5 Signs You Have Bad Fitting Jeans

                                                                                  

              

A flattering pair of jeans 

is a wardrobe staple that every woman seeks. 

Unfortunately, shopping for said amazing denim can be compared 

to the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. 

(This pair is too loose in the butt, 

this pair is too tight in the legs, 

and this pair is almost perfect—

if I didn't have to pay to get them hemmed!)

One tip that we learned from our days working at American Eagle 

is that you should always try on more than one pair 

of the same size, same style jean. 

Denim stretches, and if the pair that you grabbed has been 

tried on by a few women before you, 

they'll fit differently than a pair that was just pulled off the warehouse truck. 

With the expert help from New York-based wardrobe stylist Shatonia Amee,

Here are five signs that a pair of jeans is not for you:

1. There's bunching, wrinkles, 

or sagging in the crotch area. 

"You shouldn't have excess material in your crotch," Shatonia says. 

"Your jeans should be able to come all the way up and lie flat in that area. 

If not, your jeans may be too big, or your inseam may be too long." 

The solution? 

A lower-rise jean.

2. Your jeans are pulling and creasing in the crotch. 

"This means your jeans are too tight," Shatonia says. 

"You may want to try a jean with more stretch. 

Don't be afraid to go up in size, 

either — remember, your main goal is comfort!"

3. There's a large gap in the back of your jeans.

"If you can fit your fist in the back of your jeans, 

but they fit fine everywhere else, 

you need to opt for a lower-rise jean," says Shatonia. 

"Try a mid-rise; if there's still a little space, go for a low-rise. 

When changing rises, make sure the jeans fit comfortably,

and be sure your underwear is not visible.

Sit down in them to make sure you aren't revealing too much. 

If a low-rise is too revealing but there's just a little space in the mid-rise, 

you can always wear a belt or have them altered."

4. Your jeans are creating a "muffin-top." 

"There are a few reasons this may be happening," Shatonia says. 

"One reason could be that your jeans are too tight. 

Again, don't be afraid to go up in size — it's only a number!  

You want to be comfortable and look good. 

Another reason could be that you need a higher rise — 

your jeans should lie flat on your hips and waistline. 

When a pair of jeans is too tight or low, 

they can create that unwanted spillage, 

or muffin-top, on anyone, regardless of size."

5. Your jeans are either hitting the top of your ankle or

they're dragging, even when you're in heels. 

"The length of your leans is a big factor in fit," Shatonia says. 

"If your jeans only come to the top of your ankle, 

opt for a longer jean. 

Some designers indicate length in numbers, 

but some use S (short/petite), 

R (regular, for women of average height), 

or L (long, for woman who are over 5'6). 

Another problem occurs if your jeans have a lot of 

bunching at the bottom 

and are dragging on the ground. 

If this is the case, 

you need to opt for a petite style. 

If this is your issue, 

I suggest shopping at department stores; 

not many boutiques offer petite sizes, 

while most major department stores 

have a whole department for petite women." 

     By RealBeauty.com, on Mon Sep 27, 2010 9:23am PDT

5 Tricks For Longer - Lasting Jeans

by Piper Weiss, Shine Staff, on Mon Sep 20, 2010 3:34pm PDT

If your jeans have been sitting in a drawer all summer long,

they could probably use a wash...in November.

Denims should only be thrown in the washing machine every six months,

according to Carl Chiara, Director of Brand Concepts at Levi Strauss & Co,

who shared his tricks for jeans care with The Wall Street Journal.

The reasoning behind this isn’t laziness.

In fact, Chiara's cleaning methods are far more meticulous

than a standard wash-and-fold routine.

Not only does he "freshen" his jeans on a hook outside

a steaming hot shower, he also bathes them bi-annually.

"Usually, he fills a bathtub to about six inches with

room-temperature water and adds two tablespoons of

Dr. Bronner's Magic Liquid Soap, which he likes because it is mild.

Then, he immerses the jeans in the tub, laying them flat,"

explains author of the Journal article.

After 20 minutes of soaking, he drip dries the denims with

a homemade scented satchel tucked in a pocket.

Not only do the pants come out smelling like roses,

they're guaranteed to last a lot longer than if they were taken for a weekly spin cycle.

If this seems like a lot of trouble for a pair of rugged 501's,

you've probably never found your perfect pair.

A good pair of jeans is like a trusty sidekick,

and that may be why they're hard to part with even when they're in tatters.

After all those trial-and-error hours in the dressing room in search of ‘the one’,

with no guarantee of an exact replica, starting from scratch can seem like a lost cause.

 

“There’s no way of knowing what jeans fit you best.

You’ve basically got to reserve time to try on a whole bunch

till you find one you like,” says Loren Cronk, owner of Loren,

a custom denim bar that opened this month in Brooklyn, New York.

Since sizes and fit can vary even within the same designer line,

finding your perfect pair takes a stroke of luck.

But once you've found your match, making them last is in your hands.

Consider these tried-and-true tricks from the pros for preserving your denims.

1. Choose a Durable Pair.

A long-lasting pair of jeans begins at the register.

Since fabrics vary by brand, knowing the markers of durability

can mean the difference between denims that live

for decades or die on washing machine impact.

“Check the inside of the bottom leg hem of the jeans for a colorful stitch,"

advises Cronk.

“That’s a sign it’s selvage denim.”

Made from old-school looms that impeccably stitched to prevent unraveling,

the over-sized machinery fell out of favor after 1969.

 But you can't beat the durability.

It's why vintage jeans last longer than a lot of newly made pairs.

Thankfully, a resurgence of the weaving technique has returned to the racks,

and even invaded lines at chain stores like The Gap.

If you can't find a selvage stitched denim,

Cronk suggest you weigh out your options.

Literally. "A longer-lasting jean is simply heavier,

because the fabric is thicker," he says.

“Any jeans that weigh over 12oz or 13oz will last you a long time

while the lighter jeans like jeggings weigh only about 8oz and are short-lived.”

 Some designer labels may include the weight,

and custom jeans bars may even provide scales,

but if you're at a loss, just hold a pair of jeans in either

hand and go with the one that feels heavier.

2. Spot-Clean First.

Jeans don’t always need an all-over wash.

Sometimes, targeting a spot will wipe away the dirt without wearing out the shape.

Levi's brand man, Chiara, keeps his secret weapon under the kitchen sink,

spraying a household cleaner like Windex on a tough stain.

Another method, is dabbing rubbing alcohol on worn-in grass stains.

You can also use a hand-wash soap like Woolite to keep the area

"behind the button-fly" smelling fresh and clean.

3. Keep the Blues Singing.

 To keep your color from fading in the wash,

make sure your water is cold,

and your denims are turned inside out to protect from bleeding.

If the damage is already done,

it can help to wash your faded jeans with a dark,

color-rich denim that will bleed.

Another trick, courtesy of Chiara, is adding 1/8 of clear vinegar to a wash.

The natural remedy adds an extra layer of color-protection.

4. Protect from Thinning and Rips.

If your jeans are due for a rugged machine wash set your dial to delicate.

For detergent, Cronk suggests non-abrasive,

environmentally friendly soaps that don't contain bleach or bleach-substitutes.

"Even just washing your jeans without soap sometimes can give them a decent clean

without wearing out their fabric," he adds.

And if you're noticing tiny holes poking through the material, act fast.

Patching up even the tiniest holes can protect the life span of

thinner jeans and prevent a tear from turning into a large hole.

5. Maintain the Original Fit.

The biggest culprit of shape-shifting is the dryer.

"If you're going to tumble-dry,

make sure the machine is set to low," advises Cronk.

Removing the jeans when they're slightly damp and then hang-drying,

will smooth out wrinkles,

prevent shrinking and

maintain the pre-washed relaxed shape.

Once the jeans are totally dry,

hanging them by a belt-loop in your closet,

 instead of folding them,

will maintain and "mimic their natural shape when worn",

says Earnest Sewn designer Scott Morrison in Allure Magazine.

Of course, stretch denim follows the opposite rules.

Forty minutes in the dryer on high heat will temporarily

tighten elasticity for a feels-like-the-first-day fit.

But don't leave well-worn stretch pants in too long,

warns the high-end denim designer.

"Keep in mind that this drying cycle will eventually reduce

 the elasticity in the fabric, so if you've had them for a while,

air-dry them most of the way and then

give them a quick blast in a high-heat dryer for 10 to 15 minutes."

Presto: like new, no matter how old they really are.