For most of my life, I just accepted that jeans were always a little too long for me. I cuffed, cut, and (sometimes) hemmed them, but always felt frustrated when it came to buying a pair of jeans. A few years ago I found my very first pair of jeans that fit right from the store and it felt magical. Those magical first pair of petite-friendly jeans were a skinny crop from Madewell. They fit me so well I could even wear booties with them without cuffing which was unheard of for my 4’10” self. They opened my eyes to the world of petite denim and the fact that there were jeans out there that were made for me. So, every year I love putting together a petite jeans guide, to help other petite women find jeans that fit perfectly right from the store, no hemming, cuffing, or cutting necessary.
My list grows a little bit each year with the more brands I try and the more searching I do. In the past, my list was predominately skinny jeans, but this year there are more options for straight as well.
My Sizing: I’m 4’10” and around 105lbs. I’m pear shaped, and my measurements for bust, waist, and hip are 32″, 24″, and 36″. Most petite jeans are only offered online, so I share my sizing with each pair to help you pick the right size for you.
Under $100 Petite Jeans
Skinny Jeans
I rolled around the way to break this post down many times before deciding on separating them by style and price point. I’m starting with skinny jeans (under $100) but keep on scrolling if you want to see some of the newer styles, like straight, flare and cropped flare.
Abercrombie Super Skinny
- My top pick for high-rise skinny jeans under $100
- Ultra-High Rise
- Stretchy
- True to size (tight at first, but stretch with wear)
- Comes in short and extra short (I wear short)
- $50+
Abercrombie’s super skinny jeans fit me well in the short length. They also come in extra short but would fit more like cropped jeans (on me) in that length. These jeans are very high rise and hit me a little bit above the belly button. They are stretchy with what I would consider be a little compression. My typical size is a little snug in these, but they will stretch with wear, so I stuck with that size. These jeans work well with booties, flats, and heels.
Jeans 24 short | Sweater XS | Jacket XXS
Jeans 24 Short | Top XXS | Shoes TTS
Jeans 24 Short | Top XXS | Shoes TTS | Blazer Petite XXS
LOFT Skinny
- Ultra High Rise
- Super Stretchy
- Size Up, runs small in the waist
- Full length looks best with flats and heels
- $50+
LOFT’s High Rise Skinny is also very high rise with lots of stretch. These jeans are a little bit longer on me and are looser at the ankle than the Abercrombie skinny jeans. They look best with flats or heels because of the length and ankle opening, it’s a little harder to wear them with booties. You could cuff them to wear with booties, but I try to avoid that if I can because cuffing just shortens the leg more. They run small and I would recommend sizing up one size.
Jeans Petite 25 | Top
Sofia Vergara Skinny Jeans
- Mid Rise
- Super Stretchy
- True to size with a little room in the waist, stretch with wear
- I wear them in short
- Under $50
Petite-friendly jeans at Walmart! I didn’t think it was possible, but I found pair of jeans at Walmart that fit wonderful right from the store. These Sofia Vergara jeans are stretchy and have a little extra room in the waist on me. They’re in the middle of mid-high rise hitting me right under my belly button. For a budget-friendly pair of jeans, they’re good overall. They do stretch with wear and don’t hold me in as well as some of my other jeans. They work well with all types of shoes.
Jeans 0 Short | Sweater Petite XXS | Shoes TTS
LC Lauren Conrad Skinny Jeans
- High Rise
- Super Stretchy
- True to size hold their shape with wear
- Comes in petite and petite short (I’m wearing petite short in the photo)
- Under $50
Another high-rise budget option comes from Kohl’s. I tried the petite jeans from the LC Lauren Conrad line, but they also carry petite Nine West jeans at Kohl’s. This pair in particular comes in petite but they also petite short (which is what I’m wearing in the picture). Petite short works great with booties, while petite is more full length and works with flats or heels. These jeans are very stretchy, the stretchiest of the bunch, but they hold their shape with wear. They run true to size with a snug stretchy fit. The only con of this pair is the black pair has faded some in the wash.
Jeans 0 P Short | Cardigan XXS | Sweater XS | Boots TTS
AE Jegging
- My top mid-rise skinny jean under $100 pick
- Mid-Rise
- Denim with mild stretch
- Size Up
- Comes in short and extra short (I wear extra short)
- Under $50
AE jeggings have been on my list every year I’ve made a petite jeans guide. After Madewell, AE is one of the first brands I found that makes great petite options. AE makes many styles that all have fit me well in extra short, but the jeggings are my favorite. I’m wearing the high-waisted jegging which is mid-rise. They’re stretchy but they still have weight and structure to them. The length is somewhat cropped on me in extra-short making them great for wearing with booties. They do tend to fade with washing and the zipper area wrinkles over time, but they’re another budget-friendly option.
Jeans 0 X-Short | Top Petite XXS | Boots Size Up 1/2 Size
Non-Skinny Jeans
LOFT High Rise Kick Crop
- High Rise
- Stretchy
- Size Up Or True Size in Curvy
- $50+
My favorite fit of jeans at LOFT is the High-Rise Kick Crop. They’re high rise and stretchy – but still hold you in with wear. They look best to me with heels, flats or a bootie that tucks under the jeans with a slim shaft. I sized up in these jeans to a 25 petite.
Top XS | Jeans 24 Curvy Petite | Shoes TTS
Abercrombie Vintage Flare (High Rise)
- High Rise
- Rigid Denim
- Size Up
- Comes in short and extra short (I wear short)
- $50+
I tried AE flares in this post, but the Abercrombie Vintage Flare is a top pick for me in terms of overall fit. These jeans are high-rise and rigid. I like to wear heels or heeled booties with flares so I chose short over extra short for the length. I sized up in them.
Jeans 25 Short | Top Petite XS | Boots Size Up 1/2 Size
Abercrombie Curve Love Straight Jeans
- High Rise
- Rigid Denim
- Size Up
- Comes in short and extra short (I wear extra short)
- $50+
These jeans have been the highest-selling item on my blog ever! They’re well-loved among all of my petite friends. The rise is high, hitting me right around my belly button. They are rigid but do stretch with wear. They have great pocket placement in the back for a flattering fit. I’m wearing them in extra short that I bought over the summer. I love this fit with flats, heels, and sandals. You can wear it with booties, but the booties tend to hit right at the bottom of the hem instead of tucking under, so you may want to choose the short length if you want to wear them that way.
Jeans 25 Extra Short | Boots Size Up 1/2 Size | Top XS
Over $100 Petite Jeans
My picks for over $100 jeans sometimes go on sale and dip under that $100 mark, so I always recommend watching out for those. I try to keep tabs on it and alert sales in my Instagram stories as well. But all of my picks in this category are so well made, and have great lasting power in your wardrobe. They all happen to be J.Crew and Madewell, two sister companies, but they do denim like no other in my opinion.
Over $100 Skinny Jeans
J.Crew Toothpick Jeans
- High Rise (mid-rise in the 9-inch option, my pair is 9″)
- Rigid Denim (in vintage styles)
- Size Up
- $100+
J.Crew is a great place to look if you like rigid denim without a super high rise. I look for their “vintage” jeans because the denim is often rigid and I prefer that over super stretchy denim because it lasts longer and washes well without a lot of fading. The 9″ rise on their jeans is more of a mid-rise and hits under my belly button. Many of their styles also come in a 10″ rise which I wear as well, it hits higher, around my belly button. Their petite jeans tend to have a great crop, making it easy to wear with any type of shoe.
Jeans Petite 25 | Sweater XS | Boots Size Up 1/2 Size
Madewell Skinny Crop
- High Rise in 10″, mid-rise in 9″ (I’m wearing 9″)
- Classic denim with stretch
- True to size
- $100+
Madewell’s skinny crop is my OG favorite petite skinny jean. They tend to release more in this style around spring so keep an eye out for restocks. There aren’t any currently available, but I didn’t want to make this list and not include one of my favorite styles. These jeans have stretch to them, but it holds shape. They’re true to size and always so comfortable. It’s really a tie for me between the stovepipe jeans and Madewell’s skinny crop, I could go either way.
Jeans Petite 24
Over $100 Non-Skinny Jeans
Madewell Stovepipe Jeans
- High Rise in 10″
- Rigid Denim with stretch
- True to size
- $100+
If you’re someone who wants to try skinny jeans, but you’re having a hard time with the way they look on your petite frame, you may really appreciate Madewell’s stovepipe jeans. They’re straight, but slim so they’re close to skinny jeans. They’re true to size and have a high rise, that hits me at the belly button. They’re rigid, but they have enough give to them that I find them comfortable. They don’t stretch with wear. You can also wear these with any kind of shoe, if you want to wear booties with them, I recommend a bootie with a skinny shaft that tucks under the jeans.
Jeans Petite 24 | Top XS | Boots Size Up 1/2 Size
J.Crew Vintage Slim Straight
- My top pick for straight jeans over $100
- High Rise in 10″, mid-rise in 9″
- Rigid Denim with stretch
- True to Size
- $100+
J.Crew vintage straight jeans have become my newest favorite. They’re the perfect blend of rigid denim with comfortable stretch I can wear all day long and not feel like I’m being squeezed. The back pocket placement is also perfect. A lot of jeans have high back pocket placement which makes your backside look a little bigger, but if you’re someone who already has wide hips, you don’t need that. J.Crew does an excellent job of placing the pockets right in the middle which is flattering on all shapes (Madewell also does a great job with this). Most of their jeans come in just a standard fit and I need to go up a size in them. However, some are offered in curvy which fits me well in my true size. The pair I’m wearing below is standard in a size up. They have a nice slim leg that is a great crop. The vintage straight jeans are also a comfortable rise, the 9″ is mid and the 10″ is high but not as high as some of my Abercrombie jeans, I also appreciate that the vast majority of their jeans are clean washes without distressing or any back pocket designs, so they can also be worn to work.
Jeans Petite 24 | Top XXS | Shoes TTS
Jeans Petite 24 | Boots Size Up 1/2 Size | Sweater S
These jeans are Vintage Slim Straight jeans in a 9″ rise, but this pair in particular almost has a low-rise. I knew some of you would appreciate that because it’s more comfortable on a short torso.
Sweater XS | Jeans Petite 24 | Boots Size Up 1/2 Size
J.Crew Full-Length ’90s Classic Straight
- High Rise in 10″
- Rigid Denim
- True to size
- $100+
If you want to rock a full-length straight leg, these jeans are a great option. They’re a true ’90s fit with wide legs. They’re high rise and rigid. I think this pair of jeans looks best with heels because it adds a little volume to the legs.
Jeans Petite 24 | Shirt XS | Shoes TTS
J.Crew Demi Boot Jeans
- Mid-Rise
- Rigid Denim
- Size Up
- $100+
I love Demi boot jeans for summer. J.Crews are mid-rise and comfortable with denim that holds its shape. You can wear these with any kind of shoe, but I prefer them with a pair that shows the ankle.
Jeans Petite 25 | Sandals Size Up 1/2 Size
Madewell Cali Demi Boot Jeans
- Mid-Rise
- Rigid Denim
- True to Size
- $100+
The last pair of jeans on the list is a pair I’ve owned for a few years and they’re just as good as the day I bought them. They’re so well made, wash well and will last in your closet for years! My pair in particular is white and they are not one bit see through. I love to wear them in the spring and summer in particular and was excited to see they have been fully restocked again this year.
Jeans Petite 24
I hope this post helps you find a pair of jeans you love!
-Brooke
