Part 2 in my guide to finding the best jeans for you in the quickest amount of time. Know what to look for and you will find the process a whole lot easier on your mental health and your wallet.

FLY/ZIPPER

The general rule of thumb for zippers or ‘fly’ length is to match the fly to the length of your hand, from the base of your palm to the tip of your longest finger. This is a mid-rise cut which is much more flattering to those with anything less than a washboard stomach. Low rise jeans are the cause of the hideous ‘muffin top’ (and the above mentioned ‘plumbers crack’). While very high waisted jeans although they come back into fashion every once in a while, are also not very flattering – they accentuate any added tummy bulk you might be carrying and give you a much more matronly figure.

FIT/CUT

If you have thin legs, no hips and a tiny bum then you can pretty much wear any cut of jeans you like, lucky you! Although the older you get, the less appropriate it is to wear a ‘skin-tight skinny’ even if you can. For the rest of us however, skinny jeans will just emphasis the thighs and bum, while a relaxed fit straight leg (look for one where the width of the hem is the same or close to the width of the thigh), a bootcut, wide-leg or even a gentle flare will help balance the hips and make legs look longer.

[TIP: An easy way to check for cut without having to try them on is to bring the cuff of the jean up to the thigh area and note whether it’s wider or narrower. If the cuff is narrower than the thigh the jean is tapered if it’s the same or wider the jean is straight, flare or bootcut].

LENGTH

Unless you are very tall it is likely that you will need to get your jeans hemmed to fit your height. Most retailers will do this for you for a small fee; alternatively there are quick alterations places in most major shopping malls that can take care of this for you. Have them measured for hemming while you are wearing the shoe you are most likely to wear with those jeans – ie if you wear flats more than heels, have them hemmed wearing flats but be aware they will look a little too short if you wear them with heels. If however you are a heels girl then the most flattering and leg elongating length is to have the jeans just skim the floor when you are wearing your heels. For a cute and fashionable look, you can always turn them up if you want to wear them with flats. Of course if you are hemming skinny jeans you will need to have them finish at the top of your foot regardless of heels or flats because they won’t fit over your foot and hang down to the floor anyway.

[TIP: If jeans are more than 6 inches too long it is likely they will not be a good fit for you elsewhere. The fabric allowance in the crotch and knee will have been designed for a much taller person, so you may want to consider finding the same jeans in a ‘petites’ range for better all round fit].