Another season, another petite-friendly denim guide. My goal for the petite denim guide is to show you different styles, and different price points that may work for you! I’m 4’10” and haven’t hemmed any of these jeans. However, since we can be the same height and have different proportions I have measured the rise and inseam of each pair of jeans (these are my own measurements, not from the brand websites). The majority of petite jeans are only offered online which makes it hard to shop if you have no previous experience of the fit. If you don’t know your measurements, take a pair of jeans you already know fits you well and measure from the crotch seam to the top for the rise and then from the crotch seam to the bottom for the inseam.
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Petite-Friendly Fall + Winter Denim Guide 2022
Sizing Reference: I’m 4’10” and around 105lbs. I’m technically pear-shaped and my measurements are 32″, 24″, and 36″ as I noted above, none of the jeans have been hemmed or altered in any way.
This season there is an abundance of denim styles that are trending. So I have more variety to show you. However, this post is in no way saying you need a pair in each style. I show several options just to help people find the style they’re looking for. For some of the jeans (mostly the straight options) I made it a point to show each pair of with boots and flats (if the style allows) so you can get an idea of how they will wear through the season.
Straight Jeans
Starting with straight jeans which I think will be the most popular style of the season. Straight jeans step away from skinny jeans (although I still love those too) but they’re slim and still within most people’s comfort zone. It’s pretty easy to wear a pair of straight jeans with a flat shoe or heel, but boots are not always an easy combination for short legs. I find a slim boot that tucks under the jeans looks best on me. With that being said, if you still love your skinny jeans there’s no need to make an update to straight jeans if you don’t want to. I personally find skinny jeans to be a classic you will still see worn by many people – despite what social media says.
Straight jeans shoe options: boots that tuck under the jeans, boot option, boot option, waterproof boot option, sneakers, flats, loafers, heels
Target Straight Jeans
- Affordable Under $50
- A great length for boots and flats
- Rise: 9″ Inseam: 24″ (in short)
Target blessed us this year with an affordable petite-friendly denim option. They’re lightweight with a little bit of stretch. They are the most affordable option I have to share, but they do lose their shape some with wear. I’m wearing them in 00 short so I would consider them to be true to size overall.
Jeans 00 Short | Burgundy Sweater XS | White Sweater XXS | Flats | Boots | Bag
J. Crew Factory Essential Straight Jeans
- One of my most worn styles
- Comfortable and easy to wear dressed up and down
- Rise: 9.5″ Inseam: 23″-25″ (petite)
- Mid price range $60
- True to size
The fit of J.Crew Factory jeans is very similar to fit of J.Crew straight jeans – with a smaller price tag. Their jeans tend to be the shortest option in petite which is why I often wear them the most of all of my jeans. The shorter length makes them easy to wear with flats without looking shorter. However, as the weather cools down my top pick will change because the length of these jeans doesn’t look as great with boots. On me, they often show about 2 inches of ankle. In terms of fit, they’re true to size and will be snug in the waist with first wear and right after washing. They will quickly stretch (but not bag out) but become more comfortable.
Jeans Petite 24 (lighter wash) | Jeans Petite 24 (black) | Cardigan XXS
Abercrombie 90s’ High-Rise Jeans
- On-trend option
- Rigid, high rise – not the most comfortable
- Rise: 10.5″ Inseam 26″ (in extra short)
- True to size, snug fit at first but stretches with wear
- Mid price range $60-$90
I wanted to find a petite full-length straight option for those that are interested in trying this style. This pair from Abercrombie is very high rise and rigid. They are tight at first, but stretch with wear. They’re so tight at first I almost opted with saying to size up, but I tried the size up and they were just too big overall. I personally like these jeans the most with boots or heels. They’re mid-level on the price range when you catch a sale. They look great and have that pinched waist look, but they (along with all of my Abercrombie jeans) are some of the least comfortable jeans I own.
Jeans 24 Extra Short | Green Sweater XXS | Boots | Striped Shirt Petite XXS | Flats TTS
Madewell Perfect Vintage Straight
- One of my favorite styles to wear
- High-rise, but not uncomfortable and restricting
- Rise: 9.5″ Inseam 25″ (petite) only for the style I’m showing in the post, can vary by style
- High price range $100+
- Quality and lasting denim
Madewell jeans are another top pick for me, but their styles (and lengths) vary from pair to pair. So, I can only vouch for the exact styles I share on my blog. The Perfect Vintage Straight is a high-rise, but never feels constricting and uncomfortable. Their denim, in general, tends to hold its shape well through multiple wears. I often skip washing my jeans to make them last longer and retain the color and Madewell jeans are great for that. They are more expensive, but they have lasting power and will look great for years, so you don’t need to buy a new pair every season. This current fall pair is a little longer in length than some of my other pairs which looks great with boots. The inseam on this pair is around 25″.
Jeans Petite 24 | Striped Shirt Petite XXS | Flats TTS | Boots | Sweater XXS
Demi/Cropped Boot Jeans
Demi Boot jeans are slim from the hip to the knee and slightly flare at the bottom. I prefer slim versions of the demi boot style to wear with boots.
Demi/Cropped Boot jeans shoe options: boots that tuck under the jeans, boot option, boot option, waterproof boot option, sneakers, flats, loafers, heels
Madewell Demi Boot
- Rigid Denim, but one of the most comfortable pairs of jeans I own
- Works with both flats and boots
- High price range $100+
- Rise: 9.5″ Inseam: 24″ (petite)
I’ve liked Madewell Demi Boot jeans for a few years, but the updated versions are even better. The flare is a little slimmer, making these jeans slim from hip to knee with just a subtle flare at the bottom. They’re high-rise, rigid denim that softens with wear. I find these to be one of my most comfortable pairs of jeans and one that I wear very often.
Jeans Petite 24 | Striped Shirt Petite XXS | Flats TTS | Boots | White Top Petite XXS
Ann Taylor Boot Crop
- Polished style – great for wearing to work
- Longer length that looks great with boots and flats
- Stretchy and high-rise
- Rise: 10″ Inseam: 25.5″
- Mid Price Range (if you catch one of Ann Taylor’s frequent sales) $60-$90
These jeans are very similar to J.Crew Factory straight jeans in black, but they are slightly longer. If you know you’re going to be wearing boots a lot this winter and want a pair of jeans for that – these are a great choice. Sizing is true to size, they are stretchy and comfortable with a high-rise.
Jeans Petite 24/00 | White Sweater XXS | Loafer TTS (Soft Beige) | Bag | White Top Petite XXS | Blazer Petite 00 | Boots
Target Cropped Boot Jeans
- Affordable Under $30
- Rise: 8.5″ Inseam: 25″ (short)
- Slight stretch denim, stretches with wear
Another great target option is the cropped boot. This pair does have a slight flare at the bottom that is not easily seen in my post. For an affordable option this pair fits and wears well. I would consider them to be true to size, I wear them in 00 Short.
Jeans 00 Short | Flats TTS | Top XS
Boyfriend Jeans
I own one pair of boyfriend jeans and they’re a good one! Boyfriend jeans are comfortable and relaxed, great for casual wear.
Boyfriend jeans shoe options: boots that tuck under the jeans, boot option, waterproof boot option, sneakers, flats, loafers
J.Crew Factory Boyfriend Jeans
- Mid price range
- Comfortable mid-high rise
- Rise: 8″ Inseam: 24.5″ (petite)
- Stretches out with wear
If you’re looking for a great pair of casual everyday jeans, these are it! They’re low-mid rise and so comfortable. The sizing is true to size, but they do stretch and loosen considerably all over with wear, but they are a relaxed boyfriend fit. You can wear these with boots as well.
Jeans Petite 24 | Flats | Shirt XXS
Wide-Leg Jeans
Petites can definitely wear wide-leg jeans if they find the right fit. In all of the pairs I’ve tried, I’ve found that the styles that are high-rise and slim fitting up top look a little better than the all-over relaxed fit and low-rise styles.
Wide-leg jeans shoe options: boots that tuck under the jeans, boot option, boot option, waterproof boot option, sneakers, flats, loafers, heels (depending on length some flat options won’t work)
AG Alexxis Crop
- High price point $100+
- Can be worn with flats without hemming
- Rise: 10″ Inseam: 26″ (regular fit)
- Great fit, snug at first, but I would go with your true size
These jeans really border on just being a full-length straight, but they do have some volume in the legs which led me to put them in the wide-leg category. They’re meant to be cropped jeans, but on someone petite like me they’re full length. If you want a pair of wide-leg jeans you can wear with flats and sneakers, these are it! They have an amazing flattering fit up top and although they are a snug fit, they’re comfortable and will loosen with wear.
Jeans 24 | Shirt Petite 2 | Flats
Abercrombie Relaxed 90’s Jeans
- On-trend
- Mid price range $70-$90
- High-rise rigid, not the most comfortable
- Rise: 10.5″ Inseam 28″ (short)
- True to size, snug at the waist
Abercombie’s Relaxed 90’s jeans are wide-leg, but not crazy oversized. They fit well around the top which helps with keeping the jeans from being too overwhelming. I’m wearing them in short and need a heel or a heeled boot with them in this length. They also come in extra short, which may work better with flats but I haven’t personally tried it. I like the way the rise of Abercrombie jeans looks, but as I mentioned above I don’t find them to be very comfortable. They are true to size.
Jeans 24 Short | White Top Petite XXS | Boots
Ann Taylor Trouser Jeans
- Very high-rise and a little bit loose around my waist
- Rise: 11.5″ Inseam: 29″ (petite)
- Great trouser length that works with heels only on me
- Dark wash that can be dressed up and worn to work as well
- Mid price range when you catch a sale but without a sale, they are a high $100+ price point
Ann Taylor Trouser Jeans are polished and look great with a dressed-up outfit or even worn to work. They are very high-rise, hitting me probably an inch above my belly button. They fit me well overall in my true size, but I did have some extra fabric in the waist/rise area (probably because it’s so high). This pair comes with a belt that you can remove.
Jeans Petite 24/00 | Shirt Petite XXS | Heels | Belt
Flare + Bootcut Jeans
Of all of the trending full-length denim styles, flares and bootcut jeans are what I feel the most comfortable. It’s probably because I spent my teens and early 20s wearing them so it’s like revisiting an old friend. I prefer the way they look with a heel or heeled boot of some sort. I also prefer a slimmer flare so everything looks balanced. For what it’s worth, I think flare and bootcut jeans are the best for staying warm when it gets really cold out (aside from leggings) you can wear really warm tall socks under them and no one would know. Unlike straight or skinny jeans where ankles tend to pop out. If you live in an area with a lot of wet weather, Blondo makes great heeled boots that are also weatherproof.
Shop option for flare and bootcut jeans: heeled boots, or heels (of course flat shoes work as well if the length allows)
Madewell Perfect Vintage Flare Jeans
- Comfortable high-rise
- Rise: 10″ Inseam 29″ (petite)
- The length works with a heel or heeled boot in Petite on me, but not with flats
- True to size
- High price point $100+ but I will keep an eye out for sales
Madewell Perfect Vintage Flare Jeans are everything I love about Madewell jeans, but with a full-length flare. The flare at the bottom of these is a good size, but they do require a heeled boot. They are high-rise and rigid denim, but Madewell does something magical that still makes all of their jeans comfortable despite that rise. They are at a high price point, which you may not want to spend on something that doesn’t feel as classic. But Madewell does run sales on their denim from time and time and I try to share that in my Instagram story. They are true to size and I’m wearing them in Petite 24.
Jeans Petite 24 | Boots | Sweater XXS | Belt
J.Crew Full-Length Demi Boot Jeans
- High rise, but not as high as my Abercrombie or Madewell jeans
- Rise: 9″ Inseam 28″ (petite)
- High price point $100+
- Rigid, but comfortable denim
- The length works best on me with a heel or a heeled boot, but not with flats
- Slim bootcut
A slim bootcut is an easy balancing pair of jeans to wear. This pair in particular from J.Crew fits me well in my true size, 24 Petite. It is rigid denim, but like Madewell jeans I still find them to be wearable and comfortable (aka not cutting you in half when you sit down). The length works best with boots or heels just like the flare jeans above.
Jeans Petite 24 | White Sweater XXS | Boots
Skinny Jeans
Skinny jeans are a classic style that I think is still wearable and what a lot of people I talk to find the most comfortable to wear. Yes, these is some debate about them online as to whether or not they’re still “in” but I think style is about weaering what you feel good in and if you feel best in skinny jeans, wear them!
Shop Options for Skinny Jeans: boots you can tuck the jeans into, other boot option, flats, sneakers, chelsea boots, knee-high boots, loafers
Madewell Skinny Jeans
- Low comfortable rise
- Rise: 8″ Inseam 25″ (petite)
- Stretchy denim
- Dark non-distressed wash
- High price point $100+
Just like their straight jeans, Madewell’s jeans tend to be different lengths in skinny as well. I have some that are cropped and show a little ankle and then I have this pair that’s long and full-length. They are mid/low rise which is comfortable and works with untucked tops. The length works well with flats, sneakers, and boots that you would tuck the jeans into as opposed to boots that you would want to meet with the jeans. For example, these boots are a great style that you would tuck them into. Jeans that are shorter work best with boots that meet up to them if that makes sense.
Jeans Petite 24 | Flats TTS | Top XXS
J.Crew Factory Skinny
- Mid price range
- Comfortable classic style
- Stretchy denim
- Rise: 9″ Inseam 24″ (petite)
J.Crew Factory also has great skinny jeans. They are stretchy and true to size. I tend to wear this black pair to work most often.
Jeans Petite 24 | Flats | Sweater XS
If you’re wondering about brands I’ve tried that didn’t work well for me, I’ve also tried Express, Levi’s Mother, Old Navy, and Gap and didn’t have much luck (with the styles I tried). Other brands that sometimes work well for me are AE (their extra short length is great) and BR Factory.
I hope this guide helps you find a pair of jeans you love and that fit you right from the store!
-Brooke
