Fab Affordable Jeans for Curvy Gals

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Angie is co-founder of YLF and its resident fashion stylist.

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Fab Affordable Jeans for Curvy Gals

— by Angie

on January 27, 2014

YLF forum members have had excellent experiences with these two pairs of jeans.

Jennifer Lopez Bootcut Jeans: They are available in regular, plus and petite fits, and across a variety of short and longer lengths. Read the rave reviews.
Levi’s 525 Straight Legs: These are slimmer on the calf, but not “calf-sucking”. Also available in petites and across short and longer lengths. Read more rave reviews.

One of our forum members was struggling to find jeans, even at high price points. She was thrilled when the Jennifer Lopez bootcuts fit the bill, and were also more affordable. Leave no retail stone unturned.

Bottoms · Fab Find

29 comments · Add a comment

Lisa

Veteran

Great finds, I would not have though to try either brand. You just never know which brand will work from season to season. I’m having great success with Gap Sexy Boot for my pear shape lately.

January 27, 2014 at 3:06 pm

Marlene

Veteran

I just bought some Levi’s 525. I am very pleased with the fit. It’s hard to find straight leg jeans with a curvy fit in the hips. And the wash is nice too. It’s a good find!

January 27, 2014 at 3:15 pm

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I’m glad Gap brought back the Sexy Boot Lisa, because the style was discontinued for a while.

Thanks for the validation, Marlene.

January 27, 2014 at 3:20 pm

patti

(website)

Active Member

I’m not too curvy but I really like the Levi’s!

January 27, 2014 at 3:41 pm

Alicat

I’m going to look for the Jennifer Lopez ones. Thanks, Angie!

January 27, 2014 at 4:09 pm

Thistle

Veteran

Another vote for the Jennifer Lopez jeans

January 27, 2014 at 5:05 pm

Monica P

(website)

As a curvy gal, I do find that Levi’s has come a LONG way from their original 501’s and have created a lovely line for pear shaped gals.

I haven’t had much luck with JLo jeans. One pair I tried on had all the wear marks in the wrong place such as thighs and rear end.

Monica

January 27, 2014 at 5:08 pm

dc girl

I’m a pear shape and swear by Paige’s Skyline skinnies. They are a quality denim and have enough stretch that they are comfortable. Also, they bunch up a tad at the ankle so they hang more like straight leg jeans. And they have a tad higher rise in the back which is crucial for us pear shaped gals!

January 27, 2014 at 5:15 pm

Christie

Active Member

Would these work for a curvy behind with slim thighs? That’s how I’m reading the description of the Levis …

January 27, 2014 at 5:40 pm

Beth Ann

Veteran

My idea of premium denim? Pants that make me feel like a million bucks!

I have J. Lo’s boyfriends, also found at Kohls. Love the cut, and they wear like iron. The wide leg black pants in my closet are also hers — and are luxuriously long, with room for the booty. They have a nicely thick fabric with moderate stretch, much like BR Martins.

I liked the Levi 525, although I finally kept the Levi mid-rise skinny, for better boot-tucking. Had I been in a more moderate climate, I would have kept both pairs.

January 27, 2014 at 5:55 pm

Beth Ann

Veteran

Christie, the 525 fits like a traditional bootcut jean in the thigh — slim, but not tight. The mid rise skinny is a bit more generous in the “butthigh,” but sizing up on the 525 would give a nice ease all around. The 525s give a little more length, too — I liked the “scrunch.”

January 27, 2014 at 5:59 pm

Adelfa

Veteran

Beth Ann or Angie or anyone who knows, would the 525s work for a “reverse pear”–someone smaller in the rear and bigger around the waist? Doesn’t sound like it but I would really like them to work! At work skinny jeans have been outlawed so I need jeans I can wear when it’s an informal day. Thanks for your help!

January 27, 2014 at 7:19 pm

Alexandra

(website)

Veteran

I like the look of the Levi’s. A bit of trip down the memory lane as it’s been a decade since I last had a pair of Levi’s. Then they changed the fit and I switched brands.

January 28, 2014 at 1:51 am

Joyce B

Veteran

Thanks for the great finds, I will check them out.

January 28, 2014 at 4:04 am

Gabrielle

Do you have any suggestions for a 34″ length?

January 28, 2014 at 5:02 am

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks for chiming in, Beth Ann and Thistle.

Adelfa, the straight legs are worth a try. They could fit just how you want them to – like *very* relaxed skinnies. Which might be what you’re after too, Christie.

Gabrielle, the Jennifer Lopez jeans have 34 inch seams in the Tall size.

January 28, 2014 at 7:17 am

kbfenner

I love my Dana Buchman dark wash trousers. They come in 34 inches and work well with my round behind. I sewed the angle pockets shut in front, though.
JAG pull on jeans are surprisingly comfortable and smooth under longer tops, but I would not expose the waist band.

January 28, 2014 at 9:05 am

In My Joi

(website)

Veteran

I’m a curvy pear, and I didn’t care for Levi’s 525 Straight Legs
I stick with Not Your Daughter’s Jeans, and only deviate every now and then..

January 28, 2014 at 9:26 am

Beth Ann

Veteran

Adelfa: I think they might work for you. I would have needed to size up to get the room I needed in the booty and the upper thigh. Of course, I need a truly generous fit in that area. The waist is fairly generous. They stock these at Macys, JCP and Kohls.

January 28, 2014 at 9:30 am

cheryl

Veteran

I am always looking for great affordable jeans in short length. Thanks for some more options.

January 28, 2014 at 9:58 am

Kay

Active Member

LOVE the Levis 525’s and I’m not even a curvy gal. Having searched high and low for jeans that really fit, and spending a fortune along the way hoping I finally found my perfect pair, I came back to the Levis. I didn’t even realize these were for more curvy figures! I also love the Levis skinny jeans, especially the 512’s. For some reason they just fit perfectly, and when you find that you have to keep going back.

January 28, 2014 at 10:32 am

JAileen

Veteran

I was at Kohls yesterday and couldn’t find the Jennifer Lopez jeans. I found Levis curvy (not sure if these are the same as their curve id line since there are supposed to be at least two distinct curvy fits). Their supply was almost completely depleted and they only had two pairs that were long enough, both bootcut. So I bought them!

January 28, 2014 at 12:03 pm

shiny

Veteran

Marketing gripe… what, exactly, does “curvy” mean? Some brands mean skinnier in waist than hips. Some mean healthy, average weight rather than rail thin. Some mean “if you’ve never fit in our brand before, you’re curvy.” When a label says curvy, where are the curves? Curvy hips? Rear? Thigh? Belly? It’s frustrating. I don’t know if “curvy” fit is for me.

January 28, 2014 at 2:08 pm

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks for the validation, Kay.

Joi, NYDJ’s are a good fit too.

Shiny, “curvy” means that you have curves, especially on the thighs, bottom and hips. The opposite of a straight and boyish body, when the shape of thighs, hips and the bottom are flatter and more angular. You can wear a very small size but prefer a curvy fit – because your body is more curved than straight. Having met you, I would not suggest a curvy fit (unless like Adelfa, you want a much baggier fitting jean). But I remember that you prefer a higher rise. So I would look for a straight fit with a higher rise.

January 28, 2014 at 2:21 pm

Softique

Active Member

I’m with you, shiny. I have been hunting down 525s because they fit well, and have not been able to understand the “Curve ID” line from Levi’s at a glance. I’m happy to try pairs on, but their signage gives almost no guidance about which “curve” I might be. I may try the 512s like Kay. I’ve been wanting something with a slightly skinnier silhouette

January 28, 2014 at 2:28 pm

Kim

I have to admit that if you are flexible about a jean with lots of stretch, I stick with the BR curvy bootcut jean. If you sign up for their emails, you can often score 30-40% off for a rather affordable buy.

January 28, 2014 at 6:02 pm

Adelfa

Veteran

Thanks, Angie and Beth Ann. I really appreciate your taking the time to give me your thoughts! I definitely want to try these because I like the way they look in the picture and yes, I want something a little baggier all over! Beth Ann, thanks for the sourcing tips. There is a Kohls on my way home from work–looks like it’s time to try it out!

Thanks!

January 28, 2014 at 8:42 pm

ccdjane

Active Member

I’m with Shiny…not sure what curvy means. I just know I usually find that jeans gap at the waist on me, and I hate constantly tugging them up. I’ve always worn Chico’s jeans because they fit me best, but while traveling for work, I went into a boutique and tried the Liverpool jean, which Nordstrom carries. They fit like a glove (I bought a size smaller than usual), and are the most comfortable jeans I’ve EVER found. I also need a 34 length with boots or heels, but these are long enough for lower heels in regular length. And the price was only $79.

January 29, 2014 at 2:52 am

Marie S

I have the Levi’s Curve ID in Demi curve which is the middle of the three fits. I went to a Levi’s shop and the sales assistant measured me and suggested the Demi. She was very helpful. I bought the straight leg and now have three pairs. I bought the last pair at a Levi’s outlet so got a good discount on them.

January 29, 2014 at 12:18 pm

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