Curvy fit, petite, tummy control, high-waisted, mid-rise, distressed, & light wash.
Behold the little black dress of the jean world. The never-goes-out-of-style cut that pairs just as well with oversized sweaters as fitted tops as raggedy T-shirts: the skinny jean.
This slim cut will hug your body from hips to thighs to knees to calves to ankles. It’s the most snug of all the jeans out there, which means it’s often made with material that has some stretch to it (think spandex or elastane).
And to address the elephant in the room, NO…skinny jeans are not dead, despite what TikTok may be telling you. ICYMI, there’s a debate going on between millennials and Gen Zers on the social platform with the younger generation mocking the 2000s-era style, skinny jeans included. In fact, since January, there have been 274,000 videos tagged “no skinny jeans” and 8.3 million millennial vs Gen Z videos. Because apparently, baggier bootcut and straight leg jeans are what’s “in” now.
Call us “old,” but we’re not tossing out our skinny jeans any time soon. In fact, we’re celebrating them by rounding up our favorites by category (think curvy, petite, high rise, distressed, etc, etc).
Best skinny jeans for curvy women
There is NOTHING fun about buying and returning and buying and returning over and over (and over) again until you find that perfect pair of jeans. And yet, for us curvy women, that — more often than not — is what we end up doing. And it all boils down to the wild inconsistencies in sizing. For some brands, we’re plus-size. For others, we’re “curvy.” Some jeans don’t leave nearly enough room for our athletic calves, and others leave far too much. Some claim to be “stretch jeans” but are made with fabric that, let us tell you, is anything BUT stretchy. While others are borderline leggings. Sound familiar? SAME.
Below, our hand-picked selection of top jeans for curvy women.
Made with a stretch blend of cotton, rayon, polyester, and spandex, these high-rise black jeans from Dollhouse will beautifully hug your curves. Front pockets are decorative, back are patch.
Levi’s crafts these curvy, high-rise jeans with a unique sculpting blend of Lycra cotton and hyper-stretch material.
We don’t know about you, but we love ourselves a rolled cuff — it’s the perfect accompaniment to your tried-and-true Converse or Keds.
When it comes to supportive stretch, it doesn’t get much better than these rugged camo skinnies. They’re made with a comfort waistband and ultra-soft fabric, so if you never wanted to take them off, well, we’d understand.
Who’s ready to go big with a bold leopard print? These have an elasticized waist, which makes them that much easier to pull on. Plus, they’re far more likely to remain in place and move with you all day long.
Best skinny jeans for petite women
Calling all petite women…have we got jeans for YOU. Because nothing should come between you and your next perfect pair, especially height.
These mid-rise skinnies with a 28” inseam are designed for 5’4” and under frames.
Also for 5’4” and under frames (except with a 27” inseam), this classic from NYDJ has the added bonus of Lift Tuck® Technology for extra shaping and sculpting. If you’re in between sizes, we recommend ordering one size down.
Fun fact: these slim fit jeans are specially dyed to stay dark for a loooooooooong time (although ICYMI, you shouldn’t *actually* be washing jeans as frequently as you think).
Best tummy-control skinny jeans
Before we dive into the jeans, let’s address the elephant in the room…everyone (and we mean, everyone) has a tummy…which is so, 100% normal and how it should be. Don’t be fooled by sly camera angles or filters! And can we stop calling it a “muffin top” and instead focus on all the things our healthy, curvy bodies — tummies and all — allow us to do? Next time you find yourself doubting, judging, or criticizing yourself, remember that your body is for LIVING, not for lookin’ at.
All of this is to say that nobody needs tummy-control jeans…at all. But if this slimming cut—which is designed with built-in waistline panels for a smoother silhouette—will help you feel more confident and beautiful in your body, then we’re all for it.
If you combine the sleek look of jeans with the pull-on, stretch comfort of leggings, this is what you get. Mind you, these aren’t jeggings per se, but they do have a pull-on style with a high-rise tummy-toner design that we L.O.V.E. In addition to the two faux front pockets, you’ve got two (real!) back pockets as well.
Medium-hued, triple-stitch, tummy control PERFECTION.
Best high-waisted skinny jeans
Looking for even more high-rise options that stretch up to your ribcage? We’ve got you covered, babe.
With a contoured waistband and advanced stretch material, these Good American jeans are the queen of high rise.
Why go high rise when you can go EXTREME high rise? Thank you, Hudson, for giving us this pair of over-achieving jeans.
J Brand has dubbed these jeans “polished but cool,” which sounds about right, don’t ya think? They come in white, black, and two shades of blue — all with an ultra high rise of 11.25”.
These high-rise jeans are cropped, meaning they cut off well above the ankles. They’re also slightly faded for that enviable, lived-in look.
Best mid-rise skinny jeans
Sometimes, you want to switch things up with a mid-rise pair of jeans that rests somewhere between the belly button and the hips. We totally get it, and we’ve got some fab recommendations for you.
Everlane uses fabric with a high elasticity rate, which means you get all the style of a skinny fit but with a touch more comfort. These are just shy of ankle length.
Rubberband jeans go the extra mile in the sustainability department with jeans made from organic cotton and REPREVE recycled polyester. These right here are a solid, mid-rise option.
Dress ‘em up, dress ‘em down, dress ‘em…somewhere in between. These Guess mid-rise jeans can do it all.
Best distressed skinny jeans
Channel your out-on-the-town, edgy, street-style side with these distressed jeans.
The distressed details here are subtle — just a slight rip at the knee along with raw hems.
When you combine shredded knees with faded denim, the result is a distressed look that adds an extra oomph to this skinny-leg silhouette.
Best light-wash skinny jeans
Don’t want another dark wash pair but also not going for white jeans? Meet somewhere in the middle with a lighter wash.
Opt for “Ontario Summer” for the lightest wash available — it’ll pair perfectly with a white T-shirt or chambray.
Cropped design, frayed finish, AND a pairs-with-everything light blue color? Count. Us. In.
These are on the super skinny, extra snug side. They graze the ankle and come with back patch pockets.
Stocked up on skinnies and looking to switch things up? Check out our roundup of the best comfy, relaxed fit mom jeans. And if baggy boyfriend jeans are more your thing — or maybe bootcut jeans? — we’ve got you covered.
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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