Best Jeans for Short Curvy Women
I’m nothing if not sick and tired of shopping for jeans. As a borderline petite person that prefers curvy styles (and as someone changing sizes), I know how difficult it can be to find jeans that fit you perfectly off the rack. I also know how much your confidence is affected by outfits that fit properly and accentuate your best features. It’s important to feel good in what you wear! (I didn’t feel great in what I wore and started playing around with my personal style, which led to me starting this blog 10 years ago and documenting my outfits!)
We all know that finding jeans that be challenging and even feel impossible at times, and it’s exacerbated when you need a short inseam and a waistband that hugs instead of gaps. While I’m all in favor of taking items to a tailor when necessary, there are a number of retailers that now offer denim that fits those of us that are short (or petite) AND curvy. Below, I rounded up my best jean recommendations for fellow short and curvy women as well as a few outfit ideas featuring my favorite curvy denim styles. There are lots of jeans to shop, too!
Best Jeans For Short Curvy Women
To be completely honest, every style of jean looks fantastic on short curvy women. It just depends on your personal preference! I wore skinny jeans for years. I truly thought I’d never stop wearing them. I still own skinny jeans, but I don’t reach for them immediately like I used to. If you love skinny jeans, buy them and wear them! I still love how skinny jeans really highlight a curvy figure, and they’re the best to wear in winter weather.
If you’re ready to branch out from skinny jeans, try a pair of straight leg jeans first. They have a slimmer fit through the leg that doesn’t hug the leg but that still elongates. Somehow I jumped straight from skinny jeans to wide leg jeans, which was a shock to the system after years of only wearing skinny jeans, but I’ve grown to love them! The silhouette is way different and was difficult for me to style at first. Now I love the loose fit through the leg!
I own curvy jeans in skinny, straight leg, demi-boot (similar to kick crop), and wide leg styles. As long as you find jeans that are cut for a larger waist-to-hip ratio so they hug in all the right places (with no gapping!) AND that have an inseam that fits you off the rack, you’re in business. Have fun and try new styles!
I rounded up a bunch of jeans for short curvy women at a few of my favorite brands in the widgets below! Where do you like to buy your jeans?
Abercrombie & Fitch
Abercrombie & Fitch is back and better than ever. Their curve love line is fantastic for curvy gals, and the number of styles they offer is honestly overwhelming! There are skinny jeans, straight leg jeans, mom jeans, wide leg jeans, slouchy jeans. And their jeans come in “short” and “extra short” inseams!
Ann Taylor
Ann Taylor is known for their workwear, but did you know they also carry denim?! If you’re able to wear jeans to the office, be sure to check out their denim! They offer classic and on-trend jean styles that look polished enough for dressier occasions.
Everlane
I loved Everlane’s “authentic stretch” denim back when that was offered (the Way High styles are the successor to authentic stretch). Everlane offers a number of short girl-friendly jeans in a variety of styles. I find their denim to be a bit more on the stiff side if you prefer that.
J.Crew
J.Crew may not be the first place you think of when you think of jeans, but they do have a few straight leg denim styles that suit my fellow short ladies. If you prefer a mid rise on your petite frame, be sure to give J.Crew a try.
LOFT
Like its parent store Ann Taylor, LOFT offers a wide variety of jeans for my fellow short curvy ladies. I’ve found their denim to be stretchy and comfy—a perfect option if you don’t like jeans that are too rigid/difficult to move in.
Madewell
Madewell is one of my favorite retailers for curvy petite jeans! Almost all of my denim is from Madewell, and I find their curvy denim to fit perfectly. I usually opt for petite inseams, too. If you’re new to the brand, try their perfect vintage styles!
Old Navy
Old Navy has an extensive collection of curvy jeans for short women! They have one of the best size ranges of all the retailers, offering sizes ranging from 0 to 30. Plus, their jeans are all under $100 and most are under $50!
Jean Outfits For Short Curvy Figure
The jeans in the first photo above are my latest pair of curvy jeans—from Abercrombie! I absolutely love this pair of high waisted straight leg jeans. They’re so comfy and were the perfect choice on my recent trip to Germany and Austria. This classic dark indigo color dresses up any outfit and are work appropriate for a more casual workplace. I love pairing mine with classic tops, cable knit sweaters, and loafers.
Kick crop jeans are a great alternative to skinny jeans. I’m wearing Madewell’s old demi-boot jeans in the second photo above; Madewell discontinued those jeans and are now offering an updated “kick out crop” style that is pretty much the same. They fit very similar to skinny jeans but with the slight flare at the ankle. Because they aren’t fitted through the leg, I like balancing them out with a more fitted top and a shoe that either shows a bit of skin or that hugs my foot and ankle so they don’t look too “bulky” for lack of a better word.
Wide leg jeans are super on trend right now, and I’ll be honest and say that I was totally not a fan when they first came on the scene. I really thought there was no way I’d ever stray from my beloved skinny jeans! Somehow I decided to take the plunge and jumped straight from skinny jeans to wide leg jeans, and it took a few months for me to feel confident in them, but I’m a fan now. (Korri is not, haha. He calls them my “baggy jeans” and does not understand why they came back in style.)
Wide leg jeans can be a bit trickier to style if you’re used to the slim fit of skinny or straight leg jeans. I default to balancing the proportions by wearing a fitted top or sweater. I also own these jeans in a high rise, so I like to wear them with cropped tops that hit at the top of the waistband. I don’t only wear cropped tops, though; I love tucking tank tops in and layering a cardigan on top! You could also dress them up for work with a fitted tank, blazer, and pumps. I find shoes to be trickiest with these jeans and think sock booties look the best for winter months.
I can’t talk about jeans for short curvy women and not mention our good friend: the skinny jean! Skinny jeans really elongate the leg line and are a go-to for me in the winter months because they tuck easily into boots. Because they are fitted, I like to go opposite on top and pair them with oversized, chunky knit sweaters, boxy tees, etc. I love a good oversized top and skinny jean outfit combination.
My favorite skinny jeans are the Madewell curvy skinny jeans; I find Madewell’s jeans to fit me the best overall and they’ve held up well over time. As a borderline petite person, I often opt for the petite length but depending on the style sometimes go for the regular length. (If it has “crop” in the style name, I usually go for regular length!) Always double check the inseam when shopping for petite curvy jeans.
Check out these blog posts for more curvy petite style tips!
Abercrombie jeans outfit photographed by Hey Bella Photo