Summer 2025’s hottest jeans style is jorts, those oversized jean shorts that debuted last year and have returned more popular than ever this season. While I love the way the style blends the casual appeal of denim in a breezier, more summer-friendly length, I’ve been skeptical I could pull off the look on my 5’3” physique. Since this style shows no sign of going away, I asked stylist Grace Na, creative director of Los Angeles-based denim design house Pistola, as well as PureWow’s petite editors, to see how to wear Levi’s, Everlane and other top brands’ jorts. “Jorts—especially the longer, more relaxed styles—are having a major moment because they balance proportions to more revealing and tighter tops we’re seeing everywhere right now,” Na says. “I love pairing jorts with baby tees, halters or minimal tube tops. The proportions feel easy, but still current and on-trend.”
Editors and a Designer Explain How to Rock Jean Shorts—Yes, Jorts—as a Petite
It’s summer 2025’s biggest denim trend
PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and some items may be gifted to us. Additionally, PureWow may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. All prices are accurate upon date of publish. You can learn more about the affiliate process here.
How to Choose the Right Pair of Jorts
Jean shorts are all over the map in terms of shapes—there are longish ones that fall past the knee and mid-thigh length ones. And the width can range from almost as full as a skirt to more narrow versions. The designer cautions against just cutting off a pair of full-length jeans to shorts length and expecting it to look chic. “The flattering pair of shorts that has the rise that sits just right on you needs its own fit pattern and block completely different from a long-leg jean, which is why we design Pistola shorts from scratch with a custom fit in mind,” Na says.
How to Wear Jorts as a Petite
“For petite figures, a shorter cutoff is usually the most reliable, democratic option, but longer jorts can definitely work, too,” Na says. “If they hit too low, you can always trim one to two inches off the hem to lift the inseam. It’s really all about playing with proportions and finding the right length that complements your frame.” Don’t assume you need to go shorter, though, just be more intentional about how you put together your outfit. For example, when 5’1” editor Stephanie Maida wears baggy Bermuda shorts-length denim, she cinches her waist with a statement belt. And I’ve found that more fitted waistlines, and high-waist versions, make my legs look longer even when I’ve wearing denim shorts that flare, such as the fan favorite Levi’s baggy shorts style.
These are ultra high-rise (with a 12-inch rise) and extra long (8-inch inseam) on my petite legs, which adds up to a lengthening effect when I pair these with heels. And proportion is key here—these have a bit of stretch so I can wear them close to the body, with a small tank or crop T-shirt that plays up the shorts’ volume.
Shop similar styles
2. Joe’s Jeans Ryan Bermuda
Joe's Jeans
Paired with an elongating pointed-toe shoe and a waist-cinching belt, even voluminous jorts look good on a petite such as 5’1” PureWow editor Stephanie Maida.
Shop similar styles
3. Everlane A-Line Denim Short
Everlane
I love, love, love the way these high-rise rigid denim shorts hold your tummy in while keeping you cool, thanks to the slightly flared legs. And since the inseam is a great mid-range—at five inches, it’s a perfect jorts option for most petites—you can wear it with looser blouses and T-shirts, even a button-front tied at the waist—without looking too bulky. And these come in seven colorways, a great break from the usual blue denim.
Shop similar styles
4. Hudson Bayou Boyfriend Short
Hudson
Want to elevate your jorts look? Opt for a fabric with a touch of stretch, choose a pair with finished hems and layer them with a jacket and tailored blouse, as editor Stephanie Maida does here. The vertical prints lengthen the whole look, and the ensemble's complementary colors pull the whole outfit together.
Shop similar styles
5. Levi’s High-Rise Baggy Shorts
Levi's
If I may be so bold, these are the platonic ideal of jean shorts. They look good on everyone who tries them on, from 5’11” PureWow editor Candace Davison to 5’8” Stephanie Meraz, PureWow’s former associate commerce editor, to 5’3” me. The secret is the six-inch inseam, which falls mid-thigh on me, and the wide leg opening, which doesn’t sausage-grip my thighs but instead hangs loosely. Add to that a generously proportioned high waist in rigid denim that creates the illusion that my legs are much longer than they are, all the while ensuring I won’t have any gap of skin showing, even if I wear a crop top. I like to tuck a lightweight button-front top into these, slide into some espadrille flats and grab a straw beg and voila, that’s a whole outfit.
