“All jeans fit me perfectly,” said no woman, ever. But when you’re petite (as in, 5’3” and under), there’s a very specific set of challenges. The knee is never in the right place. A zipper hits you centimeters below your boobs. And if you’re going for a wide-leg look, you can easily end up passing for a circus clown. That’s why I’ve watched denim trends in recent years with mild trepidation. As waistlines crept higher and roominess ballooned from thigh-cinchingly skinny to zoot-suit-style bagginess, I had to wonder: What would this mean for my shrimpy frame?

Fellow shorties, I’m pleased to report we can participate in the wide-leg jean trend, as long as we adhere to a few simple rules. (Most notably, make purchases in the petites department.) Here are three pairs that decidedly work if you’re vertically challenged.

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