Memorial Day weekend is coming up (May 23–25) and it's one of the best times of the year to go shopping. Most of the brands on the PPJ tool run their biggest spring sales of the year, and discounts on denim tend to be real ones: 25–50% off, not just free shipping.

But if you've ever gone into a sale without a plan, you know how it goes. You end up buying something that's on sale but doesn't actually fit, or you miss out because your size sold out before you got there.

This post is your prep guide, based on what brands actually did during Memorial Day 2025. This post walks through which brands are expected to go on sale, what that means for actual prices, and how to be ready when the deals drop, which is typically the Wednesday or Thursday before the holiday (around May 20–21). There will also be a follow-up post next week with confirmed sales.

Which Brands to Watch

Based on Memorial Day 2025 sales, here are the brands in our database most likely to run promotions and what the discounts could mean for your wallet.

🌟 Best Bets (Based on Past Memorial Day Sales)

Abercrombie & Fitch: expect 25–40% off

A&F has become one of the most petite-friendly mass-market brands in recent years, with inseams starting at 22.8" (extra-short!) and a wide range of styles. They typically run a sitewide event plus an extra promo code. Jeans normally run $80–$110, so discounts here are very accessible.

Worth bookmarking: Their Curve Love line (curvy fit) and any style in the Extra Short inseam (22.8"), which often sell out quickly.

Gap: expect 40–60% off

Gap has dedicated petite sizing across nearly all their styles: baggy, barrel, bootcut, flare, relaxed, slim, straight, and wide-leg. Their jeans normally run $60–$100, so at 40% off you're looking at $36–$60. That's a strong price for petite-specific sizing. Inseams start at 23.8" with waists from 23"–35".

Shop now: Gap is currently running a 40% friends and family event through May 14, 2026, so you can shop their jeans at a discount now!

Madewell: expect 25% off + extra 40% off sale

Madewell is one of the strongest brands for petite-specific sizing. They offer dedicated petite cuts alongside standard, plus, and tall in styles including baggy, barrel, bootcut, crop, flare, skinny, straight, and wide-leg. Inseams start at 24.5", waists go 23"–50". Regular prices run $128–$198 but stacked with Memorial Day discounts, sale styles can drop significantly.

Worth bookmarking: The Perfect Vintage Jean and any style in the Petite length. These sell out fast in smaller sizes, so have your measurements ready.

Banana Republic: expect ~30% off full price

Banana Republic inseams start at 20" with waists 24"–41" and rises 10"–17". Styles include baggy, barrel, bootcut, culotte, relaxed, straight, and wide-leg. Regular prices run $120–$170.

Levi's: expect ~30% off sitewide

Levi's doesn't have a dedicated petite line, but many of their cropped and ankle styles work naturally for shorter inseams (starting at 23.5"). Their range is massive — baggy, barrel, bootcut, flare, loose, skinny, slim, straight, and wide-leg — and normally runs $65–$268. At 30% off, even their premium styles become much more accessible.

Worth bookmarking: The 501 Cropped and any ankle styles, which hit around 26–28" inseam.

💡 Possible Sales (Less Consistent, Worth Checking)

American Eagle: clearance starting ~$19.99

AE typically runs clearance jeans at very low prices over Memorial Day. Their petite-friendly range is huge (inseams starting at 25", waists 22"–41"), and at clearance prices the value is hard to beat. The tradeoff is selection — sizes and styles get picked over quickly.

J.Crew: up to 50% off

J.Crew has dedicated petite sizing with a strong selection of styles: barrel, bootcut, flare, slim, slim-wide, straight, trouser, and wide-leg. Inseams start at 24", rise ranges 10.2"–12.2", waists 23"–37". Their jeans normally run $148–$168, so 50% off brings them to $74–$84, competitive pricing for the quality.

Worth bookmarking: The Vintage Straight and Slim Wide-Leg in petite. Trouser-style jeans in petite are rare across brands, so if that's your thing, J.Crew is worth prioritizing.

Brands with No Expected Memorial Day Sale

Based on 2025, these brands in our database did not run major Memorial Day promotions: Kut from the Kloth, Lucky Brand, Mother, Paige, Quince and Ruti. That doesn't mean they won't; it just means don't hold off buying from them hoping for a discount that may not come. Quince is highly unlikely to run any promos; they price their jeans at $50–$60 year-round and is known for not running sales.

How to Prep (So You Don't Buy the Wrong Thing)

The biggest mistake during denim sales is buying based on price rather than fit. Here's how to avoid it:

1. Know your measurements before the sale starts. Waist, inseam, and rise. If you don't know your measurements, measure yourself before May 20. Sales move fast and you don't want to be measuring yourself on Saturday morning while trying to decide if something's worth it.

2. Use the Jean Finder Tool to shortlist now. Enter your measurements and browse results today, before anything is discounted. Add your favorites to your cart. When sales drop, you can review the carts to see the updated prices.

3. Prioritize petite-specific sizing over "short" inseams. When a brand offers a dedicated petite cut (like Gap Petite, Madewell Petite, or J.Crew Petite), it usually means more than just a shorter inseam - proportions in the rise, seat, and thigh are adjusted too. These tend to sell out faster than regular sizes in short lengths, so act early.

4. Check the sale section first, then full price. For brands like Madewell and J.Crew that stack discounts (e.g., 25% off + extra 40% off sale), the sale section gives you the best effective discount. Start there.

We'll Follow Up When Sales Go Live

Sales typically drop around Wednesday–Thursday, May 20–21. We'll create another post with confirmed discount codes and percentages as they're announced.

In the meantime, use the Jean Finder Tool to find jeans that match your measurements across all the brands above so you're ready to shop smart when the deals hit.

Have a brand you want us to cover? Let us know!