Jeans shapes

[AmythestBangle]

Hi, I am just looking for people's thoughts, and yes I know I can (and I do) wear whatever I want. There are so many distinct jeans shapes these days, skinny, slim, wide, barrel, bootleg, flared etc. I don't even know what is "in fashion" any more.

I am pretty old (early 60s) and I was wondering what shape/s would be considered best for me, i.e. not mutton dressed as lamb (trying to hard to be trendy and just being embarrassing) but also not like an old granny. I have jeans in pretty much every shape (a lot of them pink, this being "my" colour), and I am, from a physical standpoint, quite happy how I look in all of them (lost a lot of weight over past year so much happier now in jeans now I am a size 12). But which is best from a purely fashionableness point of view? (My general style is kind of boho, hippyish, florals/colours rather than sharp or tailored type of things. It's essentially as it has been all my life although I have now ditched the miniskirts and revealing tops!).

You haven't shared the most important thing ,at least in my view when it comes to jeans and that is your body shape. You can, of course where whatever style you like but some look better than others on different shapes.

Ah, OK. I have biggish boobs (38D) and am really a sort of hourglass shape now, I would say. A little pooch of a tummy out front, but I can suck/squish it right in. Although my bum has disappeared with the weight loss so is pretty flat. I am short (5 foot 3) and arms and legs have always been quite thin, now are more thin. My legs are my favourite feature.

I am similar age, height and size. I bought some wide legged jeans and surprisingly they look quite nice on me. I do have longish legs for my height, though, am short in the body.

I’m the same height as you OP size 8 with an hourglass figure. I don’t think wide legs look good unless you are very tall (personal opinion obviously). I like skinny flares for my height. That said I live in a very rural area and now we are in winter (have had snow today) it is skinny all the way. Soggy bottoms to jeans is not pleasant.

Straight legged jeans are a really good bet. I'm short and though wide legged jeans can be kind to big thighs, they easily look like I'm dressing up in mummy's clothes, which at 60 is not a good look. Also I have in the past caught my foot in wide-legs and fallen over, which at 60 with bone density reducing, we want to avoid. I think skinnies look aging - but I always hated them anyway. Mum jeans and straight legs are the perfect compromise.

I’m 5 ft 4 , and a size8-10.
Same age as you.
I love the look of wide leg jeans but have struggled to find a pair that looks good on me. Lots of them are either just too wide or they are made of stiffer denim that sticks out too much.
The best shape for me is bootcut . They make my legs look longer and I look taller and thinner. I don’t hugely like bootcut but have to accept they are the most flattering for me.
That said - my legs are short and are my worst feature . I am rectangular shape.
If your legs are slim and longer than wide legs will look probably look better on you

To be honest now that it's winter most shapes go - skinnies with long boots with an oversized top still look good and are the most practical.

Other than boobs I have a similar shape to you. Wide legged CAN suit but it has to be not too wide legged but not too slim either so it's tough, and also they only go with certain tops - either slim fit or if a baggier top then tucked in at the front. Unfortunately both these looks can emphasise a tummy. Mid rise is prob the most flattering. I do like skinny flares as well as a PP said, and most tops will go with these.

Unfortunately if you are looking to be 'fashionable' then coloured jeans like pink are really not in at the moment.

True about skinnies with long boots. I keep a couple of pairs for this and it is a lovely look imo (coming back into fashion this year. But otherwise, I find skinnies so ugly, even on women with long thin legs.

The op specifically asked about fashionableness so I'll stick to that.

We've just had several years (far more than I'd expected) of pretty much anything goes regarding jeans shape. But looking around this summer I noticed that the balance - at least where I live - had tipped towards a wide or at least a looser leg with barrel legs and flares coming in next. I'm also starting to notice more men in wider legs too. Of course things will probably shift a bit once the bad weather bites but I think that, once people have made the leap and got used to a wide/loose shape, they're unlikely to instantly switch back..

For me personally, I'm 5'3, size 8-10 and late 60s and I love a wide leg (although I prefer trousers to denim as I think the fabric is more suited to the shape). I also wear flares and straight legs but not skinny as they still bore me senseless. I've worn barrel legs a lot but starting to feel a bit tired of them now but I'm famously fickle and there are still plenty around.

I don't want to derail the thread but I can't go without pointing out that old grannies do not all look the same.

Falling over was something I thought about re: the wide legs!

I think with your shape several types of jeans could work.
If you go wide leg then have a play about with mid and high rise to see which suits you better. I find high rise elongate the legs and emphasise the waist but if your waist is a concern maybe go low rise so they hang better. Straight leg and barrel could also work as you have slim legs. Skinnies aren't particularly in fashion but again they would likely work well for your shape.

I am built somewhat similarly to you, OP, but with more of a bum. High waisted reasonably wide legged jeans are the cut that consistently win me compliments. I need to balance them with a top that tucks in or is reasonably fitted. The loose tops YP wear with wide legs swamp me and, I think, age me.

I agree you need to experiment and I agree this cut is a nuisance in wet weather

Thanks so much for all the replies! I have also got concerns about falling over in wide legs or flares (nearly fell down the stairs once in a wide leg pair, and I have osteopenia, that is so not a good idea). I don't like low or mid rise as I find them uncomfortable, mid rise cut just exactly into the one part of me that has not lost all the fat I would have liked. And I probably would never tuck in a top (or wear a cropped top!) so the rise doesn't matter as much.

It sounds like straight is the best option overall to look neither try-hard or given-up. But I find it a bit boring. Bootleg does probably look best and makes short me look taller but I worry (no, I don't actually worry, but for the purposes of this thread...) that it's wildly out of style, with all the girls in the extreme slouchy look.

I have a barrel pair from Brakeburn that I love, very comfortable and interesting-looking, but I feel anxious about wearing them out of the house, they are rather extreme!

On the pink, it's my signature thing and it symbolises something for me, so I can't get out of that altogether. But I do also have blue, black, white and grey ones. I work from home mostly so hardly ever need smart trousers etc, and I don't like to wear joggers on video calls as they feel too casual, even though no-one can see them I still feel like I am not really at work! So it's jeans nearly all the time.

I think with your boohoo vibe bootcut would be great for you, I have the same shape as you and they suit me well. I've also got cords in the same shape, I also wear wide and skinny

There you go I don't think age matters, I'm 57 and it's more about shape to me