I don’t think that there’s a single clothing item more sought after than the perfect jeans. Jeans have become the cornerstone of a many a wardrobe, replacing suits, and the styles and fits we are now offered can be completely overwhelming. And with any important relationship, finding the perfect jeans can involve trial and error, endless questions, and what can feel like a never-ending quest. To make it more difficult-we all have different bodies and needs. What looks good on one may not look good on another. So what’s a jean-loving lady to do? While it may be tempting to just throw in the towel–don’t give up! While the perfect jeans may not be found today I have a list of things to think and about ask yourself that I hope make the quest for the perfect jean a a little easier!
1. Consider Waist Height
I am a high waisted girl–so this is an area of special importance to me. Remember when the trend was to have jeans barely come up to your hips–those were dark days for me. So if you’re like me and love a high waist some brands to check out are Jcrew, Citizens of Humanity, Madewell. Rag and Bone make some of my fave mid-rise, and JBrand has a great low rise! Almost every brand has a selection of rises-so you may just have to try some. A way to get a sense of how high you might like your jeans is to measure yourself–take a tape measure and start at your belly button–go down just below your hips. This number will give you your own “rise”, and you can use it to gauge, especially if you’re shopping online!
2. How much Stretch?
Newer jeans tend to have some spandex in them, vintage jeans tend to be all cotton. This is more of a personal preference–I like a little stretch, it makes me feel a little sucked in and keeps the shape a bit longer. That being said if you can find a perfect vintage Levi–or I recently got a Madewell pair without stretch that I love, they can fit like a glove, though you may have a break-in period. Just be aware that without stretch you may have to play with your size!
3. Length
Crops are in. Does that mean you need some? No–I’m a fan of only buying trends that fit your body–but it does give an option. My go-to length is right at the ankle, but for flares prefer a longer inseam. To measure your own, place the tape measure on the inside of your leg (as high as it goes) and measure down–take note of where it hits your ankle, and think about heel height. Some brands offer a tall option in sizing (JCrew) if that is something that you need!
4. Leg Opening
Skinny, Super-Skinny, Straight, Wide,Boyfriend, Flared–I’m a fan of all of these, but if I’m blindly reaching I go for skinny, they seem to fit best. I do have (and love) variations of all of these cuts–my main advice is to think about your silhouette. Not every pair needs to be super tight, but even your Boyfriend jeans need to have some shape so they don’t swallow you!
5. Wash
I love a darker wash with some sanding down the leg–it’s slimming. Just like any other piece of clothing the color, and any fading, matter. So even in a lighter wash, watch for sanding or fading in the middle of the leg–it helps you look longer and leaner
6. Pockets
Let’s be honest–we care about how our butts look in jeans, and pockets deeply affect that. The best bet? Small pockets that are placed in the center (if they turn in a bit, great!). The general rule of thumb is that the bigger your pockets, the bigger your butt will look.
I’d love to know–what are your go-to brands? What do you look for in a pair of jeans? Some brands I’m dying to try are AYR and Diesel. I’m also curious about the sites that send you jeans to try on for free–has anyone tried them?
Happy Thursday! XO RA
