In my last J.Crew post I expressed disappointment for the fit of the Minnie pants. These are allegedly J.Crew’s most popular pants (available in many color and fabric combos season after season) and were recommended by several petites. When they arrived I was thrilled that they almost fit, and was all set on keeping them until seeing pics. Pics are the best for showing how things fit! Here is a closer look:
Heels: Aldo Earrings: Thrifted
Blouse: Theory ombre silk top sz P Blazer: Theory sz 00
Pants: J.Crew Twill Minnies in Charcoal sz 00P – on sale
Not too bad with heels, right? A bit slouchy throughout (and I heard that they continue to stretch out with wear) and I wish they tapered a little more at the ankle. I was excited to get gray pants because I’ve been having trouble pairing this little blazer. It’s a dark navy wool with gray plaid throughout…and all I have are black bottoms for work whcih don’t look so great together. Any suggestions?
I commute in flats, so I *should* always test items out with flats before deciding to keep. Wish I did that before keeping my Gap and Ann Taylor cropped pants!
As I’ve already made the mistake of keeping a few pairs of awkward-length pants earlier this year, these were a no-go after seeing this photo. The length of these on me are the worst by far with flats (00P inseam measured 24 inches), but I can see them looking nice on someone with either longer legs (as crops) or shorter legs (as ankle pants). A few people have mentioned that if you call or online chat with J.Crew, they will provide you exact measurements on their items. Refer back to this post to see links to other petites wearing the Minnies.
Readers – any other recommendations for skinny trousers for work? I think I’m going to pick up the Equestrian Wool Cuffed Trousers as modeled by Alterations Needed after they go on further sale.
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I had the same problem with the minnie pants. Until I discovered that hemming them an inch will really make the difference. I have the 00 petite (i'm 5 ft flat) and had them hemmed and now they are my favorite pair of pants! please give them another try after hemming. It does wonders! 🙂
cute shoes, your pants fit you really nicely:)
You look gorgeous, love this!
The pants look nice with heals and LOVE your earrings!
Haha…all we had at Cafe Habana was the corn! I heard really good things about Bonchon chicken. I think Mad for Chicken is very similar. I'll have to try Bonchon next time! As well as, Ippudo for ramen, the Halal cart, and the Young Designers' Market. Gosh, I wish I knew about the YDM!
I submitted my Friend Connect ID. Did it work this time?
Love the second photo esp the earrings…very cute.
wow im glad i dropped passed ur blog!!!
>< im quite petite as well!!!
🙂 and im loving ur style
xx mooshi
i want to try these pants! i think they look great on you. are they the regular minnie or the bi-stretch wool minnie?
@FashionableAsians @kileen heels elongate and make everything look better : /
@AubreyOhDang! Interesting thought, I don't own any yet and wonder how khaki (warm weather fabric) pairs with wool (cold weather fabric).
@Alex No need for "good" … just acceptable : )
@MizzJ @littlenashua @Annapurna I hear you ladies…saggy & baggy. And Annapurna – I would LOVE it if these came one size down, I'd get the wool version which should hold its shape better.
@Jillian @PetiteLittleGirl Thanks for your thoughts! I would love to find a pair of charcoal wool pants and wanted to try the wool minnies (instead of twill). I pop into a bebe sporadically but don't find much in my size in stores. And I'm not sure what's going on with their online petites selection? I was very excited for it but they only seem to have randomly chosen items for petites.
@mslissie Hi and welcome! I haven't bought pants in ages now…skirts and dresses are the way to go.
@N @olyvia Thanks! I just got more this weekend ; ) Haha I wouldn't claim that they are anything but costume jewelry but a lapis lazuli stone sounds quite nice..! The Savers Thrift Store by me always has jewelry that looks like this…if you have one by you, check it out! Much better than goodwill in my opinion.
@love.blue @PetiteXXS I'm giving up on pants at this length! They really do shorten. PetiteXXS I am also glad you didn't keep the Gap pants – wish I returned too!
@Pansy Hahaha oh man. Hopefully you could return? I just looked at the INC pant and it looks decent! However I tried on a few pairs of their 0P items in store and unfortunately the fit was a little strange, higher waisted and still loose at the hips.
@Ramnik For some reason I am just not motivated to try crewcuts. I check out their selection each time I'm in store but it looks very kid-fit that wouldn't look right on women.
@Rinny @Angie Length is always hard to figure out. I hate pants!! And ANgie – pshh stop it! You are too sweet and embarrassing me.
@Annapurna Oh my goodness. How encouraging, lol! Though by the time some of us are pregnant who knows where their sizing will be ; ) At least you get to enjoy J.Crew at this stage in your life without having to shell out extra $ for alterations.
Wow, shocked that that lace skirt runs so big lol. Ann Taylor is *almost* okay for me in size 00P but who knows…I already heard the skirts I ordered during this week's run big, gah! By the way, take care during the last few months of your pregnancy : ) Stay warm!
@Michelle Boston is full of nice little "old" parts to shoot at ; ) And oh, I'll have to try the jacket with some dark denim.
@Curvy Petite Did you keep those Express cropped pants?
@Jeanine Personally there's no reason to keep an item if it doesn't look acceptable without 3.5" heels on.
@Anonymous Oh dear, they make these in all sorts of materials though. I initially wanted the wool ones so maybe they don't stretch and sag like the twills. Your comment is funny…I feel you, my regularly size 4 coworker bragged about being a 0 at JCrew…one size is understandable for "vanity sizing" but 4..? Sigh
@s I forgot you already posted some you like from Express. I hope to find some that are a lil more formal!
@Alterations Needed Deborah suggested that too, but I fear cold ankles during fall/winter. Can't wait to see what you did with those pants!
@deborah Good eye : ) It's an "old" jacket that I've never worn and it didn't come with a tag so I'm not sure of the style. Strangely the sleeves fit perfectly with no alterations needed. And you know the pants actually may not look too bad folded up, Jen of from head to toe did that with her Minnies. Would result in cold ankles during winter commutes though!
@Ashley Thanks for the suggestion! I've never tried ON nor their petite sizing. Even if its too big for me maybe someone else can try them out.
@cindyrella Thanks for the tip! I think I actually saw those on another blogger Sophia. She is tiner than me and they fit her pretty well.
@GRITS Oh wow, that's too bad. I thought it was almost too good to be true that AN found pants at LOFT that didn't need alterations! I went to find them but no 00P's at my local stores. And you're right…the pictures show the bagginess quite evidently…i didn't notice til I saw these.
@Nelah I know you love your express pants! I wish they carried it in store…I dread ordering online these days and having to return if something doesn't fit.
I absolutely love this photo shoot! I love the scenary in a "real" city where old buildings do not equal a bad part of town!
Great earring finds! Love the top half. The jacket looks so great roled up! I think you are on the right track pairing that jacket with a grey bottom. Or perhaps the right shade of dark jean trousers/skirt.
I think tiny petites in general should forget about Jcrew until they are pregnant. Most of my maternity wear is petite jcrew stuff snagged on final sale with 30% off and free shipping and everything finally fits me. I had some weddings to go to and bought two hope bridesmaid dresses in 2P for 30% off – at $35 each. They fit me perfectly at 6 months pregnant and I can wear them to the office.
On a related note, which only tiny petites will find amusing, I ordered this Ann Taylor lace skirt in 00 (not petite sizing) since I am normally an 0P but like the longer length that the regular sizes provide.
http://www.anntaylor.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=28076&N;=1200010&pCategoryId;=3939&categoryId;=185&Ns;=CATEGORY_SEQ_185&loc;=TN&defaultColor;=Black&defaultSizeType;=Regular
Anyway, this skirt, in 00, FITS OVER MY 6 MONTH PREGNANT BELLY. And I am not even a tiny petite!!! So, back it goes. This vanity sizing is getting ot of hand.
i agree that those pants look too short on you for some reason. i love the up close face shot. you get more gorgeous every day, jean 🙂 those earrings add the perfect touch!
The color on these is so great, but yeah I definitely agree about the awkward length. Even on my legs (a little longer) they looked awkward. and the waist gap was just outrageous on my pair! You can definitely do better than these!
p.s. way jealous of your gorgeous earrings. I need to get mine pierced!
The blazer looks really good on you, but I agree, I'm not loving the length of those pants on you either; if they were just a little longer or shorter it would look so much better 🙂
I love the heels! I can't believe they are THRIFTED! I never find great shoes!
I'd say you should return these pants. I think they're nice in theory but everyone seems to be saying they stretch. And I really don't like how they look in the crotch area. With that said, have you (or any one here) tried the crew cuts pants? I'm wondering what the fit is like on those?
I haven't found a pair of pants that I love in general. Although, I agree with Jillian. Bebe's pants do run smaller and they fit me nicely around the hips and waist. I tried on some skinny pants the other day in store and I couldn't pull them pass my tights in 00R
I got the denim Minnies on sale and they were "carrot" pants for me.
Have you tried Macy's INC brand for pants? The 0P seems to fit well for me.
Just checked Macy's website… INC Skinny Ponte pants comes in grey and is available in 0P for $42…. maybe give it a try?
Hmm, I'm not loving the pants with flats either. They look alright with heels in some angles, but even then I feel like they shorten you. Thanks again for the tip about the Gap pants btw, I decided to return them after hearing from you.
I think these pants are hard to pull off for any petite. They make your legs look horribly short, especially in flats. I'm loving your blazer/top combo 🙂
Love the earrings! They totally match with your outfit!! Jealous that they cost you $3!
I'm actually really liking your earrings! Is that some sort of lapis lazuli stone? The blue color is beautiful on you. I remember falling in love with some lapis lazuli earrings from a museum catalog awhile ago that looked quite like yours, but way way way expensive. What at great find! only $3!
I love your shoes and am so glad I found your blog. I am 4'11 and 94 pounds. Work pants shopping is the worst!! I still have not bothered with skinny or straight work pants because I have not found my size and I don't feel confident wearing them with heels. But thank you for the review!
Yeaaa not so good with flats unfortunately, though I think the bigger problem is the saggage potential due to stretching! I hate it when pants stretch out after awhile.. if I wanted my pants a size bigger, I would have bought them a size bigger.
Hi Jean,
Have you tried pairing the oh-so-pretty navy wool blazer with a pair of charcoal wool pants? Don't laugh, but I have occasionally found Bebe pants to fit nicely. It has been a couple years (their quality has gone down), but it might be worth a shot to see if they have skinnies. I don't think they have 00 in petite but they do carry it in regulars and sometimes run small in the hips/waist.
Not loving the Minnies on you…THey look baggy at the knees and the length isn't right.
The problem with these pants on you is that they are too long and too baggy. For that reason, I didn't love them either in heels or flats.
To get the elongated, Audrey-look, they need to end higher so we can see your ankles. They fit weirdly at the knee too – I think you are just too thin for them which is shame because if they made a smaller size, you could totally rock them. Their bad (and $$ saved for you!).
I keep fixating on the baggy crotch. For that I would return. I also own a pair of awkward length pants from Armani Exchange and I have yet to wear them – nothing looks right with them.
Great model!
I don't think it's fair to expect a pair of pants to look good both with heels and with flats. Actually on me it seems that even most skirts look good with only one of these options.
This being said, I agree on returning due to bagginess.
I like the top half (??). haha. mb you can try pairing this theory jacket w/khaki bottoms (if black is too safe)? I feel though, it has to be the right material in khaki color b/c it is a wool jacket. g'luck!
Those pants do look really great with heels but the length is a bit awkward for flats. i hope the LOFT Equestrian Wool Cuffed Trousers work out better for you! i'm waiting for those to go on further discount too…
Yeah, something about the fit at the bottom makes them not flattering with flats. Have you tried rolling them with flats to a more flattering length?
As for the LOFT equestrian lean trousers…I love them! They just needed two rolls at the cuff, and now they are a really fun, above the ankle, menswear inspired fit. I'll have an outfit photo on Monday!
Love that blouse, and the whole outfit!
I understand your frustration and your constant search for these style of pants since I walk to work in flats too. I'm eagerly awaiting the day you test out the perfect pair, then I'll run out and snag some too!
I have the Minnie in 00P too. It stretched and sagged to every imagination. Bad investment and poor judgement to keep it.
Big bone regular size self-proclaimed JCREW fashionistas bragged on their blog about fitting into Petite top, 0-2 bottom and even Crewcut. Do you think petites will stand a change? My sis and I are both petite and we were JCREW regular customers since HS until the debut of inconsistent sizing. The items that still fit us without an issue are socks & scarves. JCREW may decide to size those up in future too.
Vanity size petite victim
Theres something about the heels that make them look different perhaps because they help you elongate your legs? but yea i prefer them with heels too!
can't you just walk to work in flats and change into heels after … this is professional services, no one cares what the junior looks like.
Hi Jean, long time no talk. This reminds me of my attempt at the Express cropped pants. I notice that there's the creasing but then it looks kinda of cute. I would say the length and the shape of the ends could be fixed. I love that navy jacket.. I'm not creative so I'd probably only wear black pants with them. hehe
The length looks so perfect with heels but awkward with flats. You may try some of the express pants. They may be a bit too loose in the waist and hip ares but after a few washes and heat treatments, they fit pretty darn good from my experience. Try the columnist as suggested by the above person. You know I have two pairs of the columnist and love them.
Even when your clothes dont fit you still seem to always look great! That said, the length isnt bad to me…but I dont particularly like the look of the crotch area…looks a little baggy and low?
I tried on the equestrian pant in 00P and they were a bit big on me…surprising because I'm pretty sure AN and I are the same size!
Cindyrella, I just saw the Express columnist pants online yesterday…do they seem to stretch out during the day in the "behind" or knee area?
~GRITS
i love love loveeeeeee the express columnist pant. i'm probably about the same size as you, 00S fits perfectly :] the waist might be a little roomy but not bad. the twill is a better fit than the studio stretch. these make my legs look super long. :] try them! I wish they had more styles/colors/fabric choices.
I agree – these look wonderful with heels, not so much with the flats.
I LOVE the Old Navy Skinny Trousers – I have them in all of the colors and two pairs of the black. I'm 5'3" and the regular length are perfect for me – they gather just a bit at the ankles. The petite version is a bit more cropped, but not as flattering on my hippy figure. You might want to try them – they're less than $30!
They do have a zipper at the ankle, but it's a hidden zipper so it's totally not noticable. I've had mine for over a year and wear them constantly and they've held up wonderfully with no fading!
Maybe you can fold up the pants for a more cropped look during your commute? Is that a new Theory jacket? (or an old one photographed in different light?) In any case, it's oooh-worthy. What's the style?
Hmm. You're right. Pretty good with heels, not so great with flats. Personally they'd have to look good with both if I was going to keep them.