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My Top 10 Tips to Denim Perfection.
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Handbag.com asked me to reveal my expert tips on how to sucessfully buy great fitting jeans.
So lets start with, everyone can have great fitting jeans whatever your shape or size. The reality is keeping true to your body shape rather than the latest denim trend or brand. You maybe able to have it all, however keep an open mind!
Follow my advice and your shopping nightmare will become an absolute pleasure – and you’ll end up with the jeans you’ve been searching for all your life.
- What’s your body shape?
When searching for jeans the goal is getting a great fit. Knowing your body shape is key and will determine which style of leg will suit your shape. This is the foundation for great fitting jeans. Everything else follows on from here.
Click here to find your body shape:
2. Choose a leg style that will suit your body shape.
Now you know your bodyshape use my guide below for your correct leg shape. This is all about proportions and giving balance to your body shape.
• Apple – straight leg, skinny – (not too skinny), crop.
• Curvy – Hourglass/ pear: boot cut, wide leg, flare leg, boyfriend.
• Fuller figure – boot cut, wide leg
• Petite – skinny, straight leg, crop
• Long & Leggy – lucky you, you’re able to wear all leg shapes!
3. Which Rise?
The “rise” of a jean is determined by the distance between the crotch and the waist. Knowing which body type you are will be your guide to the correct rise for you.
• Low Rise – Long & Leggy and Petite can carry off a low rise jean well. Low rise measures 7.5″ or under. The waist band usually sits two ore more inches lower than the navel.
• Mid Rise – Pear shape, hourglass, fuller figure, Long & leggy and Apple can wear a mid rise jean. Mid rise measures 8″ to 9″ The waistband sits just below the navel.
• High Rise- Pear shape, hourglass and Long & leggy can carry of the higher rise look. High rise measures 9.5″ to as high as 12″. The waistband sits either on or above the navel.
Top Tip: If you have a favorite pair of jeans and want the same rise again, lay the jean flat and measure from the crotch seam to the top of the waistband to get the measurement. Click here for how to measure:
4. Which waistband?
The waistband is always an important factor when shopping for your shape. Most pear shape and hourglass women have a terrible time with getting jeans to fit around the hips, so they go up a size and end up with a gape at the back of the waist.
Here are three ways to get round the gape.
• Go for wider waistband which sits on your hips with a higher back rise.
• A higher waisted jean will solve the gape problem and will give a streamline silhouette to your shape.
• Try these figure fixing jeans specifically created for women who have a smaller middle versus a bigger hip and thigh area. Levis Curve Id offer four fits depending on how curvy you are. J Brand’s Bombshell Curvy collection gives more room through the hip & thigh area. Little in the Middle jeans that fit on the waist and are one size up on the hips! Last but not least Wizard Jeans, The unique Wizard (c) bonding technology works in the same way that many years ago a ‘roll-on’ used to – it holds you in, lifts you up but with maximum comfort and effect.
5. Which leg length?
Always take a selection of shoes with different heels to determine when you will wear your new jeans. Heels elongate the leg and gives confidence when wearing great fitting jeans.
Depending on the brand of jean they may have a selection of leg lengths. Choose your nearest length. Don’t rule out a style just on leg length as it maybe a great fit and easy to shorten. If you’re going to the trouble of having a pair of jeans shortened then ask for an original hem.
6. Want to keep the Original Hem?
Stateside it’s called a “tricky hem” or a European hem”. In the UK we call it the “American” hem. It’s a way of shortening ones jeans and keeping the original hem intact by re-attaching it after shortening. It’s a great way to keep the original look of the jean if the bottoms are faded or frayed. This can be an expensive alteration as it takes longer than standard hemming. Approx £15 to £25.
7. Which size?
This can be tricky as most denim brands tend to work to their own sizing. Jeans from the US tend to work on vanity sizing to make the customer feels great about buying a smaller size. If you’re trying on jeans in a boutique or department store be sure to ask the sales assistant if the brand runs true to size. Try on the same style in two sizes to check the fit.
8. Which fit?
Try on both sizes of your chosen style and see which fits better. By checking the Lycra content on the label inside the jean you will get a good idea if the jean will stretch when worn. ( A higher Lycra content will stretch at least one size bigger, so take the smaller size). Nothing is worse than parting with your hard earned cash on a jean that goes baggy after one wear! So it’s important to move around the fitting room and do some denim aerobics to ensure a close fit. Always sit down in the jeans to make sure the back rise doesn’t reveal too much. If both sizes of your chosen jeans don’t fit well, the style may not suit your body shape. Often we blame our size when the answer could be ‘It’s just the wrong style for my shape’.
9. Buying online?
Actually buying jeans online has never been easier as e-tailers such as net-a-porter.com , my-wardrobe,and ilovejeans.com have created specialist denim area’s to give much needed help to make a successful denim purchase. Stylists are on hand via email or by phone to answer your denim dilemma. Specialist denim boutiques Donna Ida and Trilogy have between them a string of stores but still offer an online presence. If your purchasing jeans online a good e-tailer will give size & fit notes of the jean so you will know if the jean is true to size or to go down a size ect. If unsure call or email the e-tailer and ask!
10. Where to buy jeans?
As a stylist & denim expert I recommend the following stores for the pure reason that they understand the needs of different body shapes and have a great knowledge of the brands they are selling.
Bodymetrics – Selfridges, Donna Ida & Trilogy
But if you’re looking for more of a bespoke sevice our denim stylist service is tailored to your body shape, size and budget. It’s a definate time saver and you will take home at least one pair of perfect fitting jeans! More about the service, click here.
At ilovejeans.com we are here to help you with your denim dilemma’s so feel free to drop me an email and we will send you our recommendation. Be sure to give your body shape & size!
Happy shopping for your shape!
Sam Remer
Founder of ilovejeans.com
info@ilovejeans.com
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