Choosing flattering jeans is part art and part science. Part what you love and part what loves you. I experienced this firsthand on a recent shopping trip in Chicago with my husband. We had the whole day to browse and shop and eat, and I took full advantage of it, trying on brands that I had been eyeing online but had never tried on, like Frame and Mother.
I kept my list of criteria short: light wash and relaxed fit. That was all. The particulars I left open, and it’s a shopping strategy that has worked well for me that I call focused flexibility. Know your non-negotiables, and then be willing to try a wide variety of styles and sizes to get your best fit.
Here, the pairs I tried on during my marathon shopping day:
Mother The Looker Crop Jean $138 (from $238) which was the winning pair. I tried on a size 28 because that’s what they had and I wanted a slouchy fit, and it worked perfectly AG ExBoyfriend Slouchy Slim in a size 28 (I wear a size 25, but this was all they had to try on) Paige Colette Crop Flare, $228, which is too short Maeve wide leg jeans, $140 Mother jeans, $250 Pilcro boyfriend jeans, $120 Frame LeHigh Flare (in a size 23, which I couldn’t pull up lol)
And now, the 3 things you need to know before buying your next pair of jeans.
Your Body Type
Before you go through the hassle of trying on multiple pairs that might not even work for your body type, know your most flattering silhouettes so that you can filter through the different styles and avoid dressing room burnout. Here, the best jeans silhouettes by body type.
Style Dial Red body type has proportional hips to shoulders and a defined waist A Style Dial Red looks best in a bootcut, flare, or wide leg Style Dial Purple body type is proportional in the hips and shoulders with a slightly less defined waist Style Dial Purple looks best in a bootcut, flare, or wide leg Style Dial Orange has narrow shoulders, a defined waist, and a curvy lower half Style Dial Orange works best in a straight leg or wide leg style Style Dial Green has narrow shoulders, curve in the lower half of the body, and a less defined waist Style Dial Green looks best in a straight or wide leg style Style Dial Blue is a proportional body type, with the hips and shoulders the same, or the shoulders broader, and an undefined waist Style Dial Blue looks best in a flare, bootcut or wide leg style
The Pockets
The right pockets can make or break an otherwise flattering pair of jeans. For most women, sleek simple pockets sized proportionally to the size of your bottom, and set high enough to create some lift, will be most flattering. Women with flatter bums can look for subtle details to add dimension and shape.
The most flattering pockets are proportional in size to your bum and set high on the top curve of your bum to create a lifted look Pockets with curved seams add shape to a flat bum Slightly embellished pockets add dimension to a flatter bum Improperly placed pockets give the impression of a droopy bum The worst kind of jeans are the ones with no pockets, which are unflattering and unstylish
The Details
Once you’ve chosen your silhouette and the type of pockets that you need, the next step is to decide the level of detail and distressing that you like. A faded but clean jean without rips or tears is the second most versatile, after a dark blue pair. After that, it’s a matter of personal preference whether you like slightly distressed, ripped, or shredded styles.
Most women over 50 prefer no rips and tears, or subtle distressing, but it depends on your personal style and comfort level.
These faded jeans are a casual option for many women These jeans are very slightly distressed, so they work for a wider variety of personal styles These distressed jeans are trendy but less versatile Whiskered jeans have horizontal lines on the front that add shape to straight hips and thighs These shredded jeans are unflattering and out of style
I hope that these examples gave you ideas for choosing your next favorite pair of jeans. Which of these concepts did you find the most helpful? Let me know in the comments!
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