How to Buy Plus Size Stretch Jeans That Fit Perfectly

Large size stretch jeans can be extra-flattering for women and men, creating a smooth silhouette that avoids the bulk of regular jeans. But all plus size stretch jeans are not created equal. Some use very thin stretch denim fabric and cling so tightly they lose the "flattering" advantage. Learn how to buy plus size jeans that are of good cut and quality and that fit perfectly.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• tape measure

1. Shop by measurement and fit rather than size. Standard plus sizes vary too much from designer to designer, and often vary from style to style within the same brand.

2. Take your basic measurements. This will help you shop for jeans online or let you know what custom measurements to use if you need the denims altered.
   
   Using a tape measure pulled taut (but not to the point of squeezing), measure your waist, your inseam (the line inside your leg from the point where your thighs meet to the place where you want the jeans to end), and your two hip measurements--the upper hip and lower hip. Measure the upper hip right at your hip bone and the lower hip at the widest part of the hip, several inches lower.

3. Pay attention to the cut when you shop for jeans--so if you're buying online, seek out photos that reveal the cut of the jeans (rather than just show them folded) or that include all measurements.
   
   Many people assume that cut is not important in stretch jeans, but it is, especially for plus size jeans. The best stretch denim plus size jeans look tailored both on and off.

4. Try on the jeans at the store, or when the package arrives if you bought online so that you can return them if they don't fit correctly. Buy stretch jeans that fit the upper and lower leg equally well. If they cling at the thigh but are extremely loose on the calf, this is a sign of a bad-fitting pair of jeans, unless that happens to be a deliberate part of the style. (They might flare out lower down for flare or boot cut jeans.)
   
   Turn around and look at your back in the mirror. Check if the jeans look smooth at the thigh. If the jeans bunch up on your thighs, they are too big around the thigh.

5. Select jeans that are comfortable but not loose at the waist. Avoid assuming that a stretch waist will make any size waist fit you--they usually only offer a couple of inches of comfortable leeway. If you are shopping online for stretch jeans, make sure the waist measurement and hip measurement match those of the brand.

6. Decide if you have an apple (big stomached), pear (big-hipped, small-waisted "hourglass") or straight figure. Like regular jeans, each pair of stretch jeans are cut for one particular body shape. Many traditional designers, such as Levi's and Lee, only accommodate a limited number of body shapes for each sex, though some sportswear stores, such as Eddie Bauer or Land's End, carry plus size jeans for different body types. Even if you love a certain brand of plus size jeans, don't just buy the jeans based on the brand...buy them based on whether they match your figure.

7. If you are petite, to go for the ultimate fit, get the jeans hemmed, either by the store or by the drycleaners or a tailor, if they are too long by even two inches. A perfectly hemmed pair of jeans will improve the look and quality of the jeans tenfold, as well as help them last longer.

8. If standard plus size stretch jeans don't fit you, consider seeking out custom-made jeans made by tailors. Some of the bigger retailers, as well as international tailors, offer relatively inexpensive custom-made jeans online.

Tips & Warnings

• Unless you're extremely straight-hipped, avoid buying men's stretch jeans if you're a woman--they generally do not have sufficient hip room. Some big men, on the other hand, may actually have better luck with plain, classic styled plus-size women's stretch jeans. With shirts that hang out, nobody will likely notice!