Women’s Style Guide: Wear the Pants, Part 2

When you’re shopping for pants, it’s helpful to know exactly what you’re looking for. That includes rise and length, as we discussed in Part 1. But especially when you’re shopping for jeans, it also includes cut. Which cut should you choose and why? Hopefully you’ll soon have a better understanding of the cut you want.

Straight Leg Jeans

Straight leg jeans definitely live up to their name. While they can be high, mid, or low-rise, by definition they will be straight but not clingy through the thigh. From the knee down, they’ll also hang straight rather than flaring or tapering. Because straight leg jeans typically have higher waists, though, it’s best to wear them with a top that can either be tucked into your jeans or flow over the top.

While this cut is definitely a go-to for around the house, many consider them favorites for all occasions. Particularly flattering on those with pear-shaped bodies, these jeans help balance out the appearance of a body that’s smaller on top but larger on the bottom.

Boot Cut Jeans

Boot Cut jeans are quite different from straight leg styles. Available in both high and low-rise designs, boot cut jeans are fitted through the thigh but taper outward starting around the knee, in order to accommodate wide boots or shoes at the bottom. Unlike flared jeans, they do not flare out excessively. Boot cut jeans can appear casual as well as more fun or dressed up, so they can be paired with chunky boots and shoes as well as high-heels. Low-rise boot cut jeans can work well with tops that meet the jeans right at the waist.

Skinny Jeans

By definition, skinny jeans fit snugly and are tapered at the ankles and can look great on a variety of body types. However, not everyone looks great in this cut, and most bodies will actually appear bigger than they are if skinny jeans are too tight, so it’s important to find the right fit. A tell-tale sign that your jeans are too tight is if your waist pours over the waistband (giving you what’s often referred to as “muffin top”), they’re not going to be flattering. The answer may be to go up a size or two, but sometimes that may mean that the fit is too loose in other areas. If that’s the case, you have two choices: get the jeans tailored or try another brand.

Skinny jeans can be worn with a variety of shoe styles, from high heels and sandals to sneakers. However, they don’t look good with shoes that have bulky soles, or they’ll make your feet appear larger and overwhelm the entire outfit. Low-profile, slip-on sneaker styles can help to visually lengthen your legs. To make the entire leg appear longer and slimmer, you could opt to tuck your skinny jeans into high-top sneakers or tall boots.

Penny Pincher Boutique

We’re Westchester’s luxury consignment shop offering women’s designer clothing, jewelry, shoes, handbags and much more. Visit our shop at 184 Harris Road in Bedford Hills, New York or visit us online at www.pennypincherboutique.com. You can also find a selection of our items on sale on eBay. We ship throughout the United States.

Images are from the Penny Pincher Boutique Instagram page and may represent items which were previously available but have been already sold.

Sources Cited:
https://www.leaf.tv/articles/bootcut-vs-straight-leg/
https://www.leaf.tv/articles/how-to-know-if-jeans-are-too-tight/
https://www.leaf.tv/articles/how-to-wear-skinny-jeans-with-sneakers/
https://www.leaf.tv/articles/do-high-tops-make-your-legs-look-longer/