i'm 5'2" and i usually get my jeans from express and gap, but i looooove some of the higher end stuff... especially joe's, citizens, and rock & republic. whenever i get jeans from nordstrom, they do hem them for free (if they're high end, not anything from BP). but i only get styles that are straight-legged/boot cut to be hemmed because i don't want to alter the shape. hemming is def not recommended for flares. trust me, they'll look funky. if possible, i try to buy two pairs of the same jeans if i REALLY like the fit: one short (for flats, sneakers) and another slightly longer (for heels).