No More Blues: Denim Guide

Skinny, boot-cut, low-rider, high-waist -- the denim decisions are endless. Get back to the basics and stick to the key factor: choosing jeans that fit your body type.

Big Booty

Body Type: For ladies with a little extra booty, a slimming look that contours to your waist, butt, and thighs is ideal. Decrease volume by choosing darker denim in boot cut and avoid pocket embellishments or flaps -- these will make your derriere appear larger.

What to Buy: Dereon Jeans ($59) are perfect for curvy women. They have a fitted waist, contoured shape, and extra room throughout the hips and butt. Since they’re created by Beyonce, you know your booty is in good hands.

Boy Body

Body Type: Add curves to your boyish figure with skinny jeans. The tapered look will accentuate your hips and leave you looking shapely. Opt for low-rise or high-rise to maximize your straight frame -- skip the medium rise.

What to Buy: J Brand 912 Low-Rise Pencil Leg in Ink ($158) sits low on your waist to widen your hips and has a 12-inch leg opening for a dramatic contrast. Wear them with heels, tucked into boots, or with flats.



Flat Bum

Body Type: Have a small, almost nonexistent bum? Create the illusion of curves with boot-cut or flare jeans that sit low on your waist and have backside adornments like decorative stitching, pocket flaps, or a curved yoke. Trouser pants also add extra oomph to your butt.

What to Buy: The New Legend by Adriano Goldschmied ($172) has decorative stitching on the pockets and, most importantly, a curved, heart-shaped yoke (the horizontal seam above the pockets) that makes your booty look plump.



Long and Lean

Body Type: Leggy girls have a hard time finding jeans long enough to fit their sky-high gams, but now more designers are creating a longer inseam or tall fits for those supermodel beauties. Look for an inseam of 36 to 38 inches in straight leg or boot cut.

What to Buy: Hudson’s Supermodel Triangle Pocket Boot Cut in Resin Rinse ($129) has an extra-long inseam of 37.5 to 38 inches perfect for your gorgeous legs.



Pear-Shaped

Body Type: If your hips don’t lie, you’ll need jeans that fit your pear-shaped figure. Decrease your hourglass appearance with dark boot cut or flare denim, a medium rise on the waist, and a touch of spandex.

What to Buy: DNKY’s SoHo Jean Regular ($59) has a comfortable fit with a 10-inch rise, 1 percent spandex, dark wash, and boot-cut frame to hug your curves in all the right places.



Sweet and Petite

Body Type: Short gals have the opposite problem with jeans that seem to go on for miles. Try a petite or short cut, which has an inseam of 30 to 32 inches and a higher knee break. They sit lower on the hips to elongate your torso. Try a boot-cut style or straight leg for a long, sexy silhouette.

What to Buy: Joe’s Jeans Provocateur ($174) was made for precious petites. With a higher knee break, 30.5-inch inseam, and a slight boot cut, these jeans will feel tailor-made and make you look longer and leaner.