Most Flattering Jeans
Trying to find truly flattering jeans? Finding a good pair of women’s jeans is not always easy. Which jean style is the most flattering? Which is best avoided? And what do all these terms mean, anyway? Here’s a quick guide to jeans.
1. Flared Jeans
Flared jeans are narrow along the thigh and knee, widen at the calf and have a wide leg opening. They look great with fitted tops and platform shoes that balance out the flare. The flare on the bottom has a slimming effect on the thighs.
VERDICT: Go ahead.
Photo credit: Nic Name
2. Boot Cut Jeans
Bootcut jeans are cut straight at the thigh and flare a little at the ankles. They have a slimming, elongating effect, especially when worn with high heels.
VERDICT: go ahead.
Photo credit: gohsuket
3. Skinny Jeans
Skinny jeans are tight jeans that end in a narrow leg opening. Generally, skinny jeans look best on long-legged boyish figures. It’s best to avoid them if you have a fuller figure. This young woman is wearing them very well, with high heels and a tunic:
Photo credit: gohsuket
But they can be seriously unflattering:
Photo credit: Malingering
VERDICT: Proceed with caution.
4. Straight Leg Jeans
Straight Leg Jeans are cut with a narrow, straight leg. The leg does not become wider at the calf or ankles. Just like skinny jeans, these are flattering on boyish figures, not so much on fuller figures.
VERDICT: proceed with caution.
Photo credit: hyena-in-petticoats
5. Mom Jeans or tapered jeans
These have a generous cut along the thighs and the behind and become narrower toward the ankle. This look is very unflattering because it makes the thighs and behind look bigger.
VERDICT: best avoided.
Photo credit: glindsay65
6. Boyfriend Jeans
Boyfriend jeans are cut with a large waist, loose legs and large pockets. They’re a good choice for fuller figures. Wear them with a fitted top to avoid a slouchy look.
VERDICT: go ahead.
Photo credit: Idhren
7. Low Rise Jeans
Low rise jeans are intended to sit low on, or below, the hips. This popular style is flattering only if the waist is not too tight (if it is, you will get a muffin top), and especially if you have a flat or an almost flat tummy.
VERDICT: proceed with caution.
Photo credit: luby
Make sure that the rise is not so low that you show more than you probably intended to show:
Photo credit: smadness
8. High-Waist Jeans
On the opposite spectrum from low rise jeans, these have a waist that is cut high and fully covers the tummy. These should be worn with a fitted top and look great on an hourglass figure. The main problem with this cut: it makes the thighs and behind look bigger.
VERDICT: proceed with caution.
Photo credit: Minirobot
9. Wide-Legged Jeans
These are cut narrow in the waist, wide along the hips and thighs and have a wide leg opening. This is a forgiving style if you have large hips and thighs. Just like boyfriend jeans, it’s best to pair them with a fitted top. This style is not flattering to very short women since it tends to make them look even shorter.
VERDICT: proceed with caution.
Photo credit: coutorture
10. Distressed, torn, or ripped Jeans
It’s a trend that I don’t really get, but it’s very popular.
This is too much:
Photo credit: malingering
This is too, but she’s young and gorgeous and can pull it off:
Photo credit: Akbar Simonse
VERDICT: best avoided.
11. Colored Jeans
These don’t have the classic jean look, and can’t be paired with any color, but they can certainly make a statement.
VERDICT: proceed with caution.
Photo credit: gohsuket
12. Cropped Jeans or Capri jeans
Cropped jeans cover about three quarters of the leg. In Capri jeans, the jean ends just below the knees. The main problem with this cut is that it tends to shorten the legs, so it is best worn by women with long, thin legs. So, while the cut looks good on her:
Photo credit: Malingering
It is not very flattering on her:
Photo credit: A Candid Life
VERDICT: proceed with caution.
My favorite jean style: moderately low rise, flared jeans. While bootcut is a classic, always-appropriate style, it seems a bit too conservative and lacks the flare that flared jeans have. 
Filed under Fashion & Beauty —
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