MissusSmartyPants Personal Profile Style ArticleVolume 7 Week 39 September 27, 2012

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The Secrets to Looking Great in Jeans

What's the best thing you can do right now for your wardrobe?

Update your denims!

By far, looking sassy in a pair of jeans will get you the biggest bang for your buck! Because the truth is: it's not about how many dollars you dole-out for your denims that make you look fabulous...it's all about selecting the RIGHT STYLE OF JEANS FOR YOUR BODY TYPE! That's the real secret to looking fabulous in a pair of jeans. You must discover your correct fit and style of denim, and this week I'm going to help you find it!

Why is it, some women look amazing in their jeans...even though they don't have a 'perfect' body??? How is that possible they look so good when other women dressed in denims look frumpy and outdated? What’s their secret? The fact is, not all denims are created equal. The secret is finding your correct fit and not settling for anything less.

Fit Tips for Finding YOUR Perfect Denims:

(Check off each of these fit tips below and highlight the key fit elements that will help you find your jean nirvana...)

Go classic. A classic 5-pocket denim jean in a dark wash is by far the best jean for most women. Look for a 5-pocket classic in a straight-leg silhouette. This is the most universally flattering style to try.

Tapered are taboo! Tapered-styled jeans are outdated and unflattering! These jeans offer nothing but BAD fit...remove them from your closet (if you still have any)! They exaggerate the tummy and hip areas. They are so unflattering, they can even make a Victoria Secrets model look “chubby”.

Darker is slimmer. Yes, I’m stating the obvious, but it’s true... darker denims are more slimming (just in case you thought you’d wear those light worn-out jeans with a dark-colored top!)

Leave sparkles for the Christmas tree. Leave the sparkles and metallic embroidery for Christmas decorating--not something you embellish your booty with! A simpler jean style will be more slimming--hands down.

Get denims with forward-sewn side seams. Better quality denims almost always have side seams that are sewn slightly forward. This element gives you a slimmer look! However, you don’t have to spend a lot of money...just look for jeans that have the seams stitched slightly forward--and you’ll be a happy camper (or rather jean wearer). Pocket placement is paramount! If you only learn one thing from this article...I hope this is it: Your pocket placement will either make or break your look in your jeans. Yup. The correct pocket placement will make you look sassy, more youthful and like you’ve had a butt lift and a couple of pounds removed (I think you’re getting what I’m talking about here). It’s VERY important you’ve got your pocket placement at its best.

1. The back pockets need to be placed in the center (and slightly lower) of your rear. (Not high and tight, or low and wide...like some jeans suggest!!!) Everyone’s backside is a bit different...find the ones that work for your bum.

2. The back pockets need also to be in proportion to the size of your rear. If you are smaller, the pockets should be smaller. If your bottom is larger, make sure your pockets are proportionally larger.

Use a 3-way mirror to check out your rear view!!!

3. After reading #2, let me reword it again...to help you get the best pocket placement: Avoid “high and wide” pocket placement on your backside. Look for lower, in the center and slightly angled to give a slight ‘lift’ to your bum! This is the secret to great looking jeans :)

Beware of “Mom Jeans”...

Nothing ages you faster than WRONG fitting jeans!

Mom Jeans have a high waist, front pleats, a generous relaxed backside, high-wide pocket placement and tapered legs (all bad). Can jeans possibly get more unflattering than this? Yes they can, if they come in a light wash!

Oh no! Even Jessica Simpson had a “mom jean” faux-pas moment...

Rise. This is a critical fit element to a great pair of jeans. The RISE is the distance from the crotch seam to the top of your waistband. Too low-rise and your backside is easily exposed and you create “spillage” or “love handles” of flesh over the top of the waistband. Too shallow/tight and you create a potential “camel toe” effect in the crotch.

You want mid-rise. Measure with a cloth tape measure for your best rise length. You want approximately 8-9 inches of rise which should be below your navel, yet not too low it creates the above mentioned issues.

Got “gapping”? If your jeans hug your hips, yet gap horribly in the waist...look for a “contoured waist”. This style of jean is higher in the back compared to the front. Contoured waistbands are designed to fit smaller waists and minimize gapping.

Use your body type to guide you to your best pair of denims:

Bottom heavy. Avoid high-rise jeans with wide placed pockets. Fuller bottoms are best with mid-rise (just below the navel) jeans. A boot-cut also helps balance out a fuller bottom-hip area nicely.

So Slimming Jean by Chico's has a secret interior stitching that flatters instantly, comfortably, and helps make you look one size smaller.

So Slimming By Chico's Black Bootcut Jean (sizes 000-4, 3 lengths available)

Flat bottoms. Look for jeans with back flap pockets, a higher rise and even no-pockets jeans will make your bottom appear fuller. If you are slender/straight in your body proportions, a slim-straight leg will make you appear more curvy too.

Kut from the Kloth 'Natalie' Bootcut Jean at Nordstrom

Short-waisted. Look for a lower-rise jean to help lengthen your torso. This helps balance your body proportions. Try on BOTH mid and low rise fits and see which brand fits you best. Avoid high-waisted styles.

Citizens for Humanity Stretch Skinny Jean

Long-waisted. Jeans that hit at your natural waist to mid-rise are best jean styles for you. Low rise do not work because they sit at the widest part of your hips and emphasize your long torso.

NYDJ 'Barbara' Bootcut Jeans at Nordstrom

(These jeans have a contoured waistband that STOPS gapping at the waist)

Petite. Classic styling is best. Straight-cut (or very slim-boot cut) is best. Jeans at your natural waist make your legs appear longer (try them, unless you’ve got a short-waist). Wearing jeans long and with a heel is always a plus for you. Too much embellishments, washes, wide-leg or flared bottoms are all too much for a petite woman.

NYDJ 'Barbara' Bootcut Jeans at Nordstrom (petite, 29" inseam)

Plus size. For your best look keep everything about your jeans in proportions. Find styles that have larger buttons, bigger back pockets and rivets--not just a bigger version of a misses size. This helps your body look in proportion and balanced. Look for jean fits that are made specific to your dressing issues. There are straight fitting jeans, moderately curvy styles and styles for the very curvy full figure woman.

Michael Kors Dark Wash plus size 14w-24w

Tummy bulge/muffin top. Plain, dark-washed jeans with stretch are best. Look for styles that sit just below natural waistline (mid-rise). Avoid high-waist styles because they engulf the whole tummy and highlights the problem.

Halogen 'Taylor' Curvy Denim Trouser sizes 0-16 on sale $46!

Best rise for undefined waists: Mid-rise jeans are best because they intersect the tummy. Look for a pair that has stretch at the waistband area. Fit at your waist is critical--nothing too tight. A wider waistband (like pictured above) will give you a smoother look and help you avoid the dreaded “muffin top”. Be prepared to go up a size so your jeans will fit better in the waist. Boot-cut or flare jeans help you balance out a full-tummy/torso area. Avoid skinny or tapered jeans, light washes or high-waist styles. Shapewear, maybe. Perhaps not an everyday occurrence, but if you want to look really great in a pair of dressy jeans, consider high-waisted shapewear! It will give you an ultra-smooth look for a dressy occasion.

Good to have when you need it! Always order a size larger than your pant size...

Wacoal 'ipant' High Waist Anti-Cellulite Shaper (sm-xxl)

Camel toe. Hmm...it’s when your crotch area is too tight. Try another style of jean or go up a size because the RISE of these jeans are too snug and/or not tall enough! It’s important to not have a saggy crotch, but the other extreme (too tight) isn’t good either.

This is what it looks like when your jeans are just toooooo tight in the rise! It’s a don’t.

Wide-leg or trouser-cut jeans. This “dressier” jean style works well for most body types. If you’ve got curves, this style smoothes nicely over them, if you don’t have many curves, this style can create the illusion of them. (Avoid this style you are petite because a super-wide pant style will make you look shorter/wider)

How to wear them.Wear a substantial shoe with wide-leg jeans (or any wide-legged pant for that matter). Match up wide bottoms with a fitted top and/or jacket to keep the proportions balanced. Do not wear wide-legged jeans with baggy or loose fitting tunics because it looks sloppy.

Curvy Fit Raw Tumble Wash Trouser Jean

FYI: Blue jeans aren’t just blue anymore...

They’ve become quite colorful!

How do you wear the colored denim correctly? You could add another bright color, but that look is not for everyone and can be harder to do. Make it easy, simply wear a neutral colored top, jacket or sweater on top!

FAST FASHION TIP:

You can actually expand your wardrobe by adding-in just one bright pant. All of your neutral pieces now have another thing they can be worn with...your bright/colored pants!

What goes with what? Keep the tones the same.

Notice how softer bottoms go best with a softer, muted top? The same with bright denims, they look fabulous with an equally deep or bright top or jacket.

Notice how keeping the color tones the same it makes for a nicer look...

Go for it!

Here’s a fabulous straight-leg colored denim you will love to wear. It’s not super-skinny and much more wearable. It comes in 5 different shades (from bright to dark colors)...

Liverpool Jean Co. Sadie Straight Jeans at Dillards ($79)

Denim with denim? Yes, the new trend is to wear denim with denim! Formally this was considered a big fashion no-no! The key to wearing ‘denim with denim’ is to wear be sure each denim piece is a different tone of denim fabric (like seen below)...

This is how to wear denim w/ denim! The chambray shirts below are a button-down “workshirt” style that are perennial classics! Notice how these ‘casual’ looks are dressed up with pumps and boots instead of sneakers...

Dress up your jeans!

Don’t just wear them with a t-shirt and sneakers. Add a sassy shoe and a jacket with any pair of jeans for an instant ‘dressed-up’ look!

Jeans have almost become today’s modern LBD (Little Black Dress). They can be easily dressed up or down for any occasion. (There are only a few occasions that jeans are not

appropriate or proper: weddings, funerals, military/formal black-tie occasions). Of course some workplaces still have a ‘no-jeans’ policy since some jeans could be acid-

washed and ripped!

Get ‘em altered! BTW, jeans can be altered!!! Get the fit you deserve. If your jeans are really close in fit, but not quite right...have them altered so you love ‘em and wear ‘em!

Because of the detailed construction and thicker fabric of denims, it’s often best to have alterations done by a professional tailor--and worth the $ spent too.

1. Have the waist taken in

2.Have wide-legs slimmed down

3.Have them shortened and the original hem reattached! If you are fairly handy and have a sewing machine, here is a tutorial of how to hem up jeans and leave the original hem: http://justsomethingimade.com/2009/06/hemming-distressed-jeans/

A few more denim tips:

1. When wearing heels with your bootcuts or straight leg jeans make sure the hem is about 1cm off of the floor, if the hem of your jeans covers the heel it will give the illusion of longer and leaner legs.

2. Wearing jeans with pockets where the bottom of the pocket hits where the cheek meets the thigh is the sweet-spot, it makes you have a rounded and shapely butt (this is lower on the bottom than what most older women are use to).

3. If your jeans are a little too tight and are giving you the dreaded muffin top, wear a looser tunic to cover it or try dampening them and stretching them out gently.

Here’s to finding your special pair of sassy jeans! Love, Leslie MSP

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