It was 2010, the year before I had River, I was not so proudly wearing a size 4 and complaining about the fact that my stomach came over my jean button just a tad. If you’d asked me then, no, I wasn’t curvy. I had a shape, but I wasn’t considered curvy by any means. My days were spent working and hanging out with my curly haired boyfriend with the big glasses and blue eyes. My style consisted of high waisted jeans that fit perfectly around the butt and thighs and flared on the legs. My closet was full of almost the same thing with slight variations. Occasionally, you would see the blue skinny jean, and if you were lucky, even a black pair of skinnies. Mostly, perfectly proportioned wide legged denim though.
It was 2011, I had just had River and lost all but 5 pounds. The 5 pounds found a nice and comfy home in my tush. My hips had learned what they really could do and expanded a bit… er, a lot. The five pounds never went away, and in planning a DIY wedding with a newborn, I gained a few more pounds; which expanded those birthing hips and that little tush; it no longer remained little. High waisted-wide-legged denim still worked a bit of magic for me back then. It had a way of cinching everything in, while keeping me comfortable and statuesque-ish.
That was four years ago
Now, despite my persistence, I have a bit of hard time wearing wide-legged-high waisted pants. See, if we’re talking honestly, my shape has curved exponentially; to my husband’s excitement of course. 😉 I’m still nursing and still waiting for these last 15 pregnancy pounds to find their way off of my body. It takes a certain kind of high waisted jean to fit me well. It has to have stretch, has to still be pretty forgiving in the tummy portion, and the list goes on. Having curves (a pear shape to be specific) just takes much more thought for me.
Here’s the rundown:
Boyfriend Jeans: Boyfriend jeans are great until they aren’t so great. Here’s the thing, if you’re going to rock a pair of boyfriend jeans, they need to fit your butt and your thighs really well. If it ends up being baggy on one or the other, you risk looking wide.
Mom Jeans: Mom jeans are great for a girl looking to showcasing that beautiful bod. They pull in the waist, they lift the butt. But you will have a hard time finding a vintage pair. Vintage means no stretch… most of the time. So even though you love the vintage mom jean look, you’ll have to purchase a replica stretch pair.
High waisted Skinnies– If you’re curvy and you’re on the shorter side of the spectrum, get your jeans hemmed a little above the ankle. Showing a bit of your ankle with your high waisted jeans gives your figure an elongated look.
Wide Legged– I feel like the miss conception is that wide legged jeans are good for curvy girls. Not so much. Unless they’re extremely high waisted, and/or you’re tall, or you are wearing them with heels or a pointy toe flat. High waisted jeans, coupled with a shirt that’s not tucked in makes a curvy girl look a little larger and sometimes, shapeless. When it comes to wide legged, the tighter on the upper portion… the better.
What style of denim do you like the most?
great post! i love to wear boyfriend jeans, i'm pear shape, i should wear something according to my figure, i guess i'm very confident or is just that i like a tomboy-ish style 😀
I have an hourglass shaped body (small waist, medium sized boobs, wide hips, a good weight) and I really really really love high waist jeans, but I realized that they are not for me…it makes my waist vanish unless is a leggings or jeggings which I can not wear without a long top then it really doesn't matter if they're high waist. The best for my body shape are flare jeans or skinny jeans with medium waist as it compensates the and elongates the body.
Boyfriend jeans! Even if they are not the most flattering I'm all about confort. I also like high waisted skinny jeans but I layer like crazy when I wear them so that my thighs are completely safe 😉
xx,
E.
http://www.theslowpace.com
My favorite pair of jeans right now are mid-waisted skinniness that were custom made for me, but I gravitate towards fitted bell bottoms because it gives my slender figure (think Style Pantry) more volume.
I'm a fan of the high waisted skinnies, but love a pair of wide legged pants as well! btw you look great!
My friend introduced me to skinny jeans a couple of years ago and that's what I've been wearing ever since. I'm definitely on the curvy side and these stretched out hips aren't going anywhere! I saw a high waisted skinny jean I was thinking of trying, but I'm falling in love with skirts and dresses again, so I'm going to see how that goes this spring/summer.
As far as jeans go, I almost always wear a skinny. I was blessed with thick ol' tree trunk legs and always felt like anything more flared than a straight cut made me look so big. At least the taper of the skinny could show the world, "HEY this girl doesn't have cankles!". I used to love me a high waited wide leg denim, but i'm 5'4" and no longer in the single digits pants sizes so it aint happening. I'm rocking the mom jeans and loving it. I have come to this point where I'm not happy with my body, i'm working on it, and I'm just going to wear whatever the heck my body feels good in. Maybe my c-section pouch shows, maybe its a little loose in all the ways it's not supposed to, but I figure the most important part of personal style is feeling good in it, right?
Denim, unless it's a button down top isn't in my closet right now. I've tried it, but nothing feels right with my body still recovering from baby #4. So it's black stretchy leggings every day, all day. Come to DC LaTonya…I bet you'd be able to find me some jeans to rock in a heartbeat. xoxo
I wear mostly skinny jeans, but I love my wide leg dark denim trouser pants (I just wore them today actually). As a mom of three, the youngest being 14 months, I also have gained the hips and a few other pounds, but gotta say my most favorite pants to wear right now are jeggings a cross between leggings and jeans super comfy!!
I am tall with long legs and a very short torso so low-rise skinnies are the only jeans for me. I love high-waisted wide-leg jeans but I look really strange in them. All leg, like some kind of demented giraffe. Many women think that long legs automatically means you can carry any denim style. Not true. A friend of mine is the same height but with a long torso and short legs and she rocks a high-waist flare but doesn't suit skinnies!
Hi Vebo!
I think that boyfriend jeans work as well, just as long as they fit the butt read. Sometimes, I find a pair and they're totally baggy on the butt and the thighs. I think there is a great balance between the two.
Totally with you on that. Sometimes it takes a few tries to realize that our bodies just don't agree with styles we are attracted to. I am so guilty of this. Glad you found the perfect style though.
hahaha a fan of boyfriend jeans too!
That's awesome Sheena! Would you mind telling me who custom made your's? Looking for a few more pairs.
xx
You're sweet, thank you!
That's great Darcel! I love a good pair of skinnies. I've yet to find a pair that I completely love.
It's all about what you feel the most confident in! I've gotten a bunch of compliments on some super high waisted wide legged denim that I adore, but also, don't feel like they fit me the best. They leave me a little bit self conscious, so I try to stay away.
haha you're sweet annie! That's the other thing, I'm like hide the jeans for about a year, or until you're ready after baby. Or go out and buy a brand new pair if you're feeling brave.
xx
I stayed away from jeggings for a bit there. I felt like it somehow defined the weight I gained. Wrong! Best idea ever.
Thanks for commenting.
Totally! Not everything works for everyone. And i think that's one of the issues when women start comparing themselves and want to be x size. It's just a dangerous road because we all have little issues, and things might fit you and not me, and vice versa. Just shop for you right now.
Thanks for this!
Exactly! i also find the skinny totally great but i must to balance it wearing something else, like a kimono blouse…
The five pounds never went away, and in planning a DIY wedding with a newborn, I gained a few more pounds; which expanded those birthing hips and that little tush; it no longer remained little. Also this is a great job writing and amazing blogs.