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At this point you can assume every trend from the 2000s will have its day in the sun — but even amid this ongoing revival, the east-west bag shows potential for much longer staying power. Pun intended.
Last year, Hermès smartly capitalized on this shift by rereleasing its trendsetting east-west Birkin for spring/summer 2024. A slew of horizontal styles followed, from Alaïa’s Le Teckel to Khaite’s Simona to Bottega Veneta’s Andiamo riff on the silhouette.
As a result, luxury resale destinations have seen a significant uptick in interest for pre-loved originals. On eBay, searches for the silhouette have increased globally by 150% this year. In its annual resale report, released earlier this month, Fashionphile reports that searches for Chanel east-west bags increased by 333%, while sales of Louis Vuitton east-west bags went up by 142% this past year.
“The bag appeals to consumers looking for a piece that transitions easily between casual and formal settings,” Landyn Tedrick, Fashionphile’s site merchandising specialist, tells Refinery29. “This versatility, along with its sleek and minimalist aesthetic, has made it a favorite among our younger consumers.” (Tedrick identifies Fendi’s Baguette as “the east-west bag’s biggest competitor within the luxury resale market” as “both bags offer sleek, compact designs perfect for transitioning between day and night, and both have experienced a resurgence in popularity thanks to the revival of early 2000s fashion and celebrity endorsements.”)
The east-west silhouette is a happy medium between two dueling styles: the micro mini and the more-is-more shoulder bag (think: Jacquemus’ micro Le Chiquito and Balenciaga’s maximalist Cagole). Over on #handbagtiktok, savvy creators like @re.tyche and @celesta have praised its versatility.
The trend isn’t going anywhere in the new year. For spring/summer 2025, Jil Sander brought out embellished versions, while Louis Vuitton offered a strappy, vintage-inspired iteration. The endorsement of It Girls like Kendall Jenner, Ayo Edebiri and Sofia Richie Grainge doesn’t hurt, either.
If you’re shopping for your first east-west, we’d point you to The Row’s Abby and Savette’s Symmetry Pochette, which serve quiet luxury realness with their minimalist detailing. Magda Butrym’s Brigitte Trapeze packs a subtle statement with its floral embellishments, while the bamboo top handle on Jil Sander’s Goji is a structural dream. @Celesta’s favorite east-west bags are her Dior Lady D-Joy and two Freja New York styles: the Caroline and the Chrystie.
When it comes to finding the perfect handbag for you, a little bit of research will go a long way. From the silhouette’s easy styling to its various price points, the east-west bag makes a major case for becoming your next wardrobe staple.
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While you may be in the midst of celebrating fall weddings, it’s time to start accepting more invites — and planning your winter wedding guest outfits.
Whether you’re looking for a new party dress or are partial to pants, we’re here to help you get the ball rolling on your search for what to wear to a winter wedding. From black-tie dress codes to casual nuptials, you might consider wearing festive velvet dresses or even a long-sleeve jumpsuits. (Though, there’s always room for a good cocktail dress...) These end-of-year parties are a chance to play around with seasonal colors and dazzling fabrics, which can then be worn during the holidays.
We’ve rounded up 25 winter wedding guest outfit ideas for every dress code, budget, and personal style. Ahead, find the best cool-weather dresses, jumpsuits, and pantsuits from reader-favorite retailers like Reformation, Anthropologie, Zara, and more that’ll get you on the best-dressed list.
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Your upcoming formal winter weddings will likely require black-tie dress, which should probably be floor-length but certainly doesn’t have to be black. For the colder months, look out for long-sleeve gowns in luxe velvets or weightier sequins in rich jewel tones. Once you find your perfect dress, throw on a faux fur shawl, slip into comfortable heels, and swipe on burgundy lipstick to complete your ensemble.
Eloquii Paillette Sequin Maxi Dress, $, available at Eloquii
Cocktail Wedding Guest Dresses
Cocktail attire is one of the most popular special-occasion dress codes, offering a balance between formal and casual and allowing you (and the party) to effortlessly move from day to night. This opens you up to more silhouettes, hemline lengths, and fabrics. For the winter, we recommend midi dresses with delicate lace and mesh trims or elevated pearl and crystal embellishments.
Lulus Mesh Pearl One-Shoulder Midi Dress, $, available at Lulus
Casual Wedding Guest Dresses
For winter weddings with outdoor ceremonies and cocktail hours or with more casual, cozy vibes, keep your comfort (and warmth) top of mind. Slip into long-sleeve mini and midi dresses with matching scarves or velvet maxis, and pair them with sheer black tights and a pair of booties or closed-toe pumps.
We love the idea of a jumpsuit for a winter wedding, because, let’s be honest: We don’t really want our legs exposed to the frigid winter air. To keep warm and comfortable while looking stylish, seek out long-sleeve and high-neck silhouettes in rich velvets and luxe jersey knits. Keep it sleek and chic with a versatile black jumpsuit ,or test out trendy burgundy, navy blue, or metallic silver styles.
Ramy Brook Gabriel Velvet Plunging Jumpsuit, $, available at Ramy Brook
Wedding Guest Pant Suits
These days, pantsuits for wedding guests are far more chic and sleek than ever before, so we want to put these matching separates on your radar. Be playful with metallic, floral, or velvet pantsuits that can be worn on their own with a statement necklace, with a blouse or vest underneath. When the party’s over, rewear the blazers and trousers for other winter festivities and office days.
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What happens when you put together a classic American retailer with a bold, color-loving, award-winning designer? Well, you get a magical collection. That’s what J.Crew and Christopher John Rogers have done, with a limited-edition capsule full of timeless pieces with playful twists.
Today, the Refinery29 reader-favorite retailer dropped its womenswear and childrenswear collaboration with Rogers, the CFDA’s 2020 Emerging Designer and 2021 American Womenswear Designer of the Year. It features eclectic-yet-wearable fall styles that promise to stand out from your wardrobe staples, infused with his brand’s signature stripes (on sweaters and suiting) and playful approach to color. Each piece feels special and luxurious, and priced between $98 and $550.
Oh, what it would be like to strut in a Christopher John Rogers dress… Oh, wait, we can! The collection includes a range of sweater dresses and maxi shirt dresses for the office, as well as dazzling evening dresses for holiday parties.
CJR x J.Crew Matching Separates
Pink and red and purple, oh my! Embrace color with this collection’s matching separates for a bold monochromatic look. Whether you opt for a sparkling three-piece suit, vinyl bustier skirt set, or a striped sweater and pleated skirt combo, there’s no doubt you’ll have heads turning.
CJR x J.Crew Outerwear
Top off your fall and winter looks with a statement topcoat, blazer, or hoodie. Have you been wanting to try barn jackets? How about a bold gold one? Or, elevate your cozy-season loungewear game with a sequined hoodie? Either way, Christopher John Rogers and J.Crew promise to bundle you up in the chicest way possible.
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As a person who stands at 5’3″, I understand firsthand the struggle of finding a solid pair of petite jeans that doesn’t need further alteration besides the usual cuff. While I’ve personally become very comfortable with buying regular-length denim and slicing the bottoms with a pair of fabric shears, I get that not everyone is into the frayed hem look. Additionally, not everyone has the budget or time to take their pants to a tailor who can preserve the original hem.
You’ll always meet fashion people who swear by a certain style of jeans or only wear ones from a particular brand, but even when you compare and contrast denim with other short-legged folks, the search for the best petite jeans feels like a never-ending game of trial and error — after all, what works for one body type won’t necessarily work for another. (Though we always love fantasizing about a Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants moment.)
So, ahead — at the recommendation of fellow short fashion colleagues, friends, and shop reviewers — we present a list of our current favorite petite denim styles. This isn’t a perfect or complete list by any means, but we did aim to cover brands that offer denim styles in an array of washes, fits, stretch levels, and silhouettes that are specifically suited for those who are 5’3″ and under. These jeans are also designed to be worn straight off the racks with no tailoring needed.
But, before you embark on your denim search, I highly suggest you first find your inseam and keep it handy in your Notes app — this number will be immensely helpful when looking at the size and fit details of a product. To determine your inseam, grab your favorite pair of (non-drop-crotch) pants and measure the distance between the crotch and bottom hem. For a true petite style, this likely won’t be any longer than 27 inches, although some brands like to think that 30 inches is a petite cut — which, ahem, it’s not. (Most short folks I know have inseams in the 23–26-inch range.) With this inseam measurement, you’ll have the power to find jeans that’ll actually fit your bottom half; add an inch for a longer length or remove an inch for a high-water look. And be sure to flex the classic trick of searching for “cropped” or “ankle” jeans at any retailer that offers those filters — y’know, the jeans that are cropped on taller folks but full length on petites. Consider this an easy hack to quickly sort the short stuff.
Pistola Petite Lennon High Rise Boot – Rosslyn, $158
Founded in 2013 by Grace Na, Pistola offers great quality denim at affordable prices, including a nice selection of petite sizes to cater to those 5’4″ and under. With fall here, we love this high-rise dark wash boot cut pair made from super stretch denim with an inseam of 25 inches — a good companion for your favorite cardigan.
Gap High Rise Barrel Jeans, $79.95 $47.97 Don’t sleep on Gap jeans — they’re better than ever. Plus, you can filter your search by “Length” for easy browsing. You also have your choice of Regular, Petite, or Tall on individual product pages in sizes 24-35. (Most of the denim styles come in all three fits.) This trendy barrel jean is available in a 27-inch inseam, which is perfect for those 5’4″ and under.
Nelle Atelier The Claire Jean, $258
Petite shoppers should familiarize themselves with Nelle Atelier, a denim brand for those standing under 5’4″. “I never leave reviews but I am so glad I found these jeans!! They are amazing,” one customer wrote on its site. “I have already worn them three days in a row since I’ve gotten them!”
Mother The Lil’ Stud Finder Sneak Jeans, $258
Your love of Mother is about to get deeper after seeing the Lil’Mother collection, which is made specifically for those 5’4″ and under. Variations to its beloved denim collection include higher knee placement and shorter inseams, so every type of body can find the right jeans. Just look at this cute, straight-leg pair, made from a stretch cotton blend and sitting at ankle length.
Free People We The Free Risk Taker Mid-Rise Jeans, $98
Free People’s petite jeans are another reason why we love the retailer: It offers a wide range of denim styles, many of which are available in a petite-friendly inseam. We’re loving these classic mid-rise jeans from Free People’s in-house brand, We The Free, that come in at under $100.
AYR The Pop, $225
It’s quite rare for a denim brand to offer two petite lengths (let alone one), but AYR is all about providing options. Customers have their pick of a 25- or 27-inch inseam, which may contribute to this jean’s sell-out power. Currently ranking a 4.7 out of 5 stars from 2,178 reviews, they have petite reviewers saying things like, “These are the most comfortable jeans I’ve ever tried on, and I have tried soooo many designer brands… am 5’2″ and 112 lbs. and I got a size 26 with the shorter inseam which is perfect. I am usually wearing leggings on the weekend but am so happy that I have a pair of jeans that are just as comfortable!”
Good American Good Petite Straight Jeans, $139
In addition to being size-inclusive, Good American is also height-considerate, with a whole line, Good Petite, dedicated to petite fits in sizes 00 to 32. Check out this pair with a specially crafted rise and a 25.5-inch inseam.
Abercrombie & Fitch Ultra High Rise Ankle Straight Jean, $90 A&F sells jeans in sizes 23 to 37, in extra-short, short, regular, long, and extra-long lengths. (You can read more about the brand’s much-adored denim rebrand in our A&F review.) For petites, this is great news: This best-seller has over 1,000 5-star reviews, with one 5’1″ customer writing, “Love these jeans! Super comfortable in the legs, they have plenty of stretch. Very high waisted on me being 5’ 1” but that’s how I like them.”
Maeve The Colette Cropped High-Rise Wide-Leg Jeans, $130
If you’re looking for non-traditional, petite-friendly jeans, Anthropologie has quite a selection. The brand stocks plenty of fashion-forward styles like wide-leg paper-bag denim, dramatic boot cuts, and colorful cropped jeans. You can find plenty of standard options as well from house brands like Pilcro and beloved denim labels like Joe’s Jeans and Good American. Reviewers cannot say enough good things about these cropped wide-leg jeans, one noted, “These jeans are so cute! They fit so well, the denim is soft, & the cut is perfect. I love the front pockets & wide leg. I’m petite & the petite length was perfect!”
AGOLDE Riley High Rise Straight Crop Jeans, $208
Shopbop makes this list because of its detailed sizing measurements and easy-to-use denim filter: Under the Clothing category, you can sort the retailer’s massive collection by Cropped Jeans or Ankle Jeans. One of Shopbop’s most popular denim brands is Agolde, and this cropped jean has a very specific 25.25-inch inseam that petites love. “I’m 5’1″, 34B, 123 lbs. (hips/butt) and a true size 27 in all the other denim I own,” writes one reviewer. “I think people need to realize, that Rise and Inseam will re-adjust your waist sizing[,] so I’m thankful Shopbop lists both of those because they matter for petite girls like me,” writes another “Also, being 5’1” the inseam of 25.25 fits me like an actual pant (not cropped). Love the quality of this style and wash, you won’t be disappointed if you get your sizing right. Trust me!”
Banana Republic High-Rise Slim Bootcut Jean, $130 It’s easy to get lost in Banana Republic’s Denim Shop — but, if you’re looking for its petite offering, head over to the Size category, and search by “Petite” or “Short.” Once you start poking around, you’ll find plenty of sleek styles, such as these bootcut jeans with a 25-inch inseam.
Reformation Cynthia High Rise Straight Cropped Jeans, $168 Reformation isn’t best known for its denim, but the brand’s Petites section is definitely worth a browse if you’re into trend-forward, going-out styles — without fail, there’s always at least one or two pairs of jeans waiting to be scooped up by those looking for a 27-inch inseam.
J.Crew Petite Sailor Slim-Wide Jean, $148 Naturally, we asked our friends at the aptly named Small Girls PR to tell us about the denim they swear by. Mary Whitlock, the VP of the fashion and lifestyle firm, dishes that a particular J.Crew style is perfect one for her: “I am 4’11” and curvy, so I have a very hard time finding petite jeans, and these are the only jeans that have fit me without needing to be tailored in all of my years on this planet.” Plus, the brand has an impressive filtering system — under the Size & Fit category, you can select Petite, or you can search by Length and select Cropped or Ankle.
Levi’s 501 Original Fit Women’s Jeans (Plus Size), $98 Bianca Caampued, the 5’0″ co-founder of Small Girls PR, tells us, “Before owning the agency, I was someone raised by and working at fashion magazines” — so she knows Levi’s was always the gold star of denim. Fortunately for petites, “the brand adjusts by leg length and not just waist width,” she says, “so I can browse by 26-inch inseams specifically.” Caampued has two immediate go-tos: the Wedgie Straight and the 501, with neither style requiring hemming or cuffing needed.
Universal Standard Seine High Rise Skinny Jeans Petite, $98 A pair of good jeans for under $100? Yes, please. Universal Standard is known for being inclusive of all body types, including petites, and offering its product in sizes 00 to 40, all for an affordable price.
