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As a person who stands at 5’3″, I understand firsthand the struggle of finding a solid pair of petite jeans that doesn’t need further alteration besides the usual cuff. While I’ve personally become very comfortable with buying regular-length denim and slicing the bottoms with a pair of fabric shears, I get that not everyone is into the frayed hem look. Additionally, not everyone has the budget or time to take their pants to a tailor who can preserve the original hem.
You’ll always meet fashion people who swear by a certain style of jeans or only wear ones from a particular brand, but even when you compare and contrast denim with other short-legged folks, the search for the best petite jeans feels like a never-ending game of trial and error — after all, what works for one body type won’t necessarily work for another. (Though we always love fantasizing about a Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants moment.)
So, ahead — at the recommendation of fellow short fashion colleagues, friends, and shop reviewers — we present a list of our current favorite petite denim styles. This isn’t a perfect or complete list by any means, but we did aim to cover brands that offer denim styles in an array of washes, fits, stretch levels, and silhouettes that are specifically suited for those who are 5’3″ and under. These jeans are also designed to be worn straight off the racks with no tailoring needed.
But, before you embark on your denim search, I highly suggest you first find your inseam and keep it handy in your Notes app — this number will be immensely helpful when looking at the size and fit details of a product. To determine your inseam, grab your favorite pair of (non-drop-crotch) pants and measure the distance between the crotch and bottom hem. For a true petite style, this likely won’t be any longer than 27 inches, although some brands like to think that 30 inches is a petite cut — which, ahem, it’s not. (Most short folks I know have inseams in the 23–26-inch range.) With this inseam measurement, you’ll have the power to find jeans that’ll actually fit your bottom half; add an inch for a longer length or remove an inch for a high-water look. And be sure to flex the classic trick of searching for “cropped” or “ankle” jeans at any retailer that offers those filters — y’know, the jeans that are cropped on taller folks but full length on petites. Consider this an easy hack to quickly sort the short stuff.
Pistola
Pistola Petite Lennon High Rise Boot – Rosslyn, $158
Founded in 2013 by Grace Na, Pistola offers great quality denim at affordable prices, including a nice selection of petite sizes to cater to those 5’4″ and under. With fall here, we love this high-rise dark wash boot cut pair made from super stretch denim with an inseam of 25 inches — a good companion for your favorite cardigan.
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Gap
Gap High Rise Barrel Jeans, $79.95 $47.97
Don’t sleep on Gap jeans — they’re better than ever. Plus, you can filter your search by “Length” for easy browsing. You also have your choice of Regular, Petite, or Tall on individual product pages in sizes 24-35. (Most of the denim styles come in all three fits.) This trendy barrel jean is available in a 27-inch inseam, which is perfect for those 5’4″ and under.
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Nelle Atelier
Nelle Atelier The Claire Jean, $258
Petite shoppers should familiarize themselves with Nelle Atelier, a denim brand for those standing under 5’4″. “I never leave reviews but I am so glad I found these jeans!! They are amazing,” one customer wrote on its site. “I have already worn them three days in a row since I’ve gotten them!”
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Mother At Anthropologie
Mother The Lil’ Stud Finder Sneak Jeans, $258
Your love of Mother is about to get deeper after seeing the Lil’Mother collection, which is made specifically for those 5’4″ and under. Variations to its beloved denim collection include higher knee placement and shorter inseams, so every type of body can find the right jeans. Just look at this cute, straight-leg pair, made from a stretch cotton blend and sitting at ankle length.
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Free People
Free People We The Free Risk Taker Mid-Rise Jeans, $98
Free People’s petite jeans are another reason why we love the retailer: It offers a wide range of denim styles, many of which are available in a petite-friendly inseam. We’re loving these classic mid-rise jeans from Free People’s in-house brand, We The Free, that come in at under $100.
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Madewell
Madewell Petite Perfect Vintage Wide-Leg Crop Jean, $128
Madewell’s best-selling petite-fit jeans come highly recommended by Refinery29’s beauty and wellness writer, Karina Hoshikawa, who raves about the 25-inch inseams and lived-in vintage feel.
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AYR
AYR The Pop, $225
It’s quite rare for a denim brand to offer two petite lengths (let alone one), but AYR is all about providing options. Customers have their pick of a 25- or 27-inch inseam, which may contribute to this jean’s sell-out power. Currently ranking a 4.7 out of 5 stars from 2,178 reviews, they have petite reviewers saying things like, “These are the most comfortable jeans I’ve ever tried on, and I have tried soooo many designer brands… am 5’2″ and 112 lbs. and I got a size 26 with the shorter inseam which is perfect. I am usually wearing leggings on the weekend but am so happy that I have a pair of jeans that are just as comfortable!”
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Good American
Good American Good Petite Straight Jeans, $139
In addition to being size-inclusive, Good American is also height-considerate, with a whole line, Good Petite, dedicated to petite fits in sizes 00 to 32. Check out this pair with a specially crafted rise and a 25.5-inch inseam.
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Abercrombie & Fitch
Abercrombie & Fitch Ultra High Rise Ankle Straight Jean, $90
A&F sells jeans in sizes 23 to 37, in extra-short, short, regular, long, and extra-long lengths. (You can read more about the brand’s much-adored denim rebrand in our A&F review.) For petites, this is great news: This best-seller has over 1,000 5-star reviews, with one 5’1″ customer writing, “Love these jeans! Super comfortable in the legs, they have plenty of stretch. Very high waisted on me being 5’ 1” but that’s how I like them.”
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Anthropologie
Maeve The Colette Cropped High-Rise Wide-Leg Jeans, $130
If you’re looking for non-traditional, petite-friendly jeans, Anthropologie has quite a selection. The brand stocks plenty of fashion-forward styles like wide-leg paper-bag denim, dramatic boot cuts, and colorful cropped jeans. You can find plenty of standard options as well from house brands like Pilcro and beloved denim labels like Joe’s Jeans and Good American. Reviewers cannot say enough good things about these cropped wide-leg jeans, one noted, “These jeans are so cute! They fit so well, the denim is soft, & the cut is perfect. I love the front pockets & wide leg. I’m petite & the petite length was perfect!”
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Shopbop
AGOLDE Riley High Rise Straight Crop Jeans, $208
Shopbop makes this list because of its detailed sizing measurements and easy-to-use denim filter: Under the Clothing category, you can sort the retailer’s massive collection by Cropped Jeans or Ankle Jeans. One of Shopbop’s most popular denim brands is Agolde, and this cropped jean has a very specific 25.25-inch inseam that petites love. “I’m 5’1″, 34B, 123 lbs. (hips/butt) and a true size 27 in all the other denim I own,” writes one reviewer. “I think people need to realize, that Rise and Inseam will re-adjust your waist sizing[,] so I’m thankful Shopbop lists both of those because they matter for petite girls like me,” writes another “Also, being 5’1” the inseam of 25.25 fits me like an actual pant (not cropped). Love the quality of this style and wash, you won’t be disappointed if you get your sizing right. Trust me!”
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Banana Republic
Banana Republic High-Rise Slim Bootcut Jean, $130
It’s easy to get lost in Banana Republic’s Denim Shop — but, if you’re looking for its petite offering, head over to the Size category, and search by “Petite” or “Short.” Once you start poking around, you’ll find plenty of sleek styles, such as these bootcut jeans with a 25-inch inseam.
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Reformation
Reformation Cynthia High Rise Straight Cropped Jeans, $168
Reformation isn’t best known for its denim, but the brand’s Petites section is definitely worth a browse if you’re into trend-forward, going-out styles — without fail, there’s always at least one or two pairs of jeans waiting to be scooped up by those looking for a 27-inch inseam.
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J.Crew
J.Crew Petite Sailor Slim-Wide Jean, $148
Naturally, we asked our friends at the aptly named Small Girls PR to tell us about the denim they swear by. Mary Whitlock, the VP of the fashion and lifestyle firm, dishes that a particular J.Crew style is perfect one for her: “I am 4’11” and curvy, so I have a very hard time finding petite jeans, and these are the only jeans that have fit me without needing to be tailored in all of my years on this planet.” Plus, the brand has an impressive filtering system — under the Size & Fit category, you can select Petite, or you can search by Length and select Cropped or Ankle.
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Levi’s
Levi’s 501 Original Fit Women’s Jeans (Plus Size), $98
Bianca Caampued, the 5’0″ co-founder of Small Girls PR, tells us, “Before owning the agency, I was someone raised by and working at fashion magazines” — so she knows Levi’s was always the gold star of denim. Fortunately for petites, “the brand adjusts by leg length and not just waist width,” she says, “so I can browse by 26-inch inseams specifically.” Caampued has two immediate go-tos: the Wedgie Straight and the 501, with neither style requiring hemming or cuffing needed.
Shop Levi’s
Universal Standard
Universal Standard Seine High Rise Skinny Jeans Petite, $98
A pair of good jeans for under $100? Yes, please. Universal Standard is known for being inclusive of all body types, including petites, and offering its product in sizes 00 to 40, all for an affordable price.
Shop Universal Standard
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This article was originally published on refinery29.com.