Petite girl - need help with jeans length. What's a classic style that won't go away!?!

PopularStranger

So i've found some great jeans in the past but I've never sent them to get tailored. Because I've been at such a confusing loss as to what length I should get them. They are all tighter (no flares at all - boot cut at best on some!). I'm only 5'3. Somebody help lead me in the right direction before I take these pants in?

10 years ago

Dressing

7 replies

Latest reply was from chadya

K.M.

Veteran

PopularStranger, I'm also petite (almost 5'3"). I almost always need to have my jeans hemmed. If they are skinny, I have them hemmed to cover the bone ankle completely; sometimes they work right out of the store, but bunch up a little bit at the ankle. I like the bunching. If they don't cover the ankle bone I feel they make me stumpy.

For my bootcuts, when I go to the tailor I bring the shoes I intend to wear the most with them in terms of heel height, and I have the tailor hem the jeans so that they cover the heels almost completely, almost touching the ground.

I hope this helps.

10 years ago

DonnaF

Veteran

I like scrunch as well because that means some jeans don't need to be hemmed. How much scrunch depends on the shoe; I have some cords that definitely need to be hemmed but I will be playing around with my straight pins and various shoes to see if I can find a sweet spot. As long as bootcuts don't actually drag on the ground I'm good to go. I always err on the side of long, especially as a weight gain on the thighs can make them appear shorter.

10 years ago

dashielle (Ann)

(website)

Veteran

I'm 5'2 and almost never hem skinnies because th y go inside tall boots or I cuff them under for oxfords or tennis shoes and heels. I agree that a little scrunch is fine. If I were wearing ballet flats, I'd be more fastidious about length at hem (just below ankle bone as KM indicated). For boot cuts, hem to the height of the one height of shoe you'll wear them with (almost grazing the ground). It's not uncommon to have multiple pairs hemmed for heels and flats, if you wear different height shoes.

10 years ago

Dana

Active Member

I'm almost 5'2 so I also have to have all my pants hemmed - even if I buy petite sizes. I have hemmed some skinnies, but I don't think it is a must like others have said above. For book cuts, I have them hemmed based on the shoes I plan to wear with them. I have been known to buy two pairs of the same great fitting jean and have one pair hemmed to wear with flats and one pair hemmed to wear with heels. Regardless of the heel height, I get them hemmed to cover the heel and just graze the floor.

10 years ago

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Excellent advice here!

I recommend getting out your favorite pair that are the perfect length, and measuring the inseam. That's a really good starting point. I don't really need to try on jeans at the tailor anymore, I know my inseam. (Just under 5'4", anywhere from 29" to 32" depending; shorter for skinnies, longer for boot cuts, longer depending on the shoe you're wearing.)

10 years ago

PopularStranger

Active Member

Thanks everybody'

10 years ago

chadya

Veteran

I am also 5 3 and usually get my jeans from the GAP, I find the boot cut ankle or even regular work well for me and dont need hemming when I wear a cowboy type heel.
I think the jean depends on your body type, as far as yr torso/rise etc.

I was in Kohl's this week and they have a huge ass't of jeans in petites and regular in all styles and washes, have you ever looked there

I have tried on petites from GAP and I think they are very, very small for a really tiny body.

10 years ago

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