Working at Here We Go Again deluxe resale boutique, I’ve heard more times than I can count how much women hated going jean shopping, and I completely understand. It’s frustrating, exhausting, and honestly depressing. Finding the right pair that fit in all the right places, is also comfortable, and makes you feel like a million bucks is no small feat. And not to mention brands have their own size guide which makes it nearly impossible to shop by size alone. Why do they make things so hard?

It has taken me a long time to find a pair of jeans that I love and believe you me when I say that when I found them I bought multiple pairs, in a variety of colors to avoid future headaches. There are so many blogs out there that tackle this particular issue and it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the amount of information. Below are some things that have worked for me. Hopefully, they can help you too. So take out your flexible measuring tape and let’s begin!  

Measurements   

The first measurement I think is the most important is the rise. The rise is the measurement from the crotch seam to the top of the waistband. This measurement is important because it breaks up your body into segments. It will accentuate your waist, help you appear taller or shorter, as well as how long or short your torso looks. 

A good way to get this measurement is to grab your favorite pair of jeans and measure them to see what that number is. If you are starting from scratch, measure the smallest point of your waist usually around your belly button. Now hold the measuring tape there and measure down to where the crotch seam would be. And voila, there is your rise measurement. 

Another important measurement is the inseam. The inseam is the seam that runs along the inside of your pants from the crotch seam to the ankle. 

Again, to get this measurement, measure a pair of jeans you already love. If you are starting from scratch, grab the tape measure and measure from the crotch seam all the way down the inside of your leg to where you want your pants to end. When measuring this, keep in mind what types of shoes you usually wear. Personally, I like my jeans to hit a tad above my ankle bone because I wear a lot of ankle boots and it looks nice to not have to roll up your jeans to show off your shoes. If you wear a lot of flats, make sure it hits a little lower, this measurement is completely moldable to your preference.   

Styles

Now that we covered how to properly measure for the perfect fit, let’s talk about jean styles. 

There are plenty out there from wide leg to straight leg, skinny to flare, boyfriend to bootcut, mid-rise, high-rise, and low-rise. With so many options, why is it so hard to find “the” pair? I think this is where trends fail us. The style that is on trend this season may not fit your particular body type, but when you go shopping that may be all that there is, which in turn forces you to dress in a way that isn’t entirely flattering. This is the reason why when you find your perfect jeans, remember the brand, the style, measurements, and use all that as your guide. Stay true to your style, this way you will always look your best no matter the season or trend.    

Wanna know what style of jeans sold the most at the shop? Drum roll please…mid-rise, straight leg or slightly tapered leg jeans. Why? Because this style is flattering on most and timeless.     

Material 

I know those super stretchy jeans are comfortable from the get go but they tend to lose their luster quickly. If you have been following along thus far you know that my main shtick is to find clothing you adore and can wear for a very long time. So just trust me when I say that those super, double stretch spandex jeans have no place in your closet. Yes, 100% cotton jeans require some time to break in and mold to your body so here is a middle ground… 98% cotton, 2% elastane is the sweet spot. This will ensure the longevity of your jeans and also give you that stretch we all love.      

Other 

Additionally, I prefer a button fly. They just last longer and this small detail is usually an indicator of the quality of the jeans because it requires more work to add buttons than a zipper. While buttons are great, they don’t suck you in as much as a zipper fly. So if that is a feature that is important to you, just make sure the zipper extends the full length of the front of the jean. 

Let’s talk about the bootay. We all want our jeans to make our bums look bum-tastic. Pay attention to pocket placements. The smaller the pocket the larger your butt will look. The closer the pockets the more lifted everything will look as well as how high the pockets are. It’s basically an optical illusion.  

When looking for quality jeans, look at the selvage. Selvage is the self-finished edge of the fabric that keeps it from fraying/unraveling. If a pair has selvage, it is a good indicator that the jeans were made well. Another thing to keep in mind is the SPI. SPI is the amount of stitches per inch. The more stitches, the longer it should last.  

And for good measure, never wash your jeans in hot water and never dry them in the dryer. Wash them inside out, on a gentle cycle and hang to dry. Treat them right and they will do you good for many years to come. 

I hope now you feel better equipped to tackle jean shopping.

Have any other tips? Let me know in the comments! 

Till next week, 

Dre