All Things Denim: A Woman's Guide to The Best Fitting Jeans

All Things Denim: A Woman's Guide to The Best Fitting Jeans

If anyone knows denim, it’s me. I’ve co-designed women’s jeans, bought denim for high-end retailers across the county, and even sold denim as a wholesaler to luxury stores and boutiques all around the world.  I wear jeans 7 days a week, I have tried on every brand of denim and fit out there, and I know what fits, styles, and washes look best for every type of body there is.  There is a science behind denim and I have done the research. You could say I know a thing or two about denim...

Trouser Jeans

Denim doesn’t have to always be casual. Since denim is the one staple in everyone’s wardrobe (or at least it should be), consider a dressier pair of denim to wear to parties, events, and nice dinners. What constitutes a “dressier” pair of jeans? Fit and wash.  A pair of jeans that fits your silhouette perfectly without showing off too much or being too tight is usually a pair that can be dressed up with a silk blouse or heels. A darker, cleaner wash with no whiskers or fading is considered a dressier wash for jeans.  A trouser jean is the perfect jean to wear to dressier occasions. Trouser jeans usually have less than 5 pockets (sometimes only 2 front slit pockets), a finished 2 to 3 inch hem or cuff, and a trouser-style waist with belt loops to fit a wide belt.  Most trouser jeans are also a little looser in the thighs with a wider leg opening. Basically just like a pair of suit trouser pants made out of dark denim.  My favorite pair of trouser jeans is the Hutton jean by Citizens of Humanity.

Straight-Leg Jeans

Straight leg jeans are the perfect in-between fit for just about every body type. They are not a true skinny that tapers at the ankle and they are slimmer than a boot cut. The best straight leg fit is one that is slightly fitted in the knees and just barely follows the silhouette of your calves, leaving a little extra room in the ankle. They can be ankle length or slightly longer and ruched at the ankle. Straight leg jeans can be styled a little funky with booties, classic with ballerina flats, or modern and sexy with heels. You can wear straight leg jeans with a t-shirt and Chuck Taylor tennis shoes or with a chiffon blouse, a cropped blazer, and heels. What’s great about straight leg jeans is the leg-lengthening effect they have on any body type. You can find this fit in just about any wash and you can’t go wrong with a season-less dark wash like this DL 1961 Grace pair.

Skinny Jeans

This fit is not going out of style anytime soon. Skinny jeans are perfect for the fall & winter months tucked into boots and sexy and slimming in the spring and summer months. As most of you know by now, you don’t have to be rail-thin to wear skinny jeans. There are different levels of skinniness that are appropriate for different leg sizes, so use your common sense when tryout out a pair of skinny jeans. The reason they are called skinny jeans is because they are usually ultra snug against the body with a tight fit around the ankle. Skinny jeans have been re-invented in recent years to a jegging (jean legging), which can be ultra comfortable. Just be careful and conscience of how a skinny jeans fits you. If the skinny jean or jegging is skin-tight, I recommend wearing a blousy top that covers at least half of your bottom. You can balance out the skinny fit with flowy blouses and t-shirts and either tuck them into boots or toss on a pair of flats to keep them casual. If you are blessed with the body to wear skinny jeans with a slim-fitting top, go ahead and be daring with a pair of heels and lots of jewelry. My point is, be cognizant of your body type and embrace it.  J Brand makes a million different skinny jeans in a million different washes and colors that work for just about every different occasion like these 910 skinny jeans in ink or these 811 colored twill skinny jeans in truffle.

Boot-Cut Jeans

For a more casual look, boot cut jeans are the best fit to go with. You can wear a boot cut jean in a dark wash for a dressier look or a washed down. Lighter wash for a more casual look. I usually hem my boot cut jeans a little shorts so I can throw them on with a pair of Pumas or flats while running around.  If you already have a curvy shape, boot cut jeans will help even out the curves and if you have more of a boyish figure a boot cut jeans can add some curves to your shape. Hudson makes a few different styles of boot cut jeans ranging from a baby boot cut to a more extreme boot cut that I love.

Flared Jeans

Denim trends are always reverting back to the styles of the fifties. Sixties, seventies, and eighties and the flared fit from the seventies has been in style for several years now. This fit can be a little more bohemian than the trouser style, depending on which wash you choose to wear. Flared jeans are best when they are fitted through the hips and thighs with a small break in the knee, to create a more drastic flare effect. Flare jeans are best styled with romantic blouses, vests, menswear blazers, or even chunky sweaters. I recommend wearing a platform or wedge with a flared jean that runs almost all the way to the ground. My favorite flared jean, the Jimi, is from Mary Kate & Ashley’s denim line called Textile, by Elizabeth and James.