Flares to Fit
After what seems like a decade of skinnies it’s a great relief to see so many different shapes of jeans in the shops right now. We‘ve had the mom, boyfriend, balloon and straight cut to name a few, but for me personally and for many of my clients, I am favouring the flares. Now I have been greeted with some reluctance when I have suggested this to people but honestly flares and bootlegs have the ability to be super flattering on most body shapes. First of all they make your legs look longer, unlike other jeans that cut you off at the ankle, they flow right down to the floor adding length to your legs. Secondly they can balance out your mid-section, thighs and hips providing a perfect slimming illusion - what’s not to love!
Now the difference between a flare and a bootcut is basically the width of opening at the hem. Bootcut jeans are in between a straight leg and a flare. They are fitted around the thighs then taper out at the knees to accommodate a boot. This cut tends to work better for petites and ladies with narrow hips so as to not overpower a small frame. Flares have a wider hem opening and also flare out from the knee, this style is really flattering for ladies with curvy hips and thighs as it will balance your silhouette.
If I haven’t managed to convince you yet take a look at the selection below. I know that jean shopping can be overwhelming with so much choice, a question I often get asked is what style/cut/shape of jean will suit me. So I have sourced what I have found to be some of the best versions in the shops right now to suit all body shapes and budgets.
First up are these 'Flared Jeans' from Mango they also come in white, black and mid-blue. These are perfect for ladies with curvy hips and thighs.The high rise will show off a narrow waist, just add a statement belt to highlight your waist even more. The width of the hem will also balance out and flatter hips and thighs.
If you want to invest in some premium denim then Seven for all Mankind are one of my go to brands. These are the 'High Waist Flare Revival Lurex Squiggle'. These will also work best for curvy hips and thighs for the same reasons above. They have a small amount of elastine in which works perfectly with curves maintaining a shape whilst not being too clingy.
If you are petite and you are finding even the bootleg jeans are too overwhelming for your smaller frame then try some cropped flares. These are Zara’s ‘High Rise‘ culotte jean, they come in white, black and blue. The high rise waist will help with lengthening your leg. If you want to make your legs look even longer just add some pointy shoes, trust me it works.
For those of you with narrower hips these 'Mid Rise Long & Lean' jeans from Gap will work perfectly. The narrower opening at the hem will not overpower your hips but will still lengthen your legs. Mid-rise is also flattering for narrow hips as it adds width at your narrowest point creating a balanced silhouette.
These 'Flared High Rise' jeans from & Other Stories would be great for slender ladies. The high rise will create a waist and the pockets on the hips add volume to this area creating an illusion of curves. They also come in blue and black.
For plus size ladies Asos do a great Curve and Plus Size range. These are their 'Sculpt Me Bell Flare' jeans. They come in indigo and black and range from sizes 18 to 28. They are made from stretch denim to support your curves and the wide flared hem will provide a balanced silhouette.
My last pick is the 'D-Ebbey 086AM' from Diesel £130. These are more of a bootcut fit rather than flare so again they will not overpower a narrow waist or smaller frame. They are a low rise so would work for ladies that carry a little weight on their tummy as they won't add any more bulk to this area. Like I said before the flare helps to balance out any curves around the midsection and the narrow thighs will show off slender legs.
So that's just a few of my favourite styles and brands and some style tips on how to work the different fits for your body shape. I have linked the websites to the photos so just click on the image and it will lead you directly to the site. Happy jean shopping.