17 Pairs of Petite Pants Every Woman 5’ 4” and Under Needs
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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 within petite sizing. The name generally refers to women 5’4” and under, but also includes what 4’ 9” designer Fae Brennan of brand Fable Petite calls “extra petite,” or under five feet tall. And as Li points out, there's also a range of body shapes to consider: long or short torsos, leg proportions and even the width of your shoulders can impact how a pair of pants looks on you. Here's our selection of the best pants for petites—as well as great pairs of jeans for short women—available now.
The Best Petite Pants at a Glance
Meet the Experts
How We Chose the Best Petite Pants
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 some 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)
1. Everlane Way-High® Taper Pant
"Love these for their super-high waist, which is 13.38 inches," says PureWow Senior Editor Dana Dickey. "And the front pleats are so cute, because the lightweight fabric doesn't bunch up too much and just make my petite figure look bloated, the way some pleated pants do." The versatility of these pants is off the charts, since they look good with heels or sneakers, a silk top or a striped T-shirt.
2. AYR The Beat Drop
Senior editor Dana Dickey raves, “These modified barrel-shape pants are the first pair I reach for when I want a comfy 'fit in warm weather. Not only are they super-soft, but they are so lightweight and stretchy that they're the next best thing to shorts. And I appreciate the 11-inch rise, so I never have to worry about muffin top.”
3. Plnotme Barrel Leg Denim Pants
"I bought these after seeing them on Pinterest, and I'm so glad I did," says PureWow Senior Editor Dana Dickey. "At 5'3", I would have never believed that these wide-leg jeans could be so flattering—but the parentheses curve of the leg, as well as the medium rise of the waist and the soft, mostly cotton fabric actually makes me look chic, and updates every top I wear them with." The secret is the pintuck tailoring on the inner knees that make the bagginess of the leg look intentional, not ill-fitting. We love these with flats, loafers and cute sneakers.
4. Reformation Mason Pant
These petite trousers won us over for their long line of elegantly draping fabric and straight trouser silhouette. Sustainably made from deadstock fabric in Los Angeles, these pants also have eco bona fides. While we're appreciative that they come in longer lengths, so you can hem them at exactly at the perfect length to wear with your favorite wedges, these require a bit of extra effort post-purchase to get them just right.
5. Madewell Harlow Wide-Leg Pant
“These pants are so cute and yet so comfy and flowy,” says PureWow Senior Editor Dana Dickey. For reference, she's 5’3” and 125 pounds and found that a size 6 petite fit perfectly. “They do wrinkle somewhat easily, but when I hang them up to dry in the steamy bathroom while I shower, the creases fall out." The best-selling original silhouette comes in nine natural hues including acorn, smoky grape and seed khaki. And the newly introduced curvy iteration gets our love for the way it's tailored to flatter an hourglass shape, with a narrower high waist, a longer rise and a bit more room in the hips and thighs. Since the Tencel blend fabric drapes nicely, these pleated-front pants don’t swallow a wearer with shorter legs.
6. J.Crew Petite Sydney Pant
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.”
7. Zara High Waist Pants
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 front welt packets don't create any additional bulk, important in such a slender trouser. This one has multiple darts extending down from the front and rear waistband.
8. Nic + Zoe Plaza Demi Bootcut Ankle Pants
These kicky little stretch trousers are a great way to enjoy the look of a trim trouser that is a bit dressier than a pair of elastic-waist pants. The slightly flared ankle is flattering on petite figures and the line of the pant is not too tight, but still follows the line of the body. Also, the medium rise doesn't constrict your waist area the ways some high-rise numbers do, and belt loops let you accessorize or draw attention to your waist.
9. Quince Ponte Wide Leg Pant
While these are not sized as petites, the length (only a 26-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.”
10. Abercrombie Curve Love 90s Straight Pant
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!”
11. Chico's Brigitte Slim Pants
A longer version of the brand’s bestselling So Slimming® Brigitte style released for year-round wear, these pants draw raves for both their soft fabric and flattering hidden fit technology that smooths the stomach area. "They are so versatile," writes one petite wearer. "I can dress them up or down and they launder beautifully. Since they are pull-ups, they are easy to put on and take off."
17. Spanx The Perfect Pant, Button Wide Leg
Want to look sleek and sexy for an evening out, but not have to give up the comfort and coverage of a pair of trousers? These are your pants. First off, Spanx's hidden core-shaping tech keeps your tummy close to flat, while the super-stretchy fabric that never confines you. And the shiny gold buttons on each hip whittle your waist while telegraphing "fancy."Add to all that, you can turn these inside out and machine wash these or dry clean—win-win.
13. Banana Republic Skinny Sloan Pant
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.
14. Quince European Linen Pants
“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.
15. Nic + Zoe Petites Wonderstretch Straight-Leg Pants
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.
16. Commando Petite Faux Leather Leggings
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.
17. Everlane Utility Barrel Pants
Royally Obsessed podcast co-host and Gallery Media Group Director of Branded Content 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 2024, WFH in them.”
What Does Petite Mean in Pants?
"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 measurements (the distance from the crotch seam of your pants to the hems). “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’’.”
What to Consider When Shopping for Petite Pants
Remember these tips from The Petite Style Bible:
The 7 Rules of Wearing Pants When You’re 5’4’’ and Under
Why You Should Trust Us
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.
