As a vertically challenged petite human (I am 5ft 2), jeans can end up being a very stressful and emotional shopping experience. I always joke that you really have to be in the mood for shopping for jeans because, as other petite people will confirm, jeans are not always made for us. It is an Olympic sport of not only jean resilience but of emotional strength too! The legs are often either too long or the rise hits us at our chins, which is just not the vibe we are going for when we are pinning or making our style moodboards.
At the beginning of 2024 I knew I needed to refresh my jeans collection after I had a good clear out during the festive period. My requirements for good denim often includes a stiffer denim and straight leg pair of jeans, but I also like to dabble with a baggy jean that is proportionate to my height. So, with this in mind, I went on the hunt for the perfect jeans for petite people. The result? Some great contenders across designer and high-street brands that fitted my petite (but with hips and a shorter torso) frame perfectly.
This haul was so good that my tailor did not need a visit (sorry Mr Tailor). Scroll on to discover my favourites and shop the best jeans for petites. Enjoy!
Style Notes: I am a huge fan of COS. If you follow my on my instagram or TikTok you will see that a lot of my capsule wardrobe pieces come form COS but funnily enough I did not own any denim from them. If you are on the shorter side it can be tricky but I found a great pair. This is great pair of jeans, the tapered shape of the jeans are super flattering. It is a high rise but not too high! It is a stiffer denim with a zipper fly, which I know that this can be a deal breaker to some. I think this is a great option if you are after that barrel jean kind of look without it looking too much like you are about to join the circus. Plus it would look amazing with a pair of heels. There is no choice in leg length that is the only thing. I would say to take your true size, it is stiff but it will loosen up.
Style Notes: I love The Row but I had not heard much about their jeans, so I had to go out to the field and do the research for us all. These were the most expensive jeans I am featuring or that I have ever tried on. I was so happy with the fit of these – they hit at a great length where you can wear them with heels or flats. I also really enjoy this slightly lighter blue. These have a button fly, and a pair of cotton denim and I hate to say it, butI LOVE these jeans, They are so comfy and fit true to size and I love that it is so simple and classic that if you did choose to invest in these, they will live in your closet forever. Do I think you need to spend this money on jeans? No, I do not think you need to. As you can see from the other pairs there are some good options available at different price points. As much I adore these jeans, I think I like them for the way they fit my curvy shape, so if you are in the market for jeans that fit your curvy petite frame, try these on because I was surprised that I loved them a lot. These do not come in different leg lengths so that is another thing to keep in mind.
Style Notes: Looking for pair that were a good length was a little tricky here but the Cynthia style was actually a great length for me. The jeans do not come in different leg lengths but would be fabulous on us petite girlies. It is a much more rigid denim and does require a little dance to get into them. They do have a skinnier fit to them if you are after that look – I have to say when it comes to the fit they are a lot more snug and stiff. So you might need to go up 1 size to be a little bit more comfortable. They are very high rise too so that is something to keep in mind… We do not want them under our boobs!
Style Notes: Agolde denim is always a good idea. They are so well known for their denim and I have had a pair in my collection previously and I had to get them tailored. But my tailor would not need to help me out with this pair. They are a good full length if you are looking for smarter pair of denim I would opt for these. They are so polished, especially in this colour. I would suggest that you take your true size because it is a stiff denim with a button fly. These will look so good with heels or flats. I love the rise of these jeans too – they are not too high which can be the bane of our existence as a shorter girly. They do not offer leg lengths but if you are similar height to me – you will love them. If you’re curvy like me, I think you will love them too as they are not tight around the midsection and are a true, straight denim.
Style Notes: I am a huge Levis fangirl and so are a lot of people. I know searching for the perfect pair of vintage Levis can be too hard but if you are hunting for some vintage Levis check out pin denim. Now these are a pair of the Levis originals 501s which is their most classic style. What I love about these jeans are that they are offered in several waist sizes plus there is an option of leg length which we know can be game changing. It caters to not only us petite girls but also our taller girls. This is the best straight leg pair of denim and I will always suggest it to anyone who asks. Something to note is the button fly (which I love). I also think that people love Levis for a reason – it will never let you down. To me a pair of 501s are the most hard working pair of jeans in my wardrobe – it can be made to look super casual with trainers or boots and then looks amazing and chic with a pair of Chanel slingbacks or ballet flats. With Levis take your true size or even one size down as things can stretch. If you want a baggy look check out the Levis 501 90s.
Style Notes: I was eager to try on a pair of Khaite denim because I always see the fashion set on TikTok talking about their Danielle jeans. I did look at them but I knew instantly that it would not work on my shorter legs. So, I had to try the Khaite Abigail jeans instead. Firstly, I am obsessed with the details of this denim and it looks so fancy and chic. From the beautiful button to the colour of the jeans, it very much gives the look of a fancy aunty who lives in the Upper West side with her Birkin (well with that price tag she should). Now something to note is that there is no choice in leg length and I would say these were a little bit on the longer side. It has a button and zip and I would say has a snug feeling when you put it on so you might have to size up if you have wider hips like me. It was a proper stiff denim which I usually love but it did not feel too comfortable on me as the rise of these jeans were very high still. Sure, it was not hitting my chin, but it was getting too close to my bra line for my liking. But saying that these jeans look amazing and could be pair you could wear to a work event for sure. They are very pricey so that is something else to think about, but sometimes you get what you pay for when it comes to the little details.
Style Notes: Finding a good pair of baggy denim can be very tricky but this Raey pair is perfect if you are after a pair of looser fit; They have a cropped leg with a looser fit around the leg and fitted on the waist. They are a lower rise denim and are incredibly comfortable, and when it comes to sizing I’d suggest taking a size down as these run large, they also have a button fly which I love. This pair of jeans do not come in different leg lengths, but I would highly recommend this pair of denim if you are looking for a chic pair of baggy denim.
Style Notes: If you are looking for wide-leg denim as a petite girly, look no further than Boden. Their wide-leg denim is amazing! I have a pair of cream denim jeans which I think a great styling tool in winter as well as the warmer months. These jeans are incredibly comfortable, are a great rise (they say they are mid rise jeans but to me they are a little bit on the higher side) and fit true to size. Plus, they come in different leg lengths which makes such a big difference. I would highly recommend them if you are after a pair of full length wide-leg denim because of the different leg lengths as a petite human. The denim is not too stiff either which makes them super comfortable to wear all day especially for those dinners where you would usually have to unbutton your jeans.
This story was published at an earlier time and has since been updated.
