Best Petite Jeans: Where To Find The Perfect Pair – Beth Ferguson

Let’s face it there’s nothing better than a great-fitting pair of jeans. A pair that makes you look and feel like a million bucks when you are wearing them. I think that finding a great-fitting pair of petite jeans ranks up there for shopping for a bathing suit for most women. No matter your age or size. Am I right? The best petite jeans are out there and I am rounding up all of the sites and stores where you can find them.

I am a jeans girl. They are what I wear several days of the week during cooler months. Straight leg, wide leg, boot cut, and skinny leg….you will find all styles in my closet. Needless to say, I have tried on a lot of jeans to find the best petite jeans.

So before we start looking for the best petite jeans there are a few other posts I have written about petite bottoms and shoes that you might want to check out.

This post may contain affiliate links; if you click on a shopping link or picture and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission (at no cost to you) so thank you. Also, as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I appreciate your support.

Best Petite Jeans, Let’s Find THE Pair For Your Body

Think of how many pairs of jeans you have tried on and they fit great in the hips and thighs, but the waist is too big. Or vice versa. It is a process of trying on and finding the pair that looks and feels great. Yes, it may feel like you are looking for that “needle in a haystack” kind of thing. You just have to keep trying until you find the brand and style that works for your petite frame and curves. Once you find it, then you just have to pray that the brand doesn’t change its pattern or fit model.

So let’s look at what makes petite jeans better for our bodies and where we can find them.

What Makes A Petite Jean Different Than A Regular Jean

First of all, let me say that this will vary from brand to brand. You may find all of these features in petite-sized jeans or only one or two. Here are some ways petite jeans can differ from regular-sized jeans.

• A shorter inseam.
• Rise that is not as high. (here’s a guide for measuring your rise)
• Where the knees are in the garment (think distressed jeans with holes on this one).
• The slimmer leg opening for a more defined silhouette.

Where to Find Great Fitting Petite Jeans

Even though I live in a big city where there is lots of shopping, petite jeans are still hard to find in the store. I am usually a size 25 jeans, sometimes a 24. I end up reading reviews and ordering two pairs to see which looks best. So here are some of the places where I have found the best petite jeans that are made for petite bodies.

J. Crew

J. Crew always has the most up-to-date styles and washes every season. Many of the styles will come in multiple washes so if you find a style that works, then you can get different washes. What’s nice is that they also have chambray shirts in petite sizing if you like the denim-on-denim look. I love a chambray shirt with white denim in the spring

In warmer months, they will also have denim skirts and short options in petite sizing. Depending upon the time of year, you may also find denim dresses in petite sizing.

This season the jean that I love from J.Crew is the 9″ demi boot crop jean. The fit is petite perfection on my body. I could have them in multiple washes in my closet. I wear them with heels or loafers now and once the weather gets cooler I will be wearing them with boots.

J.Crew is great at making multiple styles of petite jeans in multiple washes. So think nothing of getting a great-fitting pair of jeans in multiple washes. If it works, it works.

Ann Taylor

I love the fact that Ann Taylor makes their jeans in a regular fit and a curvy fit. If their pants fit you, I would try their jeans. Their jeans are made with performance stretch denim that sculpts, shapes and supports while you wear them. Also, they have designed the pockets so that they smooth and flatter your figure.

They make all of the popular cuts and styles of denim each season. They make great skinny jeans to pair with their jackets for an elevated casual work look to a straight leg that you can wear dressed up or down.

Madewell

Madewell always has the on-trend styles and washes of the season. They do a good job of having various fits and will always let you know how much stretch is in each pair. They have a cute graphic at the bottom of their product details that measures it for you in each style. You can also search by the level of sustainability in each pair of jeans if that is important to you.

Last but not least, I like the fact that they use models in various sizes in the same thing so that you can get a better idea of how something is going to look on your unique body.

Spanx

In the last few years, Spanx has come out with some great denim styles. Each season it seems like they add a new trending style too. If you are all about shimmying into your pants so that you don’t have to worry about the zipper and love a little extra support and lift, then this could be your dream jeans. Spanx has a few styles and a few washes. Order what you think would be a good look and wear them around the house for a bit to see if they are your dream jeans. Many women swear by them.

If you like to wear knee boots with your jeans tucked in in the winter, then their skinny-leg jeans look great styled that way. Also, if you want you legs to look longer, give the flare jeans a try even if that style is outside your normal denim box. If they are anything like the flare pants (you can see me in them here and here), you will be happy with the look. I always wear the flare pants with a 3″ heel.

Premium Denim Brands That Make Petite Sizing

Premium and designer denim has been around for years now. In the last few years, some of the brands have started making petite sizing in some of the most popular styles and washes. First of all, what is the difference between premium denim and regular denim? In case you wonder why we pay more for these brands, here are the major differences.

The biggest difference is the fabric. It is usually made from Japanese, Turkish, or Italian denim. The washes are also usually more detailed. Once you try on premium brands you can just tell that the tailoring and fit are a priority for the brands. Here are some premium brands that I like to wear.

I have yet to find premium denim in a department store. I usually find the best selection of petite premium denim on a brand’s website. Sometimes you can find a few styles at Bloomingdale’s or Nordstrom.

Joe’s

I was so excited when Joe’s announced that they were making petite-sized jeans. I have worn their jeans for years. The midrise in regular sizes in skinny jeans or straight-leg jeans would fit my body beautifully in certain styles. All that I would have to have done was a simple hem at my seamstress.

Now the petite fits are even better due to the shorter length and proper petite fit. This comes in handy with the Provocateur and the wide-leg jeans this season.

Paige

Yes, Paige denim makes petite sizing. You just don’t see it at many retailers, even online. The best way to see if they are the jeans for you is to order them directly from the brand. They offer many of their most popular cuts in petite sizing.

Honestly, the Paige Cindy cut has been a favorite of mine for the last few years. Yes, the regular sizing fits my body just right and all I do is have them hemmed. They are a midrise style and I don’t get the distressed styles in this cut so I don’t have to worry about the knee openings being in the correct spot on my legs.

Here are some of their current petite styles.

Mother

Lil Mother jeans are the most recent addition to my petite denim collection and I couldn’t be happier with my purchase. I now get why this brand is loved by so many. The denim is so soft and the fit is fabulous. You can tell that they have adjusted the rise, the inseam, and the knee placement in their petite sizing. All of the issues that make a difference for those of us in the 5’4″ and under club.

Again, I find the best selection on their website. However, you can sometimes find a few styles on Shopbop and Nordstrom. If there is a pair that you want, sometimes you have to check multiple places to find your size.

Anthropologie

Anthropologie carries its own brand Pilcro in petite sizing, as well as, some other premium denim brands. If you are looking for a funkier jean, many times Pilcro will be your go-to brand for this. Think cargo pants, jumpsuits, overalls, etc.

What is unique about Anthropologie is that they carry petite sizing from many premium denim brands. This is so nice for some of the styles because if you hem them too much you lose the overall look of the denim. It is actually a hidden gem of a source for petite denim.

THANKS, Let’s Stay in Touch

Thanks so much for stopping by this blog post. I hope that I helped you find a new source for the best petite jeans in the marketplace today. Just remember THE pair is out there for your body. You may just have to try on lots of jeans before you find YOUR perfect pair.

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Updated March 2024.