As someone who stands five feet two, I can firmly attest it’s been a challenge to find the best jeans for petite women to fit my short frame. I’ve often been let down when ordering a pair online (in the hopes it would magically fit me) or when I would take a pair to the dressing room, only to find the jeans far extended past my ankles. Of course, a trip to the tailor is always an option, but when it comes to something as practical and universal as denim, it’s neither cost-effective nor efficient to do so each and every time. The key? Pay attention to the inseam length and rise.
The inseam and fit guide
If you’re like me, stick to inseams between 25 and 26 inches and under; if you’re five feet three, you can go up to 27 inches. Madeleine Cohen, founder of Nelle Atelier—a newly launched petite clothing brand that debuted with denim—echoes this.
“Women should look for inseams between 25 and 31”, focusing on the shorter end of that range when wearing flats and the longer end when wearing heels,” she says. Additionally, Cohen recommends “rises that hover around 11” for high-rise; anything above that will feel constricting around the ribcage.” To summarize:
- Inseam: Our experts recommend looking for inseam lengths between 25 and 31 inches, again depending on the shoes you want to wear.
- Rise: For a petite, anything above 11” will have a higher-rise fit. So if you want something low or mid rise, anything below 11” is better for you.
Whether you’re searching for a style that is high-waisted, boot cut, flared, or distressed—the perfect pair of jeans awaits. Ahead, shop the 18 best petite jeans for women I’ve found over the years.
Vogue’s Guide to the Best Petite Jeans for Women
- The Best Mid-Rise Jean: Frame Le Crop mini boot jeans, $228
- The Best High-Waist Jean: Levi’s high-waist jeans,
$98,$54 - The Best Cropped Jean: Mother The Insider cropped step fray jeans, $218
- The Best Bootcut Jean: Khaite The Vivian jeans in black rinse, $380
- The Best Straight-Leg Jeans: Re/Done 70s High Rise Stove Pipe straight-leg jeans, $265
- The Best Slouchy Jean: Madewell The Petite Slouchy Boyjean, $138
- The Best Flare Jean: Mango Crop Flare Jeans, $50
- The Best Wide Leg Jean: Wandler Lotus cropped wide-leg jeans,
$215, $151 - The Best Petite Jeans: Nelle Atelier The Emily, $218
- The Best Rigid Denim: Agolde ’90s Crop Jean, $208
The Best Straight-Leg: Everlane
- Why It’s Worth It: For a boyfriend-style fit, Everlane’s ’90s slouch jeans help give an easy, relaxed fit. Pair them with a chunky knit sweater and Chelsea boots during the fall, or tank and slides in the summer. They’re a great under-$100 pick as well.
- Inseam: 27 1/2”
- Length: Regular and long
- Style: Relaxed, boyfriend fit
- Rise: 11.63”, wears high-rise
- Size: 23 to 33
The Best White Jeans: Madewell
- Why It’s Worth It: And because one pair isn’t enough, Madewell makes a really good pair of white denim. Its Perfect Vintage straight-leg jean in white is my go-to summer pair. But you can wear them all year long, because the no white after Labor Day rule is not one we like to follow here at Vogue.
- Inseam: 26.5”
- Length: Petite
- Style: Straight-leg
- Rise: 10”, wears mid-rise
- Size: 23 to 33
The Best Mid-Rise Jean: Frame
- Why It’s Worth It: Ask any fashion editor, and you’ll find Frame is often at the top of their denim list. Offering supreme style, quality, and a seamless fit, it’s no surprise I love Frame’s cropped bootcut jeans. They hit at the perfect mid-rise height, falling neither too low nor too high, right before my ankles. (They also come in a variety of washes, from true black to a faded blue-grey.) I like to pair these with my Proenza Schouler x Birkenstocks during the summertime and look forward to swapping them out for a pair of lug sole boots in the fall.
- Inseam: 26 1/2”
- Length: Regular and cropped
- Style: Cropped bootcut
- Rise: 8.25”, wears mid-rise
- Size: 23 to 34
The Best Flare Jean: Mango
- Why It’s Worth It: For a reliable pair of petite flare-jeans, try a pair of flared jeans from Mango. It caters to women of all shapes and sizes. Whether you’re petite, tall, plus size, or just in between, there’s a pair of jeans for you. l especially love this pair, which goes well with heels, boots, and everything in between.
- Inseam: 26.77”
- Length: Regular
- Style: Cropped bootcut
- Rise: Mid-rise
- Size: 23 to 44
The Best Skinny Jean: Gap
- Why It’s Worth It: For the best petite jeans for women at the best price point, look no further than Gap. Its denim collection is a fan favorite of our own accessories director, and I’ve found the brand’s skinny jeans a pair I can rely on all year long.
- Inseam: 24 1/2”
- Length: Regular, tall, and petite (short)
- Style: Cropped bootcut
- Rise: 11”, wears high-rise
- Size: 24 to 35
The Best Vintage-Inspired Jean: Re/Done
- Why It’s Worth It: If you’re eyeing something with a vintage feel, Re/Done is a denim line that offers a wide mix of cuts and styles. I especially like this light-wash vintage version. Just remember to pay close attention to inseam lengths, as they do vary by style.
- Inseam: 27”
- Length: Regular
- Style: Cropped bootcut
- Rise: 11”, wears high-rise
- Size: 23 to 32
- Why it’s worth it: Levi’s Wedgie jeans have been a wardrobe staple of mine for years. Not only do they hit my ankles perfectly, but they’re comfortable for all-day wear. Shop them in a variety of shades, from classic blue and washed black to white and more.
- Inseam: 27”
- Length: Regular
- Style: Straight-leg
- Rise: 11”, wears high-rise
- Size: 23 to 32
- Why it’s worth it: Naturally, this pair by Mother says it all in the name. Not only does it put an extra pep in my step when I slip these on, but I love that they have a frayed hem for a bit of extra edge too. Shop it in seven different shades and 12 different sizes.
- Inseam: 26”
- Length: Regular and petite
- Style: Cropped bootcut
- Rise: 10”, wears mid-rise
- Size: 23 to 34
- Why It’s Worth It: Calling all clog connoisseurs: Chances are you might be a fan of wide-leg jeans too. Wandler’s Lotus jeans may seem overwhelming at first glance to any petite woman, but because of the cropped silhouette, I promise they will fit your frame seamlessly.
- Inseam: 25”
- Length: Regular
- Style: Wide leg
- Rise: High-rise
- Size: 24 to 32
- Why It’s Worth It: Khaite may be known for its RTW and handbags, but don’t sleep on the brand’s denim line. Its Vivian jeans in black rinse are one of my favorite pairs. They give a tailored trouser feel (minus the trousers and tailor) but all-around jeans comfort.
- Inseam: 26”
- Length: Regular
- Style: Cropped bootcut
- Rise: 9 ¾ through 12” depending on size, wears mid to high-rise
- Size: 23 to 32
- Why It’s Worth It: These tried-and-true blues from Re/Done are made for slipping on for a weekend stroll, heading to lunch, or running errands. Style it with your favorite striped sweater and loafers for a no-fuss weekend formula.
- Inseam: 26”
- Length: Regular
- Style: Cropped bootcut
- Rise: 11”, wears high-rise
- Size: 23 to 32
The Best Black Jean: La Ligne
- Why It’s Worth It: If you’re like me and already a fan of La Ligne’s covet-worthy striped knits, their newest foray into denim will not disappoint. I’ve been wearing La Ligne’s Meredith jean non-stop. The ink-colored jeans have a slight flare and cropped hem, which fit my 5’2” frame easily, despite being ½ inch longer than my usual 27” rule. Style it with a pair of loafers and a blazer for the office or a pair of slides and a white tee for a winning weekend ensemble.
- Inseam: 27 1/2”
- Length: Regular
- Style: Cropped bootcut
- Rise: 11 to 13 1/5” depending on waist size; wears high-rise
- Size: 23 to 34
- Why It’s Worth It: If you prefer a boyish denim style with a bit more room in your jeans, try Madewell’s Slouchy Boyjean which have a slouchy straight-leg silhouette. The denim is more rigid, so note it will take some time to break in.
- Inseam: 27 1/2”
- Length: Petite
- Style: Straight-leg
- Rise: 9”, wears low-rise
- Size: 23 to 33
The Best Cigarette Jean: DL1961
- Why It’s Worth It: If you’re looking for a pair of jeans to wear year-round, DL1961’s Enora Cigarette jeans are a must. They are comfortable and have that perfect vintage style wash that feels worn in, but still modern.
- Inseam: 29”
- Length: Regular
- Style: Straight-leg
- Rise: 11.5”, wears high-rise
- Size: 23 to 34
The Best Rigid Denim: Agolde
- Why It’s Worth It: I love this Agolde jean so much I own it in multiple washes; it’s easily also one of my most cherished wardrobe essentials. It’s technically a cropped “regular” style, but on my frame it fits like a full-length. It’s made of 100% cotton—a.k.a. rigid denim that gets better and softer over time. A word of caution: Size down. The light blue wash has stretched almost a full two sizes over the last few years. (FWIW, the dark and white ones have kept their shape more. )
- Inseam: 25 1/4”
- Length: Regular
- Style: Straight-leg, relaxed fit
- Rise: 12.5”, wears high-rise
- Size: 23 to 33
- Why It’s Worth It: I couldn’t make the super baggy, wide-leg look work for me until I found this pair with exaggerated cuffs (a denim trend I can more than get behind). The Ayla light wash is great for summer with a simple white T-shirt.
- Inseam: 26”
- Length: Regular
- Style: Baggy, wide-leg
- Rise: 13”, wears high-rise
- Size: 23 to 33
The Best Baggy Jean: Agolde
- Why It’s Worth It: Black baggy jeans might not be the best office clothes for women for everyone, but if your work dress code is relaxed (or more fashion-forward), you’ll find these baggy, low-rise jeans a versatile women’s wardrobe essential. (Multiple Vogue editors’ own this specific style!) I like to wear mine with a square-toe Mary Jane ballet flat or a pointy kitten-heel boot for a leg-lengthening look.
- Inseam: 28” and 30.5”
- Length: Regular and long
- Style: Baggy, wide-leg
- Rise: 12 1/5”, wears high-rise
- Size: 23 to 32
- Why It’s Worth It: Petite jeans for women can be hit or miss, but Nelle Atelier (which launched on November 30) delivers with its tailored-to-fit off the rack denim offering. My personal favorite is The Emily in Sapphire, a straight-leg “mom” jean for petite women with a mid-rise that doesn’t cling to the thighs or knees.
- Inseam: 25 3/4”
- Length: Petite
- Style: Straight-leg
- Rise: 12 1/8”, wears high-rise
- Size: 23 to 32
The difference between regular and petite jeans
“Petite jeans are shrunken down versions of regular size jeans,” Madewell’s SVP of Denim Design, Mary Pierson tells Vogue. “This means the jean is taken in at every major measurement point— slightly on the circumferences but a little more in the lengths. We don’t just make the inseams shorter; we make the rises slightly shorter and change the placement of the knee to accommodate for a smaller petite frame.” This approach ensures a balance of proportions; it’s also why a “quick snip” of the hem rarely works out.
When it comes to specifics to look out for, Pierson says that rise and knee placement are crucial to keep in mind. “Even if it is a high-rise jean, it still needs to hit at your natural waistline at/or slightly above your belly button. The knee placement needs to align so that the leg shape of the jean stays true to its intent,” she says. (I can concur—nothing throws the overall proportion off quite like when the knee caps hit the shins or when the rise’s all the way up at the ribcage.)