Are You Wearing the Most Flattering Jeans?

Finding the Right Jeans For You

I pretty much live in jeans. Not overexaggerating…I wear jeans five+ days per week. I also used to dress dozens of women when I worked as a wardrobe stylist so I can safely say that when it comes to denim, I know my stuff. Which means I also know how overwhelming it can be to find the perfect jeans for your body. There are SO many options! But, do not worry. If you follow these 10 key tips, I know you will find the perfect jeans that will fit and flatter your body shape.

If you are looking for some cool fashion combos featuring jeans, be sure to check out this post! You can also watch the video version of this post on YouTube here or at the bottom of this post.

How to Pick the Right Pair of Jeans

 #1 | Know Your Rise

There are three categories when it comes to the rise of jeans.

– Low Rise – 7”: low-rise jeans sit well below your belly button and have a shorter zipper. I stopped wearing this style of jeans after I became a mom. Bending over in Costco or the grocery store to show the world your behind…is not a good look. 

– Mid Rise – 8-9”: mid-rise jeans sit at your hips and just beneath your belly button so you are always comfortable.

– High Rise – 9″+: high-rise jeans sit at your belly button or higher just like the pair of GRLFRND jeans I’m wearing above! The benefit of wearing them is that they conceal any extra skin around the tummy area that you don’t want to show. High-rise jeans can help you eliminate the muffin top! Yay!  If in doubt about what pair of jeans might be most flattering for you, high rise is most likely the way to go. High-rise jeans can elongate the legs while also creating the illusion of a slimmer waist. I’m a fan!

Most online retailers will let you know the rise of the jeans in the product name or description. When shopping for a pair of jeans, be sure to take an extra minute to find out so you don’t have to waste time returning things.

#2 | Inseam Length

Whether you’re petite, or tall… knowing your inseam is important when picking out a pair of jeans. It’s difficult to measure your own inseam, so I recommend getting someone to help you with this. For an accurate measurement, measure from the bottom of your crotch to the bottom of your hem.

You can always cuff a pair of jeans that are too long, but if you purchase specific cuts of jeans such as ankle, bootcut, straight, or flared, you should measure for each of these lengths. You also want to factor in your shoe height. One of the nice things about frayed hem jeans like the Mother flared hem jeans I’m wearing above, is that you can just cut them yourself without having to take them to a tailor. 

#3 | Small & High Back Pockets

This is one of the areas that we don’t pay much attention to when searching for a pair of jeans. This style tip can be broken into two categories: 

– High & Small Pockets: if your pockets are high on your butt, it will appear more lifted. And don’t we all want that!? Gravity is not our friend. 😉  

– Wide Set & Narrow Pockets: if your bottom is small, pockets set wider apart will create fullness. For wider bums, jean pockets closer together will slim your bootie. The pockets should be about  2-3 inches from the smile of your butt (that’s the bottom of your behind where it meets your legs).

#4 | Pocket Placement

With the wrong pair of jeans, excess space between the pockets can make your butt appear wider. A smaller amount of space between the pockets makes your butt look small yet round. Think 2 to 3 inches between pockets.

#5 | Zipper Quality

The industry standard for jean zippers is the “YKK” zipper. You can look at your pants and jeans and see if it says “YKK.” This may not be a deal-breaker when it comes to purchasing your jeans, but just something to keep in mind as you shop. If a pair of jeans does not have the YKK zipper, the zipper is likely not the best quality.

#6 | Quality Stitching

When purchasing a new pair of jeans, be sure to turn the jeans inside out and take note of the stitching quality. The flat felled stitch is used most commonly with jeans. It resembles two railroad tracks on both ends of a seam. If a pair of jeans only has one row of stitching, the seam is more likely to come apart and they will not retain their shape as well.

#7 | Zipper Length

I got this next style tip from another YouTuber, Alexandra’s Girly Talk. When you have a pair of jeans and the zipper length is short (i.e., there’s a lot of space between the bottom of the zipper and the crotch of the jeans), that creates a wedgie effect or camel toe. I think we are all familiar with that dreaded style mishap. To avoid this, go with a pair of jeans that have a long zipper length with little space between the end of the zipper and the crotch of the jeans.

#8 | Fading Placement

Fading is when one part of the denim is lighter than another part. Sometimes fading at the front of the jeans may look like cat whiskers. In this case, the fading will make that particular area of your body appear larger. But, when you have a lighter, faded strip down the middle of your legs, for example…and a darker strip of denim outlining it on both legs, that fading can actually make your legs look tinier. The key is… use your fading strategically. Look at the placement. Is it placed in a way that will flatter your body or the opposite… exaggerating a problem area?
Always remember that fading should maximize your assets (pun intended!). 

#9 | Dark Wash is Slimming

This point is worth repeating because it’s SO important! When looking for a versatile pair of jeans that you can wear all the time, you want to look for: 

– A dark wash
– Minimal fading
– Minimal details, if any
– No contrasting stitching
– No embroidery
– Free of embellishments

You want a clean, classic dark wash pair of jeans that elongates your limbs and slims your body. All of us should have a pair of these in our closets!

#10 | Fit and Flatter Your Body

You must understand what silhouette works best for your body type. Knowing what accentuates your body is the key! Don’t fall the trends. Stick with what works for your body shape. For example, if skinny jeans aren’t your thing because you have a bigger butt, wider hips, and thighs, then you do not have to wear them. Maybe opt for a straight, boot-cut, or flared leg instead. It’s important to understand your body so you can dress in the most flattering way.

Bonus Tip | Find the Brand for Your Body Type

There are particular designers and brands that design jeans for certain body shapes and lengths. Here are links to blog posts I did where I share my favorite brands for tall, curvy, and petite jeans.

What is your favorite denim line?? Please share in the comments below. I love Mother, AG, and Moussy Vintage.

To get my blog posts delivered directly to your inbox, and gain access to our incredible style resources AND exclusive content, be sure to sign up for my newsletter here.
If you enjoyed this post and want to share it with a friend – it’s so easy!  Just click one of the share icons below. Thank you for stopping by!