Ahh…the search for the perfect pair of jeans. Living in Southern California, jeans are a necessity. We seriously wear them EVERYWHERE here. So it is important to have jeans that not just fit, but also look expensive and dressy. In a designer denim-less crisis, I desperately tried all the heavy hitters, like Seven for All Mankind, Joes, and Citizens of Humanity. Being as petite as I am, I couldn’t find anything that fit slim enough in the thigh, or had a low enough rise. That is, until I found Paige Premium Denim.
Paige Premium Denim in size 24 (the smallest available) runs pretty small. I’ve had good luck with the fit of the thigh (very slim!) and the rise, which fits low on me, even though I’m short waisted. The fits I’ve had luck with so far are Hollywood Hills and Laurel Canyon, which have a lower rise than some of the other fits. Paige also comes in a petite size, but I found the petite size 24 to run a tad bigger in the leg and thigh than the regular size (weird!). The fit also depends on the wash, so it’s worth it to check out a few washes and fits to find the ones that run small. I’ve found the McKinley wash to run small.
Paige Premium Denim Lauren Canyon in McKinleyI have this exact same jean
Even though Paige Premium Denim runs small, I have still had to take in the waist and get the length hemmed, but this is not costly, and completely worth it.
Some of my Paige PD Collection – all size 24 regular length after alterations.
I know I've commented about this earlier, but have you considered children's sizing? I know it sounds terrible, but jeans are an item that have a nearly identical fit between kids and adult sizes. I've tried on kids jeans in True Religion, Seven, Rock&Repubic, and were pleased with all of them. Paige also has kids sizes but I've never tried. True Religion stella skinny jeans in kids are especially amazing for me in a size 12. Not to mention, they are sometimes half the price!!
If kids jeans work for you, awesome! You can’t beat the price! And they are cut very slim in the leg and thigh. Unfortunately, they don’t work for me. I have too much “curve” on the bottom, and kids jeans are cut too straight and narrow in the hip for me. The rise is also always higher than I like. But they are definitely a viable option for others out there!
This comment was posted somewhere else, so I’m posting it here to keep the Paige info in the same place:^_^ said… Not related to this post, but I was curious about your Paige Premium Denim purchases. When you stated the regular size fit more tightly, which jeans were you referring to? Laurel Canyon is made smaller than the other models, and so is Benedict Canyon. So, were the Laurel Canyons in petite, still larger than the normal size Laurel Canyons? March 4, 2009 3:21 AM Alterations Needed said…Hi ^_^! The jeans with which I compared the regular fit to the petite fit was indeed the Laurel Canyon. I didn’t post the full story on this, but what happened was I went to purchase the regular size 24 jean when the sales associate helping me offered to pull the petite version from the back. I was really excited b/c I might not have to hem them, and I hoped they would be even smaller than the regular! When I tried the petite Laural Canyon (same wash as the regular I was going to buy), I found the thigh and leg to be baggier than the regular size! Confusing right? Maybe it was just a fluke? I do intend to try more Paige petite jeans in the future and hope for the best! March 4, 2009 6:36 PM
How to determine whether I am short or long waisted? Thank you.
Paige PD looks very flattering on you. May I ask if you had the leg slimmed from the knee down to the leg opening. It looks like a very slight boot cut (almost like a straight leg. I love it. The same styles look on me more flare at the bottom.Thank you again.
Check out this post at a blog called Inside Out Style for advice on how to tell if you're short or long waisted:
Inside Out Style: How to Tell if You Have a Short, Balanced or Long Waist
I did not get the leg slimmed on my Paige Jeans. The leg opening is a bit smaller because I had quite a bit of length hemmed off the bottom. By hemming up the bootcut jean, the circumference of the leg opening became smaller.
McKinley wash was feature on many of your posts. It looks very sophisticated and rich.
Would it be too much to ask to please let me know the Color# of the McKinley wash. I just want to make sure sure that I am getting the correct wash. It should be on the white tag under care instructions. Thanks a million.
The color # on my McKinley jeans is WC091 and the style # is 0102-0055. It looks like the exact jeans I have are here:
http://www.paigepremiumdenim.com/Womens_Laurel_Canyon__McKinley_with_Crease/pd/c/204/np/204/p/29255313.html
My new jeans are on the way. Thank you for your help.
*Paige Premium Denim* sale at ruelala.com! I just checked (Sat Oct 23rd, 10:54 pm). They still have some 24s in the Laurel Canyon model in some colors! Rue La La is one of those flash sale sites that are invitation only, so here's my invite:
http://www.ruelala.com/invite/moci2mr6
I hope you get this! I'll see if I can email you through the blog, too.
My new jeans are on the way. Thank you for your help.
*Paige Premium Denim* sale at ruelala.com! I just checked (Sat Oct 23rd, 10:54 pm). They still have some 24s in the Laurel Canyon model in some colors! Rue La La is one of those flash sale sites that are invitation only, so here's my invite:
http://www.ruelala.com/invite/moci2mr6
I hope you get this! I'll see if I can email you through the blog, too.
I recently discovered your blog/forum and it’s been so helpful. I’m 26 and trying to dress more adult instead of just wearing whatever I can find that fits. I’m definitely going to give Paige jeans a try. My measurements are the same as yours except 34.5″ hips and 30″ inseam. I’m curious though, are they really snug on the butt?
Thanks Leah! Every jean company has a “thing” they fit for. Paige are “butt” jeans. So if you’ve got junk in the trunk, they make it look fantastic. They are fitted, but not tight or stretched across my butt. My favorites are the Laurel Canyon bootcuts (slim in the thigh).
My friend is about your size…she’s 4’11” and super super skinny. There’s a brand called Rock Revivals that comes in sizes 24 and maybe even a 23? You should really check them out. I have a few pairs and absolutely love them! http://www.rockrevival.com/index.html
Thanks Christina! I’ve never heard of that brand before but I see a few stores near me carry them. I’ll check them out!