The Skinny on Great-Fitting Jeans

Once upon a time, in the 1990s, the GAP had an iconic Denim Wall.  This indigo edifice of floor-to-ceiling denim selections was quite the sight.  The idea was to make it as easy as possible for the customer to self-select a jean type that fits his/her body best thanks to the neatly stacked, aptly labeled rows and rows and rows of jeans precisely arranged over several columns.  If memory serves me correct, the initial fits were as follows:

Slim Fit.

Classic Fit.

Reverse Fit.

And then Boot Cut was added later on.

Accompanying each of these fits was a little plexiglass sign that was intended to provide guidance, matching your body type to the appropriate GAP jean fit.  As a curvy girl even back in 1995, I was instructed by these Denim Wall parameters that Reverse Fit would be the perfect fit for me, with ample room in hip, butt and thigh area.

Seemed reasonable. Until I actually wore them…

With a rise that came up just shy of my chin, and a tapered bagginess that was reminiscent of the Z. Cavaricci, the Reverse Fit jeans were — as I’m sure you’re envisioning right now — quite the showstopper.

They were HORRIBLE.

Even then I knew they were horrible, but I didn’t have the style education at 16 years old in 1995 that I do now at 33, nor the options.

Options.  There are SO many options for all different body types when it comes to denim.  And they’re not limited to just “fits.”  Colors, washes and treatments run the gamut and can make all the difference when selecting the right jean for one’s shape.

One of these options over the past few years has been the “Skinny Jean” which up until recently, I completely avoided due to the word “skinny.”

“I’m not a ‘skinny’ girl,” I rationalized.  “So I can’t wear Skinny Jeans.”

You’ll recall that my denim logic once reasoned that a ‘Reverse Fit’ style was once right for me, too. (Maybe the trick was to select the reverse of the type of jean I think I should be wearing. Hmmm…)

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

I can and do wear Skinny Jeans.  The key is wearing the right Skinny Jeans.

For me, the right Skinny Jeans are the 917 style from The Limited.  I was first introduced to them last month by the company’s head designer, Elliot Staples, when we chatted about this very topic at The Limited’s Fall Fashion Presentation.

What DON’T I love about these jeans?? Everything about them is fantastic starting with the rich, dark wash, to the low-mid rise (that allows me to keep my modesty when bending down to pick up my son), to the overall fit and feel.  And you cannot beat the price – the retail price is $74.90 but as of day of publish, they are currently 40% off!

Hesitant to give Skinny Jeans a chance?  I was, too.

So here’s a handy Curvy Girl’s Guide to rocking your Skinny Jeans, compliments of mom a la mode:

-Look for jeans that have some element of stretch and are made of a high quality, thicker denim.

-Go for a mid-to-low rise.

-Choose a darker rinse.

-Lengthen your line: go for a stacked pump or shoe bootie over ballet flats when deciding on what shoes to wear.  (A little bit of height can make all the slendering difference!)

– Be mindful of where your shirt/jacket cuts you:  if your top hits in an odd place, it can actually accentuate your “problem areas.”

What are your favorite jeans? Do you opt for the “Jegging” over a Skinny Jean?  Do share…

{I was not compensated for this post but did receive a pair of The Limited’s 917 jeans to wear to the Fashion Forward Conference in New York City.  All opinions expressed here are solely mine.}