As A 5’4″ Fashion Writer, Jean Shopping Woes Are Real—Here Are The Best Petite Jeans I’ve Found

Abercrombie's denim are among the best on the high street, and its petite styles are a real standout. You'll find that most pairs of Abercrombie jeans come in a range of leg-length sizes, including short, regular and long - an absolute godsend for us petite individuals. The denim of Abercrombie jeans also sits in that sweet spot between rigid enough to hold its shape but relaxed enough to not dig in in all the wrong places (like the waistband). Style with double-denim and a statement trench.

Gemma says: 'When I look for a good pair of jeans, the things that really matter to me include a leg length that doesn't drag on the ground (which is a regular occurrence if you're under 5'3") and a zipper waistband because I find the buttons are such a faff. At this point I've told pretty much everyone I know to invest in a pair of Abercrombie jeans because of the fit, length, colour options, the list could go on.'

Horseshoe jeans have caused quite a stir in the fashion world, with its marmite voluminous tapered leg that goes out at the thigh and then tapers back in. M&S' iteration of the trending shape boasts a flattering mid-rise waist, as well as five pockets, zip fastening and a touch of stretch. Plus, like most of M&S denim, the jeans are available in three different lengths, including petite.

Gemma says: 'I love M&S jeans so am not surprised that its horseshoe jeans are making the list. Take your usual size in these jeans as they come up quite well-fitting.'

Paige's petite jeans are a great option if you're after a higher-end pair of jeans and don't want to compromise on excellent quality. The 'Sasha' style features a high-rise wide leg and offers a more relaxed denim compared to other, stiffer, counterparts. Paige's denim comes in a vintage-inspired wash with natural fading that makes the denim look like it's been lovingly worn-in.

Gemma says: 'Paige's wide leg jeans are perfect for me as I find it difficult to get a pair of jeans that straddles the line between wide leg and drowning me with a wide leg that's far too big for my frame. Plus the different denim washes the brand offers are, in my opinion, the most timeless and easy to style shades of blue.'

When you think of a pair of iconic jeans, what do you think of? Of course, the only correct answer is the Levi's 501. A jean that has evolved from a workwear staple to fashion icon, the 501 jeans are identifiable due to its button fly and signature straight leg.

Gemma says: 'Although the inseam of these Levi's 501's says 30", it's a real petite-girl hack to buy a pair of jeans that are supposedly 'cropped' which, voila, makes them the perfect length for anyone under 5'4". I've found this pair on Amazon that are really affordable and come in so many different colours, whether you're wanting a light wash blue, indigo or black.'

Citizens of Humanity jeans have been worn by the likes of EmRata, Barbara Palvin and Rihanna - who actually wore this exact pair of Ayla jeans when in New York in 2023. The best-selling Ayla style is now available in a petite length, which means that now us girls under 5'4" can invest in the exact pair of jeans worn by Rihanna. As cream jeans go, these are one of the best, they're most definitely not see-through and are in the most perfect eggshell cream white that's easy to style.

Gemma says: 'These Citizens of Humanity jeans are perhaps my favourite white/cream jeans of all-time. The proportions on these jeans are perfect for those who are 5'4" (although beware, for anyone smaller they do still come up quite long), but the waist and wide-leg size is one of the best I've found on a petite jean. My only gripe is that I'm not a massive fan of a button-fly, I find them a bit of a unnecessary faff when a zip could do the same thing, and in a lot less time. Overall these jeans are really great however and my friends are already bored with me telling them how great they are.'

Black, blue and cream denim are all extremely versatile, and perhaps even more importantly - timeless. However, if you're on a mission to make your denim feel, well, more fun, leopard print jeans are the way to go. Think a mixture of eclectic Scandi style and the mob-wife trend, leopard print jeans are a trend that's here to stay. This pair from Nobody's Child are, without a doubt, the best for petites, even though they're not technically marketed as that.

Gemma says: 'I almost can never shop from the regular jean section, rather than buying a pair of jeans that have been specifically marketed as 'petite', so these Nobody's Child jeans were a very welcome surprise. On the website it says they come up slightly large but I'd say they come up true to size instead, and (thankfully) don't drown my legs. They're also super comfortable and don't have that stiff, crunchy denim feel some high street pairs have.'

Turn-up jeans are the latest denim trend, following the success of jeans like barrel and carrot. Representing a more calculated way to wear denim, as opposed to jeans that are so baggy they pool around your ankles, turn-up jeans are an on-trend way to save yourself from soggy hems, and, still look great. This pair from AGOLDE are the best petite black turn-up jeans I've found, and feature a high-rise waist and wide-leg fit.

Gemma says: 'Finding the perfect pair of washed black jeans was quite a task but honestly, I'm so impressed with this style from AGOLDE. The waist sizing comes up very averagely, and the only thing to watch is the length, which does typically come up a little long for a explicitly petite style. Also the wide-legs are very wide, which I love, but if you prefer a more fitted style then you might want to avoid.'

Another fan favourite from M&S - the wide-leg jean. These jeans come in six different washes (including ecru) and are stocked in extra short, short, regular and long. They're stylish, but don't compromise comfort, thanks to their stretch denim material. The medium indigo wash lends itself to a more casual way of styling, so team with a pair of ballet flats, a white t-shirt and trench coat.

Gemma says: 'For the £35 price tag, the M&S Wide-Leg jeans feel surprisingly great quality. They're not the thickest of denim, but that's what gives it a great stretch. The important thing for me was that the jeans aren't clingy, but stretchy, and M&S have nailed the brief when it comes to this. Keep to your normal size too, the soft denim means you won't need to size up at all.'

What I like most about Mother's petite section (or Lil' Mother as the brand calls it) is that its jean proportions have been properly adjusted for petite individuals. Sometimes, as a petite individual, you can put on a pair of jeans you just know hasn't been designed for someone whose height is under 5'4". Instead, Mother focus on making its petite styles complementary. This pair has a turn-up hem that's on-trend, and a buttoned fly closure.

Gemma says: 'The thing I like most about these turn-up jeans is that they're not actually stitched up, so you can wear them up or rolled down. The fit on these is great, and it feels like they're made for petite legs as the style isn't overly wide and the material is surprisingly soft, even though the jeans are advertised as rigid.'

Topshop's denim is notorious, from its Joni jeans to its Jamie style. One of the first brands on the high street to offer designs in a petite length, Topshop have perfected its craft to create the most affordable petite jeans. This pair even feature a belt at the back that can be used to cinch the waist in to your exact size. Available in multiple denim washes including; mid blue, raw indigo and bleach, style the wide-leg with a baggy graphic t-shirt and Adidas trainers.

Although these COS jeans aren't necessarily marketed as for petite individuals, its tapered style means that if you're under 5'4" it will fit you perfectly. If you're also in the market for a pair of jeans that have the trending horseshoe style, but are worried they'll be too voluminous, these are the jeans for you, as they do have a slight - and I mean every slight - curved shape. The best part about these jeans also has to be the sheer array of denim shades available, although, a particular standout for me is the mid blue wash.

Again, if you're looking for a more trending style of petite jean, you're going to need to look at barrel jeans. In case you're wondering the difference between a barrel and a horseshoe jean, they're both essentially the same and standout for its voluminous wide-leg that gradually tapers down at the ankle. These barrel leg jeans from Whistles are an excellent choice for petite individuals, thanks to its high-rise, shaped silhouette and ankle length. You might want to size up, however, as reviewers say the waist on these comes up particularly small.

First fashionable in the late 80s and early 90s, mom jeans are so popular because of its tapered leg that's good middling ground between wide-leg and slim-fit. M&S are next to none when it comes to its petite styles in particular, and it's The Mom Jeans that caught my eye. A classic pair that sit high on the waist, slim at the hips and tapers through the leg, these jeans are equally as flattering as they are comfortable. My favourite wash? The trending dark indigo of course.

Flared jeans are fabulous to have in your wardrobe, particularly if you're short as the length tends to be super flattering and elongate the legs. I've picked out this pair from River Island because of its unique front two pockets that, yes, are actually big enough to store small items in. Not only do they have the chic pocket details, but the jeans also feature a high-rise waist and flared leg that's more tapered and less bell-bottom.

Skinny jeans tend to be greeted with a marmite response. Some people are die-hard skinny jean lovers, and others maintain the theory that the style of jean is outdated. However, as the fashion cycle works its magic once more, it's likely the skinny jean will become fashionable again soon enough. If you're on the hunt for a pair of skinny jeans now, this pair from Reiss is great, with tan topstitching detail and a chic indigo denim wash.