6 Petite Jeans That’ll Flatter Your Figure

Although I love shopping, I hate shopping for jeans, mainly because, as a 5’1″ woman, it’s nearly impossible to buy a pair of denim that actually fits me perfectly without a bit of tailoring involved. I either need to get the legs hemmed, deal with an awkward gap in my waistband, feel like I’m being squeezed into rigid pants, or end up looking frumpy with an ill fit. So, I recently decided to restart my denim collection from scratch.

I put 15 different pairs of jeans to the test, with various styles, washes, and lengths, from brands like Old Navy, Madewell, and Lee, and only six styles were worthy enough to add to my current closet rotation. Despite using each website’s size guide to find my perfect pants size, the suggested sizes were all over the place. For reference, I have a 28-inch waist, hips just under 39 inches, and lean legs, so I typically land on a size 4 for most items, but I sometimes fall into a size 6 depending on the denim material. 

With each pair of jeans I tried, I wore them for various daily activities, like working from home on the couch, running errands, grocery shopping, walking my dogs, and on a couple of date nights to get a sense of how they’d perform during my everyday life. I was most impressed with six pairs, which include casual straight-leg silhouettes, traditional skinny styles, and bootcut designs—and you can read more about my favorites below.

Best Shopping-Writer Approved Petite Jeans 

Old Navy High-Waisted Rockstar Super-Skinny Jeans

Old Navy has some of the most fun and versatile styles on the market. The vast variety can actually be quite intimidating if you don’t already have a particular style to shop in mind, but I fell in love with these skinny jeans because of the fit and the unique utility-style pocket design on this medium wash. 

The color is actually darker in person, but that didn’t bother me. This fit also felt super stretchy and fit me comfortably all over. My usual complaint about skinny jeans is that they never fit my legs snuggly enough because of my narrow waist and hips, but I didn’t have that issue with this pair. Plus, many of their styles have petite and tall variations, so I got the petite inseam in a size 4.

Lee Ultra Lux Comfort Skinny Leg Jean

Another skinny option I loved was Lee’s skinny jeans in the shade Blue Format. I got these in a size 6 with the 27-inch inseam, and they fit me like a glove and hit me right at the ankle. Despite their tight fit, they’re incredibly comfortable thanks to the brand’s unique blend of cotton, polyester, and spandex, which gives them a good amount of stretch.

The fabric was very thin compared to other jeans I tried, but that just made them feel a bit cozier, like jeggings. This design also included an elastic waistband, preventing any bunching up and an unsightly gap. The pockets are also very deep, and if you have a curvier rear, these have a lot of give in the back.

NYDJ Billie Mini Bootcut Jeans

NYDJ has the most interesting sizing. After comparing my measurements in the size quiz (which I would highly recommend), it turned out I was a size 2 in the petite inseam. Initially, I worried I had gotten the sizing all wrong, but the bootcut jeans I ordered ended up fitting wonderfully. In fact, this is the only bootcut style I’ve enjoyed in years.

I’m so small, so I generally look like I’m being consumed by denim if I start treading beyond a straight-leg style, but the mini bootcut silhouette is perfect for more petite women like me. I paired them with a few of my ankle boots and nailed a sleek outfit every time. The brand also uses a slimming panel in its jeans to provide lift and help shape, which kept me looking pretty smooth even when I sat down in them. You can snap them up on sale for $104 for a limited time by using code FEBSALE at checkout.

Carve Designs Carson Hi Rise Jean

I like to think of the Carson Hi Rise Jean as the everyday denim piece. I like that they’re pre-cuffed, and the Favorite Fade wash is so distinctly modern while still looking traditional. I paired this with a couple of flouncy peasant tops and Chelsea boots and earned a couple of compliments. Though I was afraid the regular inseam would be awkward in the size 4 option, it turned out to be the perfect length when I wear my shoes with them. They skimmed a bit above the tops of my shoes.

They didn’t look as snug on my rear as other similar fits. However, I found if I pair them with a small heel, they look better in the back. I love the high-rise waist and the cool boyfriend cut that gives them a slouchy appearance without looking sloppy.

Madewell The Dean Easy Straight Jean

As Madewell’s newest style, I was excited to try these straight jeans out. They give such a surfer-chill yet super-chic vibe when paired with a more feminine top. They’re also slightly distressed and feature raw hems, adding to their cool air. I got the petite inseam in a size 27, and it fit wonderfully around my waist and hips.

These are also the lowest-rise denim that I tried, and I was pleasantly surprised at how good they looked around my midsection. The Medium Monessen wash is casual but still versatile enough to work for various occasions, and although they weren’t designed with stretch, they were still comfortable to wear around all day. Plus, I liked the deep pockets that were just the right size for my phone.

Wrangler Retro High Rise Skinny Jean

Okay, so on my journey to testing denim, I realized that I picked up the wrong inseam for these jeans. Rather than getting the size 27 with a 28-inch inseam, I accidentally got the 30-inch, but I still really wanted to try these. With a meaningful mix of cotton, spandex, and polyester, these jeans were created to have a bit of stretch and comfort while still feeling form-fitting—and that’s exactly how they fit.

I have to admit, these were the most challenging pair of jeans out of all to step into because the leg area was so tight, but once I got in them, I didn’t want to take them off. As you can see, the 30-inch inseam was way too long for me, but I’d definitely do much better with the shorter option.