Best Jeans for Short Women: 17 Options Guaranteed to Fit

Many brands offer jeans for curvy women and petite options with shorter inseams, but few allow you to get a pair of jeans in both a curvy and petite fit. LOFT’s curvy jean offerings, which are cut to flatter women with larger hip/waist ratios, are also available in petite inseams for shorter women. This type of fit eliminates the gap in the waist that many curvy women experience when buying jeans that fit in the hip area, while also offering a shorter inseam to better suit a short frame.

Like most items from Levi’s, these jeans boast a classic fit and a wide range of wash options, from pure white to light blue to pitch black. What sets this pair apart, though, is the shaping feature throughout the tummy area. These offer a bit of support in the midsection, a stretchy fit, and a mid rise. The best part? There are four inseam options, so short women can choose the 26-inch or 28-inch length to better suit their leg length.

The brand known for having a ton of options when it comes to jeans (especially jeans for curvy women, plus-sizes, and petites) has plenty to love for short women, but this pair stands out. With its trendy roll-cuff hem and distressing throughout the leg, this pair feels casual and slouchy, yet won’t overwhelm short women thanks to its cropped inseam. While the length likely won’t leave a lot of ankle exposed on shorter women, if you’d like a more cropped look, simply cuff it a little more to suit your proportions.

While many brands are making great plus-size options these days, Universal Standard’s approach is centered around creating clothing for all bodies. To that effect, the brand uses a size 18 (the size the average American woman wears, according to the brand’s site) as its sample size. Rather than segment products into “straight” and “plus” sizes, this brand creates everything in a size-inclusive range. This particular pair of jeans is a classic skinny style that comes in a petite inseam, and you can choose between a mid or high rise.

Agolde has emerged as a darling in the world of designer denim in the past few years, with consumers raving over the brand’s fit and sustainable practices. The high-rise, straight-leg Riley style is among the brand’s most popular. While Agolde does not offer a short inseam option, this particular style is cropped, and many short women (myself included) love the fit.

Low-rise jeans are polarizing, to say the least. But if you like the style, this pair offers a nice streamlined boot-cut silhouette, a classic dark blue wash, and nice snug fit throughout the thighs. They’re available in a petite size, making this an excellent choice for shorter women who want to give the low-rise look a go.

The brand best known for its shapewear also makes jeans. As you might imagine, these come with a bit of tummy control. What’s great about these jeans is that they don’t have a button or zipper along the fly, meaning there’s less bulk around the midsection (and more overall comfort). These jeans are an easy pull-on style and come in a petite inseam.

Pricey? Absolutely. But the distressing on these jeans is so tasteful. As for the fit, these jeans combine a leg-lengthening high-rise with a slightly tapered leg, the ideal shape for someone looking to move away gradually from skinny jeans toward more current straight-leg styles. These are made of 100% cotton and won’t lose their shape over time.

When it comes to maternity jeans, here’s my take: Versatility is key. Buy one pair of maternity jeans that’ll look great in any season (because your pregnancies will span a few, especially if you’re pregnant multiple times) and can be dressed up or down. When I was expecting my twins, I opted for a pair of black skinny ankle jeans, as they worked year-round and for almost any occasion. This pair fits the bill: The skinny style may be considered “dated” but it is, arguably, the most versatile silhouette due to its ability to be worn with just about any pair of shoes. This pair comes in a short inseam.

The skinny fit here won’t overwhelm short frames, while the slightly cropped fit makes these feel a bit more on-trend than typical skinny jeans. The raw hem also adds an element of trendiness. This is a cropped style that actually looks like a cropped style on short women, thanks to the brand’s petite sizing. As a nice bonus, these jeans also boast slimming and shaping around the belly area.

The demi-boot cut style is perfect for fall, as it allows you to tuck a pair of ankle boots underneath the hem, while offering a streamlined fit throughout the leg. These jeans are also nice and stretchy. (Read: Very comfortable for all-day wear.)

Fans of this pair of skinny jeans rave about the flattering fit—and as one of those fans, I can attest. This pair is nothing fancy, just a simple pair of skinny jeans that fits well and offers a streamlined silhouette. I own these in the shorter inseam option and they fit right at the ankle on my frame. And I swear: These jeans make me look taller.

These jeans offer a cropped, straight leg—so no need to worry about them bunching up over your feet the way many pairs of straight leg jeans do on short women. Unlike many denim styles on the market, these are neither obviously tapered nor wide and slouchy in fit. They offer a true straight leg style.

With its high rise and dramatic flared profile, this pair of jeans is giving ‘70s vibes in the best way. Paige has created this style in a petite fit specifically to fit women under 5’4.” These jeans are available in a classic blue denim or this dressier take in a black coated wash for a leg-lengthening effect—especially when paired with a great pair of heels.

These stretchy jeans combine the figure-hugging profile of skinny jeans through the thighs with the subtle flare of a bootcut jean to accommodate (as the name suggests) a pair of ankle boots underneath. The raw hem is a stylish, yet casual detail that gives these jeans a cool factor.

These mom jeans are neither too slouchy nor too similar to skinny jeans, and they’re offered in a short inseam to suit short women. While this pair of distressed black jeans is a really fun, slightly edgy take on the mom jean silhouette, this style is also offered in several other inseams to suit other preferences. The sizes also dip down to 000 to fit very petite short women. (Pro tip: This is a great option for tweens and teens as well.)

I splurged on these jeans last year and wholeheartedly recommend them. The fit is great, the denim looks structured but feels surprisingly comfortable, and the length is really great for a short woman. They are absolutely pricey, but they’re so easy to wear, especially if you opt for a seasonless medium wash, which can be worn year-round. My favorite thing about these jeans is that they look great dressed down with sneakers and a tee shirt—but they look even better with heels for nighttime wear.