How to find the jeans style for you…
AUGUST’S STYLE CONUNDRUM
“How to figure out what jeans style suits you?” - NATALIE
JEANS. Crikey, but I could do three newsletters just on jeans. My first point to make is - buying jeans sucks. A lot of clients want to buy jeans on a personal shop and though I of course want to help - I gently steer away from denim shopping because it takes up the entire session. Secondly, don’t be afraid to invest. Try jeans that are up a price point, because fast fashion denim has some shonky sizing and is poor quality. Thirdly, don’t go online. Go to a place that does it all, like the denim room at Selfridges. It has people that know the brands well and it’s far less exhausting when you’re not traipsing about from store to store. This is such a big topic that I’m splitting this into two : August will be about waist rises, and in September’s newsletter I’ll move onto leg shapes.
THE HIGH WAIST.
Lovely if you’re a person who wants to feel all snug in their jeans. Great for a retro aesthetic and easy for a flattering french tuck. Hard for those who have a long rise (a longer distance between the crotch and belly button), and if so, worth doing the sit down test to make sure it’s not..you know, riding up. Flattering on pretty much every body type, great for curvy girls, and particularly good for petites or those with shorter legs as it really lengthens you. Also great for those with long torsos because the line of the waist is drawn higher up. Hard if you have a big difference in hip sizing to waist sizing, as this is where most people come unstuck with denim fits. They end up with the back of the waist all baggy, or the waist fitting well and the hips being too tight. I have this problem a lot and whilst I could recommend brands , it’s been trial and error for me too. Try &Other Stories, Lucy and Yak, and Abercrombie.
THE MID RISE.
This is where the waistband sits on the natural waist. It’s known as the figure friendly rise as it suits a lot of people and a lot find it comfier than the high rise - plus there tends to be less issues with baggy backs of waists.
THE LOW RISE.
This is when the band sits just above your hip bones. It’s a very specific choice and great for those who lean towards a modern vintage aesthetic - like 90s or 00s. Stuns for those who love a stomach out. Great for the athletic and slender body types as it requires less curve to be worn well. Also really good at lengthening a torso, as it creates a wider space.
THE OTHER RISES.
You may see loads of other rises on your denim travels as well - like the ribcage rise in Levi, or the ultra low rise. They are all pretty self explanatory and always worth a try if you come across them, just in case they are perfect for you!