5 Ways To Find The Right Jeans For You

There’s always a lot of talk about the perfect pair of jeans: getting them, not having them, wanting them — where are these magical jeans already?!

I actually don’t believe in the perfect jeans. Call off the search party!

Here’s why they don’t exist…

• Perfection is unachievable. You are already perfectly imperfect in your inherent beauty and power, so sit with that. No jeans in the world need to fix you.

• Style is a journey, not a destination. An amazing outfit today might not be right for you in two, five, or ten years. Your body and life will grow and change. And, ultimately, that means someday you’ll need and want something different to accurately represent you in your style.

But there are the right jeans for right now. Woop woop!

And if you’re not sure what to look for, here are my top 5 things to consider for finding your right pair…

5. The right jeans should make you look taller.

This weekend, I worked with a client who’s go-to jeans for years had been chunky, bootcut denim. This style not only took away from her stunning figure, but brought the attention of her outfit down to her feet.

Your outfit should always bring people’s eyes upward to your face, so the outfit compliments your personality and presence.

I swapped her oldies for some high-waisted, stretch skinny jeans, and bam! Not only did she feel sleeker in a shape that complimented her body type, but her co-workers noticed how tall and statuesque she naturally is.

Despite societal judgements of the past, being a tall woman is a good thing! It helps you show off your power and beauty even more in every situation, so once you’ve found the pair that makes you look tall, you’re on the right track!

4. The right rise flows with your body type.

The right rise will follow the natural curve of your body, while hugging you at the waist and hips without making you feel squished.

There are three rises to try: low, mid, and high. Within these, there are subcategories. For example, Madewell makes both a 9” high-rise and a 10” high-rise.

To determine what’s best for you, you’ll want to try lots of different types, but to get you started, here are the general types you should look for based on your body type:

Hourglass — mid to high

Pear — high

Apple — low or mid

Rectangle — all rises

Inverted Triangle — all rises

3. The right style should make you fit in where you’re headed.

Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom or the CEO of a tech company, you need to know what’s gonna work for your particular lifestyle.

• Dark jeans are more formal than light jeans.

• Jeans of a single color are more formal than distressed or ripped jeans.

• A lean jean like skinny jeans are more formal than a chunkier silhouette like bootcut.

Heading into the office for the day? Grab your dark-wash or jet black denim for an option that’s a cousin to the business pant.

Going to your daughter’s soccer game over the weekend? Reach for your ripped boyfriend jeans to keep your look relaxed, while cute and comfortable.

Going out for date night? Create an edgy and playful look with metallic skinny jeans. The cut with make your look tailored, while the bright, light color makes your outfit playful.

2. The right shape should accentuate your body type.

I’m not into the old school rules. I believe all body types can rock all shapes of denim.

But to give yourself the freedom to try new styles, it’s also useful to know the guidelines of what works best on your body type.

Your ideal shapes allow you to not feel overwhelmed with the “Ugh, these look so good on everyone, but not me!” and have a solid foundation in couple styles: “This shape is my eternal happy place.”

So if you get stressed with exploring, go back to your happy place…

Hourglass — bootcut, straight, skinny, flare

Pear — bootcut, flare

Rectangle — flare, boyfriend, skinny

Apple — skinny, bootcut, straight

Inverted Triangle — bootcut, skinny, flare

And remember, styling is key! Add a front tuck to any of these cuts to highlight your waist, while sticking true to your style.

1.The right jeans make you feel comfortable.

Comfort gets a bad rap in women’s fashion.

But there’s nothing wrong with being comfortable! In fact, that’s your body telling you you’re on the right track to finding your right denim.

The trick to finding your most comfortable pair though is getting out of your comfort zone. To do this, don’t start looking for the right denim in your closet.

Go to the store. Don’t order online, because this will revert back to your old ways.

Have the knowledge of your body type in your mind, but come from a place of exploration when sifting through the racks.

Then when you’re trying on, give yourself at least 10 seconds after you put them on to stay with the jeans you’ve chosen.

Squat in ‘em. Sit in ‘em. Dance in ‘em.

What do you like about these? What do you not like these?

If the answer is “oh heeeeell no!” to this pair, give yourself the reason why.

If the answer is “hmmm, I actually kinda like these”, explore the feeling till you get a “yes” or “no” on the pair.

Exploring and trying things you never would’ve before helps you build a keener sense of your style, get closer to finding it, and bam! you're now spot on with your right pair.

Now I would love to hear from you! Leave me a comment below and tell me which fresh pair you’re excited to try.

Lots of love and joy!

Raquel