Where to Shop for Affordable Petite Jeans

If I had to make a list of items that are difficult to shop for when you’re petite, jeans would be at the very top…in bold letters…with an underline. So, if you’re also a petite gal that struggles with denim shopping, this one’s for you! Here’s my guide on where to shop for affordable petite jeans.

Shopping for petite jeans isn’t like shopping for regular jeans. First of all, not all jeans that are made to be petite or short length are made equal. Some department store petite brands can be downright unflattering and some jeans that are labeled “short” still leave you with several inches of denim bunched around your ankles.

Then there’s the issue of price. Many of the brands that come highly recommended for petite girls are on the higher end. In fact, many of the brands I’ve seen raved about are over the $100 mark.

I’ve tried on a lot of jeans from a lot of brands over the years, and these are the ones I keep coming back to time after time.

American Eagle

American Eagle tops my list for buying petite-friendly jeans for a few reasons.

For one, their prices are reasonable. Most of their denim costs between $50 and $80. However, they do sales fairly often so I typically end up paying under $50 for jeans I purchase and, sometimes, I can even score them for as low as $30. They also have a good rewards program, particularly when it comes to buying jeans: for every 5 pair of jeans you buy, you get a free pair. Since my husband and I both like buying jeans from American Eagle, this works out really well.

The biggest reason I love buying my jeans at American Eagle, however, is their range of sizes. Their online catalog carries sizes from 00 to 24 with lengths from x-short to x-long in most of them. At 5’ tall, I particularly appreciate the x-short option for skinny jeans and jeggings (with a lot of brands, even the short option on these can still be a couple of inches too long).

Old Navy

In my opinion, Old Navy really upped their game in recent years, especially when it comes to denim.

Prices for their jeans generally hover around $50 but they’re also a retailer that does sales fairly often. And, for the price, the quality is really fantastic. In my experience, their jeans do a great job at holding their shape throughout the day but still have enough stretch to be comfortable. The fit is also super flattering, particularly when it comes to their “secret slimming pockets” (a feature in some of their designs that somehow magically flattens the tummy area).

Old Navy also does well at providing an extensive petite selection in all of their clothes, not just pants. Though, I will add, finding petite sizes in-store can be pretty hit or miss. I usually stick to shopping online where the petite selection is much more extensive.

Levi’s

Of all the recommendations on this list, Levi’s is my most expensive (most of their jeans are around $100). However, I still highly recommend them for a couple of reasons.

For one, you can’t beat the fit and quality of their denim. Every pair of Levi’s I buy ends up being my favorite pair of jeans. And they last forever. For another reason, while Levi doesn’t do sales quite as often as other retailers, they do offer a few really great sales throughout the year. And, unlike with other retailers, their sales discounts typically apply to any item on their site, even if it’s already marked down.

And of course, they have a great selection of sizes and lengths available. My of caution when buying Levi’s, especially if you’re online shopping, is to pay attention to the fit & sizing information they provide. Their jeans tend to be more fitted with less stretch. If you’re unsure of which size to order, they do have a very useful tool on their website that helps you determine your best size based on other brands of jeans you wear.

Amazon

Believe it or not, petite girls can find some good jeans on Amazon too. It can take some digging, however, as they have thousands of brands of denim available from different retailers. It is possible to narrow your Amazon search down to petite sizes. This can be an issue though as it will only include jeans listed with petite sizes and not jeans listed with Short lengths.

Amazon itself has several of their own brands for denim including Goodthreads, Amazon Essentials, and Daily Ritual. And while I’ve seen some exceptions, many of those brands carry jeans in a short length option.

It’s also possible to find previous season’s designs of more expensive brands at a steep discount on Amazon. I’ve found Levi’s, for instance, under $50 with Prime free shipping.

Another Amazon perk is the Amazon Prime Wardrobe feature. Some brands and styles come with the option to order, try on at home, and then pay if you decide to keep them. I’ve personally tried this out and can say it’s pretty simple to use and returns are stress-free.

Abercrombie & Fitch

Abercrombie is another brand that runs on the more expensive side (usually around $80) but can be well worth it, especially if you shop during a sale.

They also do sales fairly often and it’s possible to pick up a pair their denim for under $50. They also have a rewards program that allows you to accumulate points to earn cash towards a purchase. They’re also a brand that catches onto trends very quickly, so they’re usually one of the first places I check for new styles.

As far as sizing goes, all of their jeans are available in short lengths and that includes any styles that are cropped. (Some brands exclude shorter length options in cropped styles).

Target

At some point in the past decade, Target completely overhauled they’re clothing options and became an affordable style mecca. This pretty much makes them my favorite place to shop. As far as jeans go, their prices are hard to beat. Most of their styles fall in to $20-30 price range and even their most expensive ones are generally only $35. They even carry a diffusion line of Levi’s called DENIZEN that fall in the same price range.

Most styles in the Target brands come in a short length, but there are some exceptions. In general, any pair of jeans in a cropped style will only come in a regular length option. Finding short lengths in store can also be hit or miss, depending on the store. In my experience, Target’s online ordering system is pretty quick and convenient (they usually have a free 2-day shipping option).

Petite-Friendly Denim Hacks

Sometimes, even knowing where to shop for petite-friendly denim isn’t enough. That’s when I use a couple of hacks to make jeans work for me even when they’re not the right length.

Make Ankle/Cropped Jeans Work: Sure, they may not fit the way the designer intended, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Particularly when it comes to skinny jeans or jeggings, cropped or ankle-length styles work for my height. Instead of leaving me with several inches of extra denim that has to be cuffed or tucked, these jeans sometimes fall at just the right length.

Embrace Trends: Speaking of cuffing jeans, it’s one of the trends this year that has worked out particularly well for me. What used to look messy now looks cute and trendy (and I don’t end up tripping over myself). The other trend I’ve loved embracing is the raw hem. Sometimes a sale is just too good to pass up but finding short length jeans at a big discount or clearance sale is practically impossible. However, with a good pair of scissors, any pair of jeans can magically have a raw hem and be the perfect length. I have an Instastories highlight showing how I do this.

For more affordable and petite-friendly fashion finds, you can follow me on the Like.To.Knowit app or through my Shop the Blog page.