Back Talk

 

   Posted by Sarah, Associate Fashion Editor

The other day I was lucky enough to spend a hour or so with some of the girls from James Jeans. We talked about fits, washes, and trends, and I had the opportunity to shimmy into as many pairs as possible. As soon as I zipped up the first, I did the tried-and-true jeans test -- I checked out the front, squatted, and did an over-the-shoulder peek at my rear. What I saw was amazing: my butt actually looked cute.

{not my butt}

Yeah, I know some of you are thinking, Duh, that's what James Jeans is known for, but before I tried them on, I wasn't a believer. Seemingly to get me hook, line, and sinker, James has just come out with new washes using their T400 technology -- a high-tech name for 'four-way lycra stretch.' Basically these babies suck you in and slim you down to create the perfect svelte silhouette. As with all of the other styles, the rear pockets are designed with a dart and positioned at an angle so that you can create a bootylicious illusion, even if you don't have J.Lo's assets. The styles with the T400 technology are:
 

Tom straight leg in Riesling

James slim bootleg in Riesling, my favorite classic fit!

You can find them at Revolve and Shopbop.

Oh, and feel free to ask for some jeans recommendations -- I think I’ve tried them all. It is my job, after all...

Comments

[a guy]

You know what will really make your butt look good? A little more jogging and squats, and a few less brownies. Then when you take your jeans off, you'll still have a nice butt. I agree that clothes should fit well, but I'd be willing to bet the originators of the denim craze of the last few years were women with a few extra pounds below the waist, not fit women with long torsos.

Go ahead and say it "a$$hole," but after my wife left this page on the desktop I thought a dose of reality was much needed.

[Kate]

Thank you, Sarah! I'll jot these down and do some investigating. I must say, the one denim area where I've always had great leg is trouser jeans or wide-leg jeans. Soooooo flattering with a high heel. I guess since they fit like normal pants instead of jeans, they work on my hips more easily. (I'm a size 6--I hate feeling enormous every time I try to buy jeans; it's depressing.)

I really appreciate all the advice, thank you!

[Heidi]

I'd love to see how they look on a real person, not just a 6-foot tall, 100-pound model with legs twice as long as mine.

[Nas]

I am pretty sure I don't have a pair of James jeans yet... I will have to run out and try on a pair because I am a jeans fanatic, and a sucker for a pair of jeans that make me bootylicious!

By the way I am a Blueprint fan and I am so glad I finally found the blog!

[Sarah Conroy]

B and Kate:

First, you guys should know that you are not alone!!! A lot of people have these fit problems, even me! I am also 5’4 with a long torso and my waist is also smaller than my hips/thighs. So it’s good to know that when you have a longer torso it’s better to wear a higher rise jean. Lucky we are moving out of the low-rise era and these are easier to find. I would look for a 9-9.5 inch rise, which will sit just under your navel and elongate the look of you legs. Then you want to find a jean that has a good amount of stretch, but be careful, because they could stretch a whole jean size so I always tell people to buy the tightest pair they can get into and usually after a day they are the perfect fit!

Now here is the fun part. Right now we are in an “anything goes” market when it comes to denim. Which means all fits are in style. So I’m not a fan of the skinny/stove pipe fits, but I love a good straight let. But I also wear boot and wide legs. And I wear a different size in all of them. So when trying on a new brand take about 3 sizes with you and don’t be afraid to try different fits, you could be pleasantly surprised. But as far as length goes, I have basically just faced the facts that I have shorter legs and will need to hem most denim. Sorry!!

Anyway, I think you guys want to know brands. I have had a lot of luck with Lucky Brand jeans. The fit is really good for curves (yes butts, hips and thighs) and they are a good price. I also like the stretch and feel of J & Company jeans. I have a wide leg trouser right now that I get compliments on all the time. Be warned: these need to be worn with heels or they make you look really short! AG has a ton of stretch and I have a pair of those that are falling apart but I just can’t seem to part with! Another brand that I am waiting on an order is William III Generation. These are made for real women and the feel of this denim is amazing and pretty forgiving. I also won’t deny that I have a pair of black Old Navy jeans that I really love and those come in different lengths.

Okay I hope this helps and you can check out a few of these brands things! Good luck!

[B]

Ok, I am 100% with Kate and need the same advice. Short legs, long torso, tiny waist, no hips, and plenty of J-Lo action in the back. Basically, my hips/thighs are 1-2 sizes larger than my waist, so 99.9% of any pants - not just jeans - have that awful gap in the back ... and it's large enough that it really couldn't be tailored. I'm somewhere in the size 2-4 range and relatively petite, booty notwithstanding, so I just feel like my body is not built for pants. When bootcuts were still big, I had some good luck with Diesel, but since then - nada. Any advice of suggestions very welcome (and yes, I've tried Joe's Jeans - so insanely long on me that altering would ruin the cut of the leg, and still with a gap).

[Kate]

Ok, I'm dying for advice. What if you have the opposite problem: plenty of J-Lo in back? I'm proportional and actually happy enough with my butt, but I feel really hippy in most jeans (I'm 5'4", with a long torso and shorter legs). I tried on about 30 pairs at a boutique recently (Joe's, 7s, Citizens, etc.) and just didn't feel great in any of them. I may be built to wear those Mad Men secretary clothes, but it's not a body that fits very well into designer jeans!

[Nic]

Gasp! What is the fashionation with blue jeans???

Clearly you have not experienced the gloriousness of a perfect fit. Aaaaahhhh there's nothing like changing out of confining work attire and into some butt-hugging, move-with-me jeans. They become an extension of you!

Jeans are the one article of clothing that I literally guard over in the coin laundry. You can steal my tops, run around with my thongs on your head, but if you touch my jeans, you're going down.

Why? Because they're something that I have in my closet which when I put them on, every time, guaranteed, I think, "Damn my butt looks good."

[kathleen]

what is the fashionation with blue jeans. There was Mr. Green jeans someone way ahead of his time so far ahead we don't hear much about green jeans just blue jeans. And what is soo sad is Mr Levi we don't hear a peep out of him anymore he never went back to the drawing board I suppose

but jeans meant rugged and hard work now someone wearing jeans hardly works because they are trying to make a fashion statement and though I suppose the work in that is fooling the eye --- looking five pounds slimmer when your not or is it the other jeans just make you look like you have extra pounds--- because it is something of a style not to wear The notion in the market place that One size fits all is bunk --- it is the thought police mesmerizing a willing public that --- this is what I should do --- failing to tap in to the sixth sense --- Common sense