Plus size women fashion tips: Finding the right plus size jeans – Part 5

Wanted: a great pair of jeans, not just any great pair, but that one special pair that becomes your favorite because it hits you in all the right places, and even makes people stare at how good you look in them.

We are all so very lucky to live in an age where jeans come in so many shapes and styles and colors and materials… There is no reason to live in the world of the standard five-pocket classic jean, unless you want to, because there are a plethora of options out there for every size and shape under the sun.

First you need to look at your waist and hip measurements, and then compare it to the size chart of the brand you are purchasing. Some brands are more generous in the waist, some moreso in the hips, but you need to fit your jeans to one or the other. And don’t forget that you can always get your jeans altered, or alter them yourself if you are skilled in the ways of the tailoring world. For those with larger hips, you’re going to want to fit it to your hips… for those with a more apple shape, you’ll want to fit the jeans to your waist because most jeans have the hips proportionately larger than the waist.

Then the fit itself… these are getting more complex than trying to order a coffee at a certain specialty coffeehouse from Seattle. There’s boot-cut, straight cut, boyfriend cut, wide leg, skinny leg, reverse fit, classic fit, seat lifters, waist cinchers… Whew! And that’s just the beginning. Most brands have their own names for these as well to make them seem more exclusive, so in those cases you’ll just have to try them on or ask.

For the apple shaped among us, the straight cut or ‘boyfriend cut’ (read that as waist is about the same size as the hip) would be the most flattering. Try to avoid skinny leg jeans if you plan to wear a lot of oversized tops because this would just throw off your body proportions visually. For pear shaped girls, boot cuts will probably be just about your best friend ever (as far as denim goes). And for the hourglass gang, both bootcut and wide leg will do nicely. It is all about creating a look that is well fitted and compliments your shape. And likewise, if you are a tall or a petite, don’t get an inseam that doesn’t fit you simply because the rest of the jean does UNLESS you are going to have them altered (easier for petites than it is for us tall-legged gals).

So don’t be afraid to try on different types of jeans, or to have someone alter than for you. If you don’t like them with a little stretch, say so, and if you like to have that little bit of stretch that most jeans have these days… insist on it! Lots of bigger labels like Seven and Baby Phat are selling lines for the plus sized girls, so if you like higher fashion jeans but could never wear them… now is the time. Go out there and find your perfect match!