A Short Girl’s Guide To Petite Denim

Do you know what I absolutely hate? Going to the mall. Besides the fact that it gives me an overwhelming sense of social anxiety, I literally go for four hours and end up leaving with nothing but a slice of cookie cake from Great American Cookies (because, what is will power)? When you’re a short girl like me (ahem, with Greek girl hips), it can be really frustrating trying to find the perfect pair of jeans. Before heading into the dressing room at Nordstrom, I grab about 6-8 different pairs, all different brands and styles, in hopes of finding “the one”. It can be a little tricky finding a pair that is the correct length or doesn’t bunch up in the lower back area, but I’ve learned a few tricks throughout the years to save you time and money.

Don’t Look At The Mannequin

At some point in your life I am 90% sure that you have walked into a store and saw a mannequin rocking a super cute pair of jeans, later to find out that it doesn’t fit your body type like, at all. Save yourself the time and don’t try it on. Instead, do your research prior to shopping and find the best retailer that caters to petite denim collections. TopShop, Revolve, Reformation, and Fashion Nova are some of my favorite retailers that provide petite denim.

Invest In Your Waist

So you’ve found a pair of jeans that feel comfy on your thighs and hit your ankles at the right length, yay! But let me guess – it feels and looks super awkward on your mid-section. As a short girl with wide hips and a small waist, it’s nearly impossible to find the right pair that hugs all these areas perfectly, but when I do find a pair that feels very comfortable on my thigh area, I invest in tailoring. Getting your pants tailored is a pain in the butt and can be very pricey, but once you find a pair that you know you will hold on to for a long time, it is 100% worth it. Recently, I have been trying to learn how to sew instead of getting my pants taken in, because it saves me the time and money of running back and forth to a tailor. When you properly sew the bottom of your jeans and the loose material on your waist, you can create the most flattering pair for your body type. A company that I personally recommend for your sewing needs is Sewing Machine because of the quality of tools and brands they carry, such as Brother and Floriani (plus they are a family-owned business). If you are local to Atlanta, they even offer classes for us beginners!

Find What Works For You And Stick With It

I’m not saying that you shouldn’t dabble with new trends or up-and-coming brands, but once you find a retailer and style that works for your body type, try to stick with what works best for you. Because of my short legs, wide hips, and small waist, the majority of my jeans are stretchy, high-waisted styles (it also helps me appear a teeny bit taller). If you do not have wide hips, low-rise jeans will help you appear wider, but in general mid to high rise is what stylists suggest for petite women. For boyfriend jeans, I suggest keeping the cuff at the bottom thin to prevent you from appearing shorter. For straight-leg jeans, they should hit right above your ankle bone to balance out your frame.

This post is sponsored by Sewing Machine, as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep Coffee and Concealer running!