Curvy is neither a size nor a height but the way your body is shaped. If you are curvy, it means that your body is very curved from bust to waist, and from the waist through to the hips and thighs. Curvy bodies usually have a relatively small waist. For example, I have US size 2 clients who are very curvy and need curvy fit jeans and trousers. I also have US size 14 clients who do much better with non-curvy or “regular” cuts because despite their larger size, their shape is not as curved.
Curvy body types generally need a more generous fit around the hip and thigh area in jeans and trousers, which are normally cut quite straight from waist to hip and around the upper legs. My curvy clients tend to do best with bottoms from the following retailers, many of which are available in petite, tall and plus sizes.
- Loft Curvy Fits: The “Julie” fit in casual and dressy pants is fabulous for very curvy pear shaped ladies. Their curvy fit jeans too.
- Talbots Curvy Fits: Talbots curvy fits in pants and jeans are even more generous around the hips, thighs and bottom than the curvy fits from the Loft. This is a good place to start when you are dramatically pear shaped.
- Levi’s Curvy Series: Levi’s does a particularly good job on the waistbands of their jeans, which do not gape.
- Cookie Johnson Jeans: Cookie Johnson jeans are stretchy and extra comfortable. They also do a marvelous job of NOT gaping at the back of the waist and covering your behind.
- Express Editor Pants: It’s amazing that none of the other styles at Express are cut for curvy figures but the Editor flares are fantastic.
- Old Navy Curvy Fit Jeans: These are the more budget option, and can be great if the denim doesn’t stretch out too much.
- Gap Jeans: Certain styles at the Gap can fit a curvy figure to perfection like the Perfect Boot or their Girlfriend Jeans.
- NYDJs: It surprises just how well these jeans fit both a curvy hourglass and pear shaped body type, AND an apple shaped body type which is not curvy from hip to thigh.
- Lucky Jeans: Some of the styles from this brand are worth a try because the fit is roomy on the thighs.
- KUT from the Kloth: This brand is not a slam dunk for curvy figures, but their “Catherine”, “Diana” and “Chrissy” cuts can work when you are moderately curvy.
Premium denim generally does not do a good job of fitting a curvy figure because their cuts are quite straight. However, the following brands in very specific styles tend to work quite well.
- Joe’s Jeans: The “Honey” flared jeans are winners on a moderately curvy body.
- Paige Jeans: Their Skyline cuts tend to be a little roomier on the thighs.
- AG Jeans: The Nikki relaxed skinnies are roomy all over, and fit like regular jeans on a curvy body.
- Rag & Bone: The Dre jeans are roomy all over, and you might need to size down a size.
You also might find that some of the curvy cuts are too roomy, or high in the rise (which is problematic when you’re very short waisted). In this case go up a size in regular straighter cuts so that the fit is comfortable over the hips, bottom and thighs, and have the waistband altered to close the gap at the back of the waist.
Feel free to add to this list in the comments section.
