What jeans to get with my winnings?

OK, I have seven years to use this discount I got for winning the TrueJeans contest, so I'm not in any hurry, but I'm seeing a trend happening with the jeans they recommend to me: They mostly tend to be quite wide or relaxed. I did not discredit the jeans they didn't recommend to me, but when I checked the fit, they were all rated as being too snug in the thigh, to the point of being unwearable, and I can believe it because jeans do tend to be tight over my thighs and bum. Some of them look fantastic, but I think I'm too short and there is just too much fabric. Here are some of their recommendations for me:

The 7FAM Ginger wideleg came out on top. I know Tanya really liked these, but I am not sure if they'll work for me. I can't wear heels and I'm short and very prone to looking stumpy and overwhelmed. The ones they show here don't seem that wide though, but that is usually just be because of the tall and skinny model in pointy toe heels.

http://www.truejeans.com/jeans.....551?w=946#

I'm linking to these from Zappos because they can be seen from all angles but they are on TJ and were highly recommended for me.

http://canada.zappos.com/n/mul.....lti-button

I like how they seem to just fall straight down, and the rise is great, but again, they seem very wide. I must admit they look very comfortable, but I think they're probably more of a tall girl jean.

Then there are these: http://www.truejeans.com/jeans...../487?w=874

I love the rise and the belt loops but same thing...

And finally, the Madison jean by Christopher Blue.

http://www.truejeans.com/jeans.....374?w=743#

Nice high rise, dark wash, and even the right inseam length. My ONLY hesitation is that I don't wear straight legs that much and I already have one pair. I was hoping for a bootcut because it is the most versatile style for me.

So like I said, I'm okay with waiting and seeing if and when they get new stock or new brands, but even if they do, I'm pretty sure I'm just going to get more wideleg styles. That's not to say I have no bootcut options, but they are all low rise so they're out.

I don't know what I'm asking for, exactly. I guess I'm just sharing my results and wondering if maybe I need to rethink my opinion of wideleg jeans. I certainly like the idea of minimizing my backside and thighs, but I don't know if it can be done without making me look short. I think I could definitely pull off a wider hem if I could wear heels, since I already have relatively long legs, but the reality is that I wear flats almost exclusively, and since this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, I really want these to be as versatile as possible.

17 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Maya, can you try on the actual jeans in a department store and specify the brand and size? Or, do you have to go with their suggestions.

Maya

Veteran

I haven't been able to find Pine IV anywhere. They seem to only exist online. I'm sure some swanky boutique in NYC has them, but I don't really shop at swanky boutiques...

I once tried to find the Christopher Blue jeans but eventually gave up. Very few retailers even seem to carry that particular style online. Nordies used to have the Gold Sign jeans, but they're out of stock.

The Ginger jeans are probably the only ones I might be able to track down.

I'm curious to see what the high rise COH amber cuts do. (they are boot cut)

Unfortunately TJ doesn't carry Citizens. I suspect they would be too low though. I require an absolute minimum of 9" and Nordies says they're only 8.25.

Which reminds me: I have determined the reason I need such a high rise because my waist is up so high. Anything lower tends to squeeze the fat on my lower tummy and hips (nice visual, I know). It's just really uncomfortable to have the waistband somewhere other than my actual waist, which is just below my chest.

I read a funny but very accurate way of describing a short-waisted figure the other day: It's as if someone cut out a piece of your torso and then stuck you back together so your hips came right below your chest. Spot on!

Nicole

Hi May, I just wanted to say congrats on winning the contest! Yay! I'm so happy for you! Sorry I can't offer any help on the jeans decision.

Tanya

Maya, congrats again! I have tried Ginger jeans on, and they are fairly wide at the bottom. The hip/thigh part is fairly fitted, and then they gradually flare out ( no obvious knee break ). I liked the, but would only wear them with heels. Then again, my legs are fairly short, while you may be able to wear flats with them with your long legs. And I personally prefer this wash to that that you have posted:

http://truejeans.com/jeans/sty...../452?w=836

Lena

Active Member

Maya, congrats on winning the prize! I don't have any experience with the jeans you mentioned. I just want to say I hear ya on the "hips coming out right from under your chest" thing.

shana

Maya, I don't have much input with the jeans - I have having the same struggle to find something with a high enough rise. I am short waisted like you - my natural waist is just a few inches under my bust!!

Oh and I wanted to say - don't wait too long to redeem your prize. In today's economy, you never know when a company is going to go down the drain. I don't know how long they have been in business but places selling premium denim online are a dime a dozen.

Based on Tanya's description of the Ginger jeans, I ended up ordering the Gold Sign Treos instead. The leg opening is 21" which isn't that much wider than my bootcuts, and after it's hemmed I'm sure they'll be slightly narrower. I have been wishing for a pair of jeans that I can tuck tops into and these seem to be suitable for that.

http://www.truejeans.com/jeans.....&s=43

BTW True Jeans also does hemming if you give them your inseam length (not free but for me it didn't matter since it was included in my discount). I'm a little scared of letting them blindly hem my jeans without being able to try them on, so I asked to have the original hem left in tact. I will post a picture when they get here.

shiny

I've been too busy to follow the forum this week, but YOU WON A CONTEST???

Congrats - and thank you for reaffirming my faith that "good things happen to good people."

As for the jeans, I'm short-waisted as well and I HATE low-rise, but don't discount the COH jeans. I know 8.25 sounds low... it did to me too... but the waistband has just enough extra that it doesn't "feel" that low... no uncomfy digging in...

COH are my "Holy Grail" of jeans. That, and Earnest Sewn. Not every style, but I have best luck (ONLY luck, really) with those two brands.

I was wondering where you were Shiny, but I just assumed that to be indicative of how addicted I am to YLF.

Yes, I did win a contest. In summary, I submitted my worst dressing room experience to TrueJeans.com and I ended up as a finalist, and thanks predominantly to the ladies at YLF, who voted for my story, I won by a landslide! The prize was a $200 gift certificate. Most of the jeans they recommended for me were wide leg, hence this post. They do not carry CoH otherwise I might have given them a try. I don't know how well they would work out for me though. I have the exact opposite body type as you on the bottom (round perky butt and meaty thighs).

Those are beautiful Maya! I can't wait to see them on you. I really hope I have described Ginger accurately for you, the leg opening was fairly wide.

I think you're right Tanya. Most sites say the leg opening is 23"-24". I don't like to go wider than my thighs, which are about 21". If these don't work out I'll send them back and give the Gingers a try, but I am hopeful.

I know you say you have round butt and meaty thighs, but I don't see it in your photos! I often wonder if you are too hard on yourself and see yourself differently. To me you look teeny-tiny and quite svelte!

"Perky" - definetly... perky is a good thing.... my COH's would look much better if I could keep up with the exercise so my butt wouldn't be falling so far south.... they say you can either save your fanny or your face... I constantly debate back and forth about which one I want to put the effort into saving! Right now, the face is winning... simply because it takes mere seconds to slather on rich moisturizer, and it takes at least 30 minutes to exercise!

I hope the Ginger's work out!! And, if the leg opening is a few inches too wide, you can probably get them tailored. As long as it's only a few inches, and the jeans fit perfectly everywhere else, I imagine this would be a simple task.

Maya, do they wash the jeans for you before they hem them??

I wasn't sure about that Nicole. That's one of the reasons I asked them to keep the original hem. I also left about 1/4" in slack just in case, but my jeans usually don't shrink unless I pop them in the dryer.

Shiny, I definitely have both of those traits. The thighs are big from walking a lot, so I'm okay with that. I know they're that way for a good reason. As for my bum, well, I don't know where that comes from! No women in my family have a bubble butt. I measure out to only 35.5" all around, but 19 of those inches come from my butt! I read in a blog entry once that Persian girls are all short with big butts, so I wish I inherited my bum from my Indian part :p

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