A Curvy Girl’s Guide to Jeans

Fashion & Beauty

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There’s no reason to settle for gappy, ill-fitting jeans anymore. Find the best denim to fit your curves!

Top: J. Crew Factory (on sale!) || Jeans: Joe’s (similar) || Heels: J. Crew Factory (on sale!) || Sunglasses: Amazon || Watch: Michael Kors

If you’re a woman, and you wear jeans, then at one point or another, you’ve probably found yourself in a poorly lit dressing room, amid a giant pile of discarded denim, feeling really really crappy about yourself.

You’re not alone! And it’s not you, it’s the jeans.  Like I talked about in this post about premium denim, most “affordable” jeans are designed and manufactured quickly and cheaply, with little thought to fitting the myriad of different feminine bodies out there. But I believe there’s a great pair of jeans for every woman, no matter the size or curviness!

And by the way, I know the term “curvy” has basically just become a euphemism for “fat” but that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about those of us with thighs and/or a chest and possibly a booty that won’t quit. There’s a reason runway models are all super skinny: because then designers don’t have to worry about fit! It’s much harder to design clothes that fit curves.

The following 3 tips will help us all find that magic pair of pants that we never want to take off:

1. Figure out what usually bugs you about jeans.  Do they always gap at the waist? Give muffin top? Slide down? Show bum crack? Tight in the calves? Too short? Too long? Not enough stretch? Make a list of what features your dream pair of jeans would have!

2. Do some research! One of my favorite way to find good contenders is by reading reviews. Amazon and Nordstrom are good places to start because they almost always have a plethora of reviews.  Despite what the media would have you think, MOST women have a hard time finding good fitting jeans, so if a pair gets consistently great reviews, they’ll probably be worth a try.

Another great way to find the perfect pair is to see what fashion bloggers are wearing and loving. A quick little warning here though- find a fashion blogger who’s built like you before you take her recommendations! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve run out to try on an amazing pair of jeans I saw on some cute girl, only to pull them on and realize that we’re not built at all alike!  Don’t torture yourself by trying to make some other person’s perfect pair work for you.  If you’re in need of some amazing, curvy bloggers to follow, check out these ladies!
(There are a vast array of very thin bloggers as well as plus-sized fashionistas out there…but for this list, I’ve included mostly curvy or athletic women who fall in the upper ranges of Misses sizes: i.e. 8-14).
Kyrzayda || Girl with Curves || Color Me Courtney || Style Me Curvy || Putting Me Together || Alicia Fashionista || Kendi Everyday

3.  Set aside a decent chunk of change and several hours to shop and head to a nice quality mall or shopping center.  Or, better yet, order a few pairs online!  Nothing beats being able to try on jeans in the comfort (and nice lighting) of your own home, without the pressure of time or salespeople.  I like to try on the same pair a few different times, at various times of day, to make sure that I really do love them.  Although I’ve found that with my best finds, I know pretty much right away that they’re winners.  The perfect pair of jeans should make you smile, admire yourself from every angle and feel like taking on the world!

My favorite premium brands of denim lately are Madewell jeans (especially their high rise skinnies!) and J Brand or Joe’s.

Lastly, it’s better to spend $150 on 1 pair of jeans that you’ll wear for 5 years, than $30 on a pair of jeans that will have to be replaced in 6-12 months.  It’s just too hard to get a perfect fit with cheap jeans, so don’t give yourself a hard time about investing; just think about the cost per wear (and wait for a great sale!). You’ll reach for a perfect pair of jeans over and over again, probably more than any other item in your closet.

Remember, the jeans were made to fit the girl, not vice versa.  You deserve to look and feel amazing!

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5 Comments

  • Reply
    Meg
    June 3, 2017 at 3:32 pm

    Amen sister! I am lucky to have some curvy friends with great recommendations because I can be so disheartening to spend several hours jean shopping! You’re right, the jeans should fit the girl!

    • Reply
      Bonnie
      June 4, 2017 at 2:08 pm

      True! Too many girls try to make themselves fit the clothes and that just ain’t right 🙂

  • Reply
    A Curvy Girl's Guide to Swimsuits • Whisk 'Em
    June 17, 2017 at 6:14 pm

    […] you’ve got curves, then chances are that the only thing more painful than shopping for jeans, is shopping for swimsuits! Just the thought of a rack full of teeny tiny lycra in yellowy fitting […]

  • Reply
    Shirley Polmateer
    March 15, 2019 at 7:28 pm

    Lovely family. Lots of work but well worth it. I come form a Big family and love it.

    • Reply
      Bonnie
      March 16, 2019 at 3:40 pm

      Thanks Shirley! That’s awesome to hear!

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