I have a good handful of black work dresses that need to be covered (either with a blazer, jacket, or sweater)... but I wanted to ask for some advice on what blazers/jackets would work for a petite figure (length, color, etc.).

What do you ladies think of the swing jacket attached?

Hi tiffany!

I think a jacket like that could look really nice against a black dress! Swing jackets have never worked for me, so I would go for something with a more structured waist...but that's just me.

I like jackets that stop near the hip on petites...too long and we start to look overwhelmed.

There was just a Petite Fashion Challenge about how to style a little black dress, so maybe you can get some ideas from some the ladies who participated. See the list of participants here:
http://www.thelittledustprincess.com/2011/04/petite-fashion-challenge-7-little-black.html

And I recently paired a black dress & a white dress with a little striped seersucker jacket:
http://www.alterationsneeded.com/2011/04/petite-fashion-challenge-7-little-black.html
http://www.alterationsneeded.com/2011/05/little-white-dress-how-seersucker-made.html

I also had a hard time making jackets work with dresses and skirts until I started cuffing all my jacket sleeves to 3/4 or elbow length. It helps me look like I'm wearing the jacket, instead of the other way around.

I think that jacket can work but as AN said you might have to becareful where it hits you since it's not fitted at the waist.

Where should I be looking for the bottom of the jacket to hit... Understand too long probably isn't a good thing...