FACT: 8 out of the 10 women I asked said they hate jeans shopping. This breaks my heart a little bit, because a good pair of jeans should be like an old friend – warm, comfortable and forgiving of your flaws.
The hardest part about jeans shopping is finding the elusive perfect fit, a treasure hunt made all the more traumatic by 7-trillion watt light bulbs in the changing rooms and a tendency to leave jeans shopping until we’ve started to develop our dumpling-induced layer of winter insulation.
But it doesn’t have to be so hard. Follow these five simple tips to ease the pain.
1.Get the lowdown from the store assistant Snare the first store assistant you can and brief them on what you’re looking for. Help them to help you. Give them as much information as you can. For example, the colour you’re after, whether you like embellishments on the pockets, if you like a particular wash or rips in the knees. You will save yourself a lot of time by letting them guide you to the styles you’re most likely to want.
2.The eyes have it When you put a pair of jeans on, pay attention to where your eyes are drawn. If you’re noticing prominent kneecaps or bunching at your crotch, get them off and try again. Beware of thin and stretchy denim as it’s prone to accentuating lumps and bumps. If in doubt, try a thicker denim.
3.Balance and fit is key If you’re heavier up top, choose a cut of jeans that draws the eye straight down like a straight leg or boot cut. If you’re going to try a skinny leg, just make sure the top you pair with your skinny jeans doesn’t end at the widest part of your body if you want to avoid looking top heavy.
4.Don’t be loyal to the size you once were Be completely open-minded about the size of jeans you may leave the store with. You can rely on sizing being unreliable between brands and even styles within the same brand. So make sure you choose a size based only on fit, not on the digits on the tag. This is the one time you’re allowed to buy a garment that’s slightly on the tight side. Denim naturally gives as it’s worn so you want to go that little bit tighter to avoid saggy bum.
5.Check in with your existing wardrobe Avoid buying a similar pair of jeans to those already in your wardrobe. It might sound obvious, but we are often subconsciously drawn to familiarity. So peruse your existing wardrobe before you shop to familiarise yourself with the jeans you already have and also to remind yourself of the pieces in your wardrobe you’d like to team with your new jeans.
And now for a bonus tip…the most important one. Have you ever thought to approach jeans shopping with a totally different mentality? Instead of saying, “I’m not good enough for these jeans”, switch to “are these jeans good enough for me?” This may not lead you to the perfect pair of jeans any quicker, but it will keep your confidence intact and stop you from making a mediocre purchase.
