Next up in the Petite Jeans Series – wide-leg and baggy jeans! Petites can absolutely wear wide-leg jeans, and in some styling combinations, they can even make you look a little bit taller. Read on for petite-friendly wide and baggy jeans shown unaltered on me at 4’10”.
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Petite Jeans Series: Cropped Flare Jeans
My Sizing: I’m 4’10”, and my bust, waist, and hip measurements are 32″, 24″, and 36″. My inseam is 25″ (the measurement from the inside of my leg to my ankle bone). The clothes shown are unaltered and show how they fit me right from the store. I list my sizing beside each item to help you compare when shopping online. When referencing my true size, that is often the smallest option available at a brand or petite xxs/00/24. I wear a size 5 shoe.
Wide-Leg Jeans
Wide-leg and baggy jeans have maintained popularity over the last couple of seasons. They can range from slim, wide styles that are fitted around your hips and loose through the legs to baggy styles that are worn relaxed and low-slung. Wide-leg jeans can be worn in both cropped (at your ankle bone) and full-length styles (to the bottom of your foot). For this guide, I’m sharing a mix of slim and relaxed full-length styles.
Why I Love Them:
It took me a while to embrace the wide-leg trend. They didn’t feel like me when they first started gaining popularity. However, I’m one to never say never, so I tried a few different pairs and landed on some I love. My favorite styles have a close fit through the hips and a high rise. The loose leg paired with this close fit through the hips is balancing for my wider hips. If worn with a longer inseam and a heel, this style can make you look taller.
How Long Should Wide-Leg Jeans Be?
The measurements given here are based on my personal measurements; yours may vary.
Wide-leg styles can be worn cropped and full-length. Cropped lengths should hit at your ankle bone; for me, that’s 24-25″. Full-length styles should come to the bottom of your foot or shoe. I don’t like to drag my jeans after years of dragging my jeans in my teens, I just can’t go back there – but it is technically on trend to allow the hem of wide-leg jeans to bunch. My personal choice for a full-length wide-leg inseam is 27″ – 27.5″ for wearing with flats and 29″ for wearing with heels.
AE Strigid Stovepipe
- Stretch: Low Stretch – relaxed fit, lightweight denim
- Rise: Mid 9.5″
- Inseam: 27.5″ in short
- Measurements taken from 00 Short
I don’t normally choose heavily distressed jeans, but this pair from AE just caught my attention. If you don’t love the distressing, this style also comes in a non-distressed option, which has the same fit. The jeans have a relaxed 9.5″ mid-rise and a 27.5″ inseam in short. They are relaxed, so they fit a little loose around the hips but are still flattering. The denim is lightweight and comfortable. I find this pair to be true to size.
Jeans 00 Short | Top 00 | Shoes tts | Bag
Abercrombie The Loose High Rise
- Stretch: No Stretch – Relaxed Fit
- Rise: High 11″ – sits relaxed and lower on your waist
- Inseam: 27″ in extra short
- Measurements taken from 24 Extra Short
Abercrombie’s Loose Jeans have a high 11″ rise and a 27″ inseam in extra short. These jeans have a relaxed fit that sits lower on your waist and hips. Meaning there is a little extra room through the waist and hips. The denim is lightweight and no stretch. I love that jeans are relaxed without falling off of you. Even being petite, I don’t feel like I’m drowning in this pair.
Jeans 24 Extra Short | Top XXS | Shoes tts | Necklace
Abercrombie ’90s Relaxed Jeans
- Stretch: No Stretch – Jeans Loosen with Wear
- Rise: High 10.5″ Rise – jeans dip down at the button, 10.5 measures to the button
- Inseam: 29″ in short 27″ in extra short – shown in both lengths
- Measurements taken from 24 Short and Extra Short
The ’90s Relaxed Jeans were the first pair of wide-leg jeans I tried and liked. They have a snug fit through the hips and waist with a slim wide leg. In short these jeans have a 29″ inseam that works well with heels and boots. Styled this way, these jeans make you look a little taller. In extra short they have a 27″ inseam that can be worn with flats. The jeans don’t have stretch and loosen with wear, but I find them to be true to size overall. I find these jeans to shrink in the wash over time so you may want to skip drying them if you don’t want them to shrink. If you want them to shrink a bit – dry away!
Jeans 24 Short | Top XXS | Shoes size up 1/2 size | Bag Polene Un Nano in Textured Tan
Jeans 24 Extra Short | Sweater XXS | Shoes tts | Bag Polene Un Nano in Textured Tan
Stay tuned for part two of this post with shoe pairings with wide-leg jeans. If this post wasn’t your style, don’t fret – I have many more petite-friendly denim options in different styles, fits, and budgets coming up in this series.
-Brooke
