Fit lab: what is wrong with these jeans? - YouLookFab Forum

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Fit lab: what is wrong with these jeans?

Joyce B

Veteran

I am looking for a second pair of white jeans but ever since I started looking at the fit on the back of the thighs I am having a hard time finding good jeans, particularly white.
The background for this realization came when I tried the lovely tomato red Loft cropped flares (not white. i know). They fit beautifully until I looked at the back of the thighs. My husband, who is generally appreciative of what I wear (although not of the expense) pointed out the fit on the back of the thighs. I looked closer and also had him take a picture so I could see better and the love for those pants on me ended. They wrinkled from top to bottom of the thigh. i have never seen so many wrinkles without interruption. I tried two different sizes in both fits, the Julie which is curvy and the Marissa which is average and both fit that way, although the curvy were worse. It was a bummer of realization because the front looked fantastic. Now I cannot stop looking at the fit in the back of the pants.
I did get the Banana Republic Ryans and they fit nicely with barely any back thigh wrinkle, also their seersucker tapered ankle pants fit me well, too.

My question to you all is why do the pants wrinkle in such a way? Do you know of any other pants that may work for my figure? I will show you my Kut Catherines which are a boyfriend fit on everyone else, not on me but I think fit me well although they have a bit of back leg wrinkle. I know that a bit of wrinkle may be unavoidable but let me show you several jeans and hopefully you will point out a solution to me (probably I will return them).

1-2: Kut Catherine boyfriend jeans for reference (not really that fit on me). I have these for two years now. I think they fit pretty well although there is a little wrinkle but just wait till you see the others.

2-4: Current Elliot. The fabric has the loveliest feel and they fit other fabbers beautifully, just not me. They whisker in the front, the waist is big (this can be easily fixed) and look at all the back thigh wrinkle.

5-6: 7 Kimmies. Again, lovely feel of the fabric but whiskering and back thigh wrinkles.

7-8: Kut Dianas: I think these are a better fit than the previous two but still with some wrinkle.

Please do not look at the length so much as at the fit.
My best fit are the non-boyfriend Catherines. Also, I tried different sized of all the jeans abd tge ones I sm showing you ste the best fit.
Can you share any thoughts as to why this marked thigh wrinkle happens? Does it also happen to you? Are there other styles of white jeans that you think would work better for my body type?

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Dressing

23 replies

Latest reply was from Gigi

Suz

(website)

Veteran

So....I think we had this discussion a little while ago with everyone agreeing that pretty much all jeans do this to pretty much everyone. We're just more aware of it with white jeans.

However, I'm with you on preferring to minimize this where I can.

Our body types are not the same but have some commonalities: I'm a sort of rectanglish-hourglass with relatively slim hips but curvy thighs. For reference, the Kut Dianas fit me really well but still with some of that wrinkling on the back.

Here are the elements that seem to make the back wrinkling worse for me:

High quantity of stretch in the jean and jeans, especially in thinner fabric. This always makes the back wrinkling more noticeable.

Stretchy jeans that are too large. Sounds counterintuitive but that is the case. I get what I call "elephant skin" look --- lots of back wrinkling.

Jeans that also "catch" on my calf muscles, so that they don't "hang" on the lower leg. One reason the Dianas are a bit better is that the lower leg is a bit wider on them and the fabric thus "falls" better. Ultra skinnies are culprits here although I love them for tucking into boots in winter.

Jeans that are too long. If there's excess fabric, it will bunch up.

Jeans that I don't hold up with a belt (because they create excess fabric).

Jeans that don't fit properly in the rise (either too long or too short).

Light coloured jeans (where it's just more noticeable).

Jeans that are too small.

Have you tried petite jeans? These are usually too short in the rise for me, but I wish it weren't so, because I suspect some of the thigh wrinkling might be avoided if the pant was more proportionate to my leg length.

I think the Catherines and the Dianas look best (and that might be fabric composition). It looks as if the Current Elliots are just cut for a straighter body type -- the rise looks a bit off on them to me? Can't tell about the Kimmies...they look pretty good but it's hard for me to make out all the detail.

Diana

Veteran

In my experience, fabric content/weight is the biggest contributor to this phenomenon. This is one of the several reasons I prefer a relatively low stretch, cotton rich denim. (At least 98% cotton). A thinner, stretchier fabric will fall into those wrinkles because it's floppier than a traditional stiff denim, and this is more obvious in slim but not skintight fits because it's not loose enough to drape but also not tight enough to stretch taut.

So, I always look at percentage of stretch (spandex/elastane/polyurethane) as well as cotton content. Other fibers like polyester, tencel,etc make the fabric softer and thinner but also contribute to the wrinkling. Personally I like 98 or 99% cotton and 1-2% stretch as I prefer a classic sturdier denim feel anyway. But you have to decide how much you value the softer, thinner fabrics.

ETA. I think it's more obvious on white and light colored denim bc of the light color. I think the Catherine's and Diana's both look good and I wouldn't notice the wrinkling.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Yeah, Diana nailed it about fabric content.

Vildy

Veteran

I read a lot of fitting books. I have the same issue at the upper thigh back in regular pants. Very tough alteration in ready to wear. Maybe Diane G can chime in. What I run across is the explanation that the rump isn't deep/roomy enough. Curvy fit jeans tend to allow more for hip and thigh area that curve outward to the sides.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Joyce, a similar type of wrinkling happens to me in ALL my jeans - no matter whether the fits are tight or relaxed. Fabric content does not play a crucial role in my own experience. I wear 100% cotton jeans and blends, although the wrinkling is a little worse with a larger spandex content.

Joyce B

Veteran

Thank you, Suz and Diana for the detailed replies that I will keep for reference.
Suz, maybe the fabric of Kuts is better for me, I think you are right about that.
Vildy, good point about the curvy fit. Just sometimes it's worse on me, such as on the Loft Julie cut which gives wrinkles from top to bottom of thigh on me...

Joyce B

Veteran

Angie, thanks for chiming in. The back thigh wrinkle is exagerated on these, I don't think the fit is right. I know some wrinkle is expected but this degree is probably too much.
I like the Kimmie fit on the derrière but I am not sure about the overall fit. what do you think?
I will check the spandex but I think it's low, otherwise they would feel itchy which they don't.

Colette

Veteran

I have this problem and posted about my white jean issue a while back. In addition to being a pear with larger thighs and calves I also have large inner knees which adds to the wrinkles. All the wrinkling is definitely more noticeable in white jeans so I pretty much gave up on them after trying on every pair that I came across, high to low price points, in all different sizes. I've recently tried the curvy fit from Loft and find that they fit better on the top and thighs but are way too tight on my calves. If your calves are smaller you may have luck with these and they are available in petite sizes in some stores. Loft pants run a size larger than Gap on me. Also, I've realized rise is a huge deal for me. I do not like the way I look in higher rises. I think 8 1/2 to 9" rises look best on me even though higher rises are becoming popular again. And I agree with Diana on the fabric content.

I did keep the cropped flares from Gap, and wear them even though they are snug on my calves and wrinkle, but I don't think they are my best look. Also, someone recommended the Gap Real Straights but I haven't been to the store to try them yet. This is why I prefer bootcut/flare jeans because they don't wrinkle on me nearly as much but they are the least practical for my daily life.

Basically I'm no help but at least I can commiserate with you.

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Anonymous

I read an article on another site some time ago that went into this issue at length. According to the writer and fashion-industry contributors, it has to do with, as Suz and Diana mentioned, the fabric content and most specifically the amount of stretch.

I find that to be true for the most part. I admit to really having a poison eye for this, as it makes the jeans look too small .....which I acknowledge is not the case. I have had good luck with BR Premium denim in white, and a pair of Gap Girlfriends in white. Only one pair is a true skinny leg.

Now that I think of it - I also only wear long tops with my white jeans - tunic styles that come well down over front and back "bits" .....so that the thigh area is not really the focus of attention. *runs to put a pair on to make sure there is no back thigh pulling going on *

JAileen

Veteran

Joyce, I don't have insight into this. I sympathize. I'm a pear and have a terrible time finding pants that fit. I have been buying Levi curvy fit jeans which at least don't have the waist gap. I'm having a harder time finding them so I'm afraid they might be discontinuing them. I just bought crops and shorts that are Lee curvy fit, at Kohl's. Again, at least the waist fits which is a miracle.

Chris987

Veteran

I find it very comforting to know that this "problem" happens for almost everyone. Also useful to know that it may or may not be tied to fabric content (There are different views here on that). Of course getting the best possible fit in general for jeans is a good thing.

Jaileen - I am a pear too, and I figured out years ago that pants that otherwise fit me are almost guaranteed to have a waist gap, so I always expect to take the waist in. In my case I'm my own tailor, but most people go to a "real" tailor. You can do it the long way which involves removing the waistband, or do it the short way like I always do - just put a couple of darts into the waistband. If I had only bought pants that fit just right I think I'd have had one pair of pants in 20 years, seriously.

Joyce B

Veteran

-Colette, thanks for the links, I will check them out. I also have the Kut flares but have been too lazy to hem them...
I also have strong calves, that's part of the knee wrinkles on the pants... Maybe I should also stick to bootcuts.

-LisaP, that's too funny that you ran to check your pant fit, too. We are poison eye twins! So far I have not had luck with the fit of BR or Gap jeans of any style. BR pants such as Ryans fit me well though.

-JAileen, thanks, I will check out the curvy fits of Levi's and Lee's. I sure hope they don't discontinue them.

Chris, it's good to share the misery. Agree, waist fit is easy to fix as long as the rest works out, and it's easy to fix on your own.

It seems that white color emphasizes the fit problems. Maybe I should just wait for semi-baggy pants to come back in style, that way there would be no leg wrinkles or tight calves problems.
I still wonder where they find models on whom the jeans don't wrinkle. They either have very slim thighs or the pictures are well photoshopped!

crazyone

Veteran

I am wearing white jeans today, and I have them too. I basically ignore it as a natural part of jeans wearing. These jeans fit me quite well (ok, they're a bit more snug than when I got them) but it still happens.

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Joyce B

Veteran

Thank you, crazyone. Your jeans fit you very nicely. Are they the same from your WIW from today? Maybe I should not feel too bad about the way mine fit
but I get huge wrinkles in the back of the thighs and knee area. I think they are probably too tight for my calves.

crazyone

Veteran

Hi Joyce, yes, those are the same jeans from my WIW. So I went around today with that bunching issue I have pretty skinny calves though so I don't have the issue with the back of the knee but I can see that these jeans would do the same thing if I had more muscular calves. Perhaps a straight leg fit rather than a skinny leg fit would be better then? Something like these (the find below):

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Joyce B

Veteran

Those are very nice, crazyone, thanks! I will check them out. My Kut Catherines which are numbers 1-2 have a straighter leg and that does seem to work better.
The jeans you are wearing look fabulous on you!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Ok. So I just checked. I'm wearing my Gap Real straight jeans, which are pretty loose because I sized up in them. And I definitely have the back wrinkling.

I'm making peace with the crease.

The way I see it, there's wrinkling and then there is WRINKLING. This is the lower case variety. My pants don't look too tight overall. That's going to be my test. Do they feel tight /look tight overall? Then out they go. If not, I'm wearing. I think when we are in motion, this is not as obvious.

Joyce B

Veteran

Good for you, Suz. I am sure they look great on you.
I have to see again, if I make peace with mine or not. My eye got conditioned by the poor fit on me of the Loft crop kicks and now it's hard to do away with that.
It is true though that white jeans show the crease a lot more than other colors do.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

You know, Joyce, I actually think you look great in the Kuts for sure, the Kimmies, and maybe even the CE if they were altered at the waist.

The other thing to consider is lighting. This is much more apparent in certain lights that cast shadows than it is in the day to day.

Anonymous

Not sure how to say this but I've always thought it was something about the weight of the behind above pushing the fabric down?
Happens to me too? Could not care less?
All my jeans are no less than 98% cotton and I have fairly narrow hips and slim thighs but a not insignificant behind.

Joyce B

Veteran

Thanks Suz, I think you are right about the lighting, maybe the best thing would be to photograph on an overcast day but I am not minding at all the beautiful weather that we are having now. It seems I have more work to do before deciding on the pants but I think some of the wrinkles may be in capital letters...

Joyce B

Veteran

We cross-posted, Isabel. I also think it has to do with the fit of the garment over the curves, maybe just not enough room for them in my case. Good for you about not minding, I am sure you rock your jeans!
This takes me back to how important the way you feel in an outfit is. If it fits and you are not happy it will not work out.

Gigi

Veteran

I agree with Vildy. I run into this problem when there is no curvy fit and I have to size up to fit my rump. That seems to cause a lot of excess fabric at the crotch area, which looks unflattering, as well as the extra wrinking in the back thigh. It often means that a particular item just won't work for me because of my body shape. If the item is stretchy, sometimes sizing down will help (rather than sizing up), but that can be uncomfortable.

I recently bought a J. Crew denim pencil skirt and had this issue. I got my regular size, and although the fit looked good, when I walked, the horrible crotch wrinkling was very bad. I sized down, and the skirt is a little more body-con than I want, but the wrinkling is gone because the fabric is just so darn TIGHT that it can't bunch up, ha ha.