Getting a perfect pair of jeans takes a lot of trial and error. Eventually, you know your body and what styles, colors and brands work best. But what are the key decisions to make when choosing the right jeans for your body? I asked a few fashion experts on the most universally flattering jeans for women. Here’s my summary.
Dark Denim
According to Megan Oxland, fashion PR pro, one way to make sure your Jean DNA is flattering is by choosing a dark wash… “everyone knows the darker the color the more slimming you appear and that definitely holds true for jeans as well. Avenue has totally revamped their denim line making a usually torturous shopping event such as buying denim, no longer a scary thought, but yet an easy way to figure out your Jean DNA.”
Avenue Plus Size Santa Fe Bootcut Jean
Price: $29.99
This bootcut jean by Avenue is the perfect way to look slim – the bootcut bottom helps balance out the leg by having a slight wider bottom than a typical skinny jean and the black color helps keep a casual jean look polished.
Balanced Fit
One of the best ways to find flattering jeans is to start with a visually balanced silhouette, suggests Constance Dunn of PracticalGlamour.org. “Whether you feel your legs are skinny, heavy or just right, the goal is to wear jeans that offer a visually balanced leg silhouette. Your jean selection can help or hinder you in this pursuit. The most common imbalance in a woman’s legs is a disproportion above the knee versus below the knee. Here a woman’s upper leg (thighs) looks thick in comparison to her lower legs (calves). That said, the skinny jean trend is one of the more hideous jokes the fashion industry has played on contemporary womankind. I suggest you pass on this trend, even if you are 5’10” and weight 110 pounds”, says Constance. What kind of fit is universally flattering? Constance sees a straight-leg jean with a mid-rise waist the most universally flattering jean style for women.
Boring perhaps, but true. Always begin with this silhouette when shopping. Alternatively, Mom jeans are distinguished by a high-rise waist, while low-rise jeans are responsible for muffin tops everywhere and will visually shorten your leg span. Few of us want our legs to look shorter.
It’s important to be objective rather than critical when trying on jeans and look at all angles. Constance insists you ask yourself first, “Do these jeans give my body a pleasing proportion?” Making the judgment call on how balanced is your jean fit is not always easy. One tool that can and is amazingly easy to use is the Levi’s Curve ID jeans tool. It’s a quick online diagnostic that recommends jeans based on your body shape, not size.
Levi’s Women’s 512 Bootcut Jeans White 6
Price: $54.0
Cool and comfortable, these 512 Bootcut Jeans from Levi’s will always be in fashion. These ultra-stylish jeans feature the popular bootcut and decorative stitching on the back pockets that you will love. Whether you’re heading in for casual day at the office or out for a night on the town, these jeans are perfect for the occasion.
The Right Rise for the Right Waist
This partially goes along with the right proportion and balanced fit. Wearing correct rise for your body type will make a big difference in how you look and what you can wear with the jeans. Doris Poser (Alwaysinstyle.com), author of 7 bestselling books on fashion, image and style, makes the following recommendations for selecting the right waist of your jeans:
- “If choosing low rise be sure that the waist is at the hip bone of slightly above. An alternative is the higher rise that comes between the hip bone and waist. The traditional styles that are at the waist are another option.”
- “If your bodyline is more curved, the higher waist allows for a smoother fit on the curved hipline. The traditional waists may have to be taken in at the waist to fit the defined waist lines.”
- “Those with straight bodyline (little or no waist emphasis) may find the lower rise and mid rise best.”
Boom Boom Jeans – Cropped Belted Trousers from Torrid
Lightweight Denim
While heavier jeans may still look flattering in a darker wash and the right proportion to your body, choosing a lighter fabric weight will make you appear slimmer. According to Constance Dunn of PracticalGlamour.org: “In terms of fabric weight, select the most lightweight denim for your needs because the last thing you want to do is add visual bulk to your body.”
Lightweight denim is often represented in wider length varieties, such as cropped or cargo styles. Doris Poser warns to watch the pockets on these jean lengths: “Be careful where the pockets are placed avoiding areas that do not need to be emphasized.”
Dark Blue Denim Bleach Faded Cropped Jeans from AmiClubWear
