Why is it such a struggle to find a pair of jeans that fit? Maybe it is because of the need for the fit to be perfect. Badly fitting trousers, whilst not ideal, you can get away with, whereas badly fitting jeans will look appalling.
It is often worth splashing out a bit more on a good pair of jeans that fit you properly. They will be a staple part of your wardrobe that you can dress up or dress down and they can last for such a long time. I still have a pair of jeans that I bought ten years ago because the style was so flattering that it was impossible to throw them away. Alas, they have finally had their day and need replacing and that is where my latest shopping challenge has stemmed from.
One key requirement for me is thick denim. I have bought many a pair of jeans where the material has been quite thin. On first wearing, they have looked great, but soon enough, the material around the knee area becomes saggy. This just makes the bottom half of the jeans completely out of shape and rides the length of the leg up, making them flap around your ankles like a small, irritating dog. The thick denim on my ten year old pair of jeans has never lost its shape and I’m determined to find something that lives up to this standard.
I have tried some beautifully shaped martini mid rise J Brand jeans from House of Fraser, which are currently in the spring sale with over £100 off. I love these jeans, but the material is thin and soft which I just know will let me down in no time at all.
Of course, the problem with being an online shopper is that it is impossible to tell the quality of the material from the picture. House of Fraser is a well trusted brand so I know I can return the four pairs of jeans I ordered from them without any hassle, but buying from smaller boutiques can sometimes unnerve us as we don’t have the same peace of mind over their returns policy. I tend to reserve boutique shopping for items I am pretty sure about. My jeans shop does not fit into this category and is likely to be more trial and error.
The next issue is size. I am between sizes so jeans that come in a UK 10 or a 12 are no use to me at all. Luckily, most good jeans give you a waist size and leg length in inches. Even that is not enough in my mind. I want to know the width around the hips and around the top of the legs and the width around the foot as these are also vitally important when you are shopping for jeans. The perfect fitting pair will need to fit every part of you, not just the waist.
I have been looking at mid and high rise jeans with either a boot cut or flare. This is to conceal my slight pair shape as much as possible and I find this look the most flattering with wedges during the summer. Of course, this is not for everyone and the style of the cut is an important factor to consider.
Colour wise, I prefer a dark wash as I find them slimming and more sophisticated. This also means that I can wear them out for a meal with a more dressy top or during the day with a t-shirt for a more casual look. I am prepared to compromise on the colour slightly if I get the perfect fit though.
Other great stores that I have been looking at for my perfect jeans are Stylebop.com, which I love although I find the name silly, Debenhams who also have a sale on which is worth a look, and Very who also stock the designers at lower prices.
Let the hunt begin!
