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Jeans recommendations for petite apple shape?

shiny

Veteran

Hi everyone! Hope you are doing well.

I'm on the hunt for some new, trendy jeans--- anything other than skinnies as I'm all set there -- and could use some recommendations.

I've tried all the (non-skinny style) denim at my local Levi's, Old Navy, Banana republic, JCrew Outlet, and LOFT recently and nothing worked. It all looked.... ridiculous.... on 5'0 post-menopause apple shaped me. The closest (straight legs in this case) were almost okay but had those annoying ripples which were because I don't have shapely thighs to fill them out.

I've been working out with a trainer and find myself in between sizes: for example at Old Navy some of the styles fit great in the waist at a 4P but are enormous and look like I'm wearing jodhpurs everywhere else, and no this is not me just needing to adjust my eyes. We are talking clown pants here. Size down to a 2P and now the jeans fit nicely and proportionately in my thighs/rear/legs--- but I can't zip them at all.

Currently my measurements are -- 30 inches at natural waist, 35 inches at high and low hip. There's only an inch or two between natural waist and high hip. My thighs are 17" and calves are 12".

I prefer higher-rises, 10 inch rise is my favorite but I could maybe go up to 11 inch. Anything lower than 9 inches is low rise and slides right off my straight hips.

I've already figured out that my safest bet is petites, as they seem to have a better chance of being tailored down all over, not just in the hem -- but I'm totally willing to hem regular pants that fit elsewhere.

Dressing

23 replies

Latest reply was from Debbie

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Will be folllowing - I have a similar issue with jeans: my hips and waist are completely out of proportion from the point of view of jeans sizes. My best bet is usually some form of boyfriend jeans, which are sort of built to accommodate my actual shape if that makes sense.

Sally

Veteran

Apart from skinnies, I wear straight jeans. Levis shaping straight fit 314 work for me.

kkards

Veteran

Have you tried NYDJ jeans? They have a wide variety of styles and many styles come in petite, Macy’s, Nordstroms, both carry them

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I am afraid I am of zero help as my fit challenges are exactly the opposite (how I wish I could occasionally find jeans roomy in the thighs!), but it’s nice to see you again!

Irina

Veteran

I’m a petite with a small difference between waist and hips. I recently bought Levi’s ribcage straight ankle jeans. I bought my regular size and they were tight in the waist but stretched almost immediately. I’m 5’3 and they are just above my ankles.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Try G-Star - they do MANY lengths.

Try Boden petites, and give Everlane a go too.

RobinF

Veteran

That is exactly why I like mid-rise skinnies - if I get them to fit my waist then they are looser in the legs, not skinnies at all, more like straight leg. It works although I would love something more current. With everything being high rise though I don't think that is going to happen.

No advice from me, just commiseration

shiny

Veteran

Shevia - I have tried on some boyfriend styles, but it seems like boyfriend jeans have also become baggier/roomier than they used to be?

Sally & Irina - I am pretty sure I tried on those Levi's as I tried on everything in the store. None worked. I can't remember specifically what the fit problem was as this was about a month ago. Irina, I definitely tried on the rib cage: that was one of the styles that prompted me to go to the Levi's store.

Kkards - I haven't tried NYDJ in ... well over a decade! I always thought that brand worked best for curvier shapes? Do you have a specific style in mind? Worth a try.

Janet - nice to see you too! It's so frustrating that my waist just doesn't seem to budge, even though I've been doing a tone of core work and everywhere else just keeps shrinking.

RobinF- my jeans right now are high-rise (10" rise) ON rockstars from years back, in a size 6P. They are fitting loose on me, but still don't necessarily look like straight legs. I get what you mean though! I wish ON would just make the rockstar with no taper from knee to ankle: that would be my ideal straight leg. Or even with a flare from knee down.

Angie - thanks for the recommendations!!

Tanya

Veteran

I don't have any useful advice about jeans as my shape is very different from yours. However, I had to chime in and say that it is sooo nice to see you here! Hope you are doing well in these strange times.

shiny

Veteran

Angie, I checked out the Everlanes and apparently I'm a size 30 if I go by waist, a size 24-25 by hips, and a size 23 for my thighs. Hmm. And the reviews seem to suggest they don't fit well for petites -- not just a length issue, a fit all over issue? And when I sort by people my height and weight, I see some say they are way too tight in the waist but fit fine elsewhere. Is there a particular style you would recommend?

The Boden's seem to be around 9.5 inches for rise for petites, but 10" for regular (my sweet spot & personal high rise) They may be worth a try (I do LOVE they provide actual garment measurements!!),... except in regular and then hem? I dunno, I have never tried Boden pants but always thought their dresses were built for women with smaller waists. Am I wrong?

The G-star I am not sure about at all.... though it does look like their mid-rise may be my high rise. Their site does not give exact rise measurements, though Amazon does. I would feel best ordering from Amazon as it's super easy for me to return if it doesn't fit. But I am just seeing the Midge style, the one with the utility front pockets, which is really not my thing. Not saying I won't give it a whirl (especially if you encourage me!).. just not sure here.

April

Veteran

Hi Shiny! Great to see you. I'm wondering if you might consider a wide-leg style over trying to fit the denim to all parts of your torso and legs?

shiny

Veteran

Hi April! Yes I absolutely would! But the wide leg styles I've tried on so far aren't much better -- if they fit my waist, there is still too much excess fabric in the hips.

Jonesy

Veteran

How do you feel about elastic-waist jeans? I have a somewhat similar waist-to-hip ratio and have a few pair of jeans with an elasticized waist. You can find them listed as joggers or "pull-on" jeans (Madewell has some right now, e.g.). That way you can buy for your hips and the waist will have some flexibility.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Bear with me here, and I understand if this idea doesn’t appeal to you, but have you tried any men’s straight-leg styles? Cuts for men tend to be slimmer in the hips and thighs relative to the waist. Length may be an issue, though…

Debbie

Veteran

Shiny-Ot is nice to see you. I have two suggestions. Try the NYDJ Barbara bootcut. Worked great for me. The pair below I just received and they fit great. Oh one more try Mark and Spencer I have had good luck there too.

I hope you find some. Jean shopping can be frustrating at best.

Banana Republic

Petite High-Rise Dark Wash Slim Jean

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Suz

(website)

Veteran

On Janet's note....how about boys' jeans (because, petite). I know it sounds nuts, but....leave no retail stone unturned, right?

I'm striking out in the jeans update/ upgrade department too. My fit issues are not the same as yours, but basically, if it "fits" I don't like how it looks, and if I like how it looks, it doesn't fit! Grrrr.

Toban

Veteran

Have you tried Talbots? They are one of my go-tos for petite jeans. More classic then trendy, though. I’ve had some success with WHBM, JJill, and the Gap. Unfortunately, stuck with ordering online for petite most of the time.

AndiB

Veteran

As a similarly shaped albeit taller post-m woman I’ve had great success with Wit and Wisdom, jen7, and kut from the kloth. I’m not petit at 5’7 but the rise issues seem maybe the same. All brands have enough give to hug without … being unforgiving. I’d nearly given up on denim altogether and have had an oddly successful good run on denim this year. Also got a great pair from mango, high waist, big cuff, super cool. Generally I just scroll Nordies, which is where all but the mango came from. Plug in what I’m looking for - High waist, ankle, dark denim, straight or flare (I’m not only sorted on the skinnies, I may never pull a pair over my hips again so help me …). Let nordie do the sorting for you!

shiny

Veteran

Debbie- those BR jeans look promising! Can you measure the rise and let me know what it is in inches?

Suz/Janet - I suppose mens/boys jeans are worth a try, but I fear the rise is going to be too low as they are meant to fit on the hips, no? I've rarely been able to go that route as my hips are just so straight the jeans will literally slide right off (even with a belt). I also hate the feeling of a waistband that sits below my belly button. It's either got to sit on the belly button, or just above it!

AndiB- I've had Wit & Wisdom before, that may be worth a try, although in the past I've found their sizing to be really inconsistent. It's really frustrating to fit in one size, re-order in that size, only to find the exact same item is way too big all over. Soured me on the brand awhile ago. But I did love the hidden elastic waist.

April

Veteran

I share your fit frustrations, Shiny -- maybe one of our seamstresses will speak to the difficulty of buying to fit your waist then having the hip area taken in?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Shiny, I was just looking up some jeans reviews for different Madewell styles and came on this site where she reviews a bunch of styles. This woman is not truly petite, but she is just over 5'4" and more to the point, she has very narrow hips (32"). Her waist is 26.5. So she's not exactly the same shape but presumably faces some of the same issues. (She also appears from the photos to be a bit short-waisted and she has a bust.) Anyway, might be worth checking out her reports. https://karinemily.com/madewell-denim-guide/

Grace

Shiny, I have almost identical measurements (and similar preferences on rise), and I have been struggling with this for a while. LL Bean used to be my go-to, but my thigh and hip measurement has dropped so out of proportion to my waist that I now have the side-flaps of fabric on my thighs that you mentioned (and the rest of the jean doesn't fit me now, either).

I have a new pair of Wit & Wisdom from NAS that need the raw hems stitched. They flap somewhat, but I was able to size way down due to the stretchy waist and so the thigh flaps are not as noticeable. But that's all I have for jeans.

My plan for now is to wear leggings under dresses for work and smart casual attire. I also bought a pair of JJill/Pure Jill Affinity knit pants for work. Since the knit drapes really well, it doesn't cause side flaps, while the wide covered waistband accommodates my proportionately larger abdomen. I will probably get a second pair.

I think denim is difficult in this situation because it doesn't drape well. While I am usually fine with ordering online and returning, I am reluctant to do so with jeans because I have absolutely no idea what size to order.

My next thought is to try a WHBM store just because of the multiple size ranges available (regular, short, petite). Even if they don't have a particular size in store, maybe I can get in the ballpark by trying on what they have.

So, I don't have any ideas, but can absolutely empathize!

Debbie

Veteran

Shiny I apologize I just saw this. The rise is little less than 10”. I like them because they suck me in a bit.
Again I apologize.