Jean types, brands, and styling tips for petites.
Calling all petite women…have we got jeans for YOU. Because nothing should come between you and your next perfect pair, especially height.
Our team has done the research and crowdsourced from experts in order to put together this one-stop-shop featuring the best jeans for petite women.
Important caveat: style is SO personal, and the size chart? Wildly inconsistent. This is our way of saying that what works for someone else may not work for you (which, by the way, is the reason we created Revelle in the first place). So yes, we’re providing recommendations, but they’re just that: recommendations. If you love a style that we suggest petite gals stay away from, GREAT. All the more power to you. There are no rules with Revelle.
First things first...let's discuss what types of jeans are best suited for petite women
There are a whole lot of jean types out there: bootcut, mom jeans, boyfriend, flared, skinny, straight leg…the list goes on and on (and on). If you missed it, we published a full run-down of the seven most popular, but TL;DR…these are the ones that are best suited for petites:
Anything high-waisted/high rise
If you’re on team long-waist-short-legs, listen up. Jeans with a high waistline (i.e. above your belly button) will work their magic to create the illusion of longer legs — if that’s something you’re looking for. As a reminder, mid-rise jeans rest somewhere between the belly button and hips while low-rise rest along the hip bones.
Slim fit/bootcut jeans
Slim fit jeans are just a tad less tight than skinny jeans. Think of it this way: they won’t feel like a second skin hugging your body, but they’ll still be form-fitting around your legs and hips (except for a narrow ankle opening). They earned the name “bootcut” when cowboys (circa 1850ish) needed pants that’d allow them to ride horses with enough calf space to fit their boots. The perfect mix of function and fashion.
Skinny jeans
You can’t go wrong with a classic pair of skinny jeans, which pair just as well with oversized sweaters as fitted tops as raggedy T-shirts.
Straight leg jeans
Straight leg jeans are a close cousin to everyone’s favorite skinny jeans. The main difference? The width of the hem. As you’d guess from the name, straight leg jeans don’t taper inward at the ankles. Instead, the hem remains straight from hip to ankle for a comfortable, vintage-esque silhouette with more breathing room that’s perfect for all petite shapes — whether you want to create the illusion of length via narrower hips or not.
Boyfriend jeans
Because boyfriend jeans are loose-fitted and range in their degree of “bagginess,” they’re perfect for any and all body shapes and come in a range of petite sizes.
(Slight) flare jeans
When it comes to flared jeans (aka bell bottoms) and wide leg jeans, we recommend a slight flare. Otherwise, the amount of material may overwhelm. You don’t want to get swallowed up!
12 best jeans for petite women
Inc Petite Skinny Tummy-Control Jeans, Created for Macy’s
NYDJ Petite Ami Skinny Tummy-Control Jeans
Style & Co Petite Curvy-Fit Skinny Jeans, Created for Macy’s
Levi’s Women’s 710 Super Skinny Jeans
Levi’s 311 Shaping Skinny Ankle Jeans
Petite High-Rise Skinny Jeans in Lunar Wash
LOFT Petite Boyfriend Jeans In Vintage Dark Wash
ASOS River Island Petite Mom Jeans In BLack
ASOS Petite High-Rise 70’s Kick Flare Jeans In Washed Black
Madewell Petite Perfect Vintage Ankle Jean in Dennison Wash
NYDJ Petite Marilyn Straight Leg Jeans
Inc Petite Bootcut Tummy-Control Jeans, Created for Macy’s
Styling tips
It goes without saying that not all women who identify as petite are looking for the same things out of a pair of jeans. That being said, if (key word right there) the illusion of length is something you ARE looking for, here are some helpful tips to help you find your perfect fit:
- When it comes to hemming on petite jeans, go ankle-length (or longer).
- Resist the urge to cuff your jeans or bunch up the hem at or above the ankle — that’ll work against you length-wise.
- Be careful with denim brands and retailers with ornate embellishments — with an exception for vertical stripes since those create an illusion of length.
Any jeans you LOVE that we haven’t mentioned above? Maybe a closet staple pair of perfectly stretchy high-waist black jeans? Or crop jeans that you can’t get enough of? Or…dare we say it…jeggings?! Comment below to let us know!
Revelle is on a mission to make women feel beautiful in their bodies every day by helping them find clothes that actually FIT, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that the recommended items are based on availability as of the date the article was published. You can always get personalized recommendations by joining our community. Also, if you do purchase something by clicking on a link, we may receive a small commission.
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