How To Find The Perfect Pair Of Jeans

Jeans are a universal garment. No matter your size, shape, gender or age, there is a pair of jeans out there for you. It's unusual to find people who don't wear jeans, but they are out there, and a lot of the time it's because they've never been able to find a pair that suits them.

Finding the right pair of jeans can be a bit of a minefield, even for people who wear them every day. There are all sorts of shapes and colours and cuts – how do you find exactly what you’re looking for? Where do you start?

Luckily, there are a few simple questions to answer when shopping that will help everyone find that perfect pair of jeans.

What are the jeans for?

How will these jeans fit your lifestyle? What purpose are the jeans meant to fulfill? Is it a pair for manual work or is it a more stylish pair for the office? A comfortable pair for daily wear or ones you don't mind getting dirty when you're out with the dog on a muddy walk? Go shopping with a clear idea of what you want the jeans to do, and this will help narrow down the seemingly endless options.

What’s your budget?

How much are you willing to spend? Jeans can vary wildly in price from about £5 in a fast fashion store to hundreds of pounds in a designer store. Remember, price doesn’t always equal quality. Make sure the fabric is the correct quality for what you want the jeans to do, and check the seams are properly stitched.

Stretchy or stiff?

Do you want traditional hard-wearing denim a la Levi's, or something with a bit more 'give'? If you want your jeans to have a bit of ‘give’, look for pairs that have lycra or elastane. Otherwise, it’s traditional denim, which can be a bit unforgiving if you need to move around a lot. You know your lifestyle and how much you need to move around, so buy accordingly. I have found that if you need a bit of 'give', Marks and Spencer do the best stretchy jeans in all sizes.

Where do you want the waist?

Low rise? High rise? Mid-rise? There are a lot of different options with a waistband and only you will know what you want, what works for your lifestyle and what's comfortable on your body shape. Don't be swayed by fashion and make sure that you're buying the correct size as well. There's no point in spending money on jeans only for the waistband to cut into you.

How do the back pockets make your butt look?

Storytime! For my 30th birthday, I went to buy a pair of Levi's - 501's, so absolutely iconic. I tried them on. I was, at the time, a UK size 8. These jeans made my butt look about twenty sizes larger! It was all down to the placement of the back pockets, which did not flatter my shape at all. After Mum and I had picked ourselves up off the floor from laughing, we decided that maybe 501's weren't my thing, and tried another cut from a totally different brand, which worked much better. Do make sure that you check your rear view when you're buying jeans, as a poorly placed pocket can have a maximising effect on the backside that not everyone will necessarily want. If that's what you're after, then rock on. These are your jeans, and only you know what you're looking for.

What cut do you want?

There are a ton of different cuts of jean. Skinny, boyfriend, mom jeans, bootcut, classic… so what’s going to suit you? Unfortunately, you’re going to have to try on a few different kinds to find what you like and what suits you. You may well get disheartened if a pair of jeans you’ve set your heart on looks awful when you get it on – don’t give up. Move on and try something else. Don't worry about the sizing either – sizes are only there so shops know what to reorder. Every shop sizes differently and each cut works differently in different sizes. The number on the label is just a guideline. It’s not about size, it’s about shape. The correct shape of jeans will make you look and feel a million dollars, and to heck with it if it happens to be a size or two up from what you’d normally wear.

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That's my simple guide to finding that elusive pair of perfect jeans. They are out there for you somewhere! Just ask yourself the important questions when you're shopping, don’t pay more than you can afford, and you will soon have a pair of jeans that work perfectly for you.