It’s the second edition of my petite jeans guide and this one comes with spring-ready light wash denim. Whether you’re into skinny jeans, straight jeans, mom jeans, or something else – I have the details on where you can find the perfect petite length right from the store.
Petite Jeans Guide
Most petite style are made for women 5’4″ and under, so if you’re under 5 foot like I am, just grabbing something in petite, doesn’t always mean it will fit. I’ve spent countless hours trying on brands, and nailing down what I love and don’t love about each one.
For reference, I’m 4’10”, and around 105 lbs. I’m considered pear-shaped (although not dramatically) with bust, waist, and hip measurements of, 32″, 24″, and 36″.
I’m going to break down each pair by brand and then style if I’m sharing more than one style. I’ll compare their price, durability, as well as comfort, and back pocket placement. I’m finicky about back pockets since my hips are my widest area.
American Eagle
I’ll start with my current favorite and most purchased from brand, American Eagle. Their denim in x-short is perfection! My favorite style is their jeggings (long live skinny jeans). I’ve also tried their jeans in the mom jean style, and flare jeans, and x-short was a great length if you’re into the trendier denim styles.
High-Waisted Jegging
The high-waisted jegging is my all-time favorite and is more of a comfortable mid-rise. For a higher rise, you’ll need to choose their highest-waisted jeans, which hits me right at my belly button. The high-waisted jegging is stretchy and comfortable. However, these jeans often fade and show wear fast, so although they are affordable, they need to be replaced more often. The back pocket placement is great on the jeans, but I don’t always love the stitching and high constast thread on the back pockets. I often size up in this style of denim.
Shop AE High-Waisted Jeggings
AE Mom Jeans
Mom Jeans are not my personal favorite style to wear, but this pair from American Eagle is the only pair I’ve found to be flattering and petite friendly. The length is perfect! The fabric is heavy and rigid like classic denim. The pocket placement is a little high for me on these jeans, but that’s to be expected with the mom jean/vintage jean style in general. I’ve been sharing this pair for the last year because they’re a great petite option if you want to rock the mom jeans trend.
Shop AE Mom Jeans
Madewell
Madewell jeans are some of the best around, but finding a pair that fits right from the store in terms of length isn’t as simple as just choosing petite. You need to know your inseam and check the description of the pair you’re looking at before purchasing. My best inseam is 24″ and I can typically wear the crop jeans in petite right from the store, but I’m also able to wear some of the other styles. Madewell jeans are more expensive, I wouldn’t buy them for a long time because of their price. When I finally invested in a pair, when they ran a sale, I realized what the hype was all about. They wash and well wear over and over again and hold their shape. I don’t need to replace my Madewell jeans like I do my AE jeans. To note, their back pockets are my favorite, they’re clean (no stitching design) and they’re large and placed well – which in short means, they’re flattering!
10″ High-Rise Skinny Crop Jeans
In one of my earlier denim guides, I said that I preferred the 9″ rise of their jeans, but I’ve since changed my mind. It was hard for me to get used to super high-rise jeans at first, but they’ve grown on me and I find them comfortable now. If you’re into more of a mid-rise, the 9″ inch rise is what you need. This pair, in particular, is heavy, but still stretchy and comfortable. They hug curves (no gapping in the back) and hold their shape through wear.
Shop 10″ High-Rise Skinny Crop Jeans
Madewell Classic Straight Jeans
The classic straight jeans are rigid classic denim. They have a high rise that hits me at my belly button. The pockets are a little higher in the back because of the straight jean style, but it’s not unflattering. My only complaint about this fit is there is a good deal of gapping at the waist in the back. I appreciate their slim straight style, they’re trendier, but not super heavy on my petite frame.
Shop Madewell Classic Straight Jeans
If you’re into the cropped flare style, I also really love Madewell’s Demi Boot Jeans.
Abercrombie
I used to write off Abercrombie until I realized it was similar to Madewell when it comes to buying their shorter jeans. Some styles have a longer inseam than others, you just have to read that description! Some will come in extra short, but I tried a pair in that size and they were way too short. Their jeans are on the expensive side, but I would compare them to the quality of American Eagle, so definitely keep an eye out for their sales. The back pocket placement is not always spot on for me, it tends to be a little higher but varies from pair to pair. This particular pair is the Curve Love High Rise Super Skinny Jean. It hugs my curves (no back gapping), is stretchy and comfortable, without being too thin. The rise hits me at my belly button.
Shop Abercrombie Curve Love High Rise Super Skinny Jeans
J.Crew
J.Crew jeans are similar to Madewell, but not totally the same. I prefer their vintage line of jeans because the fabric is heavy and the jeans hold up well. Their toothpick skinny jeans tend to fade quickly and they’re too expensive to be doing that, in my opinion. The Vintage Straight Jeans are my favorite style. They’re a true crop on Petites, and I love to wear this style in the spring and summer. The pocket placement is great on these jeans as well, very similar to Madewell.
Shop J.Crew Vintage Straight Jeans
So there you have it, my current favorite jeans, and not one of them requires hemming! I’m always shopping around and looking for new brands that work well for Petites, so if you have a favorite that you love, share it with me!
-Brooke
