1. Seek professional help. Many department stores have denim bars equipped with kindly “denim experts” who can quickly and not condescendingly scan your body and make recommendations. If you want to endure this process in private, search engines like zafu.com have online jeans’ quizzes that allow you to plug in your specific body issues and your style and then spit out at least a half a dozen pairs (in a range of price points) that suit your needs.
2. Pick a store with a great selection. Though small shops can be great, on your initial quest, you really want the option of LOTS of brands. Do your research before you go. Call the store and ask if they have a separate denim department and even inquire about the number of labels (50 would be excellent).
3. All cuts are not for everyone. I hate to break this to you (and myself): We can’t all wear skinny jeans. But we can wear trouser cuts, wide-leg, straight leg, boot cut, extra long, etc, etc. There’s a really good body shape/denim style matcher here.
4. Go for a clean design and choose the right wash. After enduring an exhaustive hunt, the worst thing that could happen is your ideal jeans go out of style next year. To avoid this, stay away from trendy details and embellishments—like “whiskering,” extra zippers, bedazzlements, weird pockets, etc—at ALL COSTS. As a rule, a dark wash will always be more versatile and forgiving.
5. If all else fails, customize. Companies like mejeans.com and Indie Denim let you plug in your measurements and choose your preferred cut and wash and send the jeans directly to your doorstep. Best of all, they save your preferences, so you can order another pair in a flash.
Related posts on Shine:
How to save your favorite pair of black jeans
Tips on how not to fall into the "mom jeans" trap
Searching for the perfect pair of underwear
Is this ugly? Skinny jeans on men
