Beauty & Fashion
The secret to finding the perfect jeans – it’s in your genes
Roman Khripkov – Unsplash
Struggling with the new jeans styles? Buying jeans can be a trial at the best of times, but just when you think you have found your Best-friend-forever pair, the fashion moves on and the stores are full of the new styles, leaving you perplexed! We’ve just navigated our way through the “skinny” jean era, and now the relaxed fit has truly arrived with straight legs, mom-jeans, culottes and flare legs. With “home office” and “staycation” becoming part of our lifestyle it is no surprise that roomier fits are trending. This may be a welcome change for those who felt uncomfortable in the painted-on look, but what if the new cuts feel less attractive?
Often, we mistakenly think jeans look unflattering due to our weight, but the truth is, it’s mostly to do with our shape. Our body shape is the result of our genetic makeup. It’s our genes that determine our bone structure and where our body distributes its weight. No amount of exercise will change this, so it’s important to wear the jeans that fit your genes! Instead of trying to mould yourself to the fashion, buy the styles that suit you. Here is my guide to embracing and celebrating who you are in the right pair of denims that are roomy in the right way for you. See which figure type you identify with and learn which jeans will be your new best friends.
Straight body shape:
You have a streamlined appearance. When drawing a line from your shoulder through to your waist & hips you’re straight rather than curvy. Your slim hips and flattish bottom profile mean you’re not the one asking “Does my butt look big in this?”. Time to celebrate because, for you the new straight leg styles are perfect, as long as you keep them no wider than your shoulders. The mom-jeans, which are straight but tapered to the ankle, are also a winner. Here’s a tip: anything called “boyfriend” will generally work well for your figure.
Left: Jakob Owens – Unsplash -Right: H&M Studio straight leg – H&M
Curvy body shape:
You have an ultra-feminine curvaceous shape. Your waist is clearly defined, it’s noticeably smaller than your hip or bottom. First the good news- the return to the natural waist with higher rises & paper-bag details are great for you to show off your best feature! The bad news is many of the new jeans styles are too stiff and straight to be flattering on your curves. You need styles that go in and out where you do. The solution is to seek out jeans that fit in under your bottom & denims that drape well. Boot cut and flare legs work well for you as do the more fitted versions of mom-jeans. Culottes and relaxed jeans will work in softer denims that mould well to your curves as long as you remember to show off your waist.
Left: Petar Dopchev – Unsplash Right: : MANGO flare leg – Mango
Slightly-curvy body shape:
If you identified a bit with both of the above shapes you may be this type. Your figure is similar to the straight body shape but has a subtle waist and gently curving hips. The good news for you is that you can look good in more styles than most! The mom-jeans, straight legs, flares & culottes will all work for you. However, you’ll find your sweet spot by avoiding extremes. Keep a little shaping under the bottom, avoid overly wide cuts and steer clear of paper-bag waistlines as they will crowd out your subtle waist.
Left: Marcos Paulo-Prado – Unsplash Right: CLOSED heritage fit pedal pusher – PKZ Women
Fuller-figure body shape:
Like the straight type, your figure has little or no waist definition. The difference is, that your figure is fuller towards the middle: across the bust, waist and thighs. The good news for you is that relaxed, straighter shapes look great on you! They skim rather than cling. The key is to keep these in soft denim that drapes well without adding bulk. Think model, viscose blends, or soft washed denim. Flare legs can help bring balance to the top of your body, just watch that they are not unflatteringly tight across the thigh. Keep it long on top, wearing your shirt untucked or semi-tucked in the front. Alternatively layer a jacket or shirt dress over.
Left: W-Wow-Tech – Unsplash – Right: VIOLETA BY MANGO relaxed fit – Mango
As I always like to remind my clients – there are no wrong bodies – just wrong clothing! Shopping for jeans and any other clothing can be turned into a positive, confidence boosting experience when you understand what flatters your figure type.
Now that you know which styles to buy, you might be interested to read my previous article on which denim blues are best for your unique colouring.
About the Author
Faye Hofmann is qualified in Fashion Design and Colour Analysis and has worked as fashion designer, trends consultant and personal stylist. Since she started in the fashion world 20 years ago, she has had much experience translating fashion trends into successful styles for large corporate retailers, boutiques and individuals.
Currently operating out of central Switzerland, one of her greatest joys is using her expertise to help others look and feel their best. To learn more about what colour & style can do for you, visit her site.
