Most women would agree that finding the perfect pair of jeans isn’t easy.
For small women, though, finding denims that fit and flatter can be downright challenging.
For one thing, petite jeans don’t come in as many styles and designs as regular-sized jeans.
Plus, petite women have a variety of body frames and shapes to consider.
But denim jeans are a popular item for petites, so finding the perfect pair is worth the time and effort it takes. Here are some tips that might help make the process more successful:
Choose slightly flared styles. Boot-cut jeans with a minimally flared leg as well as straight-leg jeans help give the illusion of height and leanness to a small frame. Conversely, a widely flared or wide-leg jean can look sloppy and overwhelming on petite women.
Other styles to steer away from for petite figures include cropped jeans, boyfriend jeans, and skinny jeans – all of which accentuate shortness. Skinny jeans, can, however, can be flattering on petites if worn with heels or tucked into a heeled boot.
Avoid light denim. Dark blue denim or black denim has a slenderizing effect that complements a petite figure.
Dark denim also makes the legs appear longer and provides a dressier, more polished look, which further flatters a short stature.
Light denim jeans, on the other hand, draw more attention to the lower half of the body, especially when they come in faded, distressed, or embellished patterns typical of this color denim.
Allow enough inseam length. Always try on jeans with footwear that bears the heel size you plan to wear with the jeans. Inseams for petite jeans run short, around 28 inches on average, which might be fine in bare feet but not when wearing a heeled shoe.
If you’re on the taller side of petite or have long legs, look for petite jeans with at least a 30-inch inseam.
Not only do you want to accommodate a heel when choosing denims for petites, you will need to allow enough length for some shrinkage.
Be thorough when searching for petite jeans. Fortunately, there are many places to find petite jeans; it’s just a matter of covering all the bases.
Be sure to check petite departments of department stores, specialty shops for petite women, denim retailers, and online vendors.
Petite jeans come in a variety of fits for a variety of figures, so take some time to read reviews and try on different brands.
You don’t need to settle for a less-than-perfect pair, as long as you research all possibilities.
Beware of “short” jeans. If you’ve searched far and wide for the perfect pair of petite jeans without success, you can try a regular or junior “short” pair of jeans.
The problem with “shorts” is that they aren’t made for petite frames, so while they may fit lengthwise, they may not be proportional in other areas, like the hips or thighs.
Junior-sized jeans tend to have a short rise, which can be uncomfortable and ill-suited for petites, who fare better with a high-waist pant.
Finding the perfect pair of jeans for a petite figure doesn’t have to be a struggle.
Take the time and energy to look for jeans that fit your small figure just right, and they will become your favorite piece of clothing for years to come.
