Updated on June 30th, 2022
Short ladies wear jeans too, right? So the fashion industry as a whole hasn’t been great historically about producing pieces for anyone who’s not tall and thin — but thankfully, that’s changing. Today I can cover the best jeans for petites and have more than two brands to feature! Hooray! Designers still have work to do, but at least a short lady can find a pair of fashion-forward jeans at a decent price.
Here are my picks for best denim brands that cater to petites. (If I missed your favorite jeans brand, let me know in the comments and I’ll add it!).
1. Topshop
Topshop’s stylish line-up of jeans for petites includes all the styles you love: mom jeans, white jeans, dark-wash, wide-leg, slim-leg, crops, and even organic jeans. Prices range from mid-$50s to mid-$70s.
You can shop Topshop petite jeans on ASOS.
2. NYDJ
NYDJ touts itself as the world’s best-fitting jean. Admittedly, I’ve never tried them — I don’t like the name, which stands for Not Your Daughter’s Jeans. Also, I can’t bring myself to wear a “slimming jean.” And then, there’s the price point. $100 for jeans is a little spendy for my taste.
Still, I include NYDJ here because they have an ample collection of wearable styles for petites. Crops, bootcuts, girlfriend jeans, and colored jeans included. Shop them all at NYDJ.com.
3. Stradivarius
Stradivarius doesn’t offer as many styles as, say, Topshop — but the brand is still worth a shop. The primary feature you’ll love is the price point. Petite jeans start at $30 and range up to the mid-$40s. The styles available now include slim fit mom jeans, high-waisted, distressed jeans, and low-waist skinnies.
You can shop Stradivarius jeans at Stradivarius.com.
4. New Look
U.K. shop New Look has a nice selection of fashion-forward jeans for petites. Unfortunately, New Look doesn’t ship to the U.S. directly from its website — but you can buy the brand on ASOS here.
I like the “waist enhance mom jean,” which is a nice blend of shape and comfort. If that’s not your thing, you might like skinny black jeans or a wide-legged dad jean in a mid-blue wash. The prices range from $30 to $50.
5. Style & Co.
Style & Co. is another budget brand that makes jeans for shorter ladies. You can shop curvy-fit jeans, kick flare jeans, capri jeans and more at Macy’s. And if you shop the sales, the prices will be around $10 for clearance items and $20-$30 for regular sale items.
Style & Co. has a more mature vibe than some of the other brands featured here. If you’re looking for a standard jean that’s not too trendy, this is the brand for you.
6. ASOS Petite
As if ASOS doesn’t already have a lot of petite jean options, the store has its own ASOS Petite offering. Baggy jeans, skinny jeans, colored jeans — they’re all here, ranging in price from $35 to $55.
The ASOS Petite collection is my favorite of the brands listed here. The styles are fashion-forward, but still mostly wearable for an — eh-hem — older lady like me.
7. Miss Selfridge
Miss Selfridge has been an ASOS-owned brand since 2021. You can find their pieces on ASOS of course, but also at MissSelfridgeASOS.com (try saying that 10 times fast).
This line-up features mostly skinny jeans and mom jeans in different washes. The real stand-out feature is the price — you can buy Miss Selfridge petite jeans for $10 to $30.
8. Noisy May
Noisy May is a product of the Danish brand Vero Moda. The brand describes itself as “authentic, raw, cutting-edge.” That may sound intimidating, depending on your style preferences, but it’s really not. Noisy May jeans are fun without being over-the-top.
You can buy them new on ASOS, for $30 to $50 a piece. You can also find used Noisy May pieces on Poshmark and Thredup.
9. Charter Club
Charter Club is like Style & Co, in that it’s geared for a more mature lady. The options are mainly crop, colored jeans and straight-leg jeans. You can also find a few pieces that are floral, printed denim. I’m not sure how I feel about those — possibly fun to wear in certain situations, but they look a little dated IMO.
Also, some Charter Club styles have a tummy control panel, which might be interesting.
Shop Charter Club petite jeans at Macy’s. You can buy them for about $40, or less if you catch a sale.
ASOS — one-stop shop
If you want to browse the maximum number of styles in a single store, head over to ASOS. Hands down, the UK retailer stocks the best jeans for petites.
Thanks for this post. I’m 5’2.5” (although I like to round up and say I’m 5’3”) and am constantly on the search for off the rack jeans/pants that don’t need to be hemmed. I too like New York & Company’s jeans because I never have to get them hemmed. The same goes for Gap’s jeans, although I’m usually fine with ankle length and do not have to buy the petite length in that case. I was not a fan of Old Navy jeans for the longest time though because they always fit me weird, but I have yet to check out their new line of jeans. Maybe I’ll give them a try since they’re so budget-friendly.
yes, the gap is good for a pair of petite sale pants—unless you’re smaller than a size 2. it really irritates me that they don’t carry 0 and 1 ankle pants in the store—why?? would it kill them to carry these two sizes?!? i don’t mind ordering online, but then i’ve got to shell out for the shipping cost as well. i’ve written to the company many, many times about this but have never received a response. i like the gap, but wtf.
Being all the woman of 5’0, I feel your pain. But I don’t know what to tell you.
At 5’ 0.5” I use a tailor. Although, living in LA, my idea of “budget” jeans are premium denim off the clearance racks or from a sample sale, so it comes to more $$ total than buying off the rack at Old Navy.
Right now, I just wish Old Navy would get their act together and offer their maternity pants in shorter lengths… I can’t stand the idea of paying serious money for something I’m only going to wear for the next 6 months, but big ol’ cuffs just make me look shorter and dumpier. I suppose I should just buck up and spring for the tailor so I stop tripping on my hems.
I, too, am a curvy petite and I’m going to echo Kathleen’s comment about the weird fit of Old Navy’s jeans. I thought I was the only one with the weird amounts of extra fabric in the crouch (which makes a camel toe…sexxxy). I have yet to try the Sweetheart cut though, who knows!
Angela, I feel your pain! I’m shorter than you but long waisted so, well, life is full of challenges, isn’t it?
I really like Lands End. They have lots of petite jeans, good sales, and, if they don’t fit, I can return them to any Sears store and not worry about return shipping. Plus (though I’ve never done it) you could just go to Lands End AT sears to shop.
LLBean and Eddie Bauer also have petite jeans. You have to wait for a sale, but they wear very very well.
However, these are all kind of classic places, not too trendy. Still, in a pinch, I hope they help!
I have to disagree about Old Navy. I am 5’0” tall – the legs on their “short” jeans are about 4 inches too long for me. (Proportionately my legs are long for my height.) Their idea of “short” must be 5’4”.
I haven’t been to New York & Co in a while – I guess I should check them out!
More food for thought…I’m sure some of you may be opposed to shopping in the junior’s department, but one of my other vertically-challenged friends (she’s 5’) swears by L.E.I. jeans in the short length (if you can find them—personally, I’ve never seen them). I’ve worn L.E.I. jeans in the past (well, mostly when I was in high school and college) and they are very budget-friendly and comfy, but I always had to get them hemmed. Anyway, I think this brand is available at Macy*s and was available at Filene’s/Robinson’s May before their parent company was bought out. Going back to what I said about Old Navy jeans in a previous comment, yes, their old line of jeans were not for the curvy. They clearly didn’t have women in mind who may be carrying a little extra in the hip/thigh area. I also thought that their denim was a bit scratchy, but maybe that’s just my sensitive skin talking.
I am 5’2, size 16. The last 2 pairs of “petite” jeans I bought from old navy were still too long ( I either have to wear heels or cuff them) and way to big in the waist so I’m just constantly pulling them up because a belt won’t help. Actually I don’t think I would know what to do with pants that actually fit in the waist. (that’s another post) I guess I could just shrink my hips!! ha ha. I even bought a pair of the sweetheart jeans. They were a littl better but not much. Now lane bryant, I find their petite jeans are too short, which just goes back to trying stuff on before you buy anyway.
I am 5’4 and a size 14 on a good day, 16 if I’ve had mashed potatoes and bread…
So far New York and Company are the best jeans for my body type. But I must say, I just purchased Old Navy’s Diva Jean and Sweetheart Jean. I could hem the Sweetheart, but they are perfect when I wear my high heeled boots.
I love them! I’m going back to buy some more, cause you know you need more than one pair!
Thank you for posting about short girls who need jeans. And for not forgetting that short doesn’t mean you’re a size 0. I’m a 5’ 1”, curvy girl, who has a hard time finding jeans that fit without that horrible gap in the back. Y’all know what I mean.
I’m going to check out Old Navy’s Sweetheart jean now, thanks for the tip.
I have not tried the jeans listed here, but I have found the jeans at Kmart – Route 66 to fit like a glove, but do require tailoring. Although with a 19 to 24 price tag plus the tailor it is a steal. Or if you find them on sale at 14 even better.
All I can say is “Thank You Angela.” It’s so hard to find jeans that are short enough (I’ll just round my height up to 5’4”). I went out to Old Navy and quickly purchased a pair of sweetheart jeans. My husband was so happy with my success that he gave me the funds to gift myself with another pair. So thanks once again.
I’m not sure what the price-cutoff is to be considered “budget-friendly”, but here are two more petitie jean alternatives: Banana Republic and INC (International Concepts, available at Macy’s). I’m 5’ 3” (on a good day!) and I’ve worn both brands for years. Banana Republic offers all their jeans in petite sizes, and if you catch them them on sale, you can get a pretty good deal. BR’s jeans are also of better quality denim and a bit more stylish than the ones at Old Navy and Gap. INC Petites also has great jeans, but with fewer style choices. In fact, it seems like they only have jeans in their collection certain times a year. But again, if you time it right and get them on sale, they should only set you back about $40.
I have to disagree with Old Navy jeans. My inseam is 27” and Old Navy’s idea of petite is 30” same for Gap and Banana Republic. I usually end up buying Levi’s 29” jeans and wearing chunky heels, but I’d really love to find a jean I can wear with a ballet flat.
Check out Aeropostale. I’m 5′ 1″ and their short jeans are perfect on me. Price is great too, usually can find for $20 or less!
I’m 4’9″ and weigh about 135. I wear a size 12 petite SHORT (insean is about 26-27″). About the only place I can find my size is Beall’s Department Store. If I visit the store, they may not be available as they sell quickly. I order online and usually get what I need within a week of ordering. The disadvantage to the SHORT size is usually a limited variety of colors in certain items. I like that they have a nice selection to choose from.
I’m 5’2″ and in my 20’s and it is hard to find decent inexpensive jeans that are stylish, can flatter a curvier figure, not super low rise, not dated and not tapered. Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic are owned by the same company and have petite clothing…out of the three, Banana Republic have more flattering slightly higher quality jeans for petites I think. BUT..I wouldn’t call the jeans true petite since they are still too long on me. I would have to wear high heels or get them tailored. I only have one pair from there (you can get a good deal if you look at Sales rack or check out Sales on their Website. Overall, I mostly get Levi’s (online) and Lee (JCPenny’s)…which are alright for the time-being, but I haven’t fell in love with any of their petite styles. You can check out places like Marshalls, TJ Maxx and Ross who have a surprisingly varied petite section. My twin bought jeans from Uniqlo and loves them. Uniqlo is Japanese chain retailer that so far opened only one American shop in NYC. My sis says it’s much better than H&M. I’m guessing they carry jeans/pants with shorter inseams. Too bad they don’t have an online shop.