesting because of the red accent.

5. Styling Option Three: The Camel Sweater

Since the plaid also includes a camel-colored stripe, you could easily style these pants with a camel or tan sweater for a warmer, more neutral look. This would be beautiful for fall and winter, and you could add cognac boots or loafers to complete the outfit.

Or go bold with a candy-apple red sweater to really make that red stripe pop! The beauty of these pants is their versatility—you can style them so many different ways depending on your mood and the occasion.

6. The Mary Jane Flats Worth Buying

These Maeve Pointed Toe Mary Jane Flats from Anthropologie deserve their own moment. The burgundy patent leather is gorgeous and adds a polished, almost vintage-inspired touch to the outfit. The pointed toe is elongating for petites, and the Mary Jane strap adds feminine detail without being too sweet.

I love a good flat, especially one with a pointed toe. They give you the elegance of a heel without the discomfort, and they’re perfect for days when you’re on your feet a lot but still want to look put-together. I have these flats in this burgundy color and black, and they are perfect for adding just that little elevated edge to any outfit. 

✨ Kelly’s Petite Style Tip: Pointed-toe flats are one of the most flattering shoe styles for petites. They create a visual extension of your leg line, which makes you appear taller. Avoid round-toe or square-toe flats in very bold or contrasting colors, as they can visually cut off your leg line.

7. The Madewell Bag That Goes With Everything

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again—Madewell makes some of the best bags. This Madewell Burgundy Shoulder Bag is the perfect everyday size: roomy enough for all your essentials but not so large that it overwhelms a petite frame.

The burgundy leather is rich and luxurious, and the simple, clean lines mean it will never go out of style. I still have Madewell bags from years ago that look fantastic because the quality is so good. This is an investment piece that will serve you well for seasons to come. My exact bag is from last year, but the Madewell Burgundy Shoulder Bag is a great alternative. I have this bag in black, and I love it! 

Why This Suit Works for Petites

Let me break down exactly why this combination is so successful for shorter frames:

• The cropped length is key. Full-length wide-leg pants often overwhelm petite frames, but the cropped length creates a modern, intentional silhouette without swallowing you whole.
• The blazer length is ideal. At hip length, it creates definition at your natural waist and doesn’t cut you off at an awkward spot. Cropped blazers are generally more flattering on petites than longer styles.
• The knit fabric has structure. Unlike some knit pants that can look sloppy, these maintain their shape while still offering comfortable stretch. You look polished, not slouchy.
• The pattern adds interest without being busy. The navy base keeps the plaid from being overwhelming, and the thin stripes in red and camel give you endless styling options.
• No alterations needed. The cropped design means petites can wear these straight off the rack—a rare and wonderful thing.

The Colette Collection: More Styles to Explore

The Colette Pants Collection by Maeve at Anthropologie is extensive and constantly evolving. What I love about this collection is the variety—there’s truly something for everyone, and most styles come in standard, tall, petite, and plus sizes.

The collection includes pants in denim, corduroy, linen blends, Magic Fabric (Anthropologie’s stretchy, comfortable ponte-like material), regular ponte, and even faux leather. New styles are introduced throughout the year, so there’s always something fresh to discover.

Beth and I have been singing the praises of The Colette Pants Collection for years. Here is a small sample of how we’ve styled the Colette Pants over the years. 

Here are a Few of my Current Favorites from the Colette Collection:

• Colette Corduroy Full-Length Pants
• Colette Scallop Pocket Cropped Corduroy Pants
• The Colette Sweater Knit Crop Wide Leg Pants
• Colette Magic Fabric Crop Wide Leg Pants
• The Colette Faux Leather Crop Wide Leg Pants

Closing Thoughts On The Maeve Colette Suit

The Maeve Colette Knit Crop Pants and matching blazer have earned their place as wardrobe workhorses in my closet. They’re versatile, comfortable, flattering for petites, and require zero alterations—which is practically unheard of for petite-friendly wide-leg pants.

Whether you wear them as a complete suit for a polished, professional look, or style the pieces separately for maximum versatility, you’re getting exceptional value from these pieces. And with the entire Colette collection offering so many fabric and style options, you can build an entire capsule wardrobe around this flattering silhouette.

If you’re a petite woman who’s been hesitant to try wide-leg pants because you think they’ll overwhelm your frame, these cropped versions are the perfect gateway style. Give them a try—I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how flattering they are.

For more guidance on building a petite-friendly work wardrobe, check out my post: An Elevated Casual Outfit for Petites

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