Finding the Perfect Pair of Jeans

Aug. 31, 2006 — -- Women spend a lot of time and money trying to find the perfect pair of jeans, but are you buying a style that suits your body type?

With these tips from style guru Suze Yalof Schwartz, Glamour's executive fashion editor at large, you can strut your stuff in denim that flatters both your fashion sense and your form.

Pear Shape

What to Avoid: Light-colored, tapered jeans. They emphasize your hips and hug your calves, which can make your thighs seem larger then they are.

Instead: Look for denim in a darker wash, with a straight leg and higher rise to make legs look longer and leaner.

Try Styles Like: Svoboda

Curvy Shape

What to Avoid: Shapeless, baggy jeans.

Instead: Look for jeans with a dark wash and legs with a straight, but not skintight shape (also known as stovepipe).

Try Styles Like: J Brand

Muffin-Top Shape

What to Avoid: Low-cut jeans that cinch the waist.

Instead: Look for jeans with a snug but not tight fit, and with centered back pockets.

Try Styles Like: Paige Denim

Petite Shape

What to Avoid: Short, cropped styles and bootleg jeans that are wide at the bottom.

Instead: Look for long, straight jeans to wear with high heels. The hem of the jeans should fall half an inch above the floor.

Try Styles Like: Habitual