Our collective move towards more sustainable shopping practices has put increased emphasis on our wardrobe basics – and jeans are one of the building blocks that inspire endless styling potential.
In all four fashion capitals at the spring/summer and autumn/winter 2024 shows, jeans were a stalwart. The major houses, from Chanel to Louis Vuitton and Gucci to Chloé, sent wearable denim down the runway, solidifying what every laidback fashion fan already knows. It doesn’t get more capsule than jeans.
You can nail everyday dressing by pairing any silhouette with a tank top, oversized shirt and trainers. Or for evening appeal, a silk cami and heels transform fitted cuts for a night on the tiles. Lean into the current obsession with all things 90s with oversized styles where the baggier the better or keep it clean, classic and elegant with a straight leg that brings polish and answers the denim prayers of style-savvy minimalists.
It’s ironic, then, that jeans are likely the most worn item in our outfit rotation and yet are the most challenging item to buy.
Somehow as stress-inducing as trying on swimsuits, finding the perfect jeans – you know that style that looks good, fits well and stands the test of time – is not an easy task. It is a challenge that is only exacerbated when you’re petite.
Those of us under 5ft4 know all too well that a new pair of trousers either comes with a trip to a tailor or a DIY revamp where they are rolled up till the end of time. The latter is fine for straight legs but for wide fits and flares, it simply doesn’t work. Until now.
How we tested
We’ve slipped, squeezed and struggled into hundreds of the cropped, shorter and petite ranges from the high street and high-end to find the ones made for shorter statures.
While keeping current denim trends in mind, namely the revival of Nineties and Noughties favourites, we have selected those that will transcend fads and be workhorses in your wardrobe for years to come. While skinny jeans are seeing a resurgence – spotted during the SS24 and AW24 shows at Miu Miu and Balenciaga, we have chosen to blow the proportions and keep to less figure-hugging fits for greater longevity in your trouser arsenal.
The current Y2K nostalgia has brought low-rise cuts back to the forefront for Gen Z, but we have only chosen jeans that still feel wearable and versatile, taking you from work to the weekend. High-waisted also happens to have a leg-lengthening effect on smaller frames, so this is something to keep in mind.
Shop the best jeans for petite frames below
Reformation Cary High Rise Slouchy Wide Leg Cropped Jeans
I’m a sucker for high-rise jeans. They’re always more comfortable and complimentary for my hourglass figure. Cary is no different with a roomy fit and a good amount of stretch. The Cary High Rise Slouchy jeans come in straight and wide leg, the latter of which I put to the test. They have the miraculous ability to be baggy yet flattering and pair just as easily with trainers as they do heels.
I am 5ft4 and the jeans were so long they dragged on the floor. I exchanged these for the cropped iteration, which as a word of warning for fellow petite girls, are not very cropped. Instead, they drape over my feet - a sneaker with a stacked sole or a slight wedge shoe is needed.
There are 12 colourways. Galveston is a washed black hue, while Chesapeake has a studded design. Honourable mention goes to the deconstructed Cabo Reworked design and the brown Vintage Espresso that taps into one of this season’s most sought-after colourways.
Buy now £168.00, Reformation
501 Levi's Crop Jeans
The 501s are the most famous jeans silhouette ever created. Way back in 1873, they became the world’s first blue jean patent and have stood the test of time. What has made the style endure through denim evolutions is the straight-leg, universally flattering fit. A twist on the original, the Crop is shorter in length and so better suited for petite statures, but retains the signatures including the all-cotton composition, five pockets and endless wearability. Sizes range from 23 to 32 waist and in two lengths - 26 and 28.
Buy now £50.00, Levi's
MOTHER The Insider Crop Step Fray
LA-born label MOTHER has been given the seal of approval from the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Meghan Markle and Olivia Wilde who are no doubt drawn to the quality constructions and sleek aesthetic. The basics done right, the brand has reinterpreted the classic jeans silhouette with a high-waisted fit, bootcut flare and a subtle distressed step-hem that makes them suitable to style up or down whatever the occasion. They come in seven hues, including the Not Guilty black wash pictured and range in size from 23 to 34.
Buy now £265.00, MOTHER
Good American Good Petite ‘90s Jeans
The Khloe Kardashian-founded label was created to redress the imbalance in the jeans market. Making size inclusivity its MO, Good American has an extensive range of styles suited to all body shapes and sizes with one of the most diverse collections. Newly added are the Good Petite 90s Jeans that take inspiration from the decade dominating the fashion agenda with a loose-fit silhouette. The jeans are defined by their dropped crotch, relaxed style and distressed knees and look straight out of the Calabasas resident’s wardrobe. They come in waist sizes 24.5 to 55.
Buy now £165.00, Good American
Topshop Petite Ember low rise wide leg jeans in dark vintage grey
Best known for its flagship Oxford Street store and jeans collection, fashion lovers across the nation were heartbroken at the news that Topshop was closing its doors. But, luckily, ASOS saved the high-street hero and has continued its legacy in the denim space while adding to the range. Ember has a low rise, wide leg and a laidback feel with its vintage grey hue that looks washed out in the best possible way.
Buy now £46.00, ASOS
New Look Petite Black Wide Leg Cargo Jeans
Harking back to the 1980s, cargo trousers took on a whole new sartorial cachet in the Noughties - and for those of us alive in that era, there are some unfortunate photos to prove it. In line with the cyclical nature of fashion, cargos are back but this style from New Look will have you welcoming the silhouette back into your wardrobe with excitement rather than dread. They have a relaxed fit, versatile black colourway and most importantly of all, a whole lot of pockets.
Buy now £34.98, New Look
Mint Velvet Light Indigo Workable Wide Jeans
Mint Velvet’s bestselling Wide Jeans are the endlessly wearable style your casual wardrobe has been missing. The trousers are defined by their customisability where you can choose between seven tonal shades as well as dictate the length of your choosing. Go for the regular if you’re looking for a 90s-inspired oversized fit or the short for petite statures and you’ll never take them off.
Buy now £99.00, Mint Velvet
ME + EM Short Length Split Seam Flare Jean
Proving that jeans will play a vital role in your workwear rotation, ME + EM has paired its flares with a fitted shirt and blazer that brings the aesthetic to the boardroom, whether you slip on a pair of vibrant trainers for a pop of colour or take a more formal approach with loafers or slingbacks. The jeans have a shorter length, created with those at 5ft4 and under in mind and a frayed hem.
Buy now £78.00, ME + EM
Abercrombie Mid Rise 90s Straight Jean
Abercrombie once dominated our OOTD in the 00s but while it has likely been fazed out over time, the brand has had a revival in recent years and is now home to one of the best designated petite ranges on the market, especially when it comes to the brand’s dresses.
The denim selection is notable too and there’s a range of retro and contemporary styles with shorter lengths for petite frames. The Mid Rise 90s Straight Jean falls into the former category and pairs the nostalgic silhouette with a vintage denim wash. The size ranges from 23 to 37.
Buy now £75.00, Abercrombie
Whistles Petite Authentic Barrel Leg Jeans
Another nostalgic style that has had a revival on the fashion scene, barrel-leg jeans are a lot more wearable than they may originally appear. More fitted than balloon trousers, they are best paired with fitted tees to create angular proportions. There are four hues available; white, black and light and dark wash blue.
Buy now £95.00, John Lewis
Boden Girlfriend Jeans
Girlfriend jeans are the feminine take on the beloved boyfriend style with a higher waist and a more straight-leg fit. As shown by Boden’s iteration, they have an effortlessly chic laidback feel - not in the least because of the rolled-up hem. These trousers sit at ankle length and in three fits; petite, regular and long. There are six tonal shades including a polka dot patterned version and in sizes 25 to 34.
Buy now £85.00, Boden
