Plus Size Jeans – How to Find the Perfect Pair

Every wardrobe should include a good pair of jeans. Wardrobes for full-figured people of size 14 or larger are no exception. Here's how to find a pair of jeans that you can wear with pride and comfort.

The first thing I have to break to you is that these new jeans you'll be shopping for will probably cost more than $25. While it is possible to just bop into a Target or an Old Navy and find a pair that really work for you, most people are not that lucky. But there are some mainstream stores that can hit the balance between looks and price. Try Levi's and Avenue for mid-range priced jeans. If you want to go upscale, check out Svoboda jeans at Nordstrom or Lord and Taylor shops. Tummy-Tuck jeans have also gotten a lot of rave reviews.

If possible, you always want to shop brick and mortar for jeans because the fit is so critical, but if that is not an option you can still buy one or two pairs online, try them on, and then ship them back if they don't work.

Certain styles work well for full-figured women, and some are real disasters. Avoid the low-hung look at all costs, for example, but seek out boot-cut jeans as often as possible. High-waisted jeans are good for people with pear-shaped bodies. But if you do not want to make your butt look any larger, skip jeans with pocket covers or embroidery on the back pockets - those are for people who want more volume there.

In terms of colors and washes, darker is much better. Lighter washes do not compliment plus sizes. Think of the darker washes as getting you closer to black, the king of slimming colors.

For fit, go with whatever jeans fit properly, even if that means having to go up a size from what you usually wear. As I'm sure you know already, one size for one designer is not the same size for another designer. Even two pairs of the same size jeans can actually fit a bit different, so if you find a cut and size that you really like, try on a two or three pairs of those jeans. You may find that one particular pair just works a bit better than all the others (it is due to subtle differences in how the fabric and seams work together, and is a terrific shopping tip most people don't know about).

Avoid loose jeans and jeans that are too tight. Neither looks good on almost anyone, whether they are slim or plus size or in between. You may also have to choose between "misses" and "junior" cuts for jeans from main-stream retailers. Generally "misses" is the better place to start because it gives more room in the hips. If you can find jeans in stretch material, that will help a lot both with your comfort and with your looks. It may save you from having to keep that dreaded pair of "fat pants" that we all wear the week after Thanksgiving.

Cecilia Montrose writes about choosing plus size womens coats that work with current styles, including plus size fur coats.

by Cecilia Montrose