Finidng the perfect fit for jeans

They are a staple of most women’s wardrobes, yet two-thirds of us struggle to find the perfect pair of jeans. Deirdre Reynolds tests the latest, body-con pair to see how they shape up.

KEEPING slim may be in the genes, but now it could be in the jeans too as Levi’s launch what they say are their most flattering denims yet.

Dubbed the Spanx of denim, the brand’s new Revel jeans are fast becoming just as popular among image-conscious women.

And we got to test them out first when they landed exclusively in BT2 on Dublin’s Grafton Street.

Here’s the science bit: the €100 jeans, which took two years to develop, boast something called liquid shaping technology to help flatten your tum and lift your bum.

“We were inspired by the cosmetic industry and the shapewear industry,” explains Ilse Van Alsenoy, Levi’s European director of merchandising and women’s design. “When you put on cosmetics, you highlight the parts you want to. That’s what we wanted to do with jeans.”

Certainly, as these pictures show, the hi-tech denims helped me to drop a dress size in the dressing room.

Originally designed as sturdy work trousers in 1873, blue jeans first became a style staple in the 1950s thanks to stars such as James Dean and Marilyn Monroe.

Almost a century and a half later though, just like twothirds of women (according to consumer research analysts Mintel), I still haven’t found the perfect pair.

Sure, the €27 high-street jeggings I walked into the store wearing are fine for casual wear, but they don’t exactly have the wow factor.

Faced with dozens of brands and countless styles, however, finding the right pair can be daunting.

“Shopping for jeans can be quite an overwhelming experience for women,” says Claire Breslin, BT2 contemporary and denim buyer. “We stock over a hundred different types of jeans. It’s not like the days when you just had your trusty 501s. It also means that finding the perfect pair is very achievable.

“From J Brand Photo Ready Jeans to MiH [Made in Heaven] Bodycon Jeans, there are so many brands doing amazing things with denim now,” she adds.

“Basically, the fabric works like shapewear, pulling in the bits that need to be pulled in and pushing other bits up.”

Although not as easy to pull on as my jeggings, once firmly ensconced in them, there’s no denying that the latest Levi’s gave me longer, leaner legs and a better butt.

So where have I been going wrong all these years? “Jeans remain a constant classic because there are so many different ways to wear them,” says stylist Mark Andrew Kelly.

“Unfortunately, Irish women are often more swayed by what Kate Moss or Rihanna wear than finding a style that suits them.

“First and foremost, get to know your body shape but don’t get too hung up on body shapes like ‘apple’ or ‘pear’ either,” he advises.

“Recognising the parts of your body you want to highlight — and the parts you want to downplay such as your thighs — will help narrow down the choice.

“There’s a perfect pair out there for everyone — the only way to find them is to try them all on.”

It’s advice that actress Amanda Peet lives by, she says:

“I usually try on at least 20 pairs of jeans before I find something that looks good on me, and even then I have a trustworthy friend tell me if my butt looks big!”

Even jean-etically blessed Today FM presenter Louise Duffy admits she sometimes gets it wrong: “I went through a terrible phase of buying illfitting jeans online.

“I thought I was so clever getting them for half the price — never mind the fact that they made me look like Simon Cowell.

“Today FM is so casual and I get up so early that jeans are my uniform,” says Duffy. “I probably have about 25 pairs in my wardrobe.

“At the moment, my favourites are a pair of light-wash skinny jeans by The Kooples, which I can dress up with a glam top or down with a plain t-shirt.

“Nowadays, when I do find a pair that fit perfectly, I tend to wear them to death and then buy exactly the same pair.”

Levi’s Revel jeans come in three different ‘curve’ styles: slight, demi and bold. The ones I’m wearing are demi.

“Most women mistakenly buy their jeans too big,” reckons denim expert Breslin. “If you normally take a dress size 12, try going down a size in jeans for a snugger fit.

“To get the perfect length, bring whatever heels you plan to wear with your jeans to the store.”

Sure enough, I asked the shop assistant to bring me my usual size 12 (30-inch waist) to try on, before she finally talked me into a more flattering 28-inch pair.

Bootlegs are also back for spring 2014, according to Breslin.

Don’t bin your skinny jeans just yet though. “Skinny is still king, however there are a lot of wider-leg styles such as bootcut and flares coming through for spring/summer. Most women go for high-rise jeans now.”

And that’s good news for more bootylicious ladies like me, apparently.

“High-waisted bootcut jeans are the best choice for curvy girls,” says plus-size model Vicki Mooney. “The bootcut balances out the hips and thighs, while the higher waist holds you in.

“Go for dark wash, with no bulky pockets, zips or buttons, and throw on your best heels to look taller and leaner.”

Now let’s talk about the real figure concerning budgetistas today. While high-street jeans from Marks and Spencer and New Look start from around €30, designer labels like J Brand and Citizens of Humanity can cost ten times as much.

So do I really need to put a three-figure dent in my credit card to purchase the ideal denims?

“Our jeans range from €50 to €390,” says Breslin. “But what I would say is that higher-end jeans are that price for a reason.

“Unlike some cheaper brands, they fit like a glove and don’t lose their shape in the wash.

“Women who’ve struggled to find jeans for ages are generally happy to pay that little bit extra for a pair that make them look and feel good,” she adds.

“In my experience, if you invest in denim, you won’t regret it.”

I’m not sure whether it’s the high-tech jeans or the €245 Kurt Geiger heels I’ve borrowed from the footwear department.

Exiting the dressing room feeling and looking taller and thinner than ever before though, I resolve to bin the Spanx knickers and start saving towards my first pair of shapewear jeans instead.