Jeans can be hard to buy considering it’s such a simple item. They’ve completely taken over our closets, drawers and no matter the season, jeans are always in style. There’s boot cut, skinny, wide leg, bell bottoms, the list goes on and how.
With so many options out there how do you know what kind to look for? We’ve put together this guide to help you know what jeans to look for depending on your body shape. To get started, make sure you understand your body shape by reading our guide to identifying it, then come back here and let’s get down to business.
Let’s break this down by jean style type since multiple shapes can typically wear a style:
Skinny Jeans
Ahh the skinny jean. It’s been popular for so long and continues to hold strong, even if the younger generations aren’t embracing it like Gen Xers and Gen Zers have
Body Shapes for Skinny Jeans:
- Any (Circle, Rectangle, Triangle, Hourglass)
Yep, you read that right, skinny jeans are for all! If you haven’t tried them, or are nervous about the tighter fit, definitely still try them. Often, it comes down to sizing and material and we promise there is a skinny jean for everyone. Don’t be afraid to do alterations to make them more comfortable, especially if your waistband tends to gap.
Relaxed or Slim Straight
This jean type is just like it sounds - relaxed. The fit is straight down from the hip but a little bit more fitted and more relaxed than a skinny jean. It’s a classic style that has been around for decades.
Body Shapes for Relaxed or Slim Straight Jeans:
- Hourglass
- Triangle
The reason we think this type is best for Hourglass or Triangle body shapes is because the straight look helps balance the wider hips and legs this body type is known for. Slim Straight Jeans will hug the curves and we promise it is a gorgeous look!
Boyfriend Jeans
Boyfriend jeans tend to be more relaxed and wide through the leg, but are slimmer in the stomach. They come in a lot of different styles and you’ll also see Girlfriend jeans as an option, these are similar but are a little less wide in the leg.
Body Shapes for Boyfriend Jeans:
- Hourglass
- Triangle
Because this style is wider in the leg and smaller in the waist, it is seriously the perfect jean for most hourglass or triangle body shapes. Ladies with this shape find that it is a style they can wear right off the rack with little to no alterations. If you haven’t tried a boyfriend jean, we highly recommend it!
Bootcut Jeans
Bootcut jeans flare out slightly at the ankle (versus a true flare jean...more on those later). This is a classic style that can be found in most stores and really never go out of style.
Body Shapes for Bootcut Jeans:
- Rectangle
- Circle
Honestly, any shape can pull off a Bootcut Jean, but we definitely recommend it for rectangle and circle shapes. A bootcut jean will help balance both of these shapes out. Proper sizing will go a long way and don’t ever be afraid of alterations to get them just right.
Flare Jeans
Flare jeans widen starting at the knee and flare out, just like the name implies. Don’t let your brain automatically go to bell-bottoms that were popular in the 70s, the flare does not have to be super dramatic to be classified as this style type.
Body Shape for Flare Jeans:
- Hourglass
- Triangle
- Rectangle
So many body-types can wear these jeans! For an hourglass or triangle, we love how the flare jeans mimic their natural curves up top. For a rectangle body shape, flare jeans will soften your legs and give some visual curves.
Straight Leg
A straight leg jean is somewhere between a boyfriend and a bootcut. You could even consider it a very relaxed skinny. It’s just like the name implies, a very straight down shape that looks killer on the following body types.
Body Shapes for Straight Leg Jeans
- Any (Circle, Rectangle, Triangle, Hourglass)
Surprise! Another jean style that will look great on any body type. Good thing because this is a jean that never seems to go out of style.
Wide Leg
Wide leg jeans are like they sound, wide starting and the hip down. They have an extremely relaxed fit, especially through the knee.
Body Shapes for Wide Leg Jeans:
- Hourglass
- Triangle
Both Triangles and Hourglasses tend to have wider legs naturally, so you’ll find that a wide leg jean is very comfortable and flattering!
Palazzo Wide Leg
The difference here between a regular wide leg and a palazzo is the cut. Palazzo tend to be even wider and straight down. There is usually no shape to the bottom which can be super flattering on the following body types/
Body Shapes for Palazzo Wide Leg:
- Rectangle
- Circle
While hourglasses and triangles have the wide leg, the Palazzo is all yours Rectangle and Circles! It’s a great natural shape that is going to bring visual interest to your bottom half and really balance out your look.
What do you think?
That’s it! A quick guide to jeans that will hopefully make shopping a little easier. At Love Marlow, we’re big believers in wearing what makes you feel confident and beautiful, so don’t be afraid to go outside of our recommendations! Afterall, it’s your opinion that matters most.
Looking for jeans? Shop our collection of jeans!