There is nothing like a woman’s favorite pair of jeans. They fit her exquisitely, show off all her favorite features, and can be easily worn to any occasion with ease. However, if you are in the market for a new pair of trusty denim jeans and you’re on the petite side, you must be extra careful to make sure you’re finding the most flattering pair.
So, which styles are the most flattering for petites? Many jeans suit petite women. The most popular styles include skinny, boyfriend, and boot cut in a high rise or mid-rise design. You should also opt for darker washed jeans and try to avoid flares, some crops, extensive detailing, and bagginess.
If you want to look flawless in your next pair of denim, you need to find the right fit – and we’re making it easy for you with the help of the guidance that you’ll find in this guide. We dove deep into the realms of fashion to compile this list of the must-know top picks for petite girls, as well as styles you should avoid at all costs. In addition, we’re also sharing a few extra tips and tricks to make sure you leave the store with jeans you adore.
The Perfect Jeans for Petite Ladies – Styles to Seek Out
The first thing to look out for when choosing jeans is the style. But with so many styles gracing the racks of our favorite stores, it can be hard to decide which ones are right for petite figures. To help you select the perfect option for your petite frame, let’s look at the top 4 jeans styles to consider, and which 3 to ditch.
Styles That Flatter Petite Frames
Skinny Jeans
The number one choice for any petite gal is skinny jeans. That’s right, skinny jeans are perfect for petite girls with any body type, whether they’re sporting an hourglass figure or they have a more rectangular body type. Whatever your body shape, skinny jeans have a way of elongating and flattering your figure – which every woman can agree is a huge plus.
Aside from their perfect, flattering fit, skinny jeans are also one of the easiest types of jeans to hem. This is important, as every lady has their own ‘perfect length,’ and many jeans can end up being too long – even if they are designed for petite women!
Therefore, the next time you are on the hunt for a new pair of jeans to add to your wardrobe, always check out the selection of skinny jeans. Easily hemmed (if needed), beautifully flattering, and able to be paired with almost anything, these will easily become your go-to jeans for every occasion.
Boyfriend Jeans
If you are looking for a pair of jeans that are a bit more relaxed but still effortlessly chic, then you might want to consider adding a pair of boyfriend jeans to your denim collection. Boyfriend jeans are still on the straighter side but have a more relaxed fit from top to bottom. They’re supremely comfortable and flattering for petite ladies, but you need to make sure you are buying the right ones in order to look your best.
When it comes to boyfriend jeans, pay close attention to the cuffs. Many styles of boyfriend jeans come with a trendy cuff, but you need to make sure those cuffs aren’t too big, or they will end up drowning your petite legs. Instead, opt for a smaller cuff, and those boyfriend jeans will appear form-fitting and fabulous.
Boot Cut Jeans
Flare jeans are groovy, but unfortunately, they aren’t such a popular pick for the petite women. Does that mean you should forever say “so long” to jeans that flare? Of course, not! You just need to make sure you are choosing the right styles – and that’s possible by opting for a good pair of boot cut jeans.
Boot cut jeans provide the flattering figure you crave with a slight, trendy flare on the bottom. This lovely combination adds depth to your style while drawing more attention to your hips. The flowy lower half works to balance out a curvier body type exquisitely. However, boot cuts can work for all body types, so don’t be afraid to add them to your collection.
With this pair of jeans, you will need to make sure you find the right length right off the bat. Boot cut jeans are a bit more challenging to hem, and they can’t be cuffed. Trying to make them shorter may cause the flare to disappear or become so minute it looks distorted and ultimately unflattering – and that’s not the end goal.
Always Choose Petite Sizes
This might be a no-brainer, but it’s still something we thought we needed to include in this list! Always try and find jeans that are specifically made for petite women. These jeans will already have the fit and length that you are seeking, so you shouldn’t need to make too many adjustments to make them perfect.
Styles of Jeans Petites Should Avoid
Flare Jeans
If there is one pair of jeans that every petite girl should ignore it flared jeans. That’s because flared jeans will drown your petite figure. They makes them unflattering, and causes you to lose length with these jeans. For petites, it is best to simply walk past this style of jeans and find one that is more flattering for your figure and height.
But remember – just because flared jeans are a big no-no, that doesn’t mean you can’t indulge in any type of wider leg. If you want a bit of a flare to stay stylish and current, then you can always opt for the boot cut jean, as previous mentioned, since this style offers a flattering flare that’s ideal for shorter legs.
Some Styles of Cropped Jeans
Even though cropped jeans seem to be all the rage right now, some styles simply don’t work on petite frames. The trick when wearing cropped jeans as a petite woman is to follow a few dos-and-don’t to look your best in this cut.
This involves being mindful of things like choosing the right length based upon your body type, pairing your pants with the right shoes, and selecting tops that can help make cropped jeans work with your petite frame.
Baggy Jeans
There are very few people on earth who can rock a pair of baggy jeans and still look fashion-forward – and unfortunately, petite body types aren’t one of them. The biggest hindrance with baggy jeans is that, again, they swallow a petite frame up entirely. As a result, the bagginess will leave you with little to no shape, and your legs will appear shorter.
There’s no real way to make a pair of baggy jeans flattering for petites. That’s simply because tighter jeans will always be more flattering on a petite woman, whether they have an hourglass, apple, pear, or any other body type. So ditch the baggy jeans and get your hands on a pair that are more form-fitting and show off your best features.
The Perfect Rise for Petite Body Types
For petites, it is not just the style that you need to look out for when purchasing a new pair of jeans. You should also pay close attention to the rise of jeans, which can be described in three ways: high-rise, mid-rise, and low-rise. Which ones take the cake for petite gals?
Taking a Look at Different Rises
High-Rise
High-rise jeans have soared to the top of the charts in popularity recently, and petite girls couldn’t be any more thrilled! While high-rise jeans seem to look exquisite on virtually everyone, they are especially spectacular on petite frames. But why?
High-rise jeans can make the legs appear longer while also contouring to the hips for a superior form-fitting style. Trust us – if there is any style you must have in your wardrobe, let it be a pair of high-rise jeans. They elongate the legs – which is something many women crave -whether they’re petite or not – and you will love the fact that they hug the hips and create a killer physique.
Another major benefit of high-rise jeans is you can wear them with virtually anything. A cropped top during the summer is a great way to show off this style, but you can switch it up with a flowy long-sleeved top in the fall and still look charming. Wear with flats, heels, boots – the possibilities are endless when it comes to styling high-rise jeans.
Mid-Rise
Mid-rise jeans should also be on your go-to list. They are chic and charming, and just so happen to look lovely on petite frames. A real plus about mid-rise jeans is that they hit right around the belly button, which means your legs will still be elongated, and you won’t become swallowed up by the style.
Mid-rise jeans are also extra suitable for curvier women who want to show off their wonderful figures without accentuating their hips too much. All things considered, this cut of jeans will give you a look that is striking and sharp, and we are sure that you will love the way your legs and body look in a mid-rise design.
A Look at Which Rise to Avoid
Low-Rise
Just because Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera made them cool in the 90s that doesn’t mean that we should consider low-rise jeans as a great pick for a petite frame in this day and age – even though they are making a fierce comeback recently.
To be frank, you have two great options to choose from – high rise and mid-rise. So do you even really need a low-rise pair of jeans in your closet? We think not. Low rise jeans are not a great option for petite frames as they simply don’t fit right. They make the legs appear shorter and the entire physique a bit choppier and unflattering – no, thanks!
Ideal Wash for Petite Women
The style and rise should be the most important things to consider when buying the perfect jeans for a petite lady. But another thing that can help you in your jeans buying journey is finding the right wash, too. Some washes look better than others, so let’s take a look at the top washes for petite girls.
Which Jeans Wash Should Petites Choose?
Dark Wash
A sleek pair of dark-washed jeans should be a staple in every woman’s closet. They are elongating and slenderizing, which is a major bonus for every woman whether they’re short, tall, or somewhere in-between. For those reasons, it is always highly recommended to find a pair of jeans that sport a dark wash.
Does that mean you shouldn’t have a pair of trusty light-wash jeans in your closet? Not exactly, but they shouldn’t be the main item in your wardrobe. Wearing a pair of light-wash jeans here and there isn’t going to make you look less fashionable and unattractive, but they won’t have the same impact as a dark wash.
Black
Of course, with darker jeans being the go-to for petite gals, it is no wonder why black jeans make our top-wash list. Black jeans are going to have a seemingly endless appearance for your legs, which means you end up looking taller, sleeker, and ultimately more modelesque. What woman wouldn’t want that?
A Few Handy Jeans-Related Tips and Tricks for Petite Ladies
By now, you know exactly what to look for the next time you head to the store or when you’re shopping online at your favorite stores for petites. But, just in case you still need a little bit of help, we have compiled a few handy tips and tricks to keep in mind when you are shopping. Let’s take a look at some do’s and don’t to keep in mind:
Do: Jeans with Vertical Lining
Do you remember those cool jeans that had the vertical lining strewn throughout? They might have been a 90s staple, but we can’t help but notice their reappearance- and we couldn’t be happier! Why? You guessed it – vertical lining elongates legs instantly. Not to mention they bring us flashback memories of our favorite pop stars, which is always a plus.
Do: Jeggings
If you haven’t tried jeggings yet, you are really missing out. I mean, with such a huge craze over leggings, it was only natural that someone would come up with a dashing pair of leggings that look just like a regular pair of jeans, right? You already have at least six pairs of leggings in your dresser drawers, so why not add another?
Jeggings are made to look like jeans, except they are made with typical legging materials. This means that they are skin-tight while still remaining flexible, something we can’t say about “normal” jeans.
But why are they so great for petite girls? Well, we mentioned earlier how tighter jeans are always going to be more flattering on a petite figure. Aside from that, jeggings are a lot easier to hem than most other types of jeans, so you can make jeggings fit your unique style and length easily.
Did we mention that jeggings are flawlessly comfortable and form-fitting, and will mix and match with a variety of tops and shoes with ease? Go sporty with a sweatshirt and a pair of your favorite sneakers, or switch it up with a dressier look that utilizes your favorite go-to pair of pumps.
Do: Distressed Style
While there are certain things to avoid when purchasing jeans for a petite figure, there is one thing you should never dismiss: the distressed style. Distressed jeans are fashionable with a bit of an edgy flare, which every woman needs in her life from time to time. Paired with a leather jacket and a pair of Doc Martens, distressed jeans are an effortless style that’s rugged and cool.
Don’t be afraid of rips and tears when purchasing your new favorite pair of jeans. A distressed pair of jeans looks hot on any body type, and you’ll love indulging in this fierce style.
Don’t: Overly-Detailed Jeans
Some jeans are detailed from head-to-toe, which might look cool when they are hanging on the rack, but they aren’t going to look cool when you’re wearing them. Unfortunately, excessive detailing on jeans will only drown out your body. This, of course, makes for a very unflattering finish that you won’t want to rock in public.
For petites, it’s best to keep it minimalistic when shopping for jeans. While we suggest avoiding excessive details altogether, you can get away with little bit here and there. Just keep it simple, and you will be glad you did when you see just how fashionable you look.
Don’t: Oversized/Too Detailed/Too Many Pockets
Last but not least, we highly recommend staying away from jeans that are loaded with pockets from top to bottom, have pockets that are too big, or pockets that are much too detailed. Pockets create bulk, which leads to an unwanted shape that can wreak havoc on your physique. That being said, it is best to stick with a typical pair of jeans that have three pockets on the front and two on the back.
Conclusion
It can be challenging to find the right pair of jeans when you are petite – if you don’t know what you’re looking for. The best thing to do is always find figure-hugging styles like skinny or boot cut. Also, avoid low rise, flares, and jeans that are prone to bagginess or that include unnecessary embellishments and a lot of pockets.
You really can’t go wrong when you follow these jeans-buying suggestions, and you will surely find yourself looking like a petite fashionista in no time.