I need help. I'm a denim disaster.

Nannabella

I think I'm a total disaster when it comes to denim. I was a very late adopter of skinny jeans, but finally did so. Now I know Angie says to size up in skinny jeans for less of a sausage look, but I find when I size up, that they all bag out in the rear and upper thigh. This is the area where I am largest, so it's not that my rear end doesn't fill out the jeans. I've tried a lot of different brands and styles, but they all seem to do this unless I truly buy them to be skinny. If I buy ones that aren't tight in the store, they'll slide down when I wear them.

How do you size up in skinny jeans and not end up with a bagged-out rear end that is very unflattering? Does anyone else have this problem?

10 years ago

Dressing

10 replies

Latest reply was from Suz

Diana

Veteran

Sizing up in skinny jeans has never worked for me. I find that skinnies meant to be worn skintight often cling/bulge in weird places and sag when they are sized up, at least on my body (and the waist gapes on me, because I'm a pear). What I think works much better is to look for something designed to be worn looser. Something like a "slouchy skinny" or even a "slim boyfriend." For example, the AG Nikki that Angie and a lot of us have is billed as a "relaxed skinny" and the KUT catherine is a "slim boyfriend." I have both and I think they provide the type of look you are describing. I bought both within my normal size range for those brands.

10 years ago

Nannabella

Active Member

Oh, thank you, that is very helpful, both to know that I'm not alone with the bagging/sagging issue and to have some ideas of what to look for. I've just lately been realizing that what I'd thought of as "sized-up skinnies" looks more like "room for a very full diaper" on me at the moment.

10 years ago

Dee

Veteran

I feel sizing up is harder for people who carry their weight in their hips/thighs/butts. By the time I get jeans to to fit those areas in the first place, they are often already loose in the calf. By sizing up again, mine will fall off too. Diana's suggestions for different cuts/styles are great.

10 years ago

JayS

Veteran

What Diana said. You might also look at The Dre skinny boyfriend by Rag & Bone. I also like the Pilcro stet jeans at Anthropologie. They are between skinny and straight leg and, depending on the fabric content, don't bag out too badly. (They come in multiple washes and fabric content varies.) Stay away from anything more than 2% spandex to reduce bag. Good luck!

10 years ago

Helena

Veteran

I too am not a size-upper ... perhaps that look is just not for you?

10 years ago

trekkiegirl

Veteran

If you have trouble with the fit because of a larger rear end and thighs, and/or higher than average hip-to-waist ratio, I can totally relate! It took me forever to find a pair that I could fit my behind into but not have extra material elsewhere. If you want skinny jeans to fit like skinny jeans, they DO have to have some stretch or it will never work for our body shape. If you want a looser fit, you have to - as many others have said - buy something that is intentionally cut differently.

10 years ago

shoppingisfun

(website)

Veteran

I buy my jeans skinny and really dark. I wear them a few times between washings to avoid fading. At the first wear, they're tight but by the last day they're baggier. Works for me!

10 years ago

Marilyn

Veteran

I don't size up in skinnys either. IMO they are meant to fit snugly and don't look right if they're not. As others have said, if you are searching for looser options I would explore jeans that are designed to have a bit of slouch.

10 years ago

SandyG

Veteran

My straight leg 3% stretch jeans are a great substitute for skinny jeans, and the cut fits my waist and hips nicely. It took several shopping trips to find a good fit so don't get discouraged.

10 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

The advice to "size up" typically will work:

Better for some body types than others. (Works better for rectangular and IT shapes and slim hourglasses than it does for pretty pears, I suspect).
Better with certain fabrications than others -- jeans with a very high stretch content are made to fit very snug, and often won't work if sized up. Jeans with a high content content may be sized up more effectively.
Better for some style sensibilities than others. Works best for those who don't mind a little slouch or looseness in the tush.

Another option is to try straight leg jeans. For some of us, straights are "our" skinny. This is especially true if you have muscular calves. A narrow straight leg can solve that problem.

The cut of the skinny really matters, too. There are skinnies and then there are skinnies.

10 years ago

Category