The Secret to Buying the Best Women’s Jeans Online

Jeans are so versatile. Skinnies and heels with a blazer can instantly go from workwear to casual movie nights by simply switching to sneakers and a hoodie. While strutting your favorite style feels great, finding that perfect pair is not always a seamless experience. We’re here to change that! This is the ultimate toolbox to effortlessly find your perfect pair (or two).

Four Key Factors to Find the Perfect Pair

When looking for a pair of denim you’ll love to wear not only because they look good, but because they feel great too, there are four important measurement areas you need to consider: the length, rise, waist, and fit at the hip.

Length

The right inseam will differ depending on the leg shape and style you are going for. For bootleg, wide-leg, or flared women’s jeans, you want a full-length option. Full-length jeans are ‌a safe option for a splurge since they’re always on trend.

They shouldn’t be bunching around your ankle or dragging on the floor. If you find a pair you love and that fit you well but are just too long, you can simply get them hemmed. It’s a pretty quick fix.

The ideal way to wear full-length jeans is with a pair of comfortable heels. If you’re big on high heels, you can opt for a slightly longer pair that will cover most of the heel, without touching the ground. If you rarely wear heels, only wear kitten heels, or prefer straight-leg jeans, a length just below your ankle is most suitable.

For skinny jeans, ankle length works best, regardless of the shoes you pair them with. Since the fit is snug against your legs, these jeans don’t look good when they’re too long and start bunching up like legwarmers around your ankles.

Rise

The rise refers to where the jeans sit around the waist. It is the measurement right between your legs from the middle of the crotch seam to the top of the waistband and ‌ranges between 7 and 12 inches. While the choice of low rise, mid rise, or high rise should be about your personal comfort and preference, there are some things you can consider to ensure you get the most flattering choice for your body type.

Low-rise jeans that rest on the hips are a good choice if you have a short torso. The low fit creates an elongated torso appearance, creating a balance between the upper and lower body.

Mid-rise jeans are a safe and flattering option for most people and are ‌on trend. They sit between your hips and belly button and are a comfortable as well as a stylish option for all ages.

High-rise jeans cinch the smallest part of your waist just above the belly button and can make your legs appear longer—a great choice for petite women or those with shorter legs.

While rise can play a significant role in enhancing your body shape subtly, they should feel comfortable regardless of the position you’re in. If a high rise reaches your rib cage or a low rise reveals your undergarments, your jeans are too high or low, respectively. While rise trends come and go, choose something that suits your body type and is more comfortable than what’s trending.

Hips

You can tell whether the hip fit is correct by checking which way the jean wrinkles face. The fit around the hips should be close to the body but not too tight. If the fabric wrinkles form outwards, the fit is too loose. If the wrinkles face inward, toward your body, the fit is likely a bit too small.

Waist

Instead of referring to where the jeans sit around your waist (the rise), here we are referring to how the jeans fit at the waist. You should be able to move, breathe, and sit comfortably. Being able to fit two fingers between the waistband area and your waist is a good guideline. Ensure you can easily do the zipper up or do and undo the buttons without a struggle.

How To Take Your Measurements for a Comfy and Flattering Fit

If you have a pair of jeans that you love and feel offer the perfect fit, you can use this pair as a measurement guide. If you don’t, or you want to try a new style, you’ll need your waist measurement as well as the inseam (length). We also recommend you measure the rise. Ordering your fit by measurements rather than general sizing is a must when shopping for jeans.

Although clothing sizes may state on the label that they are the same, the actual fit between brands and where they were manufactured can vary greatly. In addition, the size indication does not take your body type, waist-to-hip ratio, or length into consideration.

Waist measurement

Place a tailor’s measuring tape (the flexible type) around your midriff’s widest part or approximately two inches below your belly button. Measure all the way around where the waistline of your jeans would sit. The tape measure should be snug but not dig into your skin. This measurement serves as a baseline to work off when finding a great jean fit.

Inseam measurement

A great way to get the right jean length for the style you want is by measuring the length of an existing pair of jeans or similar pants you own. Hang your jeans up in front of you with a hanger. With the tailor’s measuring tape, measure from the crotch seam to the bottom hem on the inside of the leg. That is the inseam length.

Rise measurement

Again, using your pair of jeans, measure from the crotch seam upwards to the top of the waistband. Not all manufacturers provide this measurement on the clothing, but it is helpful to have it for those that do to get the fit exactly where you like it.