body types BF jeans do *not* work for

body types BF jeans do not work for

minimalist

Thanks to Deborah's post, I've looked up boyfriend jeans.

It looks like they sag quite a bit around the crotch, visually shortening the leg. That, and the cuffs on many of them, and the whatevermacallit patterns many have at the hip, have me wondering:
Is it possible BF jeans are not a good look on stocky, long-waisted, straight-hipped, short-legged women?

What body types are bf jeans best on, and what types are better off in something else?

11 years ago

Body Type

33 replies

Latest reply was from gradfashionista

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

I posted something about BF jeans this morning but am drawing a blank on who's thread it was.

I think they look best on slimmer figures if they are truly a BF fit and have more volume. I think you would have to try them on to see how they work on you. It sounds like they might work out for you.

11 years ago

Emily

Veteran

I think BF jeans are a look that sacrifice a bit of conventional figure flattery by their very nature. I think whether they work depends less on body type and more on whether the fit/styling looks intentional. I am borderline petite and not willing to lose too much visual length - so my "boyfriend" jeans are just a touch loose at the waist, have a slilm leg, and are the same length I would wear cropped pants (a bit below the widest point of my calf).

11 years ago

D'Ellen

Veteran

Well, they do *not* work for my body type - short/thick-waisted, pudgy tummied. They just look sloppy on me...like pants that don't fit. To my eye they only work with a tuck or semi-tuck, which I don't do. I'm much better off in skinny jeans, to emphasize my narrow hips and thighs, and a flow-y top. Or narrow boot-cut jeans, with heels, if I'm wearing a more fitted top.

11 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I'm short-legged, bordering petite, but relatively slim. They work for me, under certain conditions.

1. If I'm going to wear them cuffed, the footwear should be low contrast to the jeans themselves, or "nude for me." Also, I need a bit of a heel.

2. If I wear them full length I have more options, but I still prefer a bit of a heel. We're not talking staggering stilettos here. But 1.5 inches to 2.5 inches.

3. I tuck or semi-tuck. I don't wear untucked tops with my BFs.

They are not conventionally figure flattering, it's true. But they feel great. And Mr. Suz loves them. They're perfect for my work-at-home capsule.

11 years ago

Day Vies

Veteran

I have long legs but find that BF jeans are not exactly what the Dr. ordered for me because of my short waist, "food baby" tummy, and non-existent hips. The ones I have are from GAP and I bought them mainly because they had the extra room my thighs needed and they fit like wide-leg jeans on me. I fake a BF jeans look with straight legs rolled up.

11 years ago

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I love my BF jeans! They may be not conventionally flattering but I think they are quite flattering on curvy bottoms when styled right (I am hourglass with pear tendencies).

11 years ago

Kristin L

Veteran

Oh, the food baby tummy.

BFs typically have worked for me, but I'm long-legged, semi-curvy hipped and short waisted. But I think you have to either find the right pair for you, or fake it a la Day Vies.

11 years ago

Gaylene

Veteran

Well, as another long-waisted, short- legged, straight-hipped woman, I'll say they aren't the easiest silhouette for us to wear. But, as Suz says, they can work as long as you are careful to get all the elements in place, as I discovered after months of adamantly insisting I couldn't wear that style.
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....g-my-words

The elements were super important--wear them with some form of heel (a wedge in my case), play with the location of the cuff, wear a fluid top that could be faux- or semi-tucked into a wider belt, and pick a pair with a bit of slouch and a tapered leg. Definitely more hassle than pulling on a pair of straights or baby boots, but a lot of fun, very comfortable, and surprisingly flattering.

11 years ago

Beth Ann

Veteran

You never know until you try! I'm hardly the "BF type," but I love mine. If my goal is to look as skinny as possible, I'll never get out of black trousers, which would be so dull! I feel that the ease in the leg is in some ways more flattering than skinnies on me. Of course, for flattery, I go to a bootcut with heels.

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11 years ago

Greyscale

Veteran

Beth Ann, yours look great! And I agree - sometimes the ease is quite flattering.

The trend seems to be expanding to everything from the extreme oversized ripped jeans to "skinny" jeans that are just cut with a few extra inches. I've seen all varieties. I love the shift towards a slightly looser cut but you can get that without a dropped crotch or cropped length and still capture some of the effect.

I finally found my ideal boyfriend jeans today, and I definitely want to wear them with heels even though I never wear heels. With my short legs, I feel too stumpy in flats.

11 years ago

Thistle

Veteran

BFs do, indeed, require giving up a bit of figure flattery.

I am very pear shaped with short legs and still found a pair that worked for me when I roll them up enough.

Not sure your climate, but these are not a fall/winter jean in mine.

11 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I don't agree that figure flattery = looking as skinny as possible, but I realize this is not a popular position!

11 years ago

MsMary

Veteran

I'm short-legged and not very hourglassy, and I love mine! I like 'em with heels, rolled or not, but my favorite way is with a simple tee and flat boat shoes. Not the most slimming look, but definitely the most comfy and weekend-easy!

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11 years ago

carter

Veteran

Anything labeled a boyfriend jean looks ridiculous on me. I end up looking wide and stocky...and I am neither. However, I absolutely love a pair of jeans my 16 year old son outgrew a couple years ago. They fit me so much better than any that are intended for women to wear. As crazy as it sounds, if you really like the style, you might try the boys department.

11 years ago

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I don't think they look that great on me. I think it's the tummy thing that several folks have mentioned. To balance out the slouchiness of the bottom you really need a top that is fitted and body conscious particularly just above the waist, and that doesn't look good on those of us with a little fluffiness in the midsection.

11 years ago

Roo

Active Member

Ladies
I'm new to the forum and BF jeans, just getting round to pushing the comfort zone and trying something new for a change.
Its so great to hear others comments (many echoing my own) and helping to find my style.
Thank you!

10 years ago

Lizzy5

Active Member

Am short waisted and a smidge on Apple side. The talbots bf jeans work for me. Not baggy per se yet very comfy. Hadn't bought anything from Talbots for years until I bought these!

10 years ago

tulle

Veteran

Amy, if you try the baggy BFs and feel they don't work for you, you might try the "Slim Boyfriend" or "Sexy Boyfriend" fit. Worn a size smaller than I usually wear in jeans, these have turned out to be my favorites, fitting like a relaxed skinny, but with a bit more ease in the hips and thighs. Good luck!

10 years ago

Sal

Veteran

I think with all jeans you need to try on about ten pairs of which 8 look hideous, 1 look average and 1 look great!...

I do have a pair but they are really loose straight legs. I enjoy wearing them for the comfort and ease, and make sure I wear a top that is a flattering colour and shape and good shoes to compensate.

I think they can be leg shortening so some figures will find them harder to wear....but sometimes figure flattery is not the goal!

10 years ago

Von

Veteran

I have to show my *before and after some effort* bf jean finds. I wore the first pair (pink shirt) because I thought they all fit the same...even though they had obvious style issues! After taking advice from here, I found that the Kut Catherine bf jeans fit great, have no saggy crotch, and have been my go-to jeans for most of this year. It's a brand I NEVER would have made it around to in all of my shopping trips, but take the advice here and shop around!

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10 years ago

Sal

Veteran

Von, you look awesome in these boyfriend jeans...just a little slouch is very flattering, current and cool!

10 years ago

Roo

Active Member

Von-thanks for sharing! Love the bag and shoe combo on the last pic.

10 years ago

Susie

Veteran

I tried- and wore- BF jeans a few years ago when it felt like they were "the" jean style. But I've since returned to other styles because I just didn't like them on me. My waist/tummy is the biggest part of me, plus I am short-waisted, and I just don't feel attractive in baggy leg or baggy butt looks on me. I feel like I am wearing clown pants.

BF jeans are just one of the things that I felt like I had to try....but am now happier with my wardrobe since I've returned to wearing styles that are truly me.

10 years ago

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

I think they can flatter all figures, once your eye is adjusted to not seeing jeggings. If you find the right pair, they seem to work on most figures, because small differences--the rise, where the waistband falls, the extend of the bagginess, the line, whiskering/design, etc.--can affect the look significantly.

Having seen the oft-repeated mantra that pears should not wear skinny jeans proven wrong so many times, I'm a bit skeptical about proportion taboos.

10 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

I had more luck with slim BF, too.
I also swim against tide by wearing them at longer length as well as more rolled. Probably I'm stubborn, but I don't think the style always has to be worn like Huck Finn. I like them longer with loafers. I think it works, maybe because thei re between straight and BF are more blurred now.
I'm hoping it's like sizes-- close your eyes to the label or style name and focus on the fit.

10 years ago

Anonymous

Ahh, I have wondered about boyfriend jeans because they look comfy to wear but will steer clear now as I can see from your replies that they wouldn't suit me with my apple shape, and relatively short legs compared to my long back. This has saved me time and trouble, thank you everyone.

9 years ago

Anonymous

I think Angie (?) has recommended in the past that for some people, a sized up skinny will play the role of the true boyfriend.
It makes sense to me that people with longer,slender legs might enjoy the boyfriend look more, just the way people with small feet might like the skinnies with flats look more than others.
It might be a body type thing, although I think many trends can be refined to suit most people, but it's also a comfort issue.
Regardless of how flattering to the eye of the beholder a look may or may not be some things just don't make me feel attractive, and too loose pants is one of them.

9 years ago

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

glisters, it's funny--I take away the opposite message from reading this thread and the replies. That is, you don't know until you try them, and probably there is a boyfriend jean out there that will work beautifully for you if you persist.

I have a few different fits of boyfriend jeans. The ones I like best are really more of a simple slim-legged look that I get with the Kut from the Kloth Catherines (first 2 photos below). I also wear them unrolled, as unfrumped says she does. My most comfortable ones--because the fabric is super soft, and they are nice and roomy--are by Fidelity (photos 3-4 below). Definitely not as flattering, and a bit sloppy looking in a way, but I feel with a tucked or semi-tucked shirt and ladylike or heeled footwear they look stylish. I really like the feel of them, so I persevere in finding styles that I like and new ways to wear them!

Oh, and my body type is slight hourglass, average height (5' 5"). It seems a lot of things look good on me, but as with anyone, that's a little bit of an illusion; others don't see all the discards in the dressing room!

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9 years ago

Style Fan

Veteran

I like your Fidelity BF jeans Firecracker. I had the same ones and wore them out. I bought them distressed (ripped, etc.) but don't like them as much.

I love my BF jeans. I think I am a pear with hourglass tendencies but who knows. I have very slouchy BFs (no picture) and DH thinks they look great. I do wear a tighter top with BFs and usually tuck it in. But I do that with everything. Neat Freak.

These are the same jeans but different washes. Fidelity.

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9 years ago

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