jeans & pants for petite frames

L

lulu68

Cathlete
Hello,

Every winter I go through the same problem nothing to wear to keep me warm. I leave in Phoenix Az, most of the time I could get away with wearing a tank and shorts but we have does days and nights when its cold, yes cold even in Phoenix. I have one pair of Levis jeans 518 that I've had for years (by the way I hate!) Anyways every year Im overwhelm with the fact of just going to shop for winter clothes pants and jeans, I'm very petite 5ft tall about 105 and kind of have Cathe built (not curvy but not skinny mini like Kelly Ripa) What kind of Jeans and pants should I be looking for to give me the slim long look, straight, skinny, bootcut, etcc... Because I do work out my thighs tend to look bigger in jeans. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. We have tons of soccer games in the evening and I'm always freezing my but off! I've even had people ask me if I own any winter clothes! Thanks.

Lourdes
 
Have you tried GAP jeans?

I am small like you, although much taller. My problem is that once I find jeans small enough, they are usually not long enough. GAP jeans come in all lengths.

I wear the Original bootcut (Which believe they now call the Classic Bootcut). They have size 0 Long, which is perfect for me. You would probably wear the 0 Short.

Good luck!
 
Hi. I'm small too. 5 feet tall 115-120 my weight sorta ranges around there. I don't believe in scales so the only time I get my weight checked is when I go to the Dr. This may seem a little weird but I buy my winter clothes from the kids catalog -Lands End. California gets pretty cold during the winter. I love to sew so if I buy something that doesn't fit right I just tailor it. Investing in a good tailor is one of the keys to finding clothes that look great on you. If your asking for advice on beefing up your legs though, . . . .simple short cut answer lift heavy with legs and add protien. I don't have that problem I'm one of those people who gets pretty muscular I have more trouble leaning out.
 
I'm shorter, 4'9" and weigh less than 100 lbs and I'm also prone to buying girls clothes. I gave up hemming things decades ago, and girls pants are the right length for me. It does take trying on a number of things, as I find they range widely in their sizing and finding ones that fit waist, hips and thighs isn't always easy, but I find the same thing when I try junior clothes. The added bonus is that girls clothes, even when they are essentially the same amount of material, are cheaper.
 
Peaceful Rainbow said:
I'm shorter, 4'9" and weigh less than 100 lbs and I'm also prone to buying girls clothes. I gave up hemming things decades ago, and girls pants are the right length for me. It does take trying on a number of things, as I find they range widely in their sizing and finding ones that fit waist, hips and thighs isn't always easy, but I find the same thing when I try junior clothes. The added bonus is that girls clothes, even when they are essentially the same amount of material, are cheaper.
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Oh I love that kids clothes are cheaper. Have you tried kids shoes??? I wear kids uggs but never athletic shoes and I'm thinking of trying it. I just don't know if quality is skimped on when the item is made for kids.
 
Hi lulu!
I'm an avid watcher of What Not To Wear, so I'm going to try to pass on the advice I see Stacey and Clinton give to women of similar builds!

Look for mid-rise jeans, to lengthen the appearance of your waist. You want a darker wash, and a straight leg or bootcut. Length of the pants varies, depending on the type of shoe you wear, but your hem should rest on the top of your shoe. (Not just meet it, but rest on it a little.)

Not sure what you're looking to spend, but my suggestion is always to buy one or two really nice pairs that will last awhile, and fit you fabulously. My favorite is True Religion, which is anywhere from $150-300/pair. I'm also short and built like you. They have a twisted seam down the leg of their jeans that gives the appearance of extra length in your legs.
Seven for All Mankind is also a great jean - particularly their Dojo cut.

And do yourself a favor and get them hemmed. Tailoring isn't that expensive, and you'll have pants that fit you perfectly. I spent years trying to find the right length, and it's just impossible.
Good luck!
 
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I am 5 feet also, and I agree with the above poster to just buy what looks good, regardless of length, and get it hemmed. I have to have EVERYTHING hemmed. Even petite/short length is too long:eek::p
 
GAP bootcut is the best of the best in my opinion. I get the ankle length and they are perfect. Plus, they don't stretch out like all the other jeans in the universe these days.
 
Hey all - I ran the denim department at Fred Segal in LA for years selling jeans to the rich and famous. Let's see what I can do here. I have some good ideas - but it depends your budget. For the higher end stuff, your frame would be best suited for a low rise boot cut, perhaps something with a little stretch. Avoid boxy (like Helmut Lang) at all costs - not cute at all for women your size - very boyish. I think the skinny jean - while a cool look - might not work for someone who is petite but with muscular legs.
Some of the higher end jeans that would probably work for you are True Religion and Blue Cult. TRs are sort of the "big" thing 5 minutes ago but I still think they are fierce! Blue Cult is awesome - hard to go wrong with this one. They do a stretch with a slight flare that is great. Another brand to look for, but a little harder to find...Kova & T have a very nice line out. Diesel and some of the bigger brands, like Seven can be good, but you might have to wade through a million different styles before you find what works (and Seven has since gone really mainstream - blech)
Lots of people mentioned the Gap - they did some nice cuts this year that would be perfect for someone who does not want to spend between $150-$300 on jeans. Some of their darker rinses look beautiful - especially for the season. They are straight forward without a lot of distracting pocket detail. Banana Republic has some similar stuff - worth looking at. In AZ - rock the dark jeans with some pointy cowboy boots (Cuban heel, of course) and a vintage T and leather jacket - you will rock. Do we need to discuss accessories?
Peace,
Keith
 
Keith, I think I just fell in love with you! :)

What do you suggest for the stretch factor? I agree that Gap has put out some cute "fashion" styles this year. I love their trouser jean. My problem with them (why i stopped buying them in fact) is because they lose their shape 2 hrs after putting them on. I tried going a size down, and it was still pretty bad. Should I try 2 sizes down? What's the deal?

That's the big difference I notice with the higher end jeans - their stretch is truly stretch, not just "inflate to a different shape"! LOL!
 
janie1234 said:
Oh I love that kids clothes are cheaper. Have you tried kids shoes??? I wear kids uggs but never athletic shoes and I'm thinking of trying it. I just don't know if quality is skimped on when the item is made for kids.
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I almost always buy girls shoes, and the pair of athletic shoes I had before my current ones were girls Avia's and I thought the quality was fine. Clothes and shoes aren't a high priority for me and I rarely buy things at regular stores, when I can find good quality things at second hand places for a few dollars. I'd rather save my money for workout things ;-)
 
melimcn said:
Keith, I think I just fell in love with you! :)

What do you suggest for the stretch factor? I agree that Gap has put out some cute "fashion" styles this year. I love their trouser jean. My problem with them (why i stopped buying them in fact) is because they lose their shape 2 hrs after putting them on. I tried going a size down, and it was still pretty bad. Should I try 2 sizes down? What's the deal?

That's the big difference I notice with the higher end jeans - their stretch is truly stretch, not just "inflate to a different shape"! LOL!
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HAHAHA - "inflate to a different shape" I love it.
The problem is - all jeans will stretch out some, especially around the knees and...um...other areas. I have had the best luck with stretch jeans that are at least 90% cotton. Try this: When you put them in the dryer after washing, take them out before they are completely dry and let them sit flat on a counter. That should do it.

For fun, you might experiment with some old school tricks for keeping the shape. Get something in a raw denim (the ones that feel like a sheet of cardboard). The Japanese companies make great ones (Denime, Sewing Chop, Okura). They were a huge fad about five or six years ago and they were extremely expensive. If you want to spend a fortune and you can find them - they are great jeans.
A better bet is G-Star, the best in Eurotrash fashion - still expensive but worth it. You can find them in small boutiques and online.
Anyway, buy a pair that fits - put them on - and sit in the hot bath for a while. They will shrink up to the contours of your body = perfect shape. Just remember, never dry them completely in the dryer - they will shrink and become too small. Oh - and the indigo dye will temporarily turn your legs blue.
I know all this sounds like a bit of a pain - but denim freaks are prone to these types of things.
You know - Levis is still a great brand. The Skinner cut, for example is HOT. It is super low, tight, and slightly boot cut - it works great for men and women. Buy them in as small a size as you can (being careful not to smash certain things flat) and let them stretch out a bit.
Happy hunting!
Keith
 
I am 5'4 and have to hunt for very small sizes. I like Old Navy. They have different styles and you can get them starting at size 0. They come in petite, regular, and tall. With the dressier pants regular is sometimes a little long because they are made with heels in mind. Jeans usually are right on. I like the BootCut. They do have a skinny jean too. You also have choices on the rises of the jeans. So you can get any fit that you want. I think that wider legs would make me look shorter so lean towards the closer fit. I watch for sales so recently got some in the blue black shade. I love these. Going back and looking I have some Diesal Jeans but they fit wide in the hips and thighs on me. The best fit I ever had was some Vercace Jeans. Not into spending that much money though as I go through jeans rather quickly.
 
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I think I might have just fallen in love with Keith too...:)

So what about us gals who are long waisted, shorter legs but muscular legs and straight to no hips? What do you think about the PRPS look Katie Holmes was rockin' earlier this year? I love baggy jeans...

I love True Religions, but since they are low rise, they make my legs look shorter..oh, and only the Joey cut is cute...on me at least.
 
Honestly, I am a little on the fence about Katie's PRPS look. I get it, and she pulls it off - especially when she throws it together with the right accessories - i.e. vintage belt and buckle. One the other hand, for her at least - while village slumming it chic, they are not terribly flattering. I suppose that's the whole point, though (katie's defense team...sound off). Hey - id you like the baggy look you couldn't do much better - their finishes are fantastic.

You are right - for shorter legs = get something with a little bit longer rise and straight leg = long and lean. Go with dark colors and get them a little long - wear with a heel and there you have it. Helmut Lang makes one of the best on the market. Since you are used to the Joey then the price shouldn't scare you off. If you want to try a flare - Levi's 517s - vintage, not the new ones - are awesome for your body type IF you can find just the right pair. If there is a good vintage clothing store near you that knows their stuff talk to them about finding you some.

Good luck!
keith
 
I'm not petite, but I wanted to share a link that explains a simple way to hem jeans and still keep the original hem:

http://www.daciaray.com/?p=38

I use this method all the time for myself and my 2 girls, and it works great. I don't know how much it costs to hem pants these days, but every little bit saved helps, eh?

You don't necessarily need a sewing machine either, though that would make things easier.
 
This works very well and gives you a professional, finished look. The only thing, just make sure to cut away the extra fabric left over on the inside - otherwise you will get an ugly fade mark.
Later all,
Keith
 
LaughingWater said:
I'm not petite, but I wanted to share a link that explains a simple way to hem jeans and still keep the original hem:
http://www.daciaray.com/?p=38
I use this method all the time for myself and my 2 girls, and it works great. I don't know how much it costs to hem pants these days, but every little bit saved helps, eh?
You don't necessarily need a sewing machine either, though that would make things easier.
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Lori~ Thank you so much for posting this!! I've been paying a tailor to do this type of hem on my jeans (I'm only 5' 3/4") and now I can do it myself on my sewing machine:)

JJ
 
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