How To Style It… Denim
The perfect pair of jeans can elevate an outfit, while the wrong fit can throw off the entire look. Here’s 6 ways to style it.
Is there a single piece of clothing more iconic than a pair of blue jeans? From Elvis’s jeans and striped tee ensemble in Jailhouse Rock, to Marilyn’s “Lady Levi’s”, to Britney’s bold denim gown at the 2001 American Music Awards, denim has proved to be a timeless fashion staple that looks great on everyone. Long-lasting, androgynous, and accessible, jeans have nearly defined our “every-day” wear since the 1950s.
Jeans provide the ultimate blank canvas, adaptable for every colour, texture, fabric, and silhouette. While jeans themselves are endlessly enduring, the styles themselves aren’t quite as evergreen. From the bell-bottoms of the 1970s, to the 80s “mom-jeans”, to the controversial low-waisted jean from the early aughts, jeans have become a defining style statement of each decade.
As denim continues to evolve, so do the silhouettes that dictate the fashion scene. While denim skirts and vests remain timeless, jeans themselves have undergone a major recent shift in style.
For a solid decade, you couldn’t find a pair that weren’t high-waisted and skinny. For extra-petite women, it’s easy to stick with skinny jeans, popularised for their elongating silhouette and flattering proportions. However, you’ve likely seen fewer and fewer of these pairs on the high-street, as the general consensus pulls away and shifts towards more wide-leg styles. Styling an almost opposite pair of jeans can feel daunting, especially when it comes to wide-leg jeans, which can easily overwhelm petite frames.
With endless varieties of jeans out there, rest assured that there’s a right pair for you. By balancing proportions, choosing the right colours, and relying on some helpful hacks, extra-petite women can fully unlock the potential of this wardrobe foundational item. No need to sacrifice comfort for style with these tips!
Choosing your colour
When picking a staple jean, you’re spoilt for choice with a near-paralysing amount of colour options. A good rule of thumb for petite women: darker colours tend to narrow and elongate. However, no need to completely avoid light wash jeans, especially when they trend annually in spring. While light wash jeans can make your legs appear shorter when contrasted against darker shoes, wearing light coloured shoes can help you mitigate this.
Baggy, flared, or skinny jeans?
Too many styles, too little wardrobe space. With hundreds of styles and a break-neck trend cycle, finding the right pair of jeans can be an overwhelming task. My advice? Ignore the microtrends and lean on timeless styles. Investing in a few high-quality pairs can allow you to dress best for your unique frame, rather than get caught-up in what’s trending. For shorter women, I recommend straight leg or narrower wide leg jeans, ideally with a raw hem for a quick, DIY alteration if needed!
Wear the unexpected
It’s 2025: denim isn’t just limited to your everyday blue jeans. This reliable fabric provides the perfect opportunity to expand outside your fashion comfort zone. While we aren’t exactly in skirt season yet, denim skirts grant you the comfort and versatility of jeans. To give a bit of structure and shape to an outfit, a denim vest can be a fashionable addition. Why stop there? A denim bag can be a playful accessory (and a pop of colour) for a night out. Maybe even dare to try a controversial “denim on denim” look!
Look for capris
If there’s one secret I wish to share with you about jean-shopping as a petite woman, it would be this: cropped jeans are your new best friend. If you’re part of the 5’1” and under crowd, most capri jeans sold by high-street brands will fit your legs perfectly. While the raw-hem look can be stylish and edgy, it shouldn’t be the only option. Short women deserve well-fitting jeans (with a finished hem, thank you very much!) Most capris come in a flattering straight leg, with a subtle flare towards the ankles, in a wide variety of colours.
Dress up or down
Looking to stay comfortable even during the more up-scale occasions? Denim is endlessly versatile, many thanks to the iconic “jeans and a nice top” combo. Sleekier , narrower styles of jeans are surprisingly capable of making me feel quite svelte, remarkable for my height. If you’re aiming to dress a bit smarter, darker wash jeans with no rips tend to exude sophistication and polish compared to other styles. However, the jeans can’t take all the credit, as your shoes and accessories can atone for a more casual trouser.
Cuff your jeans to “no-sew” shorten
Finally, a trend that’s petite-girl friendly! Visually lifting the hemline, rolling your jeans is an easy “short girl” hack that can pass as an intentional styling choice. Deep cuffs (two to three inch fold) on wide leg jeans have been everywhere; a laid-back yet polished look I personally love! It’s a way to make a timeless style trendy, while removing any excess or dragging fabric. Pairing with a pointed shoe or heel adds extra leg-lengthening magic if that’s what you wish. This is an effortless styling tip you can pull off without a trip to the tailor.
Whether you gravitate towards vintage-inspired mom jeans, edgy distressed denim, or classic dark washes, knowing how to style these pairs ensures limitless possibilities. Below, I’ve curated a selection of my favorite denim pieces, featuring petite-friendly jeans and must-have essentials.
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Your questions about denim answered:
What style of jeans looks best on short women?
There’s plenty of styles that extra-petites can choose from to create an effortlessly stylish look. You can’t go wrong with a straight-leg jean, an undemanding style that creates a streamlined look, especially darker washes. High-waisted jeans tend to draw the eye upward, looking especially flattering on your shorter frames. Flared jeans are also an underrated pick for shorter women as a subtle flare can add a bit of length.
How should you wear jeans if you are short?
Thanks to the enduring versatility of these wardrobe staples, there’s no “one way” to style your jeans. Extra-petite women should focus on achieving balance within their outfits, pairing fitted tops with more baggy jeans and vice versa. Footwear can enhance your blue jeans ensemble, as lighter coloured shoes can elongate the leg. As for the length, I always look for jeans that end just below the ankle.
Colour plays a vital role in the overall visual effect of any outfit. Black denim, a favourite of mine for a comfy yet sophisticated evening look, can narrow and slim. Blue jeans can be effortlessly tailored to enhance a balanced, proportional look.
Should short girls wear wide leg jeans?
Yes, they absolutely should! Wide leg jeans, if styled correctly, can be incredibly flattering as high-waisted trousers elongate the frame. Try styling these with fitted tops or more structured items to achieve a balanced look. Rather than shying away from wide-leg denim, extra-petite women can embrace it as a trendy, timeless, and non-restrictive style.
How should short women choose their jeans?
A well-fitting pair of jeans can revolutionise your entire wardrobe, so there’s a lot to consider when picking the perfect pair. Look to avoid overly-long jeans as extra fabric pooling at your feet can bring down your outfit. If your aim is to appear taller, low-rise jeans tend to shorten your legs, so take caution with these pairs.
Overly baggy jeans often throw off balance for extra-petites if styled with other oversized items. In summary, while short women can rock any style of jeans, some may be trickier to fit than others.
What’s the best length of jeans for a 5'2" woman?
For extra-petites, the ideal inseam is around 25 to 27 inches, a flattering ankle length that's perfect for any footwear. However, the fit can vary between different styles and brands, so I’d always recommend trying them on before buying if possible.