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Jul 15, 2023

16 Pairs of Petite Pants Every Woman 5’ 4” and Under Needs

PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and the company may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. You can learn more about that process here. Yahoo Inc. may

PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and the company may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. You can learn more about that process here. Yahoo Inc. may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.

Read the original article on Purewow.

Every petite woman knows that finding a pair of pants that is correctly tailored to our bums, curves and leg length is a challenge. “Like jeans, pants are also a pain point for most petite women,” according to Chi Li, fashion designer and author of The Petite Style Bible. The 5’2” Li goes on to say, “The majority of us find pants hard to shop for, even in the petite department.” Why? For one thing, there’s a range of petite sizes. The name generally refers to women 5’4” and under, but also includes what 4’ 9” designer Fae Brennan of upcoming brand Fable Petite calls “extra petite,” or under five feet tall. And as Li points out, on top of the range of heights, there’s also a range of body shapes: long or short torsos, leg proportions—even the width of one’s shoulders can impact how a pair of pants looks on you.

We polled editors, browsed reviews and looked for pants using elements of inseam length, size range, material and style. Many on our list are from brands’ petite collections, however many are not. In cases where we selected items not labeled “petite,” we were careful to select examples that had a shorter inseam, roll-up potential or crop styling. Long story short—we’re aiming to keep readers from having to visit the tailor.

20 Pairs of Pants That Feel Like Leggings (but Look Way More Polished)

Everlane

Royally Obsessed podcast co-host and PureWow editor Roberta Fiorito has found her perfect trousers: “I’m 5'4", and these cropped pants hit at just the right spot above the ankle. They barrel silhouette is equal parts flattering (so over skinny styles) and comfortable (let those thighs BREATHE!), and high-waist enough to elongate my legs while hitting at the narrowest part of my middle. I have them in three colors, travel in them, dress them up with heels and, the true testament in 2023, WFH in them.”

Buy It ($98)

Anthropologie

Senior editor Dana Dickey raves, “I have this pair of jeans in white and they’re my summer go-to. Not only are they super-soft, but they have such a generous percentage of elastane that they hug me perfectly without pinching. And not least, I’m grateful for the 9.5-inch rise, since I don’t have to worry about muffin top.”

Buy It ($238)

Quince

“I'm 5'2'' and have my eye on these European Linen pants from Quince,” says assistant commerce editor Natalie LaBarbera. “I have a pair of shorts by the brand in the same fabric that I love, and I know the 25-inch inseam will hit at a perfect ankle length." With an elastic waist and made from natural hypoallergenic flax, these pants can double as jammies in a pinch.

Buy It ($40)

Nordstrom

“Great wide leg pant. Washed well with no wrinkles afterwards,” says one reviewer who is 5’4” and 130 pounds. The flowing fabric and not-too-voluminous wide leg are flattering, while the elastic high waist is comfy—even after a big lunch.

Buy It ($70 - $88)

Abercrombie & Fitch

Abercrombie is the petite woman’s go-to because it makes pants in short and extra short sizing. This curvy style has two more inches in the hips and thigh more than the brand’s standard straight pant, so wearing it ensures not only that you won’t have a waistband gap, but also a more comfortable sitting experience. “Favorite pants ever!” says one New York City-based reviewer. “They are comfortable, stylish and warm. I am 4’11” with an athletic build, thick thighs and butt. Originally got a 27S, but ultimately wound up with a 28S. Just wanted some extra room for comfort. Always get compliments when I wear these, I have them in three colors now!”

Buy It ($110; $94)

J. Crew

We’re thrilled this simple, relaxed-leg style comes in lengths that allow us to wear them with flats, without a trip to the tailor. In black, navy and heather graphite, these pants are potentially going to shave ten minutes off your morning, since you can match them to anything else in your closet and be out the door just like that. “Bought this for work and it is so great,” writes one reviewer who is 158 pounds and 5’1. “Looks flattering even when I’m curvy at the bottom.”

Buy It ($128; $100)

Madewell

“They fit my waist very well and then are flowy everywhere else,” writes one reviewer who is 5’2” and 135 pounds. (She bought a size 4 petite.) “They do wrinkle somewhat easily, but I can get away with not steaming them if I wash on a delicate cycle and hang to dry. I would buy more if there were more colors.” In natural hues including acorn, forest and seed khaki, these are a solid petite purchase. Since the Tencel blend fabric drapes nicely, these pleated-front pants don’t swallow a wearer with shorter legs.

Buy It ($118)

Zara

The tapered leg of these pants comes to a stop just atop the ankle for petites, and for very petite women, it will hit the top of their shoe. That’s a win, as is the refined design that’s got a pronounced front hem sewn into it. Bonus: The unobtrusive belt loops mean you can accent this with your favorite belt or just leave the waistband bare and your top untucked for a more casual look.

Buy It ($50)

QVC

These kicky little pull-on trousers are a great way to enjoy the look of a proper work pant without fussing with a zipper. The slightly flared ankle is flattering on petite figures and the line of the trousers is not too tight but follows the line of the body. Also, the high waist really lengthens the leg as well as keeps wearers covered, even when pairing these pants with a crop top.

Buy It ($78; $70)

Quince

While these are not sized as petites, the length (only a 25-inch inseam) and the medium-wide leg make these cropped pants wearable as full-length pants for petites. “As far as length goes, I’m a 5’3 gal so it fits right above the ankle for me,” says one reviewer. “It’s still a cute look and you can’t beat the price.”

Buy It ($50)

Revolve

Creative dressers will appreciate how these faux-leather leggings really elevate any event where you’d typically just wear your usual leggings. The 10.5-inch rise makes your legs look longer and the 23-inch inseam, which fits normie figures like a capri legging, will stretch all the way to the ankle on petites. We love these with a heel, a white silk blouse and a blazer for a drinks date.

Buy It ($118; $74)

Reformation

This pert pair of petite trousers won us over for its long line of oatmeal linen fabric and flattering straight trouser silhouette. Sustainably made from flax in Los Angeles, these pants also have eco bona fides.

Buy It ($198)

Loft

“I was super impressed with this fabric. It will be great for travel as it won't wrinkle when packed,” writes one reviewer. “I can dress these up or down. Regular was a bit long and would’ve needed to be hemmed, but the petite was 28 inches long, just the length I needed as I am 5'4".” A comfy wide elastic waistband and a faux sailor-style bib with buttons are the style selling points here, in your choice of black, grey, deep blue and plum.

Buy It ($80; $48)

Spanx

While cropped pants are often a no-no for petites looking to keep a long, unbroken line running up and down their outfit, we are sold on these crops because they are so highly engineered to be flattering. First off, there’s the hidden core-shaping tech that keep your tummy close to flat, and also super-stretchy fabric that never confines you. Add to all that, you can machine wash these or dry clean—win-win.

Buy It ($138)

Banana Republic

The 9.25-inch mid-rise on these trousers makes these pants a good selection if you have an ample bosom, since as one petite staffer told us “a high-waist pair of pants on me hits right underneath my chest, making me look like two boobs on sticks.” Likewise the fine-milled imported fabric has a generous stretch, so it will smooth right over your bum. And for three-season wear, you’ll appreciate that there’s no lining.

Buy It ($90)

Saks Fifth Avenue

If you crossed a pair of substantial leggings with a pair of chinos, you’d get this kind of a neutral, wear-with-everything casual pair of pants. What’s nice is that even though these pants have a good amount of stretch, they don’t vise your rear or cut into your abdomen where the 9.5 inches sits. This is the sort of classic trouser that when a petite finds in in her size, she’s smart to snap up.

Buy It ($128)

‘Petite’ varies from label to label, but in general it refers to height (under 5’5”) and leg length (i.e., inseam). Designer Li recommends knowing your own inseam measurement (the distance from the top inside of your thigh to the floor). “Petite size pants are made according to measurements of petite models, most of whom are 5’4” or 5’3” and typically with long legs,” she tells us, explaining that since she has a 25-inch inseam and most petite pants have a 27-inch inseam, she often has to get her pants hemmed. As Petite Ave. subscription box founder Vanessa Youshaei told Forbes magazine, “To most people, ‘petite’ means ‘small and skinny,’ but petite has to do with proportions, not size. Essentially anybody size 00 to 18-plus can shop in the petite department as long they’re under 5’5’’.”

Remember these tips from The Petite Style Bible:

The 7 Rules of Wearing Pants When You’re 5’4’’ and Under

PureWow's editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series (where we rank items on a 100-point scale) to our painstakingly curated lists of fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family picks, you can trust that our recommendations have been thoroughly vetted for function, aesthetics and innovation. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.