Curvy Jeans Guide

Sometime in the past year, I noticed that more and more of my favorite stores were starting to carry “curvy jeans.” Jeans shopping is intimidating to begin with, and finding a pair that not only fits your curves, but flatters them can be very frustrating. So, are these curvy jeans the answer to our prayers? To find out, I went to seven different stores (in one afternoon) and put their curvy jeans to the test! I’m happy to tell you that there are a lot of fantastic options, and I’m sharing all of the details, including size range, color options, and dressing room snapshots of me wearing each pair (+ what size I’m wearing).

My hope is that this curvy jeans guide will introduce you to what’s out there and make jeans shopping a little less stressful!  Let me know if you have any questions, or if you’ve tried a pair that I missed. Jeans are such an important wardrobe staple and we all deserve to have at least one pair that makes us feel amazing!

Katie from The12ishStyle posted about these on her Instagram not that long ago and was super excited about the extended size range. I have a couple of pairs of J.Crew’s toothpick jeans, so I was intrigued to try the Curvy fit. The pair I tried on was high-rise, and very flattering. They’re well-made and have a tailored look that can be dressed up or down. This was one of my favorite pairs. SHOP NOW >>

These jeans were complimentary and comfortable. I didn’t love the wash that I tried on, but there are several other options. This pair was the least expensive of the ones I tried on, but I didn’t feel like they looked cheap. One thing I really like is that they come in short and long, in addition to regular. Any time I can buy pants and not need to have them shortened is a blessing! SHOP NOW >>

Although not technically, “curvy jeans,” this version of the classic Rockstar jeans boasts built-in sculpt that is supposed to have magical slimming powers. Unfortunately, they were not so magical for me, and I didn’t love this pair. They have 12% stretch, which is a lot, but I still felt like I was just stuffed in there. Like the previous pair, these do come in short and tall as well, so if they work for your shape, you have options. SHOP NOW >>

I’m already a big fan of Gap’s Sculpt jeans (different and much better than the Old Navy version), so I had high hopes for their curvy fit, but they were not great. I think it might have been the mid-rise or just the way they’re constructed, but they didn’t do my figure any favors. SHOP NOW >>

I was really surprised to find out that Express had a curvy fit! I feel like they’re not a brand that has much body diversity in their advertising or on social media, but hopefully this is a step in the right direction. They only had my size in one of the curvy jeans options in the store. I didn’t like the wash, but they felt great on. This is also one of only a few places that has a curvy fit in bootcut, not just skinny. SHOP NOW >>

I went to try these on a while ago, but they didn’t have many sizes in store. This time around, they didn’t have the size I wanted, so I tried a size smaller. They were a little snug, but overall flattering. The high-rise hit me at the perfect spot on my waist, and I felt good in them. There are more options online, including a demi bootcut style. SHOP NOW >> 

Although LOFT has been one of my favorite places to shop over the years, it tends to be hit or miss when I actually go to a store. There are a ton of options for curvy jeans online, but the store I went to only had a couple, and the pair I tried on was just okay. I didn’t dislike them, but I wasn’t wowed. That said, this is the only place (of the ones I visited) that offers curvy jeans in colors other than traditional blue, black and white. SHOP NOW >>

This was the last place I went and I was exhausted, but I’ve been loving AT recently so I knew I had to include them. It was a good thing I did because this ended up being one of my favorite pairs, and the only ones I actually bought. (They were having a 40% off sale, so I couldn’t resist!) I tried these on in a dark wash, and they not only fit well, but made me look so polished. They will be perfect for casual Friday at the office or for a night out with a dressier top. A lot of their work pants are now available in curvy fit too. SHOP NOW >>

Editor’s Notes: I tried each pair on with a white t-shirt, and did all of the try-ons in one afternoon so the fit pictures would be comparable. My biggest takeaway is that I love high rise. If high rise jeans hit you in the right spot, they will suck you in and hug your curves, without any risk of the dreaded muffin top. Something I already knew that was confirmed was that wash really matters. I don’t like to have lots of whiskering on my hips or fading on my thighs. It just emphasizes those areas. The final verdict: My favorite pairs were the curvy skinnies from J.Crew, Old Navy and Ann Taylor. Bonus: All of the pairs I tried are under $150!