I’ve written a couple posts about petite jeans over the years. It’s always a big topic among petites and a question I’m asked often – where do you buy jeans that fit?
It’s hard to find a good fit, especially if you’re under 5 foot like me, so I’ve narrowed it down to three brands that I can rely on for a good fit. What qualifies as a good fit for me is flattering pocket placement and a good length that doesn’t require hemming or cuffing. All of my favorites fit that criteria, but each one has a little something different to offer. Some are more rigid and hold you in all day, while other are stretchy and thin. For today’s post, I put on the same top and put the jeans side by side so you can compare the fits from each brand that I like to wear.
Petite Jeans Guide
AE High-Waisted Jeggings
Highlights: Affordable | Stretchy & Comfortable | Sized Up One
I’ll start off with the most affordable pair that has a great fit. I’ve owned these jeans in a classic denim, but also in white and black. AE makes an x-short length that is perfect for petites! At 4’10” I wear a 0 x-short and it comes to my ankle. Overall I think they’re a great affordable pair of jeans. However, they don’t have a ton of lasting power. I tend to feel like I need to replace these jeans after a year or so from fading and thinning.
Shop AE High-Waisted Jeggings
AE Mom Jeans
Pros: Great Mom Jean Fit | Rigid Flattering Denim | TTS | Holds Shape
The mom jeans are a new buy for me that I styled just last week. These jeans have the best length and fit for mom jeans, that I’ve tried. I sized down one to get a better fit across the front. They’re a classic denim without a lot of stretch, but they do become more comfortable with wear.
Shop AE Mom Jeans
Madewell Roadtripper Jeans
Highlights: Ultra Stretchy and Comfortable | Lasting Color | TTS
Madewell’s Roadtripper jeans have a lot of stretch and are really comfortable. They’re not always offered in different colors but you can sometimes find them in black and other blue washes. I like the rise and the length is great as well. Due to the stretch, they don’t hold you in as well as some of the other Madewell jeans I’ve worn, but they still have nice slimming pockets. Another thing I like about these jeans and other Madewell jeans is the zipper holds flat, it doesn’t start to crinkle with wear. I wear these jeans in my typical size 24 petite.
Shop Madewell Roadtripper Jeans
Madewell High Rise Skinny
Highlights: Structured with Stretch | TTS | Lasting Color | Holds Shape
Madewell’s skinny jeans come in different rises from 9″-11″ and I tend to buy the 9″ rise. However, the higher rises are starting to grow on me, so I may step away from my constant go with the mid-rise 9″ recommendation. These jeans hold their shape and tuck you in. The zipper or button area also stays flat. All of my Madewell jeans have lasted through multiple seasons, so they’re definitely worthy of investing in. I wear these in my typical size 24 petite.
Shop Madewell Skinny Jeans
Madewell Demi Boot Jeans (Crop Flare)
Highlights: Flattering Semi Rigid Denim | Not See Through | Holds Shape | TTS
Cropped flare jeans are trendy, but I really like them. I’m also looking forward to adding full length flares to my wardrobe this year, just looking for the right pair.
The Demi Boot style from Madewell comes in blue denim washes as well as this white version and they’re really fun and flattering. They have great pocket placement, tuck you in up top and the denim is rigid with a little bit of stretch. This white pair isn’t see through at all, which is another big bonus. I styled them multiple ways here.
Shop Madewell Cali Demi Boot Jeans
J.Crew Vintage Straight
Highlights: Flattering Rigid Denim | Lasting Color | Balancing Fit | Holds Shape | TTS
Straight jeans have become a favorite of mine for the balancing effect they have. The denim of the vintage straight jeans at J.Crew is rigid and flattering! They hold their shape through multiple wears. This is another style that comes in multiple washes, including white. I styled these jeans multiple ways, here.
Shop J.Crew Vintage Straight Jeans
J.Crew Toothpick High Rise Jeans
Highlights: Dressy Dark Washes | Stretchy Comfortable Fit | TTS
Finally, the J.Crew Toothpick Jeans. These jeans are a great length and hold you in just like Madewell jeans. I like the dark washes of these jeans because I think they can be easily dressed up. However, they do tend to fade and they are a little bit softer than my Madewell skinny jeans, so they don’t hold their shape as well. I wear my typical size in these petite 24.
Shop J.Crew Toothpick Jeans
So, which one is my favorite? My go-to classic jeans are the high rise skinny jeans from Madewell. However, I’ve been interested in trying new styles like flares, cropped flares, and straight jeans, so I’ll keep you updated as I find more petite friendly fits!
-Brooke
