Looking for your perfect pair of jeans? Three writers did the research so you don't have to. Here are the results.
We Found The Perfect Jeans for Sizes 6, 14, and 24
When I asked you, Glamour readers, what you’d like to see next in the Style Your Size column, I kept hearing one thing: how to find a pair of jeans that fit properly. No more gapping, sagging, or chafing. No more guessing if a store has your size. And definitely no more tearful fitting-room trips. (Speaking from experience on that last one.) As someone who tends to avoid jeans for all those reasons, I felt your pain. So I challenged myself and two other women to find the best pairs for our different bodies. Charli Howard, a size-6 model; Kellie Brown, a size 24 blogger at andigetdressed.com; and I, a size 14, each took on the mission. We went to boutiques, department stores, and thrift shops in New York City, tried personal-shopping services, and ordered online. These are the results.
“You’d think buying size-6 jeans would be easy.…” —Charli Howard
But for me, it’s not! As a pear-shaped size-6 person, I’m often left with a gap around the waistband of jeans. So I find myself leaving stores with denim that isn’t quite right. My usual fixes: wearing a belt, having a tailor take in the waist, or—lazy-girl confession—just living with it. On this mission I tried on 34 pairs of jeans to find the perfect fit. These are some tricks I learned while shopping:
• High-waisted jeans create a nice hourglass figure, while low-cut styles often result in a stomach roll. I suggest trying on men’s jeans, since they are usually cut with a high, narrow waist; Acne’s Town Blk Crease (acnestudios.com) became a new favorite.
• Second thing: After recently going from a size 2 to a 6, I’ve moved away from super-skinny jeans because I’m not as comfortable in them (they feel too tight). Feel the same? Reach for straight and boyfriend styles from brands like Madewell and Gap.
• I also tried on sizes above and below my usual. At vintage shop Buffalo Exchange, it took me four pairs to find one that fit. Little mind trick: I tried them on from big to small to avoid any fitting-room despair.
When all else failed, I looked for stores with personal-shopping services, like Topshop. On this trip my shopper pulled a bunch of styles in 4s and 6s. The best pair: the Straight jean, which has a high, tapered waist to pull in my stomach and upper hip. Winner!
Advertisement“I’m an in-between: not quite standard, not quite plus.” —Lauren Chan
Thanks to my wide but flat derriere, I need denim that fits around my waist but doesn’t appear baggy in the rear. A 12 (or waist 31) from a standard-size range is often too small in the former, but a 14 (32) from a plus-size line is too big in the latter. Finding a combination that’s right for me often feels impossible—so my strategy for this challenge was to shop only at destinations that offer all sizes.
I started at Macy’s, since the department store has standard and plus floors. After 23 pairs, one fit perfectly—Lauren Ralph Lauren’s Plus-Size Straight Leg, which was snug but comfy. Next stop: Levi’s. While their straight-leg 500 series tops out at a 14, the 700s go up to an 18, and online the plus-size collection goes up to a 24. Those were all too big in the crotch and hip, but the 714s—a wide-waist-friendly midrise—fit well.
I also went online to shopstyle.com, which let me search the entire Web for multiple sizes at once. That’s where I found my hero pair: American Eagle High-Rise Jeggings in a 14 long. They run from 00 to 20, which makes them ideal for women who wear in-between sizes (12, 14, 16) since the cut doesn’t become disproportionately wider in the hip above a 12. Another takeaway: Stretchy fabric usually means jeans will fit over the waist and stay tight in the back. Flat-bummed ladies, you’ll love these too!
“So many denim options don’t come in plus sizes.” —Kellie Brown
Being a size 24 makes shopping for stylish clothes hard. Brands tend to think women like me aren’t looking for on-trend pieces. And when it comes to jeans, we’re relegated to the boot cut (cringe!) and the skinny. Most stylish plus-size clothes are available online only, so my solution was to order multiple pairs and try them on until I found one that works.
I tried Melissa McCarthy denim in Pencil, Girlfriend, and Skinny styles, but they were all too short for my 5'10" frame. And though Lane Bryant is a go-to for tops, its jeans were too baggy for my personal taste. NYDJ’s jeans were too small in the waist. (It’s a common problem, since a lot of jeans in big sizes are cut for hourglass figures as if we come in one shape—but I carry more weight in my tummy.) Old Navy’s Raw-Edge Cropped Flared style was my runner-up because the rise was deep enough to accommodate my midsection. But my eventual (after 13 tries) winner was this ASOS style, because the rise accommodates my shape perfectly. Plus, I love to pair the casual boyfriend style with dressier pieces.
One last piece of advice: When you see a pair you love, snap it up. Some styles I liked—such as a fringed pair from Eloquii—sold out fast. It’s a sad reality when you’re plus-size, but trendy, well-fitting pieces do not abound. Retailers, take note.
Related stories:
The Full Story Behind the Size 18 Dress Tanya Taylor Made Aidy Bryant
How the Body-Positive Movement Changed Red-Carpet Fashion
4 Things I Learned While Designing Plus-Size Clothes
This story originally appeared on: Glamour - Author:Lauren Chan
