Jeans that Give Petite and Short Women a Great Fit and Look

Tamara McRill
Petite women face a multitude of challenges when shopping for jeans. It can be hard to find jeans that do not drag the floor or have a short enough inseam. Different styles of jeans will help different shaped petite woman look stylish and proportional.

Best Jeans For Petite Women: Fit
Petite women looking for jeans should not just consider length. They should also make sure that the jeans fit right. Make sure there is not an excess of fabric in the crotch and pay attention to how your backside looks in the jeans. Short women buying jeans need to consider cut, fabric, sizing and proportions, before purchasing a pair of jeans.

Best Jeans For Petite Women: Cut
The most critical cuts for a woman looking for the best fitting pair of petite jeans are inseam, length, waist and seat. Make sure the jeans are the correct length. Keep in mind that jeans that are a little too long can be hemmed, but you cannot lengthen a pair of jeans if there is not enough fabric. The best jeans for petite women will have small hems. Wide hems will just make you look shorter. In fact, all seams on a petite woman's blue jeans should be smaller than regular sizes.

When shopping for jeans for short women, make sure to check the fit of the waist. Be sure to pull the jeans to where you would normally wear them on your waist and hips. Then check and see if the inseam and seat seam are correct and fit well. Do not buy a pair of jeans where the seams and fit around the waist and hips do not line up and are not comfortable. Not only will you feel awkward in them, but they will not look right on you.

Best Jeans For Petite Women: Fabric
When shopping for petite jeans with a fabric design, always make sure the design is small. This includes any distress marks or fabric character marks. If the fabric design for short jeans is smaller than the regular size jeans, than the manufacturer has made sure to use a different fabric with the correct proportional detailing for a petite woman.

Best Jeans For Petite Women: Sizing
The only way to make sure a pair of jeans is your size, is to try them on. Jean sizes can vary with all manufacturers, including those who make petite jeans. The easiest way to get the best fit, is to go with your hip size. Remember, the waist can be taken in. If you smooth you hands down your sides and feel a bump, go up a size. If you can feel the bump created by your jeans, other people can see it. If the jeans droop or bag, try going down a size. Saggy bottom jeans are not attractive on any woman and can make a petite woman look shorter.

Best Jeans For Petite Women: Proportion
Proportion is one of the most important factors to selecting the best pair of jeans for a petite woman. Make sure the pockets and belt loops are proportional to your size and not just cut down versions of regular sized jeans. Shorter jeans should have smaller pockets and detailing, so your petite frame is not overwhelmed or made to look odd.

Best Jeans For Petite Women: Style
The best general style of jeans for short women is straight leg jeans. Depending on you body type, boot-cut, tapered or wide-leg jeans may look good. Petite women should steer clear of jeans with flamboyant cuts or detailing that will overwhelm their frames. This includes cuffs, pleats, bell-bottoms and flap pockets. Brands that make stylish, well fitting jeans for petite women include Banana Republic, Jag and Caslon.

Published by Tamara McRill

Tamara McRill is a freelance writer focusing on news, politics, lifestyle and business. Tamara began her career writing for newspapers, including a brief stint as a sports editor, but is now reaching lar...  View profile

7 Comments

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  • Jacqueline Giovanniello11/12/2009

    Great tips, I am 5 foot nothing and I have such a difficult time finding the right jeans. I am going to look into the ones that you mentioned! Thanks

  • Jolene Munoz10/7/2009

    This petite woman thanks you, great article!

  • Julie Darleen9/18/2009

    Good advice. Thanks

  • Langley Cornwell9/18/2009

    Thanks for the helpful information. I'm trying to avoid the dreaded 'Mom Jeans' look!

  • Shethy Stuckey9/15/2009

    I'm petite thanks for the info.

  • Shethy Stuckey9/15/2009

    I'm petite thanks for the info.

  • Robert Lee Alford9/15/2009

    great read ,my wife is petite.

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