I Tried on Old Navy’s Fall Collection—These 10 Styles Get My Petite Stamp of Approval

Name: Old Navy Cropped Barn Jacket
Brand: Old Navy
Price: 36 USD

Including two pieces I left the store with

By Stephanie Maida

•

Published Aug 24, 2026

PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and some items may be gifted to us. Additionally, PureWow may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. All prices are accurate upon date of publish. You can learn more about the affiliate process here.

Old Navy Petite Fall 2026 Try-on: Original photos by Stephanie Maida

Old Navy/Original photos by Stephanie Maida

Ever since Old Navy brought on designer-to-the-stars Zac Posen as its creative director in 2024, the iconic mall brand has seriously stepped its game up. I’m talking racks filled with trendy silhouettes, luxe textures and thoughtful designs—all, as always, at wallet-friendly price points. Between the quality and fit, I’ve been more than impressed with some of the styles I’ve picked up from the retailer over the past year, especially as someone who clocks in at 5’1”. (In case you don’t know, Old Navy offers everything from denim to dresses in petite-specific lengths, a boon for me and my fellow short girls.)

So with fall just around the corner, and a slew of new styles popping up, I decided to take my retail research to the streets—well, to the store. I perused all of the brand’s latest looks IRL, and took 20 to the dressing room. Here, ten styles I fell in love with (including the two I couldn’t leave the store without).

Want to know which buzzy products are *really* worth buying? Sign up for our shopping newsletter to uncover our favorite finds.

Old Navy Petite Fall 2026 Try-on: Original photo of Stephanie Maida in brown pointelle sweater

Original photo by Stephanie Maida

1. Old Navy Seaside Cotton Sweater

Old Navy

Let’s kick things off with the outfit I purchased on the spot, starting with this adorable button-up sweater. I was immediately taken by the dainty pointelle knit, scalloped neckline and subtle puff sleeves—there’s just something about these pretty little details I can’t resist. As soon as I slipped it on and felt how lightweight the fabric is, I knew I was sold. It’s made of 100 percent cotton, after all, which is great for transitional fall temps—or in my case as a recent Los Angeles transplant, for "fall" in general. And while this top is available in petite lengths online, the one I tried (and bought) in person is a regular cut. Still, I found the length and fit flattering on my proportions.

Fast Facts

Size Range: XS to 4X, Regular, Petite, Tall

~~$40~~; $24 at old navy

Old Navy Petite Fall 2026 Try-on: Original photo of Stephanie Maida in green cargo utility pants

Original photo by Stephanie Maida

2. Old Navy Barrel-Leg Utility Pants

Old Navy

Speaking of my move to L.A., ‘twas shortly after I arrived in late spring that I noticed all the cool women rocking baggy green cargo pants—reminiscent of the styles that were everywhere in the early 2000s. Since then, I’ve spotted them from New York to Paris, so I’ve been itching to grab a pair for myself. The only issue? I was nervous that the silhouette would overwhelm my petite frame. Enter: these multi-pocket bottoms that hit all the right notes. Their curved shape creates that trendy wide-leg look, but thanks to their cotton fabric, the pants lean more structured than slouchy, meaning my figure doesn’t get lost in a sea of material. The drawstring waist is sturdy and comfortable, and once again, I was pleasantly surprised by the regular fit—these hit right at my ankle, no hemming required. Needless to say, I couldn’t part with them. I can’t wait to pair them with the pointelle knit above for a fashion-forward juxtaposition of feminine and utilitarian.

Fast Facts

Size Range: XXS to 4X, Regular, Petite, Tall

~~$40~~; $24 at old navy

Old Navy Petite Fall 2026 Try-on: Original photo of Stephanie Maida in green floral maxi dress

Original photo by Stephanie Maida

3. Old Navy Ruffle-Collar Maxi Dress

Old Navy

Maxi dresses and short gals don’t always see eye to eye (or hem to hem), but this airy frock was the perfect fit on my 5’1” frame—yes, even in the regular length. (Here I’ll note that Old Navy seems to offer a better stock of petite options online than in stores—just something to keep in mind.) The ruffle-trim neckline and puff sleeves are, admittedly, giving pilgrim on the prairie, but I’m into it. In fact, my first thought when slipping it on was that it would be such a cute look for Thanksgiving. And while elasticated waistbands can often land at an awkward spot on my figure, this one hit just under my bust, making it both comfortable and flattering. My only gripe? No pockets.

Fast Facts

Size Range: XS to 4X, Regular, Petite, Tall

~~$50~~; $30 at old navy

Old Navy Petite Fall 2026 Try-on: Original photo of Stephanie Maida in light-wash barrel jeans

Original photo by Stephanie Maida

4. Old Navy Baggy Barrel Jeans

Old Navy

I’ve given barrel jeans my enthusiastic stamp of petite approval, and this Old Navy pair is no exception. Given their baggy cut, I actually sized down from my typical 8 to a 6 and found that the high waist fit me like a glove. Though the barrel silhouette of this particular style isn’t very extreme, sizing down also allowed for a slimmer fit through the legs. I think I was mostly able to get away with it because the denim—a blend of 99 percent cotton and 1 percent spandex—is just so soft, even though there’s not much give. Fit aside, I also really appreciate the diagonal seam details, which make these jeans look a lot more expensive than they are.

Fast Facts

Size Range: 00 to 30, Regular, Petite, Tall

~~$50~~; $30 at old navy

Old Navy Petite Fall 2026 Try-on: Original photo of Stephanie Maida in brown faux suede jacket

Original photo by Stephanie Maida

5. Old Navy Faux Suede Harrington Jacket

Old Navy

Faux though it may be, this number is as luxuriously soft and supple as real suede. I’ve been really into jackets with elasticated hems lately, which create something of a bubble effect, and I liked how this one plays with that shape. Although I could have gone with a small due to its spacious cut, I decided to size up to a medium for more of an oversized look. It looked cool and slouchy with just a touch of that borrowed-from-my-boyfriend vibe. Since, again, this was a regular size and not the petite, it hit a bit lower on my hip than I think it’s meant to, but I actually prefer that. In either case, this is such a good style for the season.

Fast Facts

Size Range: XS to 4X, Regular, Petite, Tall

~~$70~~; $42 at old navy

Old Navy Petite Fall 2026 Try-on: Original photo of Stephanie Maida in green cardigan

Original photo by Stephanie Maida

6. Old Navy SoSoft Crew Cardigan

Old Navy

The gorgeous green hue of this cardi caught my eye from across the store. When I went over to touch it, I literally gasped—it’s that soft. Through some sort of garment alchemy, the brand transformed a cotton blend into something that feels like cashmere (and regularly costs just $40). Although the cozy knit wasn’t as cropped on me in this regular size as I would have liked, the ribbed hem still fell at a good spot on my hip. It’s short enough that I could don it as a top, long enough to throw on as an extra layer. The fabric, however, is on the thinner side; the lace of my bra created some lumps and bumps, but with smooth undergarments, I don’t foresee any issues.

Fast Facts

Size Range: XS to 4X, Regular, Petite, Tall

from ~~$40~~; $24 at old navy

Old Navy Petite Fall 2026 Try-on: Original photo of Stephanie Maida in blue striped polo

Original photo by Stephanie Maida

7. Old Navy Keyhole Polo Top

Old Navy

Striped polo tops are back in full force this fall, and I was drawn to the thinner stripes of this collared top (a better pick for petite frames). The material is silky soft and lightweight, with delicate ribbing that hugged my figure nicely without being too clingy. There is a button at the collar to create the “keyhole” neck alluded to in its name, but it felt like it would be too much of a tight squeeze to try fastening myself (and I didn’t want to risk the button snapping). Besides, I like the split neckline as it is—flirty, but not scandalous.

Fast Facts

Size Range: XS to 4X, Regular, Petite, Tall

~~$27~~; $16 at old navy

Old Navy Petite Fall 2026 Try-on: Original photo of Stephanie Maida in collared burgundy sweater and brown corduroy pinafore dress

Original photo by Stephanie Maida

8. Old Navy Corduroy Pinafore Dress

Old Navy

You can’t go wrong with corduroy in autumn, which is what I was thinking when I threw this playful pinafore dress over my arm and pranced it to the fitting room. It’s fairly structured with a roomy A-line shape and large patch pockets that kind of remind me of an art teacher’s smock (not necessarily in a bad way). Though the V-neck is rather modest, the arm holes are pretty wide, so they exposed my bra. Then again, this frock is meant to be worn layered over something else. I decided to try it with this collared knit half-zip—whose design I liked on its own, just not on me—and the look felt much more complete. (FYI, the brown I tried in store seems to have sold out online already, but it is up for grabs in black and berry red corduroy, along with a denim version.)

Fast Facts

Size Range: XS to 4X, Regular, Petite, Tall

~~$45~~; $27 at old navy

Original photo by Stephanie Maida

9. Old Navy Ruffle-Collar Chiffon Top

Old Navy

Why yes, this top is quite sheer, so if you’re not down to make your lingerie a part of your outfit, you’ll want to slip on a camisole underneath. Now that that’s out of the way, though, I do truly love this number, from its ruffle accents to its plaid chiffon. It also boasts a boho-coded flowy fit, which I liked paired with the above utility pants. I’m considering ordering it online in petite in order to get that shorter length.

Fast Facts

Size Range: XS to 4X, Regular, Petite, Tall

~~$35~~; $21 at old navy

Original photo by Stephanie Maida

10. Old Navy Cropped Barn Jacket

Old Navy

Last but not least, a piece of outerwear that’s come to define fall over the past few years: the barn jacket. I have yet to find one that doesn’t completely overtake my frame and make me look like I dug something out of my dad’s closet, but Old Navy’s take on the style comes pretty close to perfection. The cropped cut of the regular size makes it a Goldilocks length on moi, falling just below my hips, with a boxy shape that allows for thick layers underneath. The 98 percent cotton body, meanwhile, is structured and weighty, adding to the overall ruggedness of the aesthetic. Bonus points for the XL pockets and double closure featuring both snaps and a zipper. My one complaint (which has been echoed by other reviewers) is that the Forest Green colorway doesn’t look as vibrant in person; instead, it’s more of a muted greenish-gray. Still, this is another item I'm thinking about going back for.

Fast Facts

Size Range: XS to 4X, Regular, Petite, Tall

from ~~$60~~; $36 at old navy

Stephanie Maida

Senior Commerce Editor

Oversees PureWow's coverage of sales and deals, celebrity commerce and new launches across categories
Has worked as a writer and editor for 10+ years
Studied journalism at New York University

read full bio

Why You Should Trust Us

PureWow's editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series (where we rank items on a 100-point scale) to our painstakingly curated lists of fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family picks, you can trust that our recommendations have been thoroughly vetted for function, aesthetics and innovation. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.