What Are The Best Jeans For Petite Women?
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Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers
Petite Jeans are truly difficult to shop for. Just when you've found a pair with the right rise, shade, and waist-to-hip ratio, you realize you need to trim the length a half-foot. Or perhaps the fit is perfect, but the style swamps you. "Fashion keeps moving, and so do our preferences," says Lwany Calderon, who runs a fashion newsletter for petite women. "These days, it's all about low-rise jeans with a looser fit, and sometimes even a bit of fabric bunching at the ankle. While this might not seem like the best for us petites, I say we roll with the changes." While your best bet is to shop by inseam length, that's not possible with all retailers. "Shopping for petite and plus-size jeans can still be quite a task, but I hope we will keep seeing more brands allowing shoppers to select an inseam size," says Natalie Craig, a petite plus-size content creator and blogger.
To help you navigate the best petite offerings in 2023, we asked stylists, fashion editors, a denim expert, plus 12 more stylish women — artists, content creators, models and bloggers, all five-foot-three or shorter — about the denim that fits them just right. You'll notice that while there are plenty of cropped and short options here, there are also some that aren't petite-specific, but the women we spoke to say they still fit petite frames. To make your search even easier, we sorted them according to fit and style for easy reference — straight-leg, skinny, flare and bootcut, wide-leg, distressed, and plus-size.
If you're shopping for petite jeans online, a straight leg is worth considering. For one, it's more often possible to filter by inseam sizes with this cut. Four of the petite people we spoke to like this pair from TikTok-favored brand Agolde. Amy Serrano, who's a content creator, "adores this pair" and says the brand "makes those jeans that just ooze 'cool girl'!" She adds that the high-waisted, straight-leg style "definitely levels up my fits even if I'm just pairing them with a T-shirt." While they're meant to be cropped, Serrano, who's five feet, says that they "hit right at my ankle and are the perfect length for a full-length jean." Jessica Turk, another petite content creator, is equally obsessed, calling them her "dream pair of straight jeans," and Jenny Wang, five-foot-two founder of the shop Petite Studio NYC loves that the fit isn't a traditional slim jeans look, "but has some room at the thigh area, makes the jeans more modern." She also loves that they "come in a ton of colors and washes, which offers a lot of variety."
Charlotte Bickley, who's five-foot-three and Daily Front Row Editor-at-Large and fashion content creator is also a fan of Agolde, but opted for the Cooper style, as she's planning to lean into the cargo pant trend this fall.
We've featured the Levi's Wedgie many times (numerous Strategist editors own them). Calderon says it's a style she just keeps going back to, adding: "Since I'm five-two, I went for the 28-inch inseam to get that modern ankle-covering look I'm into." Turk is also a fan, particularly because they're made from 99 percent cotton. "They are super-soft, but are non-stretch, so they really hold their shape," she says. Their 26-inch inseam is the "perfect length" for her, and she reckons they're a great option for anyone nervous to step out of their comfort zone.
For a pair of Levi's with an even higher waist, Serrano recommends the Ribcage Straight Ankle jeans. "This pair gives me legs for days because of the ultrahigh waist. It hugs what it needs to hug and the rest of the leg is a nice relaxed straight fit," she says. Serrano opts for darker washes because they "truly feel versatile to dress up or down."
These Abercrombie ultra-high-rise jeans came recommended by two of the people we spoke to. "They're perfect for my curvy body and are available in a short length and even extra-short," says content creator Lizbeth Hernandez. The style is also one of Serrano's favorites, and she also highlights the convenient extra-short inseam option. She likes that the fit "hugs every part of my butt perfectly" and notes that they're so comfortable, she wore them while doing "a round of high kicks with the Radio City Rockettes."
Andrea Ventura, petite model coach and founder of Standing Tall podcast prefers the lower waisted relaxed fit, explaining that "they're long enough that you get the cool '90s-girl vibes, but not too long that they will get dirty touching the floor." And, where once these styles were limited in stock, you can now browse dozens of colourways from classic denim washes to black, grey, white and brown — even oaty beige, light pink, and blue pinstripes.
$89 at Abercrombie and Fitch
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Rain Delisle — owner of Indigo Proof, a denim restoration shop in Portland — rates Imogene and Willie jeans as a solid choice for petite women, because the waistbands are on the tighter side. She says this works well for super-high-rise cuts, "because it really holds the jeans up." I+W are famous, according to Delisle, for "that nip in the waist, with a straight or wider leg."
Delisle is particularly fond of the Sophie Weston style, in a true vintage wash. "They also have perfected large back pockets that look amazing on," she adds, enthusing that you can even fit a wallet or phone in them. She also owns (and recommends) the Elizabeths, with a caveat that she refers to them as her 'standing jeans', as that "they can get a little on the tight side when sitting and eating."
$255 at Imogene + Willie
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Wide-leg jeans are a style some shorter people avoid. But some of the women we spoke to felt the right wide-leg cut makes them look taller. If you're keen to try this out for yourself, Turk recommends going for a super-high-waisted wide-leg jean, because "the waistline elongates your legs and makes you look taller," she explains. "The bottom of the pants adds some width to my petite frame and creates an expanding illusion." Turk's favorite pair from H&M have long been sold out (with little hope of restock) but as long as you opt for something tight and high-waisted on the top, that seamlessly transitions to a wider leg on the bottom — like these high-rise wide-leg jeans, also from H&M — you should see the same effect.
Another person firmly in camp wide-leg is Kristian Spraggins, a curly-hair content creator who's five-foot-three. She likes Zara for jeans, and styles a pair like these with heels for a more put-together look. She notes that since "they make you look taller than you are, you don't really have to wear heels all the time — you could wear sneakers and still look really tall."
If you're worried about the last pair being too long, petite and curvy style blogger Alyssa Marie recommends going for a cropped pair of wide-leg jeans, for example, Zara's high-waisted, cropped Z1975s.
Taking things a step further, artist, writer and five-foot-two denim devotee Jo Rosenthal mostly looks for a baggy, straight leg cut with a low waist. She says she's particularly in love with RE/DONE and Quality Mending's offerings, adding "I'm pretty sure almost all my jeans are from one of those two places." Though once she'd opt for petite cuts, these days, she prefers to shop for regular-fit jeans and improvise. "I just cut them with scissors or wear them and let them drag on the floor because — who cares?" she says. RE/DONE's Loose Long jeans are perfect for that anarchic attitude, particularly because they're designed to puddle at the hem anyway.
Ventura is also a big fan of this Levi's throwback style. "They are the perfect "baggy" length — so not too long they touch the floor but long enough that you get that cool '90s vibe." She also comments that they sit about an inch below her belly button, making them "incredibly comfortable to wear." She chooses them for everything from model castings to hanging out with her family, styling with "a monochrome crop top or bodysuit, casual sneakers, and gold jewelry."
When styling petite clients, Ann Caruso — fashion stylist, Vogue and Harper's Bazaar alum, and content creator — suggests steering clear of big pockets, bagginess, or other details if the goal is to create length. Instead, she advises that pairing a slight flare with a high waist can "elongate the figure making you seem longer and taller than you really are." She recently bought these Veronica Beard high-rise flares for a petite client, and reports that the fit worked so well that "she looked like she was all legs!" She advises to pair them with a comfy heel "and you're good to go."
$298 at Veronica Beard
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For a subtle flare, Wang likes Mother's Insider jean. She says this is her "all-time favorite" pair. The length is more of a full-length flare on her five-foot-two frame, rather than cropped. She likes the jean's soft and stretchy material but notes that it is thicker. "It's probably too hot for summertime, but great for spring, fall, or winter," she says.
[Editor's note: This specific pair of jeans is sold out, but the frayed-hem version is in stock for $205.]
Bickley trusts L'Agence, AGOLDE and SLVRLAKE above all other brands when it comes to denim shopping. "I know when I order them the length and fit is great, and I don't even need to go to a tailor," she explains. Her all-time favorite are these ever-so-slightly flared, cropped jeans, which give the illusion of elongated legs through an absentee waistband. She "adores" them and appreciates that she can wear them in the daytime with ballet flats and a white tee, or dress them up with pumps and a blazer.
Next on Bickley's list are these L'Agence jeans, which come with a stylish raw hem in a subtle straight leg-meets-bootcut shape. She loves that these would hold up in a '70s-style outfit, adding "all you'll need is a good pair of brown mid-heel boots and a good baby-doll top with cute hoops." L'Agence offers complimentary tailoring when you order from their site via Hemster, meaning you can get the exact fit you're looking for, at no extra cost.
Few people we spoke to currently favor skinny jeans — perhaps a symptom of the style's waning appeal. But Natalie Craig, a petite-plus influencer, recommends Universal Standard and comments that the brand has "incredible" options for petite and plus-size people. "Its plus-size and petite jeans are still some of the most comfortable and curve-loving jeans I have ever worn," she adds. For skinny jeans, she likes the Seine High Rise in a distressed blue wash. You can pick from an impressive size range, with petite, regular or tall inseams in size 00 to 40. Their stretchiness is designed with resilience in mind and they've got actual, deep pockets (yes, even in the front) that are big enough to fit your phone in. Just make sure to size down for this style to get a close-fitting skinny effect that'll last you wash after wash.
$98 at Universal Standard
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According to Delisle, if your priority is jeans that will stand the test of time, don't opt for cuts that rely heavily on stretchy fabrics, even for skinny jeans. "The more the cut relies on stretch potential, the faster the jeans will break down and stretch out completely," she explains. So, she says to go for minimum 98 percent cotton if you can, and remember that seam details and patterning go a long way for a great fit that doesn't stretch out within the first day of wear.
She loves York-based brand Judi Rosen for this reason, who she says is making "some of the best women's jeans today." She loves many of the label's cuts, but is particularly into the skinny-straight GBU "with seams that hug the body beautifully." She loves the "quality stretch denim that'll give you the 'Judi Butt,'" the quirky seam details, and the back pocket shape. "100 percent my next denim purchase for fall," she confirms.
Lastly, Delisle suggests these, by Everlane for "great, basic no-frills jeans — and possibly the only jean you won't need to get hemmed!" Be prepared, these are true skinny jeans in the 2003 sense of the word (the type that cling to the ankle even if you're petite). They come in both 26 ¾ and 28 ¾ inseams, and are available in a curvy fit. "The Cheeky is probably their most popular style, and that is great on petites," she adds.
Hernandez loves these "super soft and comfy" relaxed fit jeans, created by five-foot-three founder of Djerf Avenue, Matilda Djerf. A washed-out blue shade with vintage-effect creases and dark yellow seams, Hernandez considers them to be the perfect comfy baggy jean "that actually fits my petite frame great." She also likes that they're "sustainably and consciously made", plus they're 100 percent cotton. The style has been reworked since it first launched to include a longer crotch.
As a denim tailor, Deslile usually prefers a more wear-and-tear approach to denim, but appreciates these petite, 100 percent cotton women's boyfriend-cut jeans by Chimala, with cropped lengths — perfect for petites — and "a very vintage slouchy feel." The tapered cut comes with a higher level of distressing and fade on the thighs, if that's your vibe.
"It can be so hard to find denim that is both plus size and petite," explains Tinsaye Berhanu, a five-foot-two petite-plus fashion influencer. But she says can often rely on Talbots, "which has a few great options including a classic straight cut that I really like." They're available with four different inseam lengths, and because of the 28.5-inch inseam on the petite fit, she says they're the perfect go-to pair of jeans for fall.
Craig often feels she's missing out on certain trends as someone shopping for petite-plus options. "However, Lane Bryant always has the latest styles and classic staples that fit me perfectly," she enthuses "from overalls to wide-leg jeans and every other style in between." She loves these statement paneled jeans, which come in regular, petite, short, and long inseams, from size 12 to 38/40, and styles them with a simple crop top with jeans and a pair of sneakers.
Another go-to for Craig, thanks to its inclusive sizing, is Good American. "I can always count on finding a variety of styles, and feel comfortable recommending them to women who ask me where I shop," she explains. These dropped-crotch, distressed '90s jeans are available in sizes 00-28 Plus and are specifically designed for those who are five-foot-four and under. Don't worry about that 30 inch inseam — it's intentional, to create a small amount of bagginess at the angle. But if they're feeling a little too long, they're narrow enough at the hem to cuff once without too much fabric overwhelm.
$155 at Good American
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Doncaster Ladies Day: 10 Photos Of The Best-dressed Women Donning Fascinators And Dresses At St Leger Festival
Ladies Day at the Betfred St Leger Festival was a pinnacle of style.
Ladies Day is always the pinnacle of style at Doncaster Racecourse, and this year was no different with Ladies Day opening the Betfred St Leger Festival for the first time.
Tying into the theme of the event - 'Made in Doncaster' - a local designer, Estelle Pearce, created a style guide to ensure everyone was dressed to the nines.
For 2023, racegoers were encouraged to embrace the new style guide, which outlined five top tips to create a stunning Ladies Day look with the hope of one lucky attendee standing out of the crowd to win the Style Awards, and a £1,000 cash prize - won by Michelle Saunders, from Rotherham.
Ladies Day showcase including Belles Captain Jess Tugby-Andrew, Designer Estelle Pearce, and Style Award winner Michelle Saunders. Photo courtesy of Andrew Kelly Photographer
Michelle, who has been a part of Ladies Day for the past 13 years, said: "I can't believe it; it's such a shock. All my thanks to Carol Ann, who runs the boutique in Wickersley. I was a bit hesitant on the outfit as I thought I was too short for a jumpsuit but when I tried it on, it was so comfortable. I just wanted a bright, cheerful outfit for the day. I can't believe I've won.
"I'm not sure what to spend the £1,000 cash prize on. I really didn't expect to win but I'll probably put it towards a really nice Christmas."
The guests of honour, the Doncaster Belles modelled a range of outfits plucked straight from the style guide, including Fearne McCormack in Floral Fantasy, and Freya Rattenbury in Dopamine Brights.
Captain Jessica Tugby-Andrew wore the incredible one-of-a-kind hat creation commissioned by the racecourse and brought to life by designer Estelle Pearce and Doncaster-based hat Milliner Clare Barker from 'Love the Hattitude'.
Style Award winner Michelle Saunders. Photo courtesy of Andrew Kelly Photographer
Rachel Harwood, executive director of Doncaster Racecourse, said: "I'm always blown away by the amazing outfits on show at Ladies Day, as I am across the whole of the Betfred St Leger Festival and this year's no different.
"What a way to kick off the four-days. We've seen some fantastic action on the track and some incredible outfits with their own unique take on the style guide off the track. The atmosphere has been so enjoyable for everyone involved, and I can't wait for the rest of the Betfred St Leger Festival to continue."
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Oversized Bows Style Guide showcase. Photo courtesy of Andrew Kelly Photographer
Corset Dress Style Guide showcase. Photo courtesy of Andrew Kelly Photographer
'Show your stripes' Style Guide showcase. Photo courtesy of Andrew Kelly Photographer
Dopamine Brights Style Guide showcase. Photo courtesy of Andrew Kelly Photographer
Floral Fantasy Style Guide showcase. Photo courtesy of Andrew Kelly Photographer
Donny Belles with captain Jess Tugby-Andrew. Photo courtesy of Andrew Kelly Photographer
Donny Belles arrive at Doncaster Racecourse. Photo courtesy of Andrew Kelly Photographer
Ladies Day showcase including Belles Captain Jess Tugby-Andrew, Designer Estelle Pearce, and Style Award winner Michelle Saunders. Photo courtesy of Andrew Kelly Photographer
'They're Meaningless': Why Women's Clothing Sizes Don't Measure Up
In my wardrobe, I have a long Cos dress with a label that reads XS. A similar style from Doen is labelled M – theoretically a whole two sizes up, while a Topshop dress that always feels a little on the large side is labelled a 6. Weird. A vintage mini that I can't get on without undoing the zip is a 14, and two Asos denim jumpsuits are an 8 and a 10 respectively – and don't even get me started on jeans. Despite this, all these clothes fit just fine.
The size and shape of my body has remained more or less the same for years – it's the ability to know whether or not a purchase will fit that has fluctuated. Ask any woman, and they'll tell you that finding the perfect T-shirt in, say, a size 10 from one brand doesn't mean you'll fit size 10 T-shirts everywhere. You may not even fit other size 10 T-shirts from the same shop. What's behind this sizing debacle?
In the UK, more than a fifth of all clothes bought online are sent back. According to the British Fashion Council, incorrect sizing or fit was the top reason for returns (93%). Whenever I return a purchase, retailers want to know why. Was an incorrect item received? Was it damaged? Did I order more than one size? Or did the size ordered not fit? Usually, for me, it's the latter.
"I think it would be better to get rid of sizes 10, 12, 14, 16 – they're meaningless," says Simeon Gill, senior lecturer in fashion technology at the University of Manchester. "Let's move into a bust, waist, hip system – that's essentially what online retail is doing. It's just that it's also retained this outmoded idea of 10, 12, 14, 16."
The move is, he says, born of retailers' desire to reduce returns. "In the 1990s, you'd buy a garment and if it didn't fit you'd take it back and they might say: 'You should have tried it on; you can only have a credit note.'" When buying online, there's no way to know if a garment will fit, so you're eligible for a refund. There's been a flip in who's responsible – and a move towards informing the consumer."
Although people have, generally, got bigger over the past 50 years, sizes have become smaller
But how many of us know our vital statistics? In the UK, retailers decide independently what constitutes a given clothes size, with the exception of cup sizes for bras. A "fit model" acts as a living mannequin during the design process, and clothing patterns are then graded up and down. But fit models are chosen largely on preference, not industry-wide standards. If a brand is aiming to appeal to teens, for example, they're more likely to choose a teenage fit model.
"Brands decide on their target market, and size products according to what will make customers happy," says Shingo Tsukamoto, president of sizing technology specialist Makip. This is why a size 8 at Urban Outfitters may fit differently to a size 8 at Dorothy Perkins.
"I once worked with a company where the female fit model was 21 and athletic and the male fit model was 42 and going to seed," says Gill. "So if a father and daughter had wanted to shop there, great! But a mother and son would have had an issue." There can also be sizing discrepancies between high street and designer: a US study found more expensive women's trousers run larger than those of cheaper brands that were labelled the same size.
The past decade has also seen the proliferation of genderless clothing. In July, Vogue suggested this could be "creating collections that are gender-neutral by design but not by fit or size". Vague sizing seems to be the preference, with retailers such as Uniqlo and Asos opting for the S, M and L labelling more commonly found in menswear.
There's also the issue of "vanity sizing": clothes labelled more generously based on the assumption that many of us wouldn't mind dropping a size or two. This is responsible for sizes changing over time, which makes it more difficult to shop for vintage or secondhand. So although people have, generally, got bigger over the past 50 years, size numbers have got smaller: data from the Washington Post in 2015 found a US size 8 dress (a UK 12) to be nearly the equivalent of a US 16 (UK 20) in 1958.
Clothes sizing also differs internationally, which is an added complication given how many garments are shipped around the world. Clothes may also come up bigger or smaller depending on where they are predominantly sold. "A global brand will generally have different sizes according to its target region," says Tsukamoto. "The US and Europe are typically one size larger than Asia."
Never knowing your size can be time-consuming and disheartening. TikTokers and Instagrammers have taken to calling out brands for their sizing discrepancies and the disappointment it can cause (Zara often appears to be in the line of fire).
"It serves to undermine an already messed-with sense of our own bodies," says psychotherapist Susie Orbach, who has found her clothes size can vary from a 2 to a 12. "If we were comfortable in our bodies, it would just be an inconvenience, but since the fashion industry helps breed body insecurity, we can understand this as part of the harm."
Heather Radke, author of Butts: A Backstory, agrees: "Many of us feel we should fit ourselves into clothes, rather than having the clothes fit us. Almost everyone I've spoken to said they end up feeling sort of 'wrong-bodied'."
The solution? Some brands are going for "one size fits most". Swimwear specialist Hunza G claims anyone from a UK size 6 to 16 can wear its items. "It removes insecurity and anxiety," says chief executive Beverly Hill. "You can wear our product through every stage in your life," she adds, "pre-, during and post-pregnancy, through any kind of weight fluctuation."
This is good news for anyone hoping to keep clothes for years. The brand says its returns rate is less than half the industry standard. "Most returns are a result of unsuitable style or colour," says Hill.
This, of course, is easier with the stretchy fabrics commonly found in sportswear and swimwear. Some brands, such as Brandy Melville, have received criticism for their one-size-only policy – especially when the size in question is relatively small and in less forgiving styles and fabrics.
One solution is universal sizing: an industry standard to which all brands would have to conform. "That could be disastrous," says Gill. "Even if you had two people ostensibly the same size, the shape and distribution of their body might differ. If sizing was standardised, what would the standard be?"
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Tsukamoto agrees: "Such a system could enhance efficiency in manufacturing, but it would need to navigate the complexities of cultural and regional variations in body types and preferences."
In the meantime, "digital fitting rooms" such as Virtusize, True Fit and Makip's Unisize, attempt to lessen the rate of returns. These can be part of the brand's website – as at Boden – or used by customers independently. Typically, users input their height and weight, and choose a body shape (from illustrations) or submit photographs to help them find the right size.
Of course, it's not foolproof. "Someone recently suggested that it would be good if online retailers just said 'This won't fit you'," says Gill, "but I don't think the industry would want to lose sales."
There is another option: going bespoke. Or getting off-the-peg clothes adjusted by a local tailor. "Not only do your clothes fit properly but it helps them look more elevated," says Sarah Ellis, co-founder of fashion platform We Are Twinset, who spends up to £200 a year on alterations at a local tailor whether it's adjusting a high street jumpsuit or shortening a pair of jeans. She says it saves money in the long term as it stops her buying so many new clothes: "If something fits you well, no matter where it's from, you're naturally drawn to rewearing it rather than searching for something else." It also means she can adapt old clothes if she wants to switch things up: "Recently I had a Mango vest I bought a few years ago made shorter – I loved it tucked in but it was too long in the body. Now I know I'll keep it for a long time as it finally suits my shape."
The final option, going totally bespoke, would mean buying far fewer clothes, but, "if you had five pieces of clothing tailored to your body, they would all fit", says Radke. "So the answer may be something none of us is totally willing to do, which is to change our relationship with clothes and how many we have."
Take your clothes shopping"Get a garment you already own that fits well, and take it with you," advises fashion technology expert Simeon Gill. "Just hold it up against the garment that you're looking to buy, which will give you a reasonably good idea of whether it's going to work."
Know your measurementsKnowing these precisely, rather than just your vague size, can be a big help. "I always have a tape measure in my bag," says Guardian menswear editor Helen Seamons.
"For a T-shirt, lay it flat, measure underarm to underarm, and the middle of the neck at the back to the hem.
"If you're buying from a resale site, like Depop or Vinted, ask the seller to send you these measurements – but remember that some fabrics stretch more than others." Bust, waist, hip and inseam measurements are also handy.
Look for different 'fits'Increasingly, brands are offering a range of fits, as well as sizes – such as Topshop's "hourglass" range, which sits alongside its "petite", "tall" and "curve" collections.
"The brand Asket does jeans in two 'builds': straight and curvy," says Guardian styling editor Melanie Wilkinson, "and the latter is so much better for me."
If in doubt, size upIt's usually better to give yourself a little wriggle room. "Going for a slightly larger size is often a safer bet," says Seamons, particularly on high street clothes.
