How to Wear Jeans for Your Age and Body

Avoid flared and distressed jeans if you are more 20 years old.

Jeans have become a ubiquitous and stylish article of clothing. Flared, skinny, straight leg, relaxed fit -- with so many options from which to choose, determining what jeans will be the most flattering to your age and body type can be a chore. When purchasing jeans, factor in your build, how and when you will wear the jeans and what you will wear with them to determine what jeans will best suit your needs.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape

Instructions

1. Measure your full height, the height from the top of your head to your hip bone and the length from your hip bone to your heels. This will help you determine your vertical body type. Three kinds of vertical body types exost. If your measurement from your head to your hip bone is longer than your second measurement, then you have a longer torso. If your second measurement is longer than your torso measurement than you have long legs. If both are relatively equal, then you have a proportional vertical body type.

2. Stand in front of a mirror and observe your bust line, waist and hips to determine your horizontal shape. Your horizontal shape is hourglass if your hips and bust are approximately the same size and you have a defined waist. If your hips and bust are approximately the same size, but you do not have a defined waist, then you have a rectangular figure. Pear-shaped women have a smaller bust size than hip size. The inverted triangle body type has a larger bust size than hip size.

3. Search for jeans that accent, emphasize or reshape your body to be more flattering based on your vertical body type. For instance, women with longer torsos can wear flattering higher-waisted jeans, while women with longer legs can wear lower-waisted jeans to make their bodies look more proportional. Women with proportional vertical body types can wear mid-rise jeans to emphasize their bodies.

4. Purchase jeans that flatter your horizontal body type, emphasize your assets and draw attention away from flaws. Women with rectangular body types should purchase jeans that draw them in at the waist and have pocket embellishments to cover up a flat butt. Pear-shaped women can purchase flared jeans to adjust proportions and draw attention away from their larger bottom halves. Women with an hourglass figures should purchase jeans that are smaller in the waist, but have plenty of room in the hips and thighs to accommodate their figures. Low-rise jeans with contoured waistlines are often the most flattering type of jeans for women who are inverted triangles. Women who are full-figured should purchase jeans that elongate their bodies and draw attention away from the waist and hips. This can be done by buying flared jeans with darker washes.

5. Wear jeans made out of stretchy materials. These jeans will sit on your body better and stretch to accommodate trouble areas. Wear jeans that are not too loose or too tight. Loose jeans don't flatter any body type, and tight jeans can emphasize flaws.

6. Purchase simple jeans without too many accessories if you are over the age of 20. Jeans with embellishments, such as rhinestones, excessive distressing or fray can make you look like you are trying to dress younger than you are. Buy jeans with a darker wash if you are older, as these tend to look more formal.

Tips & Warnings

• Pair the jeans with an age-appropriate and flattering top, such as a fitted blouse or button-up.

References

• Today Style; Tips for Finding that Perfect Pair of Jeans; Stacy London; September 14, 2006
• Jeans and Accessories: Finding The Best Fitting Jeans It's Not Only About Size