Jeans 101 – Finding the Right Fit For Your Body

Jeans can be a girl’s best friend – or her worst nightmare. With so many different fits out there in the jeans market, finding the right one for your body type can be a complex process of trial and error. There are classic fit jeans, skinny jeans, boot cut, trouser cut, straight cut, bell bottom – but which looks best with your figure? All women want to have at least a couple of pairs of great-fitting jeans in their wardrobe, no matter the season. Jeans are trendy and classic at the same time.

When most women find one pair of jeans that they love, they will keep them until they are threadbare because finding the perfect pair of jeans (you know, the ones that make your butt look good) seems to be a fleeting experience. And all women will attest that nothing is worse than a pair of jeans that does not fit just right; all women fear the embarrassing “camel toe” that occurs when the rise of the jeans is too short, or jeans that make their backsides appear too large. Ill-fitting jeans are certainly a dime a dozen, and whether they sag too much in the hips or make you feel like you’re suffocating because they are too tight in the waist, a pair of jeans that are “off” when it comes to fit are destined for the back of the closet.

Finding the Perfect Jeans

So what’s a girl to do? Let’s start deciphering the mystery of the perfect pair of jeans by looking at the basic cuts that you will encounter when you go shopping.

• Boot cut. Many women adore boot cut jeans and with good reason. This cut looks good on a wide variety of female shapes, especially if you bother to measure your rise (from the straddle of your jeans to the button) before purchase. A boot cut will slightly hug the thighs and hips and flare a bit at the foot. Not as wide as bell bottom cuts and not as relaxed as flares, women of all sizes, shapes and ages can wear this flattering cut.

• Classic cut. We only include the classic cut in this list as a warning for you to avoid it. If you pick up a pair of classic cut jeans, drop them immediately and run the other way. Classic cut jeans are also known as “mom” jeans and are very unflattering. They bulge very noticeably across the hips and taper down towards the leg, which naturally draws the eye to your midsection – which is an area that most folks don’t want to have extra attention on. Do not commit fashion suicide by wearing classic cut jeans – it cannot be stressed enough. These literally are your grandma’s jeans.

• Flare. Flare jeans are perfect for tall women because the cut has the appearance of making one appear shorter. For this same reason, if you have a petite frame, do not go for a flare leg or cut. Can someone say frumpy? Beware of the “trouser cut” that is actually a flare leg in disguise. On the extreme side of flare cuts is the bell bottom, which was definitely best if left in the seventies where it originated – during a time when everyone was too busy making love (not war) to really worry about what their pants looked like.

• Straight cut. If you are a petite lady, then the straight cut may be for you. This cut is straight from the bottom of the hip and down to your foot. Women with short legs will find that the straight cut adds an elongated look to the leg. On the flip side, if you are tall, stay away from the straight cut unless you want to look taller. Hey, some people are of the school of belief that a woman’s legs can never, ever be too long. Women of all shapes can usually go with a straight cut; it’s a personal choice for taller women.

• Skinny jeans. The most popular jeans right now are skinny jeans, although the history of the skinny jean tells us that it can come in and out of style like the blowing of the wind. This may be because the skinny jean is definitely not for every woman – or even for most women. The skinny jean will hug all the curves that you have, from your ankle up to your hip and everywhere in between. For some women with perfect legs, skinny jeans are the “bomb”. Most women, however, do have some flaws somewhere in the leg region, whether it is thighs that are a bit too meaty or extra weight in the hips. Unless you’d be comfortable with your figure if you were wearing a spray painted version of denim, then skip the skinny jeans.

A good rule of thumb for women to use when purchasing jeans is to not worry so much about what other people think – and to go with what feels good to them.