Short girls, rejoice! Boyfriend jeans are here to help you look and feel amazing.
It’s true that you can’t always tell by looking at someone whether they’re short or tall.
But if you’re wearing boyfriend jeans with a long-sleeve shirt, it’s pretty obvious.
And that’s where the problem comes in: You don’t want everyone to know what kind of body type you have.
But don’t worry—we’ve got some tips on how to wear boyfriend jeans if you are short and still look amazing (while keeping your secret safe).
1. Prefer high-rise cropped boyfriend jeans.
If you are petite, and especially if you have a smaller waist in relation to your hips and thighs, cropped boyfriend jeans will be more flattering than baggy boyfriend jeans.
When choosing high-rise jeans, look for a pair that sits at the natural waist rather than below or above it.
While some people like their denim to sit on their hips (or even below), this is not an ideal fit for petite women because it disrupts the line of their bodies and makes them appear shorter.
Cropped boyfriend jeans can be worn with boots or heels; they are particularly flattering when paired with ballet flats or wedges.
2. Try Boyfriend jeans, rather than baggy ones
Boyfriend jeans are a great alternative to baggy jeans.
Baggy jeans are not the most flattering style on short girls, but boyfriend jeans have a different silhouette that is more flattering for short women.
Boyfriend jeans have a looser fit than your average pair of skinny or straight-leg pants.
This means they will be more comfortable and versatile than other styles, which can be important when shopping for clothes as opposed to just looking at them in the store (especially if you shop online).
Plus, because they’re so easy to wear with lots of different tops, jackets and shoes—you never have to worry about having enough outfits in your closet!
3. Wear boyfriend jeans with heels, preferably slingbacks.
If you’re short, it’s best to wear boyfriend jeans with heels.
You can’t go wrong with slingbacks or anything else that’s about an inch and a half tall.
If you wear flats, the jeans will look like they’re almost too big for you—and if you wear boots, it’ll look like you were wearing your dad’s jeans (not that there’s anything wrong with that).
4. Cuff your jeans if you are wearing them with ankle boots.
Don’t be afraid of a little cuffed denim. Cuffing your jeans is a great way to show off your shoes and break up the leg of the jeans, making them more interesting and easier to wear.
You can cuff them to the right or left, so there’s no one way that they have to be done (though we will say that it looks better when they are cuffed on both sides).
If you’re wearing ankle boots with boyfriend jeans, then just roll up the hem of your jeans until they hit just above where you want it to end.
Try not to keep rolling too far or else it’ll look like you have huge ankles! For this look specifically, we recommend rolling half an inch at most for each leg—and only if necessary!
5. Tuck in a blouse or button-down shirt.
Tucking a blouse or button-down shirt into your boyfriend jeans is an easy way to define the waist and balance out the look.
But don’t get too casual with this technique: if you’re wearing a loose shirt (like one that’s too big), it will come untucked. To avoid this, make sure the shirt fits well and isn’t too tight or short.
And what about statements? Statement pieces can take any outfit from boring to bangin’, but they can also be easily overdone.
If you want to add some spice to your look, try going for a scarf instead of statement jewelry.
This works especially well when paired with denim because it tends toward muted tones rather than bright ones; plus, scarves are much easier on the budget!
6. Wear your boyfriend jeans with a sophisticated piece of outerwear
If you’re short, it’s important to balance the slouchy shape of boyfriend jeans with a sophisticated outer layer.
Try pairing your jeans with a fitted peacoat or denim jacket to keep some visual interest in your outfit.
Make sure that the shoulder pads on either piece aren’t too high—a more relaxed approach will work better here than something structured and fitted, so opt for something like an oversized coat or a cozy turtleneck sweater.
Tap into this season’s color palette by wearing dark hues like grey or navy blue with neutral pieces like camel coats, black trousers/jeans, white button-up shirts and leather jackets—or stick to classic neutrals such as tan leather or suede shoes!
If you wear heels, try to avoid anything too chunky; go for something sleek instead (no block heels here).
7. Try a distressed pair of boyfriend jeans, skinnier at the ankle, then cuff them to show off your shoes.
Distressed jeans are a great way to wear boyfriend jeans if you are short.
In fact, the distressed look is probably one of the best ways for anyone to wear boyfriend jeans.
The reason is that it gives a little more edge and character than other kinds of denim, which makes them perfect for daytime outfits like dresses or shorts.
Distressed jeans can be cuffed at either ankle or just below the knee.
If you’re going to cuff them above the ankle (and this is also called stepping), make sure that they don’t have too much of an embellished design on them since it would start dragging on the floor when they are cuffed.
You will want your exposed leg area to be as flat as possible so it doesn’t look awkward with your shoes if you do step in these pants quite high up on your legs!
8. You can pair them with nude heels.
If you’re short and want to wear jeans that aren’t hemmed, you’ll need to find a pair that are cropped enough not to look like they’re wearing white socks.
But even if you get the right length, it’s still important to choose the right shoes. Because boyfriend jeans are meant to be casual and comfortable, they pair best with an equally casual shoe.
Here’s where nude heels come in handy: They’re a great match for the jeans’ neutral colors!
They complement them without taking away from their casual vibe—and since they’re also fairly low-key, they won’t clash with your outfit or detract from its overall relaxed vibe (like pointy pumps would).
If you have trouble finding nude heels that fit well, check out this post on how to choose great flats for women with big feet so we can help get those puppies on your feet!
9. Try to Pair them with a fitted top.
If your proportions are on the shorter side, pair your boyfriend jeans with a fitted top.
This will keep the look from feeling too boxy and disguise any awkwardness around the waistband of the pants.
A t-shirt or blouse works well for this style pairing, as long as it is long enough to cover up any exposed jeans (you don’t want people seeing that).
If you’re tall and have longer legs than most people, try wearing an even shorter top (that way it won’t be covering up much of anything).
Conclusion
We hope that by now, you feel more comfortable wearing your boyfriend jeans. But remember: they’re not just pants!
They’re a whole new way of styling and dressing that can change the way you look and feel.
The most important thing is to experiment, play around with different styles and find what works best for you—the possibilities really are endless when it comes down to it.
Hey there! I’m Sophia, and I’m the co-founder of this website. I’ve been a lifelong fashion enthusiast and have spent most of my time working in the industry as a fashion stylist. My goal is to create a space where we can all come together and celebrate everything that makes us who we are: our individual styles. I’m excited to bring you this digital community, where we can share our stories, insights, and experiences with each other—and learn new things along the way!