Review: Allison Izu Premium Petite Denim

A number of you may have heard about Allison Izu Premium Petite Denim from either PetiteLittleGirl, ShortyStories, or AlterationsNeeded. I was really excited to try this brand out for myself. I lugged the heavy package into my apartment, and 8 pairs of petite denim spilled out... sigh, what a tough job I have : )

Before I begin my review, some info about this brand:

- Sizing goes from 000 (triple zero) to 10, and inseams are offered in 27" and 31"
- All jeans are designed in Hawaii and made in California using Italian denim
- Free shipping for orders over $100 and FREE return shipping on your first order. However, a restocking fee may apply if all items are returned. Read here for details.

1. Chinatown Trouser Jean in sz 000/31" inseam, $169 $69
(click any photo to zoom)

Sz 000 leaves a 3/4" waist gap:

Pros: Wonderful fit throughout the hips, tush, and thighs, high quality sturdy dark denim, surprisingly flattering trouser leg fit, elongating stitch seam down the middle of each leg. I think this cut and color is the most universally flattering out of all the styles I tried on.

Cons: Waist gap! What causes this?

Update 8/11/2010  - Helpful response from Allison:
"Waist gaps usually occur because the wearer has a smaller waist compared to her hips or buttocks area (a "curvier" body).  For Allison Izu, i try to design different styles to accommodate different body types, so the "athletic" body (which has a straight waist & hips/buttocks - this is my body, no waist & the flat Asian butt - haha) would work best with the Trouser and UK Zipped.  And a person with a "curvier" body works better with the Hotel St & Bootcut.”

Continue reading for more styles...

2. Hotel St. Skinny Jean in sz 000, 31" inseam, $169 $69

I definitely need a 27" inseam in these, but Allison was temporarily out of stock. But look, ma...NO waist gap:

Pros: These fit like a glove throughout, especially at the waist. They have the same dark, sturdy denim and elongating center seam as the Chinatown jeans (#1).

Cons: Contrast stitching on the back is too flashy for me personally. Zipper front seemed to need some sort of balance (such as the two side pocket zippers shown below in style #3).

3. UK Zipped Super Skinny sz 000/31" inseam, $169 $69

Again, I'd need a 27" inseam but Allison was temporarily out. Big waist gap:

Pros: Edgy triple zipper design and very tapered legs.

Cons: I had really high hopes after seeing the title "super skinny" ... but super skinny these were not. Note the bunching around the tush/upper thighs, plus the unusual elastic patch in the back center of the waist.

4. Panio Low-Rider Boot sz 00/31" inseam, $169 $69

Super snug fit, even after I sized up:

Pros: Slimming low-rise boot cut that runs at least one size smaller than her other styles (perfect for tiny-waisted ladies). Twitter friends may recall what happened when I tried to put on sz 000...! I think these jeans in sz 00 are even too snug for me. I have a little muffin top action going on above : )

Cons: I can't put my finger on it, but I don't like this denim as much as the type from styles #1 and #2. The material is more lightweight and it looks more like a medium blue in photos.

To give you an idea of how small a 000 is in this style, I am wearing the larger of the two sizes below:

Sz 000 in Panio Low-Rise: 12.25" across the waist, 15" across the hips. 

Sz 00 in Panio Low-Rise (fits like sz 000 in the other sizes): 13" across the waist, 15.75" across the hips.

One thing I love about all the petite companies I've worked with is how receptive they are to customer ideas and suggestions. Allison is no exception. Some of my thoughts for her were: improve sizing consistency, more variety in washes, introduce a 29" inseam, and streamline/simplify her website.

Some of you may know that I usually buy jeans from the kids department, but Kelly of AlterationsNeeded has made me keenly aware that many kids jeans are not designed for the curvature of adult bodies, especially in the hips and booty area. I think Allison Izu is a great option for those who want real womens jeans in petite waist & inseam sizes. Interested readers should take advantage of current sale prices plus coupon code (EXTRAPETITE gives you 20% off orders over $98). There are many more styles on the web store including capris, skirts, and tops.

Allison has asked me to keep a style of my choice as a gift from her. I debated between #1, #2, and #4 but I think my favorite are the Chinatown trouser jeans. Which pair do you guys think looks best?

**Disclosure: Denim was provided for review purposes only. 1 pair was gifted courtesy of Allison Izu. As always, this review reflects my honest opinion.**