How to Find Jeans That Fit

There’s more to finding a great pair of jeans than trying on 100 pairs in the dressing room. Jump start your search by narrowing down your options.

The Waist: A medium to high waist helps flatten your tummy, limit the peeking thong, and reduce the muffin top. And as you know, a high-waist is becoming very trendy these days, a style for lengthening legs, creating a curvier derriere and slimming the thighs. We love the Hector High-Rise Bootcut from James Jeans ($172).

The Shape: Great legs can pull of anything, but slim fits are best left for the skinny-legged gals of the world. Those with fuller thighs will appreciate the silhouette enhancement of wide-legged jeans, boot-cut styles and flares.

The Fabric: Large hips, butts and thighs benefit from Lycra that reduces a gaping waist. In fact for most gals, even a little bit of forgiveness can make all the difference between a pair of jeans your hide in the back of your closet and the ones that hug just perfectly. As for details (like embroidery and extra pockets), if you’re thinner, the more, the better like on these Destiny Stretch Jeans from Citizens of Humanity ($189). On the heavier side, less details mean more slimming action.

The Color: The darker the wash, the slimmer your legs will look. Likewise, a solid, all-over wash will do more to lengthen than strategic sandwashing. On the contrary, if you are thin and want to add curves, look for jeans that are lighter around the thighs and rear.

The Length: Grab a tape measure and check your inseam — wearing the shoes with which you plan to wear the jeans. This gives you insight into the proper jean length you need to wear them perfectly. And for taller gals, seek out jeans with a 36″ inseam like these People’s Liberation Janine Flares ($180).

For more on finding your favorite pair of jeans, check out Zafu.com, which matches jeans to you, based on a series of fit questions.

Ready for a few suggestions from SheFinds? Check out our denim guides for more trendy picks.