Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers
Welcome to Jeans Month on the Strategist, where we’re obsessively vetting denim — from trying on every pair at the Gap to asking dozens of stylish people about their favorite fits. For more, head to ourJeans Month hub.
In our semi-regularadvice column“Ask the Strategist,” we answer your most burning shopping questions by surveying friends, calling up experts, and drawing on our personal experience. In our Friday, March 26 edition, writerAmbar Pardillaanswered your jeans questions live in the comments. It was our most highly specific “Ask the Strategist” yet. Here are some of our favorite answers. To read all the queries,scroll to the comments here.And to be kept in the loop about our next Q&A,sign up for the Strategist newsletter here.
Do cheap, mid-rise, straight-leg, plus-size jeans exist?
trumpetstrumpet
March 27, 2025 at 9:37 PM
This is less of a question and more wailing into the abyss, but I cannot seem to find mid rise, truly straight leg, cheapish (under $100) jeans anywhere. I’m plus size (18-20, depending on the brand) but have very muscular legs and so many pairs that purport to be straight leg are actually tapered or boyfriend cut, ie hugely baggy on my thighs.
Abercrombie makes a mid-rise version of its '90s Straight Jean that a lot of plus-sizes sources recommendhttps://fave.co/3FMs9s3andLands’ End, surprisingly, has a jean that fits this briefhttps://fave.co/3FKSPcE
Any suggestions for longer jeans for a semi-tall lady?
zzaapp
March 27, 2025 at 12:25 AM
I'm 5'9" and like a slim fit jeans. I have jeans from Everlane and Madewell and they tend to be a little on the short side. I don't mind a high water look but that is ALL I have. I've tried tall jeans at the Gap and A&F and they are too long. Any suggestions for longer jeans for a semi tall lady?
Not featured in the article (yet) but heard through the tall-women grapevine: check out Aritzia, Zara, and & Other Stories. Their inseams start at around 28, and 29 inches (which I think should be long enough)https://fave.co/4j1hWpQhttps://tidd.ly/4iJQzRkhttps://fave.co/4lpjOLl
A couple others have also asked — suggestions for jeans for apple-shaped gals? Seems like there are lots of curvy cuts designed for pears with smaller waists and thicker hips and butt, but that is the exact opposite of what I need. I am not overall a plus size person, usually a size 8, but jeans (pants in general, really) are always a little too tight in the waist and a little too loose in the hips/butt/thighs.
I mentioned in another answer Levi’s 300 Shaping Series (every style comes with a smoothing front panel)https://bit.ly/4j83xrRBut you might get a jean with what's called a “cinch-back,” which you can loosen. Here’s one from Topshophttps://tinyurl.com/v3k77ypmWray also has one that I've been recommended a lothttps://fave.co/4iIHpVb
I’m an older professional woman. Can you recommend some work-appropriate jeans?
marjorierm8qx17ug
March 27, 2025 at 5:36 AM
I’m an older professional woman who wants to look trendy. I want jeans for my office job but don’t want a corporate style that looks rigid. I’m petite and slim but wide hipped and big bottomed. Can you recommend a jeans style or brand I can explore? (I love jeans month! Thank you.)
My husband's jeans drive me nuts. He has a kinda large belly and smallish butt, so his pants ride down soon after he gets dressed. His jeans always hang down emptily, far far below where they ought to be. Now I understand the purpose of suspenders. What's a less ridiculous-looking solution? For a very frugal (cheap) person, who is never going to buy Japanese denim?
Admittedly, this does sound like fodder for a Reddit post! But fellow writer Liza Corsillo (our menswear expert) suggests he tries high-rise men’s jeans that should sit closer to the waist —https://bit.ly/4ce9dhYandhttps://fave.co/4c92iXf— (they’re apparently comfortable, according to a real Reddit post she found).
It's been years since I've bought a pair of jeans that didn't stretch out a full size. Sometimes in less than an hour! This drives me nuts. Where can I find jeans that don't do this? Do they exist?
You want a jean that’s 100% cotton (not 99% cotton and 1% elastane — there’s a big difference even in that small of a percentage) that’s branded as a “rigid” denim in the description (maybe "heavyweight" too, if you want your jeans to feel especially weighty). For cheap, get yourself some Wranglers. You can break in a pair from Everlane. Or, if you can spend some more, buy a Re/Done original.
I’m short and curvy and I hate jeans — can you help?
amybotello
March 27, 2025 at 7:15 AM
I’m 5’4 with really thick thighs and a small waist and I hate jeans. Skinny ones aren’t flattering because they don’t have enough structure and are just too tight. Like my legs are encased sausages. Wide leg ones look sloppy and make my thighs look bigger because they kind of just fit like regular jeans in that area. Straight legs fit kind of like skinny jeans on me. And a lot of jeans have too much rise in the front and not enough in the back. What jeans, if any should I get? Or on the denim front an A line denim skirt that’s long enough (knee length or just above) for my super casual work place?
I myself am short and curvy! I think girlfriend/boyfriend cuts have a little bit of a looseness for a more traditional straight-leg. I like this from Universal Standardhttps://bit.ly/4hRPHJhand this from Banana Republic Factoryhttps://fave.co/4c9tKEp
