Best Jeans for Short Legs

For short legs, choose high-rise jeans in a straight, slim straight or slight flare cut, hemmed to the right length. A high waist starts the leg line higher, and a clean, unbroken line to the shoe makes legs look longer.

The rise: high

A high rise moves the visual start of your legs up to your waist. It's the single biggest change for short legs, especially if you tuck or half-tuck your tops.

Cuts that lengthen

• Straight and slim straight: a clean vertical line with no bunching.
• Slight flare or bootcut: worn with a little heel or platform, it covers the shoe and adds length.
• Wide leg, cut long: works if the hem nearly touches the floor in the shoes you'll wear.

Cuts to approach with care

• Cropped wide legs: they end at the widest point of the calf and visually shorten the leg.
• Heavy cuffs: a thick cuff adds a horizontal line. Keep cuffs thin or skip them.
• Big rips or contrast details at the knee: they draw the eye to the middle of the leg.

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Get the length right

Length matters more than cut. Buy petite or short inseams when a brand offers them. Otherwise, hem your jeans:

• Straight and skinny: at the ankle bone or just above.
• Bootcut and flare: about half an inch above the floor in your usual shoes.
• Keep the original hem. Ask the tailor for an original hem alteration so the worn-in finish stays.

Colour tricks

Dark, even washes look longer than heavily faded ones. Matching your shoe colour to your jeans extends the line further.