I was on a flight a couple of weeks ago, and we had just landed and were about to escape when the cute girl in the row in front of me got to stand up. She’d clearly made an effort with her outfit. She was casual yet pulled together. Somehow, after that long flight, she still looked great. She had on jeans, driving moccasins, a blazer, and a nice handbag. She had a slim, athletic, trim figure and not much of a bum. Unfortunately, the jeans she had on for not doing her backside any favors. Now, at the risk of you thinking I pick apart everybody’s outfit when I’m out in public, I don’t. But it is an occupational hazard that when I see someone who’s clearly put effort into their look, yet something isn’t quite working, to try to figure out what the speed bump is and how I can help. Now, the two tips I would have given her for a flat bum, which we’ll circle back to in a bit, she’d already tried, and they actually made her bum look even longer and even flatter.

So, today we’re going to kick off the pants and denim conversation. It’s a big topic. So, this is part one, where we’ll focus on the challenges that come with waist, hip, and bum fit. And then part two will come out next week, where we’ll dig into length and leg shape because every petite deserves to find pants that are comfortable, flatter their shape, and fit their petite height. So, by the end of this episode, you’ll be so much closer to knowing what to look for when shopping for pants this season. I’m Angela, your Petite style coach. And when you’re ready, let’s do this. 

Petite Clothing for Women 5’3″ and Under

Addressing Petite Pant Fit Frustrations

When working with new clients, pants are the number one cause of frustration. Just in the last week, I heard the crotch is always too big, the waist is always too tight, the thighs are too baggy, and yes, that was all from one client. Somebody else said, “Wide-leg pants make me look shorter and frumpy.” And then another one said, “Why does the crotch area always feel huge, but the pants can barely button around my waist?” And that’s exactly why the second step in my spark style method is pants. Specifically, helping clients pin down their perfect three-part petite pant formula. Now, I know finding pants that fit can be such a struggle. It’s hard to even imagine you only need to know three easy measurements, but it really is that simple. The first measurement in the petite pants is rise. Now, just so that we’re all on the same page, rise is the length from the crotch to the top of the waistband.

The Petite Pant Formula: Key Measurements

Understanding Pant Rise for Petites

And it’s so critical because getting the rise right determines how good or not your bum looks. It’s also critical when we talk petite proportion and has a ton to do with if the pants will be comfortable or not. The trend this fall continues for the rise to be on the higher side. So, knowing that you and the brand you’re shopping at are on the same page will be super important before adding any new items to your closet. Rise used to be super easy, but then brands started muddying the water by playing fast and loose with the descriptions. And one brand’s mid-rise would be another brand’s high-rise, and on and on and on. So, we’ll talk the terms first because I think it’s important that you know, but keep in mind, we’ll also talk about how you can find your actual number, um, in just a bit. There are four general categories for rise. The first one is low-rise, and this is when the waistband lands right at your hipbones. Think like Kate Moss when she was at her thinnest, heroin chic phase.

Low-Rise Petite Pants Explained

While they look cool, they’re not awesome on anyone who has an ounce of extra in the middle section. Think the worst muffin top ever. The next is mid-rise, and this hits above your hipbones but below your belly button, and is the most universally flattering rise. Then we have high-rise, and this hits at your belly button. This has been super popular for the last few seasons and can be brilliant on certain body shapes, although not all, which we’ll dig into in a bit. And then finally, there’s high-waisted, which hits just underneath the bottom of your rib cage. page. Let’s put that information aside just briefly and talk about proportion. In this case, when we’re talking about proportion, what we’re talking about is your visible waist, which is not the same thing as where your natural waistline is.

Mid-Rise Petite Pants: Universally Flattering

High-Rise and High-Waisted Petite Pants

Your visible waist is where you want your waistband to land because it will give the illusion that your legs are 2/3 of your total height and that from your waist to the top of your head is one/ird of your height. Now, here’s an easy way to test. You can stand in front of a full-length mirror and have your arms rest at your sides. Turn your palm to face out and then bend your arm at the elbow and place your elbow along your side. And that is your visible waist. It’s where you want your waistband of the pants, like we’re talking about now, to hit, but also your skirts, and even where you want your belt to rest. Now, I’m pretty sure someone out there is yelling at me right now, saying, “But I’m short-waisted or long-waisted and that’s totally fine. This isn’t about what’s really happening underneath your clothes. This is about creating a flattering illusion and making the most of our very limited vertical real estate so that we don’t look shorter and wider. Okay?

Creating Flattering Proportions with Visible Waist for Petites

Finding Your Ideal Petite Pants Measurements

And for both short and long-waisted petites, we will talk about what to do for you in just a moment. All right. Now, take a pair of pants that you already own and know that the waistband hits you in the right spot. Now, you don’t need to love everything about them, but what you do need to know is that they’re comfortable while both walking and sitting, you like how your bum looks, and they hit your waist at the right spot. Then grab a tape measure and start where the four seams connect at the crotch of the pants. Measure up over the zipper to the top of the waistband, and that is your ideal rise. Here’s a pro tip. Many clients keep all of their numbers in one spot on the Notes app on their phone. Because you think you’ll remember, but then in the midst and the heat of shopping, it’s easy to forget. While we want your pants to rest at your visible waistline, we still need to know what your actual waist measurement is.

Measuring Your Ideal Rise for Petite Pants

Because remember those clients I was telling you about that would be like, “Oh, it’s too tight in the waist, or it fits in the hips, but it’s too big in the waist.” Or whatever the situation is. The reason why is because your actual waist measurement will give us a big clue as to what size you need to order. Because even when you order from one brand a size traditional size like a 6, eight, or 10, those change from brand to brand. And when you’re shopping for brands that look like they’re a waist measurement, we always want to double-check. I was working with a client last week, and there was actually a 2 inch difference between the pant size and the waist measurement, meaning their size 29 pants fit women with a 31 in waist. One other pro tip, when you pull up a pair of pants online. Double-check the spec or the details tab. It will break down what waist size fits which pant size.

Understanding Actual Waist Measurement for Petite Pants Sizing

Petite Pants Rise Recommendations by Body Type

Now, there’s a bunch of other online shopping tips on a Petite Shopping YouTube video, so I’ll make sure that I link that in the show notes. Also, speaking of shopping, let’s circle back to those short-waisted and long-waisted petites. If you are short-waisted, try low and mid-rise pants. They will land below your natural waistline and make your torso look longer, creating that perfect illusion that your body is 1/3 of your total length. On the flip side, if you’re long-waisted, you likely know what’s coming. You’ll want to try high-rise and high-waisted because they’ll land higher, making your legs look longer and creating the illusion that your legs are 2/3 of your total length. For petites who like the look of a flatter stomach, try compression denim. It’s like shapewear and denim all in one item. Now, if that sounds good, there are a few brands that you’ll want to check out.

Low-Rise Petite Pants for Short-Waisted Figures

Mid-Rise Petite Pants for Short-Waisted Figures

High-Rise and High-Waisted Petite Pants for Long-Waisted Figures

Compression Denim for Petite Pants

The first is Democracy, and honestly, calling their Absolution line merely tummy smoothing would be a huge disservice because it does so much more. It has an a concealed elastic waistband in the back, so if you have trouble getting the waist small enough to actually fit, that’s another great one. Um, and they also have bum-lifting technology. Plus, they use 2 to 4% spandex depending upon the style. So, that means it keeps their shape and you’ll be less likely to get baggy legs, baggy bum, and all of that. And they have oodles of on-trend rises and leg shapes and all of that because honestly, who cares if it fits if you don’t like how it looks? Then the second one is Good American, and they’re pretty much the Goldilocks of compression. denim because they actually have three different levels of compression, meaning you can order exactly what you want. And of course, their petite inseam selection is one of the best on the planet.

Democracy Ab Solutions Line for Petite Pants

Good American Compression Denim for Petites

The third is Wit and Wisdom, and they’re really the perfect combination of trendy styles, stomach smoothing, and a waistband that fits. So, they also have a great variety of non-denim options. So, think like corduroy and khaki and twill, and a lot of different colors. I feel obligated to mention Not Your Daughter’s Jeans because they also offer compression denim, but honestly, I feel like their styles are a little bit boring. So, unless you’re a huge fan, I think you could probably find something better. So, we mentioned a few brands, but if you’re new here, first of all, thank you so much for listening. I’m so happy that you’re here. And be sure to grab your copy of The Best Petite Boutiques in addition to a whole page of petite pants. It also includes over 50 brands of designers who create clothes specifically for petites. It’s broken down by career and casual, and curvy.

Wit and Wisdom Petite Pants for Trendy Styles and Stomach Smoothing

Petite Casual Pants and Non-Denim Options

And then there’s a section for all of those hard-to-shop-for things like bras for small boobs and shoes for small feet. You can get your copy at angelastycoach.com/bpb. And I’ll also put the link in the show notes so you don’t have to hunt it down. One cautionary fairy tale for petites this season when it comes to pant shopping. So, pleats, if you haven’t already, are going to be super popular. You’ll be seeing them pretty much everywhere. And they can be super flattering. And on some body shapes, they’re absolutely not. So, the one thing to look for is that they need to lay flat. Meaning, it’s a style that can be really pressed flat or that the size fits your middle section so perfectly that they just lay that way naturally. Because once they start pulling apart, they can actually make our middle section look bigger, which I think we can all agree is not a good look. Do you remember the girl from the beginning of the episode from the plane? Okay, great. Let’s circle back to her.

Petite Pants Style Considerations: Pleats

Enhancing the Backside: Illusion for Flat Bum in Petite Pants

Now, there are two things that women without much of a tush can do to create the illusion of one. The first one is the yolk, and that’s the V-shaped seam in back between the waist and the pockets. The deeper the V, the more it’ll create the illusion of a fuller bum. The second is the back pockets. You want to look for short, wide pockets versus long, narrow ones or super small ones. So, I mentioned the girl on the plane had done both of those things. And yet, her pants weren’t working for her. So, why is that? It’s because her rise was too long for her body. So, the yolk hit halfway down her bum, and then half of the back pockets was hitting her thighs, and that’s what made her bum look so long. So, just to put a bow on this whole situation, that’s the perfect example of why getting the rise right is so crucial, in addition to the comfort and the proportion. So, to make a long story even longer, there are a couple of ways to avoid this.

Petite Pants for Flat Bum: Yolk and Pocket Placement

Importance of Rise for Petite Pants and Bum Appearance

Smart Shopping Tips for Petite Pants

First, always make sure to check the rear view when trying on pants. And I think most of us probably do that. And then, depending upon the material mix. Imagine what they’ll look like when they stretch out a bit, because they will. And if they’re right on the edge of being flattering right now, but you know that once they stretch out, they won’t be any longer. Please don’t settle because, honestly, there are so many places to shop. There’s no reason for you to buy ones that are going to look less than amazing on you. Now, are you ready for a style challenge? So, first, do the full-length mirror exercise and discover where your visible waistline is. Then snag your favorite pants from the closet and make note of your ideal rise. And when you have a chance, cruise through your best petite boutiques directory and make note of where you’re going to look the next time you’re looking for pants and denim. That way, you’ll be prepared and not have to scramble or panic shop at the last minute.

Checking Rear View and Material Stretch for Petite Pants

And how great is that going to feel? Having a plan always eliminates so much pressure. And then afterwards, be sure to pop over to inside petitestyle.com and send me a message or tap the voicemail button on the right and share how it went. I cannot wait to celebrate your savvy style choices with you. And that, my friend, is a wrap. Thank you so much for hanging out, and we will chat next week for part two of our perfect petite pants. Thanks for tuning in to Inside Petite Style. When you’re ready to create a wardrobe that fits your height, flatters your body shape, and makes getting dressed fun and easy. Head over to inside petitestyle.com and take my free petite style quiz. You’ll get personalized tips and strategies made just for your proportion and your height. And hey, you know that girlfriend who’s always rolling up her sleeves and hemming her pants? Share this episode with her. She needs to know she’s not alone and that there are real solutions. See you next week.

Until then, have fun and stay stylish.