OP, I’m a similar size (5’3”, size 4), and I have had success with Madewell’s Perfect Vintage Wide Leg Cropped. The 27” inseam hits me at the ankle, which I like; I wear only flat shoes and don’t like pants that come close to grazing the ground.

I just ordered these: https://www.madewell.com/the-perfect-vintage-wide-leg-crop-jean-in-orono-wash-pocket-edition-NO608.html

I know OP said no straight jeans, but this high rise slim straight is as close as I've come to the style of jeans I most often see when traveling in Europe, which I think tends to be pretty flattering and versatile:

https://www.levi.com/US/en_US/sale/womens-sale/70s-high-rise-slim-straight-womens-jeans/p/A08980015

I also have two pairs of Levis ribcage jeans with a straight leg, but I think it actually reads as a wide leg without being the voluminous, culotte-style wide legs you see on a lot of jeans. With a slight crop so you don't get the elephant leg effect, I think they are flattering.

Sometimes Gap does a good job of adapting the more dramatic denim styles for a regular person, so I'd consider going in there this spring and just trying on a bunch of jeans. Some of their stuff is too trendy, but they'll do wide legs that aren't JNCO wide, and straight legs that are a bit slimmer cut, etc. Same with Madewell. Both those stores understand their customer is a little older (30s/40s, it's not where young people shop) and want to feel on trend but also want clothes that look familiar and "safe."

Anonymous wrote:High waisted jeans flatten the rear end. If you are going for the pancake butt look, by all means wear them. That, and everyone over the age of 40 sees them and thinks “mom?!”

That shouldn’t bother the teenagers and 20-something’s, but if you are approaching 40 and you wear high waisted jeans you should know most people your age think you look ridiculous and men think you look maternal.

This just exposes you as out of touch. Well fitting high rise jeans will create curves -- the pockets can sit higher on the butt which visually "lifts" it, and because they cinch in at what is hopefully your narrowest point (your actual waist, as opposed to your hips), they generally make your but look rounder and more shapely.

I am mid-40s and have been wearing high waisted styles for a decade. They look better on me than other styles of jeans. And as someone with no butt to speak of, high waisted jeans look much better on me than anything midrise or, ugh, low rise, which are what actually give me "pancake butt" with the added problem of sliding down and constantly needing to be hitched up.

I don't know what makes you think you know better about what looks good on other women than those women, or the entire fashion industry, but you don't. You are just clinging to aughts fashion because you are middle aged and don't know how to adjust, and trying to force it on everyone else so you don't have to feel left behind. Get over yourself.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:High waisted jeans have tended to be in style when fuller figures are more in vogue. They are not attractive on thinner/fit women… they just look frumpy/dumpy on those frames.

Stick with mid-rise, and a straight leg is always classic. Don’t try to follow the teenage fashion trends, it’s not worth it.

Whatever - I am thin and fit and high waisted, flared jeans look great. I also wear baggy cargo jeans, skinny crops, boot cut, and Levi's 501s.

+1, I'm a size zero and I used to buy vintage jeans with a high waist even before they were in fashion because they are very flattering on me. They nip in my waist and lift my butt a bit, which makes me look curvier than I am. Now I wear Levis "ribcage" jeans and other super high rise styles.

I remember when high rise with a tucked in shirt was coming back into style, lots of people complained that they didn't like the way it made them look because they were so used to trying to hide their midsection. It took a long time to convince curvier women that high rise jeans can be slimming, and that it is okay to tuck in your tops so that your midsection is "exposed" (under denim, but not hidden under the hem of your blouse or sweater). People were very accustomed to leggings or skinny jeans under a long shirt/tunic, plus a cardigan to break it all up. The idea of wearing a pair of high waisted jeans that were fitted through the hips and waist and then tucking in your shirt was terrifying. It was skinny women who embraced it first because we don't have the same hangups about our bellies.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:try Mother jeans, the Dazzler cut. A great skinny/straight leg

These will not look good on someone short.

Mother Jeans has Li'l Mother line for petite women. I switched to Mother jeans from Paige petites. Mother Jeans fit way better.

High waisted jeans flatten the rear end. If you are going for the pancake butt look, by all means wear them. That, and everyone over the age of 40 sees them and thinks “mom?!”

That shouldn’t bother the teenagers and 20-something’s, but if you are approaching 40 and you wear high waisted jeans you should know most people your age think you look ridiculous and men think you look maternal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think something fitted in the hips and thigh with wide bottom is less likely to look frumpy.
Example
https://frame-store.com/products/le-slim-palazzo-temple

Or something with a more refined element, along the lines of the trouser jeans mentioned
Example
https://www.express.com/clothing/women/high-waisted-dark-wash-wide-leg-jeans/pro/07022053/color/Dark%20Wash/e/regular/


A very dark wash will also make this style more wearable
Example
https://spanx.com/products/wide-leg-jeans-raw-indigo?variant=43014969196755

These three are the only cute jeans that have been posted on this whole thread. Man, threads like this always make me feel sad for the dc fashion scene.

I have a couple pairs of the slimmer version of the frame palazzo jeans and love them. They are my go to right now.

https://frame-store.com/products/le-slim-palazzo-raw-after-lupine?variant=42826387914928

Also love these

https://m.shopbop.com/product/vp/v=1/1551270498.htm?currencyCode=USD&extid=SE_Google_campaign%3DNB_Category_Clothing_Jeans_PMAX_WMN_Dom_US_EN_GGL_PLA_adgroup%3Devergreen-jeans&gclid=CjwKCAiA_5WvBhBAEiwAZtCU77DiTUl31pw54AV9wjtKv6HOqXmBF1ktbLGU-hPPQCj0-8S9xM0WLhoCqx0QAvD_BwE

Someone upthread mentioned mother, and they have petite options for those on the shorter end as well.

And people rave about Khaite jeans. The price point is keeping me from taking the plunge, but I think it’s only a matter of time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:High waisted jeans have tended to be in style when fuller figures are more in vogue. They are not attractive on thinner/fit women… they just look frumpy/dumpy on those frames.

Stick with mid-rise, and a straight leg is always classic. Don’t try to follow the teenage fashion trends, it’s not worth it.

Nah, high waisted can look good if your torso is long enough. Those trendy Khaite Danielle jeans look so good on tall & fit celebrities (Hailey, Kendall, etc).

Hailey has a very short torso, but she is skinny enough the proportions work.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:High waisted jeans have tended to be in style when fuller figures are more in vogue. They are not attractive on thinner/fit women… they just look frumpy/dumpy on those frames.

Stick with mid-rise, and a straight leg is always classic. Don’t try to follow the teenage fashion trends, it’s not worth it.

Nah, high waisted can look good if your torso is long enough. Those trendy Khaite Danielle jeans look so good on tall & fit celebrities (Hailey, Kendall, etc).

+1

Anonymous wrote:High waisted jeans have tended to be in style when fuller figures are more in vogue. They are not attractive on thinner/fit women… they just look frumpy/dumpy on those frames.

Stick with mid-rise, and a straight leg is always classic. Don’t try to follow the teenage fashion trends, it’s not worth it.

Nah, high waisted can look good if your torso is long enough. Those trendy Khaite Danielle jeans look so good on tall & fit celebrities (Hailey, Kendall, etc).

Anonymous wrote:High waisted jeans have tended to be in style when fuller figures are more in vogue. They are not attractive on thinner/fit women… they just look frumpy/dumpy on those frames.

Stick with mid-rise, and a straight leg is always classic. Don’t try to follow the teenage fashion trends, it’s not worth it.

Whatever - I am thin and fit and high waisted, flared jeans look great. I also wear baggy cargo jeans, skinny crops, boot cut, and Levi's 501s.

I bought skinny flares from Madewell last year. They're my favorite jeans now.

I bought the LL Bean Vintage 207s someone recommended here and get many compliments. I’ve never been complimented on jeans before!

Anonymous wrote:High waisted jeans have tended to be in style when fuller figures are more in vogue. They are not attractive on thinner/fit women… they just look frumpy/dumpy on those frames.

Stick with mid-rise, and a straight leg is always classic. Don’t try to follow the teenage fashion trends, it’s not worth it.

OP specifically said that straight leg styles don’t work for her.

High waisted jeans have tended to be in style when fuller figures are more in vogue. They are not attractive on thinner/fit women… they just look frumpy/dumpy on those frames.

Stick with mid-rise, and a straight leg is always classic. Don’t try to follow the teenage fashion trends, it’s not worth it.