Shopping for jeans isn’t easy for anyone. Our bodies are all so different that it’s tough to find a truly perfect pair straight off the rack. That’s where having a great tailor comes in handy, but it also helps to know which brands best fit you, requiring only a little tailoring if any at all.
I find my body type particularly tough to shop for: I have skinny legs and a small waist but a more pronounced butt than most people expect. This means that most jeans I try on are either too big in the waist or too tight in the rear. But after plenty of trial and error, I’ve finally learned which brands and styles are ideal for me (and other women with this dilemma).
To save you all those extra trips to the fitting room (or the endless online returns), I’m sharing my favorites for this body type below.
Scroll down to discover the best jeans for women with a small waist and curvy rear.
Girlfriend jeans are a great option for girls like us, as it offers a little more room in the butt/thigh area but aren’t as roomy as their boyfriend counterparts. BDG makes the perfect pair.
Cropped flare shapes can be particularly flattering on us, especially on days when we want to minimize our behinds, as the exaggerated lower cut distracts from other proportions. But sometimes their waists are too wide, a problem this M.i.h pair avoids.
Fact: J Brand makes great jeans for girls like us across the board, as its styles tend to stretch easily in all the right places without ever looking strained. These high-rise pairs are particularly flattering since they sit at the natural (and thus smaller) waist.
Levi’s, like J Brand, is another great brand for us across the board. The jeans are so well made that they retain their waist (seen here in my beloved high-rise style) while still providing enough stretch in the rear to be comfortable.
Jeans from Joe’s were literally made for girls like us, and it shows when you try them on. They’re great for those who prefer a standard waist height or are a little tired of high-rise everything.
As previously mentioned, cropped flares are a great choice for us, and these cult-favorite Rachel Comeys are a match made in heaven. Their waist sits higher than most and is smaller as a result; meanwhile, everything beneath that is just a tad roomier than most flares. Match made in heaven.
Like Joe’s, Uniqlo has our body type down to a science, the result of which is the Ultra Stretch series. Despite their lower price tag, these jeans last forever, providing the perfect amount of stretch in the rear without looking, well, stretched out. If your waist is on the extra-small side, you may need these tailored, but I promise it’s worth it.
I couldn’t round out this list without including my go-to pair, these cropped Rag & Bone flares. They’re high-waisted but not too high that they feel like a major statement, allowing for more room in the rear while staying perfectly slim and polished in the leg.
This article was originally published on an earlier date and has since been updated.
