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!