When it comes to being a petite woman, there are a few things I have learnt to accept. For example, I know I’ll never be able to reach the top shelf of the kitchen cabinets or have a perfect unobstructed view at a music concert. And in pre-pandemic times, I knew that getting on the tube in peak hour would often result in being squished in between other people’s shoulders (or worse, armpits).
While I am perfectly content with my smaller stature and the compromises that it forces upon me, there is one thing I am not willing to settle on, and that is ill-fitting clothing. I stand at just 5’1″, and finding clothes for my size can often be a challenge. And although I’m happy to style an oversize blazer or slouchy knit from time to time, tracking down the perfect pair of jeans can be a very time-consuming endeavour.
Options are quite limited when it comes to jeans for petite women. Though, there are a few high-street retailers that are managing to fill the gap in the market. From Topshop to H&M and ASOS, several brands have created dedicated petite options, and believe me when I tell you it has taken the hassle out of finding jeans. Unfortunately, more often than not, petite sizes can only be found online and aren’t readily available to try on in-store, which can make sizing a little difficult.
With this in mind, I decided to track down a few pairs of petite jeans and offer my honest opinion in an effort to create a curated list of the best high-street options around. Keep scrolling to see my take on petite jeans from H&M, ASOS and Topshop.
The verdict: I’ve waxed lyrical about just how good these jeans are before, and you can find my full analytical rundown here. Just like it says in the name, these jeans are the closest pair I’ve found to vintage Levi’s and have just the right amount of rigidity without being uncomfortable. It’s simply a bonus that H&M has created them in a petite size with a hem that finishes just above the ankle.
The Verdict: Finding a pair of straight-leg jeans often feels difficult as a petite woman, as the style can sometimes make you look shorter if the proportions are not correct. However, the slim fit of this straight-leg style works just perfectly to balance that out. I love the high-rise silhouette here. The jeans felt very comfortable and flattering.
The Verdict: As far as skinny jeans go, this just might be the most flattering pair I’ve ever worn. H&M has input its shaping technology into this pair, not to mention the super-high-waist really works to make your legs look longer.
The Verdict: These jeans are the same as the ASOS pair above but in a lighter wash. Once again, I really loved this silhouette. ASOS also has two different petite lengths available to buy so you can ensure the fit is just right.
The Verdict: If you’re into the mom-jean silhouette, these are the pair for you. I’ve always loved Topshop jeans, and these work perfectly as a looser, more relaxed style.
The Verdict: While I am on the shorter side, even for a petite woman, I do have to admit I needed to roll up these jeans. In terms of length, they were definitely longer than the other pairs I tried, but I did still love this silhouette and the wide-leg fit.
The Verdict: While they were described as kick-flare jeans, they didn’t feel as flared as I would have liked. I would say these are more like a regular straight leg, which is great if that’s what you’re looking for! The hem length on these was also perfect.
