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InStyle / Everlane / Sezane
Prime Day Deal
Prime Day features a deal on one of our favorite petite jeans. The AG Jeans Mari High Waist Crop Jeans are on sale.
A short person is always on the quest to find jeans that actually fit them — and I include myself in that group, as a woman who’s not even 5 feet, 2 inches tall. Plus-size fashion blogger Victoria Voos adds, “For those of us over a size 18, the jean options can be limited — then add in ‘petite’ and you’ve got even less to choose from!” The end result: you may feel like you’re constantly experimenting with jean styles, feeling incredibly frustrated when they don’t fit your body in the right way.
There are a few things to know and look out for (more on that later). The most important question to answer right off the bat, though, is what makes petite jeans different: whether they’re smaller or just shorter than regular jeans. It depends on the brand and style, but good petite jeans don’t just have a higher inseam, necessarily — they may also have a shorter rise, higher knee placement, narrower waistbands, and a smaller crotch. Simply hemming regular jeans isn’t always sufficient, says Stitch Fix stylist Gillian McHattie, as it may alter the intended silhouette and proportions of the garment. “It’s important to maintain the proportions of the jeans,” says style expert Naina Singla, “so pockets should be placed in the right place, the rise might need to be adjusted, and so on.”
To determine the most worthwhile petite jeans on the market, we chatted with Singla, McHattie, Voos, Universal Standard’s Chief Design Officer Ramon Martin, and trend forecaster and fashion direction consultant Kendall Becker. We also surveyed 12 short people and determined what brands they like best — all so that you don't have to do a lot of very expensive testing yourself.
Best Overall
Everlane The Original Cheeky Jean
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What We Love: There’s just a touch of stretch, but the mostly rigid construction looks and feels fantastic.
What We Don’t Love: The waist can sometimes run large, so you might need to buy more than one size to find your best fit.
This pair of jeans comes in a 28.5- and 26.5-inch inseam (both of which I’ve tried and loved — the former hits just above the ground when I’m barefoot). It’s also thoughtfully constructed with pockets that are higher and closer together for a better fit. The straight-leg style can fit a variety of body types, and there’s also a curvy version. Singla notes that the jeans are also less expensive than a number of other petite jeans, calling them “very budget-friendly.”
They come in a number of colors, which means if they fit well, you can buy a couple without breaking the bank. Also worth noting: these jeans are made of organic cotton and the first stretch yarn to not be made with harmful chemicals (one of the many ways Everlane practices sustainability), so they’re ethically made, too.
Material: Organic cotton, elastane | Colors: 7 | Inseam: 26.5, 28.5 inches | Size: 23–35
Best Budget
Old Navy High-Waisted OG Loose Jeans for Women
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What We Love: There’s good value for money here without feeling like the fit suffers.
What We Don’t Love: Sizing across Old Navy can be inconsistent, which might mean you have to buy a couple of sizes.
If you’re unfamiliar, Old Navy has really improved its denim offering, with people now turning to the brand for jeans that fit perfectly (without tailoring) right out of the box. The petite sizing goes from size 0 to 18, and — even though reviewers write that there can sometimes be inconsistency in sizing across styles — once you find one that works well, apparently you can rely that it'll fit the next time you need to buy it, too.
Old Navy regularly has sales and discounts, which means you can keep an eye on a style you like and make a purchase when it goes on sale. These mom jeans apparently look and feel fantastic, comparing well against more expensive styles. They come in petite, regular, and tall, and there are curvy options for some of the most popular styles that go all the way up to size 30.
Material: Cotton, recycled cotton, spandex | Colors: 5 | Inseam: Not listed (Petite, Regular, Tall lengths) | Size: 0–18
Best Splurge
RE/DONE The Shortie
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What We Love: For quality, it’s hard to beat the brand's construction (and it’s made ethically!).
What We Don’t Love: It’s not a dedicated petite style, so you may need to tweak the fit with the help of a tailor.
The aptly named “shortie” has a 25-inch inseam, meaning it’s shorter than most of Re/Done’s options. (The celebrity-loved brand doesn’t have a dedicated petite section, but they have “cropped” versions of their most popular jeans that are designed to be better for those who need shorter inseams.) Re/Done’s denim is extremely well-made; if you’re unfamiliar, the label started by upcycling vintage Levi’s, and its non-upcycled materials are still designed to be low-impact and low-waste. So while these cropped jeans would be an investment, they’re designed as a thick, vintage-inspired, long-lasting style.
What I love about the Shortie is its workwear-inspired design, with the front patches giving a cool and edgy vibe without making the denim feel bulky or uncomfortable. If blue feels like too much, opt for the subtler white.
Material: Organic cotton | Colors: 2 | Inseam: 25 inches | Size: 23–32
Best Plus Size
Universal Standard High Rise Skinny Jeans
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What We Love: If you've struggled with the fit of other jeans, these could be a great option.
What We Don’t Love: Some of the styles are popular and sell out fast.
If you’re unfamiliar with Universal Standard, the really really size-inclusive brand that goes from size 00–40, take a peek at their website. It offers a ton of customizable options in its clothes — with these jeans, for example, you can get a 27-inch, 30-inch, 32-inch, or a “petite” inseam in a variety of colors. The petite inseam is a mere 24 inches, according to Martin; he says they’re “a best-seller and touted for the invisible built-in stretch, premium fabrication, intentional cut, and unbeatable comfort.” Voos also loves them for its inclusive sizing.
One of my favorite features is “See It in Your Size,” which lets you eyeball the product on someone with roughly your dimensions. I am not a plus-size person, but I also love the clothes, so it might be a good choice for you regardless of your dimensions. Some of the most popular colors go fast, but you can go on the waitlist for when it comes back in stock.
Material: Cotton, polyester, elastane | Colors: 7 | Inseam: 24, 27, 30, 32 inches | Size: 00–40
Best Straight Leg
MOTHER The Lil' Mid Rise Dazzler Ankle Fray
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What We Love: The design is top-notch and designed to complement a variety of body shapes.
What We Don’t Love: You're paying for the higher quality and exceptional fit.
Singla loves the Dazzler, which is the most popular mid-rise straight-leg style because it’s designed to “hit right at the ankle.” The brand’s aptly named “LIL’ MOTHER” collection has a number of construction changes to fit smaller bodies, and includes rise, inseam, and knee placement.
This option is vintage-inspired, both in design and weight (meaning it’s heavier than some modern jeans, and more likely to last longer). The frayed hem gives it a nice modern touch, and the fit is close to the body without feeling oppressive. It’s also structured, so it won’t feel loose and baggy with each consecutive wear, and the price-per-wear will be lower. It’s expensive, in other words, but you’ll wear it so often that the value for money will be extremely high.
Material: Cotton, modal, polyester, elastane | Colors: 1 | Inseam: 25.5 inches | Size: 23–34
Best Wide Leg
Madewell The Petite Perfect Vintage Wide-Leg Jean
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What We Love: These are good value for money — and Madewell regularly has discounts.
What We Don’t Love: You might need to buy more than one size to see which one looks better.
Madewell has a nice array of petite jeans and inclusive sizing to boot. Singla likes this wide-leg vintage style for its “great price point, lots of washes to choose from, and great reviews.” In their reviews, customers who are as short as 5 feet, 2 inches tall say these are the perfect length. And the fact that the jeans are somewhat tapered in the thighs and looser starting at the knee means that it gives the look of a wide-leg jean without the bulk of a style that’s truly wide (which, if you’re unfamiliar, can swallow up a shorter person’s frame and make you look unintentionally shorter).
My Madewell jeans fit well, wash well, and hold their shape without feeling saggy. Experiment with sizing, though, according to reviewers who had to size up or down depending on the fit they wanted.
Material: Cotton, spandex | Colors: 5 | Inseam: 27.5 inches | Size: 23–33
Best Flare
Good American Petite Flare Jeans
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What We Love: Super fitted and super comfy, Good American's petite styles are specifically designed for short people.
What We Don’t Love: Plus sizes can go fast, so keep an eye out for restocks.
With sizing that goes up to 32 in some colors, these highly covetable and size-inclusive flares sell out quickly (you can get on the waitlist for restocks). Voos calls them a worthwhile splurge, and customers tend to love the brand for the comfortable body sculpting designs that (per the website) “feel like a second skin.”
The inseam is on the longer side (30 inches), but it’s a pretty tailorable style. The flare is long and wide, so even if you take a couple of inches off, it’ll still look and feel like a flare. Make sure to ask that they preserve the original hem, though, which is thick and attractive. It also gives the denim a cool retro vibe. You can also keep the inseam longer and wear it with boots: A flared pant gives so much length to a shorter body that it’s a must-have style if you’re interested in making yourself look taller.
Material: Organic cotton, elastane | Colors: 5 | Inseam: 30 inches | Size: 00–32 Plus
Best Bootcut
Levi’s Middy Bootcut Women's Jeans
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What We Love: If you want a less extreme but still shapely flare, this pair is perfect.
What We Don’t Love: Depending on your body, you might need to go down one size.
Levi’s ranked highly among people we surveyed who need shorter jeans — both the men’s style and the women’s style (which is a good reminder that you needn’t always stay in the women’s section to find good clothes!). These bootcut jeans, which come in a number of different washes, offer 27-, 29-, and 31-inch inseams for better customization. And the flare at the bottom is gentle; in case you’re curious about the difference, a bootcut is a gentler flare that offers enough room for a boot to fit underneath it (hence the name).
Pay attention to the reviews; customers say this one runs large so you may need to play around with sizing. I’ve always found that my Levi’s are easily tailored and still look like they were made for me — even after extensive edits. The darker, vintage washes are particularly high-quality.
Material: Cotton, Lycra | Colors: 5 | Inseam: 27 inches | Size: 23–33
Best Palazzo
Frame Le Pixie Slim Palazzo
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What We Love: These wide pants are still made with smaller bodies in mind.
What We Don’t Love: They sell out quickly, so keep an eye out if your size is unavailable.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, if nothing but the widest pants will do, may I suggest these? (If you go to Frame and search for “Pixie,” you’ll find the shorter styles.) The style is designed for short people, but do know that the inseam is still longer (28 inches) and will probably require some tailoring if that’s longer than the inseam you want. But because the fit is so wide, it can stand to lose a few inches without compromising its shape.
This style is quite stretchy and fits true to size, but note that it fits small in the waist — so you may need to size up. Wider pants can (counterintuitively) make short people look shorter, so it’s better to keep the inseam longer on pants like these: Think close to or skimming the floor when you’re in bare feet. If you happen to like a long denim style, keep them long so that they “pool” (bunch up) at your feet — that actually will make your legs look longer.
Material: Cotton, modal, Elasterell-P, elastane | Colors: 1 | Inseam: 28 inches | Size: 23–34
Best High-Rise
Abercrombie & Fitch Ultra High Rise 90s Straight Jeans
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What We Love: You can make them your own with a variety of colors and inseams.
What We Don’t Love: Certain colors sell out incredibly fast.
If you’re not familiar with the new Abercrombie, prepare to be impressed: These jeans apparently fit great and come in five inseams, including an extra-short one (26.5 inches). They also come in a multitude of colors and go all the way up to size 37 (this is the curvy style, but also comes in a straighter style, too).
People have spoken about this Abercrombie pair as being a not-to-expensive, highly wearable style that with its multitude of washes (as of now, there are 30 different colors to choose from) made it a highly customizable pair of jeans. Most reviewers say the sizing is accurate, but a couple say they had to return theirs for a different size.
Material: Cotton, elastane | Colors: 30 | Inseam: 26.5, 28.5, 30.5, 32.5 inches | Size: 23–37
Best Long
Ética Rae Mid Rise Straight
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What We Love: Ética jeans are absolutely worth the investment.
What We Don’t Love: It might need tailoring since it's not designed specifically for petites.
While this style is not dedicated petite, it still has the right proportions to fit a petite person well (a mid-rise, 28-inch inseam, and slim fit). In general, if you’re looking to make a non-petite crop style work, make sure that it’s a slim fit with smaller proportions, like this one.
Ética makes its denim very ethically, and this one’s actually made out of recycled cotton. It’s more of an investment than some others on this list, but when you’re going with a non-petite style, you want to prioritize good materials like this. A nice extra benefit is that there’s some built-in stretch — another feature you want to look for since it will mold to your body without getting saggy.
Material: Cotton, Elasterell-P, spandex | Colors: 1 | Inseam: 28 inches | Size: 24–32
Best Cropped
Betabrand Signature Mid-Rise Denim
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What We Love: They offer some of the shortest lengths on this list.
What We Don’t Love: As of this writing, not all the colors have the short petite inseam.
If you’re unfamiliar with Betabrand, it started by making dressy yoga pants but has since expanded to pants. Its “short petite” inseam is a delightful 24 inches long, and its petite inseam is only 26 inches long. (There’s also regular and long options, if you need longer inseams.) This means that, depending on what your natural inseam is, you can likely find a crop that works for you.
Cropped jeans are funny — you want to make sure that it’s short enough but also not too short for your body. Reviewers say that, even when they had to experiment with sizing a bit, they found that ultimately the pants were heavyweight and the perfect length for their bodies.
Material: Cotton, rayon, polyester, elastane | Colors: 5 | Inseam: 24, 26, 28, 30 inches | Size: XS–XXL
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What We Love: They’re apparently so comfortable that customers live in them.
What We Don’t Love: Read the reviews carefully before you select a size.
My Maurices jeans are some of the most comfortable I own, and they’re quite budget-friendly. These also come in short and extra-short lengths (25 and 23 inches, respectively, for this product). The style is very ’90s, thanks to the cargo pockets on the side and visible pockets in front, but the tailored fit feels modern instead of dated (you can also fit a boot underneath the pants, as a plus). It’s also made partially with recycled fibers and has just a little bit of stretch for a more comfortable fit. Reviewers do say that when they ordered true to size, it felt a little tight, so just bear that in mind when you order.
Material: Cotton, polyester repreve, spandex | Colors: 1 | Inseam: 23, 25, 27, 29, 31 inches | Size: 0–18
Best for Thick Thighs
Torrid Comfort Flex Taper Super Soft High Rise Trouser Jean
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What We Love: They’re designed for different body sizes and shapes in an impressively inclusive way.
What We Don’t Love: They may not hold their shape for as long.
Voos says these are her jeans that have the most stretch — meaning they’re perfect for a person who carries weight around their waist and thighs. These have an extra-short (23-inch) and short (25-inch) inseam, and they have a soft and stretchy material that won’t dig uncomfortably into your body. (As such, they have less cotton, which may mean that they won’t hold up as well as jeans with a higher percentage — so just bear that in mind.)
This trouser jean is a little more tailored and dressy than some of the brand’s other options, which could make it a fabulous pick for the office or another nice event.
Material: Cotton, rayon, polyester, spandex | Colors: 1 | Inseam: 23, 25, 27, 29, 31 inches | Size: 10–30
Best Customizable
Asket Standard Jeans
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What We Love: These jeans fit like a dream and feel just right — and they come in a few colors.
What We Don’t Love: Check the size guide for the right inseam, which will be different from the stated number.
If you’re unfamiliar, Asket only makes one style of jeans, but they are perfectly designed to fit a number of body types (to quote the website: “neither skinny nor boyfriend, not flared or bootcut, not a low-cut nor a ‘mom’ jean. It’s just right.”) First, you pick a build (straight or curvy) and then an inseam. Do note, though, that the inseam is actually smaller than you think (so for an L30, the inseam is 27.2 inches, for an L32, the inseam is 29.1 inches, and so on).
I love my straight L30s; they hit right at my ankle bone for a cropped, but not too cropped fit. I appreciate that each garment is made transparently and ethically, too.
Material: Organic cotton, degradable elastane | Colors: 2 | Inseam: 27.2, 29.1, 31.1 inches | Size: 23–34 in Straighter and Curvier
Best Colorful
Sézane Le Crop
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What We Love: They’re a cool crop flare that works well for the petites, plus they come in different hues.
What We Don’t Love: They sell out quickly, so you have to watch closely to see when it comes in stock.
Sézane often favors pants with long inseams, which is why its cropped style has been immensely popular (including for the short-legged fans of the brand). At this point, the jeans come in a number of different colors/patterns, and the brand will likely debut more over the next several months. It’s not a dedicated petite style, but the inseam is very petite-friendly at 26.8 inches, and it has a spring-friendly short flare shape.
The brand has gorgeous French styles, made ethically, and they're terrific value for money. It’s thoughtful about its product drops, so if you like a style, keep an eye on it, because they may add it in another color.
Material: Organic cotton | Colors: 7 | Inseam: 26.8 inches | Size: 0–16
Best Tan
AG Jeans Mari High Waist Crop Jeans
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What We Love: The style is great for warm weather but still thick enough to not be see-through.
What We Don’t Love: It’s pricey, even if it’s worth the money.
AG Jeans are on the pricier side, but I love them. They retain their shape exceptionally well, even after repeated wears, and they're well-crafted. This has a short 25-inch inseam, and the cotton blend offers a bit of stretch — but not too much — to feel a bit lighter and less stifling in the warm weather months.
Reviewers report delightedly that these are the only jeans they’ve found that, despite the light colors, are still completely opaque. The shortest reviewers still had to tailor the hem, but most reported that they fell exactly to the ankle. The dream! So, petites, if you happen to work in a place that mandates a tan pants uniform (or you happen to like off-white and tan jeans!), these jeans are a great option.
Material: Cotton, modal, lyocell, polyester, elastane | Colors: 3 | Inseam: 25 inches | Size: 23–33
Best White
Vineyard Vines Mariner Jeans
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What We Love: This is a high-end material and extremely high-end jeans.
What We Don’t Love: Because it's a wide style, you want to make sure it hits the right spot on your leg.
Leave it to the brand that has a lock on summer styles — Vineyard Vines — to make the perfect white jeans (not that you can’t wear these in the winter). This has a straight leg fit but tapers out towards the bottom, and has a little built-in stretch for better comfort. The inseam is 27.25 inches (but may vary just a tiny bit, depending on which size you get). Remember that a slightly longer inseam is actually preferable for a wider style, so this could work beautifully even if it goes slightly beyond your ankle bone. This style also is expertly crafted to show off a summer shoe underneath the pant leg.
Material: Cotton, polyester, elastane | Colors: 1 | Inseam: 27.25 inches | Size: 24–33
Best Sustainable
Reformation Cynthia High Rise Straight Cropped Jeans
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What We Love: The jeans are comfortable, and Ref will tailor them for you!
What We Don’t Love: This particular product doesn’t offer inclusive sizing.
Reformation prides itself on its sustainability — and, case in point, the Cynthia jean is made from regeneratively grown cotton and Tencel lyocell. This has a 27-inch inseam. While Ref doesn’t have dedicated petite styles, the cropped options are tailored for shorter bodies, if you’re searching the site. (There are also different lengths, if 27 inches is too short for you.)
I find their denim to be stiff and heavyweight — it feels like 100 percent cotton — and retains its shape in a wonderful way. It’s pricier than some on this list, but worth the investment. Did you know? Ref pays for alterations, if the style isn’t exactly right!
Material: Regeneratively grown cotton, Tencel lyocell | Colors: 4 | Inseam: 27 inches | Size: 23–34
Most Comfortable
AYR The Pop
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What We Love: Even for those who struggle to find perfectly fitting jeans, this pair works beautifully.
What We Don’t Love: Be careful how you wash these, especially the darker washes.
According to Singla, her petite clients love Ayr jeans. Apparently, they’re as soft as “butter, with a little elastane and polyester for a soft, moldable fabric. Lengthwise, they come in 25-, 27-, and 29-inch inseam.
Reviewers note that the pants fit everywhere, including where other jeans don’t — one reviewer has larger calves, and another has smaller hips) and they retain their shape well. The site does note that indigo can be stripped out with each wash and offers specific instructions on how to preserve the color: “Seal your jeans in a bag, and pop them in the freezer for 24 hours.”
Material: Cotton, polyester, elastane | Colors: 3 | Inseam: 25, 27, 29 inches | Size: 23–34
Best Frayed Hem
AGOLDE Riley High-rise Straight Crop Stretch
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What We Love: If you’re only going to get one pair of really good jeans, invest in these.
What We Don’t Love: You pay a lot to get a lot out of it.
AGOLDE is one of Singla’s favorite denim brands, and even though these are not dedicated petite jeans, they would still fit a petite person. The inseam is only 26.5 inches, and the denim is low-stretch and high-quality (only 1 percent elastane). “[They’re designed for] a cool-girl vibe,” according to Singla, with the frayed edges on this straight-leg style giving just a touch of visual interest.
Search “AGOLDE crop” if you’re looking for other petite-friendly colors or styles; the brand is on the pricier side, relatively speaking, but when you’re looking for an investment pair, this style of straight-leg jeans will be trend-proof and always stylish.
Material: Recycled cotton, elastane | Colors: 1 | Inseam: 26.5 inches | Size: 23–33
Best Elastic Waistband
Avenue Butter Denim Straight Leg Jean Dark Wash
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What We Love: The price, the shape, and the inseam are all very friendly.
What We Don’t Love: Because it’s a cotton-poly blend, it may not hold its shape quite as well.
According to Voos, these are her softest jeans (it’s a cotton/polyester/elastane blend if you’re curious). They’re also some of the least expensive jeans on this list, and they have to be one of the most comfortable pairs as well. The inseam of the pull-on style — meaning you don’t have to zip them up — is 26 inches (it also comes in regular and long styles, if that’s too short), and it has a relaxed straight leg to accommodate different body types. Generally, reviewers’ only quibble is that they don’t come in more colors, which is (to be honest) a good problem to have.
Material: Cotton, polyester, elastane | Colors: 4 | Inseam: 26 inches | Size: 14–32
What to Keep in Mind
- Inseam Length: Before you do anything, go to a tailor and get yourself measured, because once you know your inseam, this whole process gets easier. (When you go, ask for three measurements: your inseam to the floor, to your ankle, and for a cropped style.) To be honest, it opens up a whole new world of denim styles you may not have considered. “If you have longer legs and a shorter torso, you may not need to shop in the petite section for your jeans,” Voos says.
- Materials: If you want stretchier pants, you don’t want to buy a pair of jeans that are made out of 100 percent cotton (which will be stiffer and more rigid). Instead, look for something with a small percentage of spandex, and check the reviews to see if reviewers found the denim comfortable. Voos notes that, for plus-size people especially, "Check the denim you’re looking at has stretch. You may notice that your belly needs space to move when you stand vs. when you are sitting. Having a comfy and stretchy pair of jeans will make this so much more comfortable and fit your body better." It's important to know, though, that a cotton blend with some percentage of polyester in it may not last as long or hold its shape as well as denim that’s all cotton.
- Fit: As mentioned, a dedicated petite style will have special fit considerations; a non-petite-specific style may still work, but you have to try it out. Explains Martin, “A well-designed, true petite fit, like Universal Standard’s petite, has every point of measure customized on the jean for a shorter height, including the rise, the hip and butt curves, knee and calf points.”
- Design: The right denim shape will depend on the shape you want to create (do you want to add length? Balance out a part of your body? And so on). “Petite shoppers should consider denim with minimal embellishments or large pockets, as these can often overwhelm a smaller frame. I also recommend avoiding overly baggy styles, which can drown out your proportions,” says McHattie, adding, “Straight-leg cuts are great options for a petite frame since they streamline the silhouette and create an elongated look.” Voos explains that to add height (particularly for a plus-size person), skinny, high-waisted, and flare styles are also particularly useful.
- Details: This is the kind of thing that people overlook before they buy their pants but ends up being a dealbreaker once they try them on. Pay attention to things like whether it's a zip-up, button-up, or pull-on style; whether you like the color (a darker rinse can have a slimming effect, but lighter rinses look more “classic”); the location of the pockets and seams and whether they’ll dig into your body; and other design features that are important to you.
- Capacity for Tailoring: Make sure that the pants won’t look strange if you get them altered — pants that have ripped knees that hit too low on your body, for example, or denim with tons of patches that would be difficult to crop. If you love the pants but know that they’re just a little too long on you, take the extra step to think about how they might look tailored.
Your Questions, Answered
What is the best length for petite jeans?
Really, the question is: what do you want your pants to do? Do you want the illusion of height? (In this case, your length should be longer.) Do you like a cropped style best? (Look for the shortest inseam!) Becker explains that her inseam changes depending on the context: “For a pair of slimmer or straight-leg jeans, you’ll want to grab a pair of denim that hits right above your ankle bone — I recommend pairing these with flats or sneakers for a daytime look. When I’m styling denim for nighttime, especially if it’s paired with a heel, I look for a longer inseam that grazes the floor when I pop on a pair of heels — this creates the illusion of a longer leg — and a wide or straight leg cut.”
Your best length is dependent on a few factors that are unique to you. Are you long-waisted, short-waisted, or neither? (Is your torso longer or shorter than your legs, in other words?) I happen to be long-waisted (an extremely long torso, in my case), which means I like my pants to fall at my ankle bone or longer to make my short legs look longer. Additionally, you'll want to know your hip and waist measurements. “As body sizes increase, the proportions will vary greatly, and so will the fit from retailer to retailer. When in doubt, go with the larger size and become BFFs with a tailor," Voos says.
Are high-waisted jeans flattering to petite figures?
They absolutely can be! Again it really depends on proportions more than anything else. Do you have a short torso that you want to make look longer? High-waisted jeans aren't the best option for you — opt for something mid- or low-rise instead. High-waisted jeans make your lower half look longer, so pairing a high-waisted pair of jeans with a longer inseam will give you the illusion of height, if that’s what you want.
Why can’t I just buy a pair of non-petite jeans?
You can, if you want! But just note that they may not fit exactly right when they arrive, meaning they could need some tailoring. I happen to love buying non-petite jeans — but, I like my pants to “pool. (This is the “puddle jeans” effect, where the pants are so long that they bunch up at the bottom), so I have my tailor hem conservatively. It’s better to have the hem be just a tiny bit too long than too short. The point is, speak to someone who knows how tailoring works, and when in doubt, show them the pants you’re thinking of buying to get their expert opinion.
Why Shop With Us
Katherine J. Igoe is a writer covering fashion trends and products. Katherine specializes in how to optimize and streamline your wardrobe, choosing fewer (and ethically sourced) items of better quality to make your life better. For this story, she compiled insights from our in-house testers, surveyed 12 short people and determined what brands they like best, read dozens of online reviews, and rounded up our top picks. She also spoke with the experts below:
- Naina Singla is a fashion stylist, style expert, and on-air commentator.
- Gillian McHattie is a styling team manager at Stitch Fix.
- Victoria Voos is a plus-size fashion blogger and body positivity advocate.
- Ramon Martin is Universal Standard’s chief design officer.
- Kendall Becker is a fashion direction consultant, freelance writer, and podcast host.
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