Learn how to find the best fitting jeans in this thorough and helpful denim guide on how to find jeans that fit.
Overcoming the challenge of finding jeans that fit
I spent YEARS of my life avoiding outfits with jeans because it is SO hard to find jeans that fit. Recently, I finally regained my faith in denim after falling in love with a pair of vintage-inspired jeans. In my full Madewell jeans review of them, you’ll find out that they are what converted me into becoming a “jeans” person.
They might have done too good of a job because I haven’t been able to stop buying jeans online since. Thankfully, I’ve nailed down my process for successfully finding (and buying) the best fitting jeans, which I’m outlining in this post to make denim shopping easier for you!
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The basics of finding the perfect jeans
I’ve detailed each of these elements in the rest of the post, but if you’re skimming, here are my top tips for finding the perfect jeans at a glance:
- When in doubt, size down (denim always loosens)
- Please don’t put them in the dryer
- Familiarize yourself with measuring jeans
- Do your research & know what to look for when buying denim
- Always read jean reviews from bloggers and previous customers
- Wait to buy jeans until you can invest in quality
Should you size up or down when buying jeans?
This is just an important question. With jeans, you have to break them in no matter what pair you get. During those first few weeks and months of wearing a pair of jeans, the fibers break down and mold to your shape. You lose out on that magic if you buy jeans that are too big, even by a little bit!
So if they’re tight but you can button them without compromising your integrity, I always recommend going with your true size or the smaller size if you’re usually in-between sizes. Unless my research on a pair of jeans uncovers that they run small, I always size down.
I know I know, sizing down sounds really scary, but it’s honestly made all of the difference in ensuring my jeans get better with time and that I continue to reach for them regularly. There’s nothing fun about putting on jeans that are too loose and having to pull them up a thousand times throughout the day.
Considering buying two sizes
If your budget allows, buy two sizes. Just be sure to check the retailer’s return policy and make sure returns are free. Sometimes you can return items in-store for free even if they charge a fee to ship back returns.
A tip for breaking in jeans
To mold your jeans to have the perfect fit, wear a belt when you’re breaking them in. I don’t really love wearing belts (on myself, belts are adorable on many other people, but I just don’t find them to be comfortable) so you’ll rarely find me wearing one in my outfits on the blog or if you were to see me out and about. However, when I buy a new pair of jeans, I always wear a belt with them around the house when I’m breaking them in.
Why? Well, I have no science to prove this, but I swear it helps break them in more perfectly to fit my shape, hips, and waistline. I cannot stand having to pull jeans up a thousand times (it’s honestly a huge part of why I spent years avoiding them). A belt helps them stay higher on my hips – obviously, that’s a belt’s job. However, while it’s unlikely that I’ll style them that way in an actual outfit, I’m positive that wearing a belt while breaking them in helps mold the jeans in a way that allows them to stay in place better when I’m not wearing a belt. Try it. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Don’t dry them. Ever.
Putting jeans in the dryer might seem like a quick fix for tightening them back up, but you’re just shortening the life of the jeans and harming both their integrity and fit. The truth is, if your jeans have loosened up too much, you probably bought the wrong size to begin with or it’s just not the brand/silhouette for you, unfortunately.
What if it’s too late?
If you’re past the point of no return and your choices are between putting them in the dryer and never wearing them at all, MAYBE put them in for a few minutes. This is a last, last, last resort. Even if they spend a few minutes in the dryer, hang them up or lay them flat to dry the rest of the way.
Do your research (it makes all the difference)
Different retailers often share different details on their website. Plus, some websites will have more detailed information compared to others. For example, if you’re buying Madewell jeans but shopping on Nordstrom’s website, still look at what the Madewell website description has on it (and other retailers, too)! because you might find details on key purchasing factors like measurements, fabrication, and fit that aren’t in the other description.
Measurements make buying denim so much easier
Jeans are such a personal affair. Even the smallest variants, like an extra inch of length on the rise or the percentage of elastane for stretch, can significantly alter how much you fall in love with the experience a certain pair of jeans gives you.
Finding the best fitting jeans becomes exponentially easier when you realize you love a 10″ rise, a 27″ waist, etc. Familiarizing yourself with measurements is not only the biggest factor in how to tell if jeans will fit without trying them on. Plus, it also helps you figure out what you’re looking for.
Let’s say that you already have a lot of super high rise denim in your collection, but want to switch it up. If you’re interested in a pair that’s still high rise but not quite mid rise and your ultra high rise favorites have an 11″ front rise, you’ll know to be on the looking for something closet to the 9-10″ range.
How to measure jeans with a measuring tape:
I cannot express enough how helpful getting to know your measurement preference will be in the jeans buying process. To start, I highly recommend that you invest a few dollars in a simple sewing measuring tape and start putting it to good use.
Start by measuring the jeans you love and don’t love in your wardrobe. You’ll be surprised by how many things can differ from pair to pair. High rise jeans don’t have a consistent rise length, bootcut jeans don’t the same circumference at the opening or even start opening at the same spot on the leg, etc. Unfortunately, there are some differences in opinion on how to correctly measure jeans, but here is what I do and the measurements I pay attention to:
Before you take measurements, be sure to zip the fly, button the jeans, and lay on a flat surface.
- Waist measurement – Measure from left to right at the very top of the waistline. Then, double the measurement. Size 26 jeans are supposed to have a 26″ waist (but this is almost never consistent). Also, depending on how much you’ve broken in a pair of jeans, the waistline may have stretched out a little bit or a lot compared to when you bought them, so keep that in mind when buying.
- Front rise – Measure from the seam at the center of the crotch (where the front half of the fabric meets the back half) up to the highest pair of the jean on the front side.
- Inseam – The same crotch seam I mentioned above measured along the inner part of the leg down to the bottom of the leg.
- Leg opening – On one of the legs at the very bottom, measure from one end of the leg opening to the other, then double to get the circumference. This one is especially important for people like me who have muscular calves. It’s such a pity when you’re excited about a great pair of jeans only to realize that they won’t go over your calves.
You must keep these things in mind when taking jean measurements
- When you’re measuring well-loved jeans the fibers have already loosened and the jeans are broken in. So, the waist might measure 27 inches now, but it might have started at 26 or 26.5 inches.
- As you start adding new jeans to your collection, measure them when they’re brand new and again when they’re broken in. Taking this extra step will help you to figure out what details and numbers to look for in product descriptions before committing to a purchase.
Read lots and lots of denim reviews
I rely heavily on blogger reviews and consumer reviews to make the best purchasing decisions when it comes to finding great-fitting jeans. It does take some extra time but it’s always worth it.
Why blogger reviews are valuable
When I’m considering a certain pair of jeans, I rely on reviews from bloggers to 1:
- See how they look on different body types
- Find information and thoughts on quality
- Get inspired on how many ways I might be able to style a certain piece.
To find blogger reviews, type a specific item in on Google and make sure to put your search query in quotes. For example, using quotes I googled, “Madewell Perfect Vintage Jean” review before buying the Madewell jeans I mentioned earlier. I looked up “Madewell Perfect Vintage Jean” outfit as a search term, too. Sometimes I do a search on Pinterest, too! Sadly, there aren’t always blogger reviews on everything I want to buy, but they are so helpful when I can find them!
When consumer reviews are helpful
Looking at thoughts from people who have previously purchased a pair of jeans can tell you so much about if a pair is right for you and what size you should get.
Again, be sure to look at an array of retailer websites. Even if you can get a better price at Nordstrom Rack, you might find the sales page for an item has little or no reviews on the Nordstrom Rack site. But, if you head to Amazon or Zappos (even if you don’t intend to purchase from them), that same item might have 50 helpful reviews filled with helpful insight on sizing, fit, and overall satisfaction!
An important note on reading reviews:
Look for trends instead of allowing a handful of negative reviews to stop you from trying an item. Remember that some people are hard to please. Chances are, they didn’t read this handy jean guide before making their purchase! Plus, it’s rare to find a brand, fit, or silhouette in any category of clothing (denim and beyond) that’s going to work universally for everyone.
When skimming reviews, look for things like:
- Are there 10+ comments that mention a pair of jeans running small?
- Do you see numerous reviews where people mention that this pair of jeans fits their curvy figure perfectly?
- Do you see various instances where someone mentions they’re petite and the item worked well (or not well) for them?
- Are people commenting on how stretchy or how sturdy the jeans in question are (this is often very tricky to determine by the product description alone!)
Chances are, you get what you pay for
When cared for correctly, well-made jeans should last you YEARS. So, while it might be hard to swallow the price point of high-quality denim, you’re investing in something that’s going to live as part of your wardrobe for quite some time. Sure, there can always be gems to find among more budget-friendly retailers. However, if you’re sick of playing the guessing game of if you’re jeans are going to fit well and how long that perfect fit will last, wait until you’re able to invest in a brand that is known for quality and reliability.
Brands that have great fitting jeans
- Madewell
- If you can’t tell by now, I’m obsessed with the fit of their Perfect Vintage Jeans
- Wrangler
- Adore the fit of the Icons 11WWZ Women’s Slim Jean, which I’ve styled in multiple outfits with grey jeans
- Also just got the Wrangler Heritage Straight Leg Jean which I also love but definitely recommend sizing down in
- Levi’s
- Super in love with the Wedgie Straight Leg Jeans which I previously styled in the burgundy Corduroy pant version
- Joe’s Jeans
- Currently wearing the Joe’s High Rise Straight Ankle Jeans on repeat
- I’ll keep updating this list as I continue to find
Questions or have tips of your own to share?
Be sure to leave them in the comment or shoot me a DM on Instagram!