Denim Diva: The Right Look For Your Body

Oh, the headache and pain of shopping for denim.  I think almost all of us have been there – that feeling of dread as we try on every pair of jeans in the store, before throwing our hands up in disgust and sulking next door to the bakery to pig out on a cupcake and a full-fat latte.  (Oh no!  Did I just tell on myself?  I mean, I don’t reallllly do that.  Nuh-uh.  Nope.  Not me!)  I promise you that it took me quite a long time, and more pairs of ill-fitting blue jeans than I care to count to figure out how to shop properly for this must-have item.  In my days as a youngin’, I was a “Denim Specialist” at the GAP, and it was then that I discovered how to not only outfit my own body in the perfect pair of curve-hugging denim pants, but I learned how to help other women do the same.  So then, here ya go!  I’m going to continue to spread the wealth and share some of my suggestions with you, so that you can (hopefully) avoid disappointment in the dressing room.

1.  Know your body type. If you are a slim type, without many curves, you should avoid jeans that are cut for women who are curvealicious, and vise versa.  Just like a petite woman wouldn’t dream of buying a pair of extra-long jeans, a woman with some extra shape should avoid straight-cut jeans and other looks that won’t accentuate her best qualities.  Go into the store already aware of what your best physical attributes are, and it will be easier for you to shop to accentuate them.

2.  Read the labels. Generally labels are rather straightforward and will give you the most insight into your denim dilemma.  Descriptions of the cut of denim will assist you in knowing which pairs of jeans are even deserving of your time in the dressing room.  Often you will read things like “straight through the hip and thigh” or “relaxed through the hip and thigh” that can help you to determine what this pile of material in your hand might actually look like when it’s on.  If you go in knowing your body type (see number one, above!), then ruling out the cuts that aren’t for you will be a cinch!

3.  Color is important. It’s ALL about the color!  Known as the “wash” or “rinse” to those “in the know”, color will make a ginormous difference!  A dark wash can help to lenghten your legs and generally give an overall slimming effect (the same idea behind wearing black).  Similarly, a lighter wash is great for the long and lean variety of women, and someone searching for curves can try a bit of whiskering on the outside of the jean, to create a more girly appearance.

4  Shop snug. When I try on jeans in the dressing room, I like them to fit a bit snugly.  Denim is a very strong material, but it will give, especially if you are considering a denim that is “stretch”.  After you’ve been wearing your jeans for a few hours they will loosen up, and if they weren’t a bit snug to begin with, you end up with a baggy jean.  Unless you are going for the “boyfriend jean” look, you won’t feel as comfortable or sexy in them after a few hours of wear.  This doesn’t mean you should buy jeans that are a size too small — they won’t give that much (and frankly, nobody likes a muffin top!) — but a pair that hugs your body comfortably will keep you confident all day.

5.  Don’t give up!  I often have to take 7 or 8 (or 11 or 12!) pairs of jeans into the dressing room with me so that I can even hope to leave with a single pair that fits properly, and often times I leave without one at all.  Think of shopping for denim as a time investment, and the payoff is you looking HOT!  Not all jeans are made to fit all body types, so give yourself ample time to find that perfect pair of denim.  If you find a brand and style that you fall in love with, save the tag or write it down.  In a pinch, you can always order another pair in a different rinse off of the internet!

So there ya go!  It doesn’t matter what kind of body you have, you can absolutely find the perfect pair of jeans.  How do you shop for denim?  Share your tips with us in the comments!

In Search Of: The Perfect Pair Of Blue Jeans

For some reason, most women find it incredibly difficult to find the perfect pair of blue jeans.  Hey, I’ll admit I’m one of them – and I am the queen of denim (fancy way of saying I love me some blue jeans!).  If you click over to my “About” page, you will discover that I’ve even listed a “great fitting pair of blue jeans” as one of my interests.  So why is finding them so difficult?!

In a former life (read: college) I worked at the GAP.  After spending lots of time re-folding shirts and cleaning out dressing rooms, my manager noticed my knack for outfitting even the most desperate woman with a pair of GAP blue jeans that would make her grin like she had just won the lottery.  I was quickly given some additional training, the cutesy title of “Denim Specialist”, and permanently stationed by the denim wall (that would be the place where there are blue jeans as far as the eye can see) with a headset.  I knew the details of every fit, the fancy names for each wash (color) like “Sandstone”, but more importantly, I had a natural eye for figuring out what jeans would look best on a woman based on how she was built.  This made the GAP happy because they made sales, and it made me happy to have a woman hug me on her way out and gush that she has “never owned a pair of jeans that she was comfortable in” before.

I rocked.  I mean, duh.  Can’t you see the headset?

Fast forward 8 years with me.  (Wow, writing that almost hurt – it feels like yesterday.)  I’m married, a mom, a professional, and I still love my denim, but WOW.  The choices have really expanded now – designer denim is mainstream and oh-so-worth-it if you can afford to spend your precious economy-conscious dollars on it.  Or, if you choose to.  I mean, really, the days of spending in the single digits for a pair of jeans are well over, and and even the most thrifty have come to realize that it’s true.  After all, a great pair of jeans really can speak volumes about your personality, not to mention what they’re saying about your body.  And hey – if my jeans are speaking for me, I sure hope they’re calling me hot!

This fashionista is ready to move into the world of designer denim – but when I started shopping I quickly became overwhelmed.  Where do I start?  What fits are best for my curvy, longer-legged shape? The options are endless -  7 for All Mankind, True Religion, Citizens of Humanity, Rock and Republic, Hudson, Paige, I mean wow – the list just goes on.  I want a pair of jeans (or 3 or 4 if I can afford it!) that make me feel fantastic.  Where do I start?

So, I decided to turn to you for advice!  This “Denim Specialist” needs to grab her title back, and fast!  What jeans do you love?  What fits you best?  Have you tried any of these brands above?  Why or why not?  What jeans or brand of jeans can’t you live without – which ones will you never buy again?  Share with me in the comments box – I want to hear your denim stories and learn so I can end up feeling great in a pair of blue jeans again!

So that’s it, you’ve witnessed it first hand.  I’m on a quest to find the perfect pair of blue jeans for every occasion, and to learn about them all along the way.  I want the perfect pair of skinny jeans, the perfect dark wash jeans, the perfect pair to wear at night, and the perfect pair to wear all day.  Yes, it may be greedy, but I want to find them all.  And don’t worry – I’ll let you know what I come up with.  Maybe I’ll even vlog it.