Shopping for Jeans
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Shopping for jeans is one of the most time-consuming types of clothes shopping--jeans are ubiquitous, but so hard to fit. Here are some descriptions of different fits and tips on how to find the pair that works for you.
One bit of advice--when you find a pair you really love, buy in multiples. Especially if the ones you find are made by The Gap. More than once, I've fallen in love with the perfect pair of Gap jeans, only to have them discontinue the cut! It drives me crazy!!! I currently have 22 pairs of Gap Original Fit jeans stockpiled in a extra closet (in four different sizes, no less) so hopefully I won't have to shop for a different fit of jeans for about the next two decades. And Gap, if you're reading this? Stop with the discontinuing, already!!!
| Classic Fit Jeans | This straight-leg style works best on boyish figures--slim hips, flat tummies, small bottoms. If you're curvy and don't want your jeans to be skintight, get the straight cut jeans one size larger. | |
| Low-Rise Jeans | These are my favorite cut, as it's the best one for short-waisted women. These jeans sit lower on the hips, which means they make your torso look longer, and you thinner. Keep in mind that they also shorten the leg, so you may want to buy them a little longer. | |
| Slim | Snug in the seat and thighs with either a tapered or boot-cut leg, these jeans are for thin or petite women. Gee, what a surprise. I would never have guessed that from the name, would you? | |
| Relaxed Fit | This style is roomier in the seat and thigh. When combined with a tapered leg, this creates a sleek look for women with fuller hips and legs. |
LegsThe shape of the jeans leg is critical to getting the right line for your figure. A tapered leg gives the illusion of length, as does a straight-leg style. Even a slight boot cut can elongate. Flared or wide cuts accentuate short legs. Wearing them with a fitted top helps lengthen the look, but it still may not be salvageable if your legs aren't long (having long legs is the upside of being short-waisted; I knew there had to be a benefit there somewhere!) As the flare gets wider, your shoe must get more substantial to balance the look. Wide-legged jeans with a dainty flat will generally look off, unless the jeans are cropped just above the ankle--a look I personally detest, but whatever blows your hair back. Otherwise, try loafers, ankle-boots, or chunky shoes with a bit of a heel (or a very high heel, again depending on what you like). The rule is to have a shoe that can balance the leg of the jean.
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The heels controversy has raged for years--it used to be a popular look, and then for years it looked wrong on anyone but Heather Locklear. Now the eye is starting to adjust again, and it's not uncommon to wear heels with jeans. Just make sure the mood of the shoe is right. Jeans are inherently casual, so it's best to wear a shoe with a more relaxed feel (i.e., leave the peau de soie in the closet, okay?)
Of the shoes shown below, the ones on the left are the best pick for jeans. They're dressy but substantial. The ones in the middle could work depending on the cut of the jeans and the rest of the outfit--again, see how substantial they are? They have the visual weight to carry a pair of jeans. The dressy ankle straps on the right are just too far over the line. They're dressier and have a more delicate feel that would make them very tough to wear with jeans. I'm not saying it can't be done, but it's look I'd leave to Heather Locklear.
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Now, of these shoes...the ones on the left are just too high heeled and too detailed to work well with jeans. The ones in the middle are the best bet, despite the high heel, because they're simple and sturdy enough to balance the visual weight of a pair of jeans. The ones on the right could work, but I'd proceed with caution.
Washes
The more denim is mistreated, the better it looks and feels. To that end, manufacturers and designers have come up with a range of techniques for abusing the stuff, from blasting with high-powered sand hoses to washing with pumice stones (bad for the environment, btw), to splattering with bleach. (What's the point of that?!?!). A new technique called "whiskering" creates lighter lines around the crotch--where fading and crinkling naturally occurs. I personally find this look tacky, but it's getting popular so what do I know?) But I digress. Darker denim, which has been in vogue for the past couple of years, is double or even triple-dyed to get that dark effect.