These Are the 6 Best Jeans for Short Legs

Petite women can make their legs look longer and avoid costly hem jobs.

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Updated on April 12, 2022

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Commerce Photo Composite — Real Simple / Sabrina Jiang

Whether you identify as vertically challenged, petite, or fun-sized, the under-5-foot-3 community can all agree on how cumbersome pants shopping can be. I can attest to this plight firsthand; as someone whose height peaked at 5 foot 2 inches, I'm all too familiar with my jeans pooling at my feet and dragging on the ground. Luckily, the fashion industry has started to spread more love for all the petite folk. We rounded up the best jeans for petite women that are cropped and crafted to fit your body. In addition to being totally stylish, you'll be able to rock these styles without having to fold the bottoms or pay out of pocket for a hem.

Levi's 311 Shaping Jeans

What's great about Levi's, the OG denim company, is that they allow you to customize your jeans based on length size in addition to waist size (which, ahem, all brands can definitely take a cue from). If you're unsure of your length size, the brand's website has a quiz where you can find your exact measurements based on your height, weight, and age. We recommend the shaping jeans, which is made with a sculpting fabric that slims your tummy, contours curves, and lengthens your legs for a seriously covetable fit.

To buy: $98, levis.com.

Loft Chewed Hem Slim Pocket High Waist Skinny Crop Jeans

Ever tempted to grab a pair of scissors and chop off the bottom portion of your jeans to make them fit? You won't have to with Loft's high-waisted chewed hem jeans (and those distressed ends look much better than if we had tried to DIY it ourselves). The length is already cropped to fit shorter people, but if you really want to be safe, you can select the petite version at checkout.

To buy: $80, loft.com.

J. Crew Petite High-Rise Toothpick Jeans

Not only are these jeans petite-friendly, they're also made using a special Japanese denim from the world-famous Kaihara mill, formulated with power-stretch to maximize comfort. They're also eco-conscious—the brand supports responsibly grown cotton through the Better Cotton Initiative.

To buy: $128, jcrew.com.

Abercrombie & Fitch Ultra High Rise Ankle Straight Jeans

This high-rise style isn't skin-tight but will still cling to your curves, and is washed out just enough to look vintage without having to dig around a thrift store. Plus, with a 25-inch inseam, these are cropped enough that they'll actually do what they're supposed to and let you show off a little ankle.

To buy: $89, abercrombie.com.

Madewell Petite High-Rise Skinny Crop Jeans

Infused with just the right amount of stretch, Madewell's high-rise skinnies come with an unfinished hem and booty-flattering construction thanks to its fitted elastane denim. Try styling the raw edges with some white sneakers, leather mules, or pointy pumps for an ultra-chic pairing.

To buy: $128, madewell.com.

Anthropologie Paige Laurel Canyon High-Rise Petite Bootcut Jeans

A huge fashion misconception is that your jeans options are limited to skinnies if you're short-legged. Don't be afraid to go for the flare or bootcut—in fact, wider ends are actually a great way to elongate a shorter stature. This pair from Anthropologie comes in a petite version.

To buy: $215, anthropologie.com.

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