This one's a bit weird: skinny jeans..

[ToastedTeacakes]

I have this weird problem when it comes to 'seeing' myself wearing skinny jeans (or even slim fit). It's like the front view of me in a full length mirror looks really really different to the back. Now, of course I know that the rear view is gonna be different in general, but my proportions/shape/size look different, and this is what I can't get on board with!

Ok, so in front of mirror from front I look slender, well proportioned and just fine. From this perspective I sometimes think I need to gain a few lbs, which I probably do (stress, etc). But, when I look at the rear view with the assistance of a handmirror I suddenly appear squat, short legged and plump. Now, I know that I am not plump, but this is the damn problem! My arse seems to be in decent shape (no sag, but not round either) but in the mirror, from rear, it looks disproportionately wide! This usually puts me off wearing jeans altogether - not a hang up exactly, but less fuss just to wear skirts unless the jeans are paired with a long jacket or cardi.

For ref. I am 5'4, often wear a 2 inch heel, size 8, small chest, 35" hips.
Has anyone else noticed anything like this at all? I have a fairly ok self esteem so not sure if my perception it out of whack. I never used to worry about it, but then in the old days I tended to wear looser fit denim, so I guess this is new to me.
Please tell me I am not alone in this bizarre situation..

[ToastedTeacakes]

More info: I am, as far as I am aware, a slim hourglass with high waist. Not curvy, but slight curves IYKWIM?

[SPsFanjoIsAsComfyAsAOnesie]

I like my front view as i look slim.

The side view is appalling. My arse seems to look huge and sticks out. From the back it looks very wide.

I'm 5foot size 6/8 and a normal chest.

[ToastedTeacakes]

I wonder what it is, then?
Surely we can't be wider from front to back, even if the side is different. Proportions are strange buggers!

I have several pairs of cheap (primark, new look) skinnies which really emphasize this. Oddly enough my one pair of designer jeans make my arse look fabulous. I wonder if it's about fit?

[SPsFanjoIsAsComfyAsAOnesie]

I have Primark and new look skinnies and that's how they make me look.

I do have very short legs though so I wonder if that contributes to the fat and wide arse illusion.

I hope it an illusion any way

[DonaAna]

I live in Italy where most women are hourglasses. They generally don't wear skinny jeans well - the silhouette problem you describe is something I see on the street every day. It's not a flattering look.

I have a different shape, but I don't think skinnies are ideal on me either.

[ToastedTeacakes]

Strange though, when I view myself wearing only tights and a fitting tee the problem isn't as evident.

[ToastedTeacakes]

Oh, and my inside leg measurement is 29, not sure if that's short, but my legs don't seem short proportionally, unless im in the cheap skinnies in rear view!

[SPsFanjoIsAsComfyAsAOnesie]

My inside leg is about 26/27. Jeans are always too long for me

[trixymalixy]

The size and placing of the pockets makes a huge difference to the way your bum looks in jeans.

see point 4 here

I've seen an article/blOg with pictures showing the difference it makes. I will try to find it.

[trixymalixy]

this is the blog I was thinking about

It gives you an idea of how different the same person can look depending on the jeans. Pocket placement is mentioned too.

[SPsFanjoIsAsComfyAsAOnesie]

Trixy I have skimmed that blog and think I will read properly when I next go jeans shopping.

Thank you

[Bella88]

I know exactly what you mean!

With me it's my ankles which look disproptionally thin compared to my hips - the classic parsnip leg. I get around this by wearing my skinnies with bulky, wide ankle/calf length boots creating a wider ankle shape and so balancing out my hips.

[ToastedTeacakes]

Wow, that blog is amazing, thanks for sharing it trixy!

Pockets really do seem to make a difference. I have 4 pairs of jeans in total:
1 Topshop Baxter (doesn't count as they're so baggy now they have become boyfriend fit)
1 Newlook 'Yes' skinny.
1 Primark skinny.
1 7 For All Mankind Roxanne skinny.

The 7 for All Mankind jeans make my backside look totally different, like a brand new arse - and much better. The low rise seems to suit me too, due to my short torso. What I ought to do is bin the others and save up for another pair of 7's. But keep my old Baxter's cos they're so comfy.

[MrsCampbellBlack]

That blog is really really interesting and toasted I get the same thing totally re. my rear view.

I do think river island are very good for high street jeans and I love j brand for premium.

There's a new brand called frame denim that I fancy trying too.

[RandomMess]

That blog is fantastic, next time I go for jeans I'm taking a good friend with me to help with the rear view opinions!!!

[AnnoyedAtWork]

My calves look like sausages from the back in skinny jeans. However I love skinny jeans and how they look from the front.

I have solved the problem by never looking at my rear view in a mirror

[AwkwardSquad]

Thanks, Trixy, that blog is really helpful. I thought it was me - it's not, it's bloody Gap!

[Downfall]

thanks so much for that blog link trixy.
for the first time ever I get what people mean by ' mum jeans'

[ToastedTeacakes]

MrsCampbellBlack I like the look of RI jeans but they are often so low cut they fall down after an hour, so not had much luck there. I think Topshop used to be great but something has seriously gone downhill in past 24 months. I do need to discover some new brands.

MadameLeBean Solving the issue by not looking at my arse has certainly occurred to me! Life is definitely too short to pick apart such small details - I know this! - but I am still too shy to take the leap.

Back to the blog link: you know, some of those examples of mom jeans, however awful in design, made the wearer look quite curvy and cute. The preferred styles (even if they were more slimming) created a much straighter shape, almost boyish, by eliminating the roundness of the women's arses. It's interesting to observe this as it says a lot about how our culture has somehow rejected roundness as a signifier of attractiveness. Not that there's anything wrong with boyish bums! I hope you get my point!

[ToastedTeacakes]

Also, it is difficult to find arse view pics of skinny jeans anywhere online. I keep a style tumblr and whenever you see inspirational images where the person wears skinnies you only ever see the front, regardless body type. I'm thinking of all those pics of the French ladies now, like Emmanuelle Alt, etc, and how you only ever get the front view. We need more rear pics online to maybe normalize our own, maybe?
(Models on store sites don't count)

[trixymalixy]

this bit is quite interesting too

It's helpful in that you can analyse why certain jeans look better than others. It doesn't remove the need to try loads of pairs on though!!

[AnnoyedAtWork]

The key for the bum is quite simple

Just make sure the pockets are quite big and sit high ish. Jeans that are med-high waisted and don't slip down are better then you don't have to keep pulling them up to keep the pockets in the right place.

I am blessed/cursed with big bum and small waist so they forever fall down on me

Also - dark colours = win

[ToastedTeacakes]

I would love to buy these! Colour looks great too.

www.selfridges.com/en/Womenswear/Categories/Shop-Clothing/Jeans-denim/Low-rise/Roxanne-skinny-jeans_235-2001497-STROXNNYD/

[SPsFanjoIsAsComfyAsAOnesie]

£170?!! Ill stick to my Primark and new look jeans.