Do go dark. No matter what the style of jeans, this is the most universally flattering shade. A darker wash not only slenderizes, but “it looks dressier, classier and more grown up,” says Michelle Madhok, shopping expert and founder of SheFinds.com.
Don’t wear low-rise styles. Unless you have a perfect figure, they lengthen your torso and shorten your legs. Low-rise jeans can also emphasize a tummy and create the dreaded muffin top, or stomach fat spilling over the waistband — not pretty, but surprisingly common.Do know your allies. To prevent muffin-top spillage, choose a higher-rise jean, suggests Lisa Rudes-Sandel, creator of Tummy Tuck Jeans, from Not Your Daughter’s Jeans. “High-waisted styles are more flattering because they control and cover the area that most women, including myself, have trouble with.”
Don’t choose skinny jeans unless you’re thin all over. A woman with thin legs and a larger upper body will look like an ice cream cone or an upside-down triangle in skinny jeans. And it goes without saying that anyone who’s larger on the bottom and smaller on the top should avoid them like the plague.
Do count on boot-cut and trouser styles for maximum flattery. That’s because these jeans have wider leg openings that balance out hips and thicker midsections, which results in an overall slimming effect. “Boot-cut jeans balance out most figures, even the hard-to-fit pear shape,” says stylist Danna Weiss.
Do choose longer-length jeans to look thinner. Add heels — even a half-inch style elongates your frame.Do try the wide-leg trend. This look is flattering on most women. “Just make sure you purchase a long enough leg, otherwise you will make yourself look shorter,” Madhok says. Caveat? Petite women might want to steer clear. The wide-leg style might look too overwhelming because of all the fabric.
But don’t fall prey to every fashion trend. Never mind what all the hot celebrities are sporting! “One of the biggest fashion don’ts is when someone wears a style just because it is a trend, says Susie Crippen, creative director of the celeb favorite J Brand Jeans. “Look in the mirror. If you don’t love what you see, try another style.”
Don’t try to look a generation younger. Be proud of your body and your age. If your teenage daughter is wearing it, it might be a style to skip. “Be age-appropriate. Do wear jeans that are stylish and fit you correctly. I’m not saying to dress matronly, but rather classy and sophisticated,” says Rudes-Sandel.
Shopping and Style Tips
• Find a store whose jeans selection you like. “Get to know the salespeople; utilize their expertise. Find someone you like to work with who has your best interest at heart,” says J Brand’s Susie Crippen. • Be true to your size, and don’t try to squeeze into a pair of jeans that are too tight. “There is a jean for every body type,” says Stefani Greenfield, owner of Scoop stores. “Do find a style that’s right for your body.”
• “Go shopping with a heel and a flat,” says stylist Danna Weiss. “You really can’t wear the same jeans with your heels as with flats, because you’re sacrificing the look.” Instead, she says, “splurge on your high heel, night-out jeans and cut corners on your flat-shoe jeans.”
• Make sure the pockets on your jeans are not set too far apart — they will make your behind look wider, says Laurie Barokas, brand manager at Pine IV jeans.
• “Always take your jeans to a professional tailor to be shortened, and make sure they finish the bottom with the original hem,” says Crippen, who likes Los Angeles denim tailor Denim Revival.
• If denim makes you itch — even after washing — it could be due to the pesticides sprayed on cotton, says Weiss, who suggests eco-friendly denim brands like Loomstate and Del Forte.
