The Modern Midlife Woman’s Guide to choosing denim!

This is one of those things that is almost as dreaded as looking for a swimsuit- I know this seems simple– it’s just a pair of jeans but when we get to hit midlife it can be tricker. 

Never fear, let’s break down how to pick the perfect pair of jeans.

Let’s start with the correct mindset….

Not every pair of jeans you will try on are right for you.  That doesn’t mean that you have a flawed body, it just means that that style of jeans is made for another body type.  We also need to get out of the mindset that other women find jeans easily, until you know your body shape finding the correct denim can be an angst filled endeavor.  Let’s arm ourselves with the knowledge to make this process easier.  Having a positive mindset is super important when you are trying on jeans.  It puts you in control of the process and helps to make it more enjoyable. I have talked about this in the past, click HERE to read more about it!   Let’s get to the process to help you have great success!

It’s all about Shape

Whenever I work with clients we always start with Body Shape- once you master dressing for your body shape- everything becomes so much easier. Not sure what your body shape is?  Download me FREE body shape calculator or join me for my Body shape confidence workshop, where we dig into the best shapes and styles for your shape.  Click HERE for details. 

OVAL SHAPE:

If you have an oval shape, we want to avoid jeans that will add detail to the tummy area,so the new asymmetrical waistband or a wider waistband would not be the best choice, since this is usually the area we are working to conceal.  One of the best fits for you is a straight leg – to create the long line, disguising the tummy area.  High waisted jeans are great for you because they can help conceal and even hold in the area as well.  Skinny jeans are also your friend because Oval ladies have killer legs!   Paired with a flowy top and the look is fantastic!!

INVERTED TRIANGLE SHAPE:

If you are an inverted triangle you have wider shoulders than hips.  To create proportion we are going to create more width on the bottom half, so skinny jeans are not as figure friendly for you, they will just make you look more top heavy and out of proportion.

 For inverted triangles we will be looking for a wider leg, with details at the hip, like patch pockets.  Choosing lighter washes will also help to create a more balanced proportion.  Lucky for you, white or winter white jeans are an excellent choice!!

RECTANGLE SHAPE:

If you have a rectangle shaped body, meaning your hip,shoulder and waist are very similar in size, you are going to be looking for denim that has shape to it.  Like high waisted jeans that give an illusion of curve, or flare jeans that fill out your lower half.  Doing a front tuck with a belt can work some magic on giving the illusion of curves and proportion.

TRIANGLE SHAPE:

This is one of the most popular shapes that women come in, but it can be one of the trickiest for women to find jeans.  Stay away from pockets on the hips or embellishments near the waist.   You also need to be careful about the fullness of the leg.  Straight legs look great but wide or flare jeans can emphasize your hips even more.  Skinny jeans can also be tricky for a triangle because they may emphasize your hips and thighs instead of slimming them.  Mid to high rise are great options, as well as if the jeans come in a “curvy” style-( talbots, Madewell are a few that come to mind) this will avoid the dreaded waist gap that my triangle girls will know well.  Dark wash is your friend, but if you do a column of color in a white jean it can work if it is in the right shape.   

HOURGLASS SHAPE:

This shape is the most proportional of all of the shapes and honestly the one we are usually working towards because of the proportion. Hourglasses can wear most styles but look great in a rise that emphasizes your waist.  A cropped or tucked in look for the hourglass figure helps to emphasize your proportion.  

What to check out another great blog about 2023 trends in denim from Nordstrom? Check this BLOG out!

How do we shop for the right denim?

Here are some strategies to use now that you know your body shape and what works for you .

1. Find your favorite pair of jeans that you have right now.  Take a selfie of yourself in those jeans and look at it honestly. Does it give you the right proportion?  Does it hit you at a flatter spot?  
2. Measure the rise of that jean.  The rise is where the waistband hits you.  You can measure this by taking a tape measure and measure the crotch to the waistband.  In general, medium or low rise sit on your hip bone, high rise is at or above the navel.
3. Measure your inseam- Now this may be different depending on the jeans you picked, for instance a trouser style really needs to be floor length, where it almost touches the floor when you have on your shoes.  A cute summer pair may look great at your ankle.  I recommend having an inseam length you prefer for all the styles you wear.  To measure your inseam you measure from the crotch to the hem.
4. Refer back to your body shape- Again, getting rid of those styles that don’t suit you may seem hard in the beginning but once you gain the skill of know which styles work best, buying jeans will be easy!
5. Determine the wash.  
6. Take your measurements, waist and hip for sure to get a good fit.
7. Use my The Modern Midlife Woman’s Personalized Denim Shopping Guide to keep this with you, either on your phone or print it out.  Download it for FREE HERE.
8. Order jeans within those measurements, not by size.  If you need a refresher on why the size in the back of your jeans is meaningless- check out this post I did, it’s a bit of a Jenn Rant:)
9. Try on a lot of jeans at first!!! Take selfies in them to really get an idea of why they look good on you or why they don’t.  Need guidance on how to take a great mirror selfie?  Click HERE to download my Ultimate selfie guide and Challenge.
10. Take note- take note of which ones you love and add them to the notes in your phone, or if you are a client of mine we can add them to your finds section in your digital closet. Click HERE for a walkthrough of what your digital closet could look like.

Looking for an easy way to shop?

Click on my digital catalog for an easy way to start shopping for your perfect pair!

Want to get a personalized plan for you?

I could go on and on about this subject because 2 passions of mine are Body Shape and Denim.  This is just the tip of the iceberg of the iceberg when it comes to my transformation style experience.  Want some one on one time with me to see how we can work together?  Click HERE to book a free chat!

Until next time,

Stay stylish Modern Midlife ladies!!!

XOXO

Jenn