Skinny Jeans Are Out | 3 Other Flattering Styles for Petite Women
Skinny jeans are officially out. Will that stop me from wearing them? No. Should it stop you from wearing them? No. But that doesn’t mean you can’t stray from the old classic and give some new styles a try. Below, I show you how to style the returning trends of straight-leg, bootcut, and wide-leg jeans.
As these are three pretty standard styles, they can be easily picked up preloved. Whether you’re shopping new or used, be sure to check out my Guide to Vegan-Friendly Jeans, where I highlight the best brands that are free of leather patches in both the new and second-hand space. Now on to the styles. 👖
Straight-Leg Jeans
If you’re really struggling to part with your skinny jeans, straight-leg jeans are an easy transitional style and they are equally flattering. If you select a pair that’s slightly longer and in a darker wash, this can give the added illusion that your legs are longer than they are.
This is a simple trick that sadly doesn’t work with skinny jeans because when skinny jeans are too long the fabric simply bunches at the ankles and produces the opposite effect as to what you were going for. Straight leg jeans 1: skinny jeans 0.
Thanks to the slim leg, this is the perfect style to ease you out of skinny jeans and you can also style them as you would your skinnies (with almost anything!). Here they provided the perfect canvas to let me pair one of my current favorite color combos: army green and fuchsia.
And if you’re looking for a perfectly-sized classic and elegant purse (in a dreamy olive green color!), this model from the Peta-Approved vegan brand Denise Roobol is a great option.
While numerous footwear styles work with straight-leg jeans, I like them best paired with driving mules or loafers. The driving moccasins I’m wearing are an older style from the vegan brand Matt & Nat but Immaculate Vegan also has a number of great options.
– OUTFIT DETAILS –
LOAFERS | Matt & Nat (current styles by Matt & Nat)
BELT | Peta + Jain (current styles by Peta + Jain)
PURSE | Denise Roobol
SUNGLASSES | Gucci (current styles by Gucci)
Bootcut Jeans
If you’re feeling more adventuresome and a bit nostalgic, why not give bootcut jeans a go (again). This is a tamed-down version of flared-leg jeans and the slight flare is flattering while also being a more relaxed style than straight legs.
Bootcut jeans are one of the many styles from the ’90s that have seen a recent resurgence. Given the ’90s vibes, it was only fitting that I paired them with these leopard print ’90s style oxfords but they also pair well with cowboy boots. Check out my previous post for some great vegan cowboy boot options and styling tips.
And if, like me, you’ve been looking for the perfect vegan schoolboy backpack, your searching can stop here. This dream model from the vegan brand Will’s Vegan Store can be worn as either a satchel or a backpack. 🙌 Your back-to-school look is officially sorted.
– OUTFIT DETAILS –
OXFORDS | Da Quy (similar by Good Guys Don’t Wear Leather use code HARMFREEFASHION for 20% off)
BELT | Peta + Jain (current styles by Peta + Jain)
SCHOOLBOY BACKPACK | Will’s Vegan Store
SUNGLASSES | Georgio Armani (similar by Georgio Armani)
Wide-Leg Jeans
Wide-leg jeans are the polar opposite of skinny jeans, so if you’re looking to make a real statement and jump headfirst into the new trends, give this style a try.
The wide-leg makes your legs look long and lean in comparison and selecting a pair that’s in a darker wash and slightly longer is also helpful.
For petite women it’s especially important to balance all the fabric of a baggy leg with something slim on top, so style them with a belted blazer, bodysuit, or turtleneck.
The model I’m wearing is from the Peta-Approved vegan brand Mud Jeans and they make it easy to test out a new jeans style with their leasing program. I love this wide-leg cut that’s available in this deep blue wash or a black stone-wash (believe me, I had a difficult time deciding too!). The high waist and loose fitting legs are flattering for us petites.
Note that the length of their jeans is longer than most brands. While a 30″ length from other brands usually fits me perfectly, Mud jeans require me to wear a heel. So if you’re petite like me (5′ 3″ / 160 cm) and prefer to wear flats, you might wish to wait until they make a 28″ length.
– OUTFIT DETAILS –
WIDE-LEG JEANS | Mud
SOCK BOOTS | Matt & Nat (current styles by Matt & Nat)
BELT | Peta + Jain (current styles by Peta + Jain)
PURSE | Peta + Jain (current styles by Peta + Jain)
SUNGLASSES | Etnia Barcelona (current styles by Etnia Barcelona)
Final Thoughts
If you haven’t worn anything other than skinny jeans for the last five years, you might like to give one of these versatile styles a try. They’re all equally flattering for petite women and just as easy to style, so any of them are a safe bet.
If you’ve shied away from oversized blazers and bicycle shorts as a petite, check out my tips for styling oversized blazers and how to look taller and slimmer in bike shorts.
And before hitting the thrift shops, check out my list of the best vegan-friendly jeans brands to buy second-hand.
For more styling hacks for petites check out my other posts for short girls on:
As always, happy thrifting and styling.
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Michelle Rothenburger
Michelle Rothenburger is a vegan fashion blogger whose work has been featured in such publications as Marie Claire, InStyle, Woman & Home, and Vilda. Find out more by reading Michelle’s full story (from bullied to fashion influencer) and feel free to send her a personal message.
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