Girls’ Jean Size Chart

Shopping for jeans for a young girl or tween between the ages of 4 to 14 can be a parent’s worst nightmare. From the moment little girls enter school, their wardrobe takes on a whole new meaning and it is less about comfort and function and more about fashion and fitting in. Dressing room battles can make the process of finding jeans even worse. While not as much the case with pieces like shorts, dresses, tops, and accessories, the focus for little girls when it comes to trendy jeans is the wish to draw attention where moms typically want something durable and priced right. Denim jeans are a staple of any back-to-school wardrobe. Denim is the most common fabric on the playground and is not only durable, but also reliable and stylish. Because of the popularity of jeans, shoppers can find girls' denim in a variety of cuts, styles, washes, and colors.

Navigating through the world of girls’ jeans can be overwhelming for the non-prepared parent. This guide is designed to walk buyers through everything they need to know before purchasing jeans for a growing girl. This guide will cover the basics of jean terminology, cut, style, wash, measurements, as well as provide buyers with the ultimate girls’ jean size chart to be sure they get the right size, every time. Whether the girls are prepping to head to the mall, a local department store, or choosing to skip the lines by shopping online at retailer websites or a marketplace like eBay, this guide will make fitting jeans simple.

 

Girls’ Jeans Talk
When girls start talking about jeans, it can sound like another language to the untrained ear. This section will provide a basic outline of the terminology associated with buying girls’ jeans.

Rise: The rise refers to where the jeans sit at the waist.
Cut: The cut refers to the shape of the legs; this ranges from wide or straight, to skinny or slim.
Wash: The wash of the jeans refers to the color and texture.
Stretch: This indicates whether the jeans have any stretch element in the fabric.
Fit: The fit of jeans refers to how the jeans fit in the seat and thighs. This is often associated with cut, but not always.
These are some of the basic terms buyers come across when shopping for jeans. The following sections delve into each term individually to help buyers determine what to look for, what to avoid, and how to make the best selection in each of these areas.

Rise
Most girls will tell you that a normal rise jean that hits at the belly button is a "mom-jean." Many girls prefer a low-rise jean instead. A low-rise is designed to sit below the naval, closer to the hip. Super low-rise jeans hang on the hip bones below the navel, and ultra-low rise sit below the hip bones. For most parents, this is a concern because the lower the jeans, the more likely the stomach shows. For girls who insist on a low-rise jean, look for those with a higher back, to avoid the plumber look when bending over or kneeling down, and keep an eye out for longer tops. High-rise jeans have seen a resurgence. This style is the opposite of its low-rise counterpart. A high-rise jean sits above the navel, often in a ‘70s style with a flared leg.

Cut
Straight cuts are uniform from thigh to hem, with no flare or tapering; most girls generally don't consider this the most flattering look. Instead, they tend to prefer a bootcut or flare leg. Skinny jeans are the trend now and look good on younger girls. As girls develop, skinny jeans may continue to work for petite shapes, while a bootcut looks better on curvy girls. Tapered jeans are larger in the thighs and taper to a skinny fit at the ankles.

Wash
Color and texture are what determine how a jean looks. Dark-wash denim ranges from brighter unwashed indigo denim to a darker vintage look. Stone-washed jeans have a slightly faded, washed out color. Dirty wash are pre-washed to feel softer and are tinted to appear dirty. Distressed denim is highly faded with fraying and tears. Colored jeans have hit the market in a big way and jeans are now available in every color of the rainbow. Colored jeans can look great when styled correctly, but a classic pair of dark denim is a classic piece that never goes out of style.

Stretch
Stretch is an important element in girls’ jeans. A jean with stretch most likely goes on easier, is a bit more comfortable, and becomes looser throughout the day. These jeans may start out tight when they first come out of the washing machine, but the stretch allows them to move with the body and loosen throughout the day for a comfortable fit. Jeans without stretch often feel very stiff, but they maintain their original shape regardless of wash or wear. There are also jeans available with a stretchy elastic band around the waist, which provide optimal comfort, particularly when the little girl is between sizes.

Fit
While the cut of jeans points to how jeans fit on the legs, the fit of jeans refers to how they fit in the seat and thighs. Slim-fit jeans hug the curves. Regular fit is slim but with a little roominess for comfort. Relaxed fit jeans provide more roominess, but are not yet baggy, whereas loose fit jeans are baggy throughout. The current trend of the "boyfriend" jean fits slightly baggy, as if borrowed from a boyfriend. Some girls also love bootcut jeans, which have a slight flare at the hem that looks great over a pair of boots. To determine the best fit, it is important to first determine the body shape of the buyer, and then find a fit that will flatter her figure.

Use the chart below to find the best combination of rise, cut, wash, and fit to make any body shape look its best.