petite jeans? Jean questions in general

[redsquirrel]

I need better jeans. I just do. I am over spending 19.99 on jeans at walmart, kwim? I don't have to do that any more and I am just not going to.  I live in jeans and I should have some that fit me.

 

So, I need petite jeans for a curvy figure. My friend's daughter found a pair of Silver jeans at a consignment store and they looked fantastic on her. But, while Silver does have curvy fit jeans, they do not have petite.

 

Here is the thing, I am a true petite. I don't mean that I am a size 00. I am a size 8 or 10. But I am petite. I am hardly 5' tall. My rise is shorter than the average woman. My ratios are shorter over all. I can't find tall boots that fit me because they are too long and go over my knees. I can't just buy longer jeans and have them hemmed. Well, I can and I have, but they never fit quite right. The knees hit me mid shin, the rise will be too high and the waist hikes up around my ribs, it just doesn't work.

 

I am also curvy. I have always said I have a pear figure, but my sister, who knows about such mysterious things, said I am a true hourglass. Whatever I am, I have rounded hips and a small waist. If I wear a belt there ends up being so much fabric around my waist that I could make another pair of jeans, lol.

 

So, any suggestions? I am willing to go close to 100$ for jeans (deep breaths, deep breaths). I am sick of swimming in my clothes. A friend told me that every time I get dressed I look like I gain 25lbs. There is a problem here.

 

And should I consider 'skinny jeans'? I can't imagine I would look anything but ridiculous in them. I consider my most difficult figure area to by my hips. I have the classic saddlebag issue and it seems like no matter how much weight I lose those just look bigger, lol. I once tried on jeggings and almost hurt myself laughing. I looked so terrible that I couldn't even feel bad about it. It was just so funny! But I keep hearing people say they love them and I am starting to wonder.  But, all the skinny jeans I see in stores literally come up to my chin, so I haven't tried any.

 

Who would think that finding a pair of stupid pants would cause so much angst?

 

I don't have much around here.  We have a kohls and I have been buying cheap jeans there because they have a petite section. I haven't bought jeans in a couple years because I hate what I have. They are falling apart so I need to get some more. We have a Gap, but they don't carry petite jeans in the store. If I drive to Syracuse there is a Macy's. Actually, if I drive to Syracuse there is prob. anything I can imagine. I never go there so I don't know.

[NorthwestMom]

I buy Lucky jeans. They are expensive but I like them a lot. I am 5'1". I wear skinny jeans too. I think the structure of jeans and jeggings are different - it's worth a try. Do you have a Nordstrom in driving distance? I know they have a personal shopping service. I haven't used it, but my friend does religiously. Once you figure out a brand and style that works, you can probably order them online and avoid the drive. Good luck!

[Crimson Wife]

{{{hugs}}} I am 2" taller than you but still in petites. It is *SO* hard to find petite clothes designed for women with curves. Manufacturers seem to think that all petite women are "rulers" and ignore all the petite hourglasses and pears.

 

Levi's Bold Curve jeans come in a 30" inseam. Is that short enough for you or do you need a shorter one?

[Catwoman]

{{{hugs}}} I am 2" taller than you but still in petites. It is *SO* hard to find petite clothes designed for women with curves. Manufacturers seem to think that all petite women are "rulers" and ignore all the petite hourglasses and pears.

 

Levi's Bold Curve jeans come in a 30" inseam. Is that short enough for you or do you need a shorter one?

I was thinking she would need around a 26" inseam, or a 28" if she wears heels, but maybe I'm picturing her dimensions incorrectly.

 

Does Levi's Bold Curve make an ankle-length jean? They might make a perfect "normal-length" jean for a true petite.

[Catwoman]

If you don't have too many stores near you, have you ever tried ordering jeans from QVC or HSN? I know they carry petites in many styles and they list the inseam in the product description. The reviews can be helpful in determining what body types they will fit.

[Momof3littles]

I think loft has a curvier and a straighter foot option on jeans. I know they do on other pants. They also have petites.

Do you have a nordstrom? Lots of options, personal shoppers, tailoring in house for free for hemming.

You might like some of the jean styles that are a more relaxed skinny jean. Sometimes a "skinny boyfriend" or a straighter leg that isn't super skinny.

Lots of cropped jean options might work for you if you check the inseam. Cropped or ankle length options have been really popular and for those of us who are vertically challenged, they can sometimes work as full length depending on the inseam.

Nordstrom has free shipping and free returns. Maybe order 6 prs or so in petite options to try at home? Read online reviews to see what might work for your body type. (Brand and fit).

[Lovingparent]

I second the Nordstrom suggestion. I have a champagne jeans taste and a beer budget. Nordstrom has sales often (if you wait long enough they have deep, deep cuts) and with free shipping and returns you can order a few pairs, try them one and keep the one that fits you best. 

I am a pear shape and I do the skinny jeans, but they require the right tops and they are more work to pull off than boot cuts. For you, I think I would order petite boot cuts or maybe petite straight cuts. I would never do tapered jeans. When I try tapered jeans I might as well have arrows pointing at my hips  :laugh: .

 

Another suggestion is to try low rise cropped jeans. Some are 27-28 inches and a low rise would probably be right for you. 

 

Good luck!

[redsquirrel]

I need a 28' inseam if I wear heels. In three seasons I am in Dansko clogs (3" lift!) and those work. Gosh, I am short, lol. A three inch heel to make a 28" inseam fit. That is actually funny.  Huh, I just realized why my jeans are feeling even crappier this summer. I am in flat sandals so of course the jeans that fit in clogs don't fit.  I have fabric bunched up around my feet.

 

Thank you for the commiseration. It seems like such a silly thing, but I am about to be 47 years old and I am sick of clothes that don't actually fit.  Lands End petites fit me when I am looking for tank tops and dresses. I have never tried their jeans, I don't even know if they make jeans.

 

And clothing designers seem to think that ALL women should look like rulers. I don't understand what part about FEMALE they don't understand.

 

And if anyone is looking for jeans, those Silver jeans looked amazing. They make fits for different hip shapes. But they come in a 31" or 33" inseam.  Much too long for me. If they are really made that well, a 3" hem will mess up the line.

[Paige]

What about Lands End? I have never bought jeans from there, but they carry very short (inseam 26in) jeans in several different styles. 

[redsquirrel]

I second the Nordstrom suggestion. I have a champagne jeans taste and a beer budget. Nordstrom has sales often (if you wait long enough they have deep, deep cuts) and with free shipping and returns you can order a few pairs, try them one and keep the one that fits you best. 

I am a pear shape and I do the skinny jeans, but they require the right tops and they are more work to pull off than boot cuts. For you, I think I would order petite boot cuts or maybe petite straight cuts. I would never do tapered jeans. When I try tapered jeans I might as well have arrows pointing at my hips  :laugh: .

 

Another suggestion is to try low rise cropped jeans. Some are 27-28 inches and a low rise would probably be right for you. 

 

Good luck!

 

Ah cropped jeans, the short girl's frenemy. I spend the 80s in cropped jeans. The only problem I have personally found with cropped is that they often have a little slit cut at the ankle (should be the calf) and that is a dead giveaway. It makes you look like you are a kid wearing your mom's clothes.  The second is that many cropped jeans are tapered. They are meant to come to a tighter fit around the mid calf and that makes for a tapered fit if they are worn ankle length. There are straight fit cropped jeans and that might work.

 

I try to save my buying of cropped jeans for when I find myself in a second hand store or similar situation.

 

I am going to see if there is a Nordstroms in one of the bigger cities around here. Syracuse has a Lucky jeans store so....

[redsquirrel]

ZOMG Lands End does have 26" inseams. That would fit me in flat shoes. I have NEVER seen 26" jeans.

 

I might try a pair and see how they fit. I dunno. I've been asking around and every time I see a pair of very flattering jeans they are always some expensive brand. Clearly, with some, the cost does get you a better fit. That is why I decided I am willing to pay if that's what it takes.

 

and with LE I am a size 8 waist and a size 10 hip.  Same old, same old. I wish grownup pants came with adjustable waists like my kids' pants do.

[zoobie]

My oldest is just above 5' and out of kids' sizes. The "cropped" styles fit her well if you want a skinny leg jean.

[Laurel-in-CA]

I shop @ Penny's in their petite section, which is small. However, if I find something I like & that fits well, I can then catalog order. Myself, I haven't tried Bean or Land's End because of the price.

 

Also, I have found that a lower waistline style helps reduce some of the problem with the rise being too long. I agree with you, anything from Walmart/Target/Kohls isn't likely to fit well. I have no waist, so it's even worse...I end up having a couple of rollovers @ waistline with normal size pants.

[Paula in MS]

I was going to recommend Gap.  Ours carries petite sizes in the store.  My daughter has a difficult time finding things that feel good on her, so I took her to gap.  She tried on every style imaginable in her size and left with 2 pair that she really liked.  

[Luckymama]

I am petite and have an hourglass figure like the OP. Unlike the OP, I have a slightly longer inseam.

 

Levi curvy jeans (I forget the name/number), boot cut, fit very well in the hips and thighs. The waist is a bit too big, unfortunately. I have to hem them up just a bit to wear with boots/heels.

 

When I'm up near a store, I'm going to try on Eddie Bauer's petite curvy jeans. They come in various styles. The petite has a 28" inseam, which means I may have to hem them a bit for heels, definitely for flats. I bought some petite convertible hiking pants from EB this spring and they fit me perfectly, so I have high hopes for the jeans :)

[Momof3littles]

Op, a lot of the current crops don't have that slit at the ankle. Search petite jeans at nordstrom.online, look at lofts selection too for some affordable petite options in curvier cuts.

[shukriyya]

I second the Gap suggestion. They carry petites and they also carry a large selection of different fits--curvy, bootcut, skinny, boyfriend etc. They often give an option for length, too--short, regular and tall.

[solascriptura]

My inseam is about a 27 inch, so it is shorter than most petite inseams of 28. I found a way to hem jeans without losing the original hem. Does that make sense? I believe that you can find videos on YouTube.

[WestHoustonMom]

I need a 28' inseam if I wear heels. In three seasons I am in Dansko clogs (3" lift!) and those work. Gosh, I am short, lol. A three inch heel to make a 28" inseam fit. That is actually funny. Huh, I just realized why my jeans are feeling even crappier this summer. I am in flat sandals so of course the jeans that fit in clogs don't fit. I have fabric bunched up around my feet.

 

Thank you for the commiseration. It seems like such a silly thing, but I am about to be 47 years old and I am sick of clothes that don't actually fit. Lands End petites fit me when I am looking for tank tops and dresses. I have never tried their jeans, I don't even know if they make jeans.

 

And clothing designers seem to think that ALL women should look like rulers. I don't understand what part about FEMALE they don't understand.

 

And if anyone is looking for jeans, those Silver jeans looked amazing. They make fits for different hip shapes. But they come in a 31" or 33" inseam. Much too long for me. If they are really made that well, a 3" hem will mess up the line.

I'm 5'1" and very curvy and on the larger size, and my best fitting "jeans" are a pair of Lands End petite capris that end up being ankle length. They're my only pair of jeans that doesn't have a huge waist gap.

[redsquirrel]

My current plan:

 

I am going to get a pair of the Lands End this month. I am sort of having a jeans emergency so I need to just get something. I will try a pair of the 28" petites for 60$ or whatever it is. I get emails with notices for discounts from them all the time so I might get a deal.

 

Then at some point this winter I am going to try ordering a 'nicer' pair and see if it is any different. Even the petites in the more expensive jeans have inseams in the 30s because they claim you just hem them as  you want them. In my experience, that throws off the fit pants. But, we'll see.

 

I will also check Gap, but last time I went to my local store I was told they don't carry petites, and I have to go online.

 

No Nordstroms anywhere near here. I would go there for their personal shopper service in a heartbeat if it really worked.  I might also try the Lucky store in Syracuse, but I don't see petites in their line.

 

And I am so old and not a size 00 so I dread walking into one of those stores.

[Luckymama]

Please report back on the fit of the LE jeans!

[mrs.m]

If you have a CJ banks, check them out. The have both petite and short sizes so you can get a great fit. I was surprised because I considered them to be more for older women. Only last night, I realize that I'm now that older woman. :D

[redsquirrel]

Please report back on the fit of the LE jeans!

 

Good idea! I am also planning to get a pair of the 26" inseam jeans in the spring. I've never had jeans that fit with flats, not even petites. They always pile up around my feet.

 

 

If you have a CJ banks, check them out. The have both petite and short sizes so you can get a great fit. I was surprised because I considered them to be more for older women. Only last night, I realize that I'm now that older woman. :D

 

 

I did try our CJ Banks a couple years ago (It might have since closed?) and they told me they only had 'short' jeans not petites. They were very apologetic about it. I don't remember what the difference was, but the sales person was clear that they were not made to fit petite women. If we still have it I will go back to see if they now have petites.

 

I just need to say that it is hard being the height of the average 11 year old. I get lost in a sea of 7th graders

 

And I know it is difficult for women who are tall. My niece is over 6' and I am sure she finds it difficult to find pants that fit.

[mrs.m]

Good idea! I am also planning to get a pair of the 26" inseam jeans in the spring. I've never had jeans that fit with flats, not even petites. They always pile up around my feet.

 

 

 

 

I did try our CJ Banks a couple years ago (It might have since closed?) and they told me they only had 'short' jeans not petites. They were very apologetic about it. I don't remember what the difference was, but the sales person was clear that they were not made to fit petite women. If we still have it I will go back to see if they now have petites.

 

they had a fairly extensive petite section which I never knew they had! They said that the rise is what makes the difference. A petite rise will be shorter. I really only have short legs so I'm not really petite since my waist is a bit longer, so petite pants don't always fit me correctly through the hips. I'm an hour glass figure and often times have a problem with jeans gaping the back. These didn't. Oh, and they make you feel good too because you'll have to buy a smaller size than at most stores. I think that's because they cut them a bit loser and not for a junior body. I normally buy a 12 but went down to an 8! I found some cute tops on the clearance rack and a lovely red cardigan for this fall.

[Chocolate Rose]

I never ever thought I would do this in a bazillion years, but I spent a small fortune on one pair of jeans last week and I LOVE them. I was exactly in the same place as you and tired of my jeans not fitting right. I am short, but round. I had finally found a great pair of jeans a couple of years ago (Levi skinny something or other), but because of medication, gained weight and still can't get back into them and I've been unable to find this particular Levi style again. So, I was wearing jeans I found at JCP. They fit, but are incredibly baggy in the legs and they look so bad, I haven't worn them all summer. I've just worn capris. Anyway, my dd and I were shopping for jeans for her last week and ended up at Macy's as she is hard to fit. We found jeans for her and I figured I had nothing to lose and tried on a bunch of jeans. Every pair I tried was sized "short" and every pair was too long for me. SOOOO frustrating. So, I asked a sales person what to do. She said she'd be right back and she disappeared. She came back with "petite" jeans. Holy cow!! I'm not "petite", but I tried them on anyway and they fit and I loved them. They are the Not Your Daughter's Jeans or something like that and are a bit over $100 a pair. The cashier person said that she now has 4 pairs and won't buy any other kind of jeans. The lady behind me in line said that she also has them and loves them and that they last forever. So, my recommendation is to give these a try and see what you think.

[redsquirrel]

Yeah, I've head very good things about "Not Your Daughter's Jeans". I keep thinking I will go to Macy's and try some on. I am seeing a friend this evening and she is the type to be up for a road trip to try on jeans.

 

Petite only means under 5'2" or maybe it is 5'4"? I can never remember. Lots of people think it means very thin or very straight, but it is all about height and proportions.

 

But, I am also seeing in online reviews that lots of not petite women are buying the more expensive petite jeans, because the petite size is long, but not quite as long as the non-petite. So, they don't have to get their jeans hemmed, the pants fit right off the rack.

[redsquirrel]

they had a fairly extensive petite section which I never knew they had! They said that the rise is what makes the difference. A petite rise will be shorter. I really only have short legs so I'm not really petite since my waist is a bit longer, so petite pants don't always fit me correctly through the hips. I'm an hour glass figure and often times have a problem with jeans gaping the back. These didn't. Oh, and they make you feel good too because you'll have to buy a smaller size than at most stores. I think that's because they cut them a bit loser and not for a junior body. I normally buy a 12 but went down to an 8! I found some cute tops on the clearance rack and a lovely red cardigan for this fall.

 

You want to hear something weird? I am super short, but I am all legs. My legs are so long, lol. If I were a tall person I would be a glamazon!

 

So, short leg pants with a regular rise wouldn't fit me at all. I am like the polar opposite, lol.

[Ripley]

I love Gap jeans, and my stores carry the short/ankle length.

But they're too long for me and I'm the same height as the OP.

I think they're made even longer now to account for heels or something.

The length used to be a few inches too long, but now they're a good 5" long!

 

I don't know if the same is true for other brands or petite lengths.

But I gave up and now do a crude cut of the bottom hem of Gap jeans.

They fit well everywhere else (I'm also an hourglass shape) so I just run with it.

If the rough hem isn't good enough to wear somewhere, I skip the jeans entirely LOL.

 

Gap is the only place that fits the rest of my body well.

Old Navy, too, but the denim quality feels different so I don't usually buy there.

[VeritasMama]

I'm just shy of 5'1". Lands End jeans are the best fit I've found in petites. The petite sizes at Gap and similiar stores don't fit me as well. Just my personal experience.

[Luckymama]

Hmmm maybe I should order some LE jeans...

[Luckymama]

My current plan:

 

I am going to get a pair of the Lands End this month. I am sort of having a jeans emergency so I need to just get something. I will try a pair of the 28" petites for 60$ or whatever it is. I get emails with notices for discounts from them all the time so I might get a deal.

.

Which 'fit' do you think you'll get?

[redsquirrel]

prob 2?  I think I will start with that. I shy away from slim fitting in the thighs and hips. I have had too many experiences of bringing a pair of jeans into the dressing room that SHOULD fit only to not be able to even pull them up. Very demoralizing.

 

However, LE tends to be a bit more sane about such things. I think if I were getting the 26" inseam for flats I might go for fit #1. But for most of the winter I will be wearing dansko clogs, so the boot cut is more appealing right now.

[Rebel]

I went to a Lucky store during off peak hours so I would have a sales person to help me. We looked for low rise and shortest inseam possible. I ended up with 2 pair that are actually cropped jeans and 1 pair of boot cut. All still needed to be hemmed which is why my tailor is a frequent stop for me. I am 4' 10" by the way, but not really an hour glass though I do have hips. I tend to wear anything between a 0 and a 4 depending on the brand.

[mrs.m]

prob 2?  I think I will start with that. I shy away from slim fitting in the thighs and hips. I have had too many experiences of bringing a pair of jeans into the dressing room that SHOULD fit only to not be able to even pull them up. Very demoralizing.

 

However, LE tends to be a bit more sane about such things. I think if I were getting the 26" inseam for flats I might go for fit #1. But for most of the winter I will be wearing dansko clogs, so the boot cut is more appealing right now.

 

I think you can return them to a Sears store if they don't work. So the risk is low.

 

I found a curvy fit at Talbots on the clearance rack yesterday that fit perfectly with a slight boot cut. My daughter was in the dressing room with me and commented that they didn't look like Mom jeans. :p If you're by a Talbots, you might give them a go too. But you'll really only want to shop clearance if you're a penny pincher like I am.

 

Loft and Gap were a big NO for me. Too slim in the thighs. Gaping at the waist in the back. Just awkward. :001_unsure:

 

I'm shopping for jeans because I dropped down two sizes in the past year. I'm amazed that styles that fit me back then don't fit at all now. But I do have a lot less around my waist line. My go-to jeans used to be from Maurices. And now they just don't fit.

 

[Guest iamjust10]

for me, it would be best to wear skinny jeans. it will show up your curves. It'd be nice if its flexible so you would feel comfortable wearing it. Pair it with some tees and you're good to go! :)

[AimeeM]

I'm listening in. I'm overall petite and slender, BUT I've had three children and have the curves to go with that. The juniors' selection just doesn't cut it for my curves, but I can't fit into "women's sizes" either. I'm in about a 2-4 in juniors, but they do NOT fit nicely - as in, they fit around the stomach correctly, but are too long, and slightly dig into my hips; any higher up in the sizes, though, and I'm swimming around the stomach area and in length. 

I generally buy at Macy's, but their petite selection (in store - I need to try on) is lacking big time.

[Paige]

I have a pair of Lucky petites. I like them, but- they are really big. I should hem them but I don't want to take the time and money. In my highest heels and boots I can wear them. They are also more roomy in about every area than Gap or Levis. The style and color are nice but I only get about 1.5hrs of good wear before they start slipping off my hips too much. I still like them because they look nice when I have the perfect shoes and I'm just going out for the night or something. They look nicer than my Gap or Levis. I also like White House/Black Market but they fit a lot like the Lucky ones. They might be a bit slimmer all around.