I keep buying the wrong jeans

[Bleaktimes]

I’ve put on weight and my shape has changed.

I’ve bought 7 different pairs of jeans and after one day’s wear I realise they are not the right jeans for me.

From being too high waisted and buttons digging in to me, stretching too much, constantly sliding down, not holding my tummy in enough almost as if waist and legs fit but tummy area too big, each of them is not what I thought they’d be when I tried them on compared to how they wear.

I almost feel like there should be a jeans shop like Bravissimo where someone tells you how your ideal pair of jeans is meant to fit and flatter your figure.

I’m 1.62cm tall, now a good size 14 and all my weight is tummy and waist, a true apple shape. My torso is also short compared to my legs so I’ve discovered that even though high rise jeans are meant to hold in muffin top waists, they’re too high for my short torso.

Can anyone please recommend a pair of jeans that I could try? I wear jeans most days and I’ve spent too much buying the wrong ones. I need help.

jeans for different body shapes

Article about which Jean for which body shape

I have just bought these, and they are a good fit for me - I carry a little bit of weight around my middle. I am 5' 3" and usually a 12 in jeans but had to size down to a 10 in these. I bought the regular length which is just right and can be rolled down or up.

www.fatface.com/women/clothing/jeans/girlfriend?int_campaign=INT~amplience~Winter~~2118_W_Denim_Fit_1_3of6~womensgirlfriend

I also have a short torso.

www.next.co.uk/g2769s4/844027#844027
I have just bought these and am apple shaped. They aren’t that slim though, more a straight leg.

M&S. Just get a home delivery of as many styles and colours as you want and send what you don’t want back. Most are just fine!

Another suggestion for M and S and ordering various size/leg length variations. They used to do a Relaxed Slim Jean which I loved as they fit on the waist but they’re discontinued. Their Per Una jeans look good, I saw them in store yesterday.

One other thing for anyone who is around a size 10 or a 12, check out Next boys 5 pocket jeans in age 15/16, they have adjustable elastic waist and are super cheap.

Thank you all for your input and recommendations!

I’ve tried the Next slim, shape & lift (or something like that). Far too high waisted for me. I actually didn’t mind the fit but the button digs in too much when I’m sitting down (which is most of the day at my desk).

Tried 2 more styles of Next jeans - either kept sliding down or too big in the tummy.

Levi’s- went in to the shop and to get recommendations - this one just stretched out so much after just one wear.

Also got some from New Look and Asda and neither are comfortable. Asda just didn’t stay up. New Look waist band wasn’t broad enough and exaggerated my muffin top.

I’ll try the others recommended and read the link to the mumsnet thread posted - thx!

I had to buy a 16 in the Next jeans, even though I am usually a 14. I thought it was lockdown weight but maybe they come up small? The 16 are comfy and fit nicely on my waist, tummy and bottom with straight legs. They seem to be holding their shape.

I found those Next firm and lift or whatever it is quite snug on the waist too. I'm happy to admit when it's me being fat, but I'm definitely fine in a smaller size in other Next jeans compared to those.

I'm afraid I've given up on High St jeans, I wear premium denim. I went to Harvey Nichols one day and tried on tonnes of different pairs, with advice from the sales assistant, and chose that way. That was a long, long time ago, and although I'm not still wearing those jeans, I've never gone back to High St. I usually buy when in the US, I head to one of the outlet stores for Saks or Nordstrom, and get denim shopping. My go-tos for the last few years have been Paige Hoxton jeans, but I'm a different shape to you, so can't necessarily recommend them for you (and they're EXPENSIVE here - over £200. I generally pay about $100 when in the US). I've had to resort to eBay and a lot of shipping / duty costs (still much cheaper than paying UK prices) this year.

If you find the perfect pair in a high end shop, you can then start alerts on eBay etc to get them at a mor palatable price. I think paying a bit more for the perfect pair of jeans ends up cheaper than having to buy and chuck loads of not-right jeans. I also wear my jeans pretty much every day, so happy to pay a bit more.

I’ve also tried loads too. Managed to find a half decent pair at Lands End. They do a size 14/16 (and 14 and 16 etc...) which is good as I often find I’m in between sizes. You can also choose the leg length and rise.

Oh and they do a curvy cut too.

I like the Tesco contour jeans

OP I would go into a big M&S and try on six pairs at a time - they have such a huge range.

However, I have a radical solution for you. If you really are having such issues wearing jeans, why don't you just wear something else?

I think we are all a bit brainwashed into jeans being the failsafe fallback position????

I'm a similar size and shape and buy all my jeans from H&M

I find next and M&S are geared towards the pear shaped and don't work on me.

I think part of the answer is to just not have any fixed ideas about what size you'll need to buy, because there's clearly loads of variation from brand to brand and style to style.

I'm a size 14 and curvy with a bit if a muffin top. I find Crew Clothing 's jeans great quality and a good fit for me. Mid rise, straight leg.

M&S Lily work for me, but I'm more of an hourglass with a barrelly menopausal middle. They're only £19.59 so worth a go

I have up wearing jeans as I had a problem with thefit, if they fit my front the back was too big or vice versa.

@EmmaStone I agree. I have dozens of pairs of jeans and although I'm short which brings problems I'm slim so can wear pretty much any shape. I try tons of jeans and when I find a shape and style I really like I look for the brand on eBay etc. On do agree premium denim is best. 100% cotton. But high street denim can be fab too try whistles, jigsaw, John Lewis and when you fi done that is too high waisted measure the rise and check that the next pair is less eg instead of 11 try 9.5 inches. It takes ages. If you can afford premium denim then Selfridges have a good jeans shop as does Liberty London.

I think you need to go somewhere and try lots of pairs on - like PP I prefer premium jeans, but would go to Selfridges and try lots on and then try to find them cheaper. But even if you didn't end up buying premium that would then give you an idea of what shape suits you and what size to buy.

I think H&M, zara and Asos have big ranges in all the shapes too (have just bought a pair of H&M mom jeans) . My teen daughters think Zara is the best at the moment. I'm afraid I wouldn't buy M&S jeans.

I'm a different shape to you OP, but my favourites recently have been Rag & Bone - they are really soft and comfortable.

I’m the same height and shape as you and find boden really good. I’ve lived in the indigo skinny’s over winter.

I have given up on jeans after years of angst. And yet here I am reading this thread, still hopeful, still willing to invest more time and energy. What is it about jeans!!