The Best Jeans for Your Body Type

Shopping for perfect fitting jeans doesn't have to be an exercise in exhaustion. Know the styles and brands that fit and flatter, and you'll look thinner, taller, trimmer.

Photos by Shannon Greer.

Pear Shape: Before

"I'm frustrated by my pear shape — if jeans are roomy enough for my hips, the waist is too big"

Before: Too tight, too tapered — and tucked into chunky, clunky boots.

After:

Both the body-friendly fit and the finish of these tailored denim trousers ($132, Cj by Cookie Johnson) cater to Aimee's curves: The contoured cut (it's higher in back) won't gape at the waist, and the wider leg balances her hips. Bonus: The tone-on-tone stitching creates a long, lean line.

Recommended Jeans:

Seren jeans, $132, Cj by Cookie Johnson; nordstrom.com. Riders by Lee, $20, mass market retailers nationwide.

On Right: Top, $65, and jacket, $179, Lauren Jeans Co.; ralphlauren.com. Scarf, $48, Echo; echodesign.com. Bag, $109, Ellington Handbags; ellingtonhandbags.com. Shoes, $99, Ciao Bella; macys.com.

Flat Butt: Before

"My behind is as flat as a board! I want a cute booty"

Before: High-waisted mistake — saggy, baggy, and barely even blue.

After:

Trim and tush-flaunting, these indigo jeans ($70, Gap) boost Carol's booty with strategically placed pockets — they sit a little higher than normal, so her rear seems rounder. Also bringing up the rear: a double row of decorative, rump-plumping stitching on the back pockets.

Recommended Jeans:

Blanc Essential jeans, $78, White House Black Market, whbm.com

On Left: 1969 Long & Lean jeans, $70, Gap; gap.com. Turtleneck, $95, Bailey 44; 800-348-6940. Sweater, $148, BCBGMaxAzria; 800-348-6940. Belt, $6, Forever 21; forever21.com.

Wide Hips: Before

"I end up with low-slung styles to fit my hips — and I'm sick of flashing cheek cleavage"

Before: Frumpy, faded, and fighting her flirty figure.

After:

Thanks to their arrow-straight shape, these crisp classics ($54, Lee) skim Rachel's curves. Subtly whittled and higher at the waist, they won't bare her backside.

Recommended Jeans:

Classic Boot Cut jeans, $198, Earnest Sewn; earnestsewn.com.

On Left: Antonia Modern Trouser jeans, $54, Lee Jeans; lee.com. Turtleneck, $30, available at Marshalls. Bangles, $58, Melinda Maria; melindamaria.com. Bag, $30, Payless; payless.com. Shoes, $60, available at marshalls.com.

Thick Thighs: Before

"I'm always battling my thick thighs. Any jeans that are fuller in the leg?"

Before: Sausage-casing snug, with lots of unsightly creasing at the crotch.

After:

Constructed for curve management, these stretchy flaw-fixers ($120, NYDJ) accommodate Alex's extra inches. Adding to the slenderizing effect: the deep, dark rinse.

Recommended Jeans:

$58, Levi’s; levis.com.

On Left: Angie Trouser jeans, $120, NYDJ; nydj.com. Sweater, $98, Free People; 800-348-6940.

Curvy Caboose: Before

"I have a curvy caboose, and I try to camouflage it by wearing a looser, larger size"

Before: Beware of pockets spaced this far apart — they'll broaden any butt.

After:

The lower-positioned pockets on these derriere downsizers ($88, White House Black Market) decrease Teresa's fuller fanny. A midrise flare cut minimizes it even more.

Recommended Jeans:

Kimmie Jeans, $178, 7 For All Mankind; 7forallmankind.com.

On Left: Contour Pieced Pocket jeans, $88, White House Black Market, whbm.com. Sweater, $53, Isaac Mizrahi Live; qvc.com. Sunglasses, $128, Kate Spade New York; solsticesunglasses.com. Earrings, $98, Melinda Maria; melindamaria.com.

Mushy Middle : Before

"A mushy middle is the worst — I wind up looking heavier than I am"

Before: This unflattering superskinny cut creates major muffin-top trouble.

After:

These structured shape-shifters ($54, YMI) do the dieting for Angela: The gentle bootcut offsets her tummy, and the high-contrast stitching helps fake a waist.

Recommended Jeans:

Decca jeans, $198, Earnest Sewn; earnestsewn.com.

On Left: Classic Embroidered Bootcut jeans, $54, YMI; ymijeans.com. Top, $30, Jaclyn Smith; jcp.com. Jacket, $160, Lauren; 800-348-6940. Earrings, $80, Melinda Maria; melindamaria.com. Shoes, $248, The Frye Company; thefryecompany.com.

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