WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT JEAN CUTS
I know that it can be confusing when the styles that we are accustomed to start to change. I remember when skinny jeans first hit the stores, and I was terrified to wear them. They fit like a glove and I couldn’t imagine putting on anything that fit that tight. I didn’t think they left much to the imagination, and no one needed to be imagining what was underneath. Lol!
I soon adapted to skinny jeans, and then they became my go-to when I wanted to wear jeans. It is funny how different styles can take a while to become comfortable for you, but once they do, you open up a world of possibilities that you didn’t have before. With skinny jeans, I soon embraced wearing ankle boots and tall knee boots since their leg open was perfect for those shoes.
Fashion can’t ever stay static, and things are constantly coming in and going out of style. How could stores sell clothing if the same clothes, prints, patterns, etc. were in style year after year? So, while we all finally came to embrace and then love skinny jeans, they are not the new kid on the block anymore.
In fact, skinny jeans are so far on the back burner that they are cold, very cold. That doesn’t mean that you can’t still wear them, especially if you want to wear knee boots, but they aren’t the latest in fashion trends. Styles that have more room in the legs are now trending instead of the tight as a banjo string legs that the skinny jeans had. So, now what’s a gal supposed to do?
Don’t worry, I am going to explain, and demonstrate, the different jean cuts for you today. Before we get into the different jean cuts, let me tell you about the top that I’m wearing with each of the jeans that I’m styling. This animal print henley top from Loft is a lightweight black and white leopard print. I picked the top because it would look great with all of the jeans, and I wanted to wear the same top with all the jeans to give you a better idea of how the jeans looked.
Here is the side view to show you the length of the top. I am wearing a medium, but I think the sizes are very limited. I grabbed a few other tops yesterday, and I’ll link to those below.
My jewelry was simple, just a pair of AWESOME hoop earrings and my SHINE script necklace. I love the SHINE necklace because it reminds me to pay attention to what others are seeing when they look at me. How am I shining, what are my personality and words saying?
To start with, there are several different jean cuts that you need to be aware of, and I’ll list them for you, but I am only showing a couple of them today.
Different Jean Cuts
Skinny Jeans –
Skinny jeans are usually made with stretch denim because they are cut to be tight-fitting, from the thigh down to the ankle. They are often skin-tight like leggings, and the stretch denim can help you when taking them off or putting them on. These jeans look great with all types of shoes and boots.
Straight Leg Jeans –
Straight-cut jeans have a straight fit through the entire leg. Straight jeans are not as tight as skinny jeans and can be on the baggy side, like boyfriend jeans, girlfriend jeans, or relaxed-fit jeans. However, if you want a fitted pair, then you would want to try
Bootcut Jeans –
Bootcut jeans flare out slightly at the ankle to give you extra room for wearing boots. Ankle boots look great with this style of jeans, but you can still wear heels, flats, and sneakers with them also.
Flare Jeans –
Flare jeans have a snug fit through the thigh and flare out from the knee to the leg opening. In the 70s, most of us remember Bell-bottom jeans, and the flare was exaggerated on them. Those are also trending with a lot of the younger generation, but I’m sticking to the flare jeans that aren’t quite that wide.
Wide-Leg Jeans –
Wide leg jeans are cut wide throughout the leg, beginning to flare around the mid-thigh and then continuing down to a wide leg opening. The difference between wide-leg and bell-bottom jeans is that bell-bottom jeans have more of an hourglass shape since they’re tight around the thighs and knees, whereas wide-leg jeans have more of a triangle shape since the flare is more gradual.
Here is a pair of wide-leg jeans that I wore this past year. They are comfortable and stylish, but Joe is not a fan. I think he likes to see the female body in jeans, and these jeans don’t show many curves.
All of the jeans that I am showing you today are under $30.00, and won’t break the bank. I wanted to show some affordable jeans for everyone since some jeans can run $200.00 and more. Some are thinner than others, so I’ll try to let you know which ones I think are the best quality and the best purchase for your money.
Different Jean Cuts – Straight-Leg Jeans
As I mentioned above, straight-leg jeans are straight through the entire leg. But, unlike skinny jeans, they are not tight. And, unlike wide-leg or stovepipe jeans, they are not too loose. You can find straight-leg jeans in slim fit, boyfriend, or girlfriend cuts also. The boyfriend and girlfriend cuts will be roomy, with the boyfriend style being the roomiest.
I wore these black pumps today, instead of the black pair of ankle boots that I’ve been wearing lately so that you could see the hemline better. Since my skin shows, you can see the hem better against my skin.
Every woman wants to know if her jeans make her butt look big. So, I think that I got a behind (get it) shot for you in all of the jeans that I’m showing you. These Levi mid-rise straight-leg jeans look a tiny bit baggy even though I sized down to an 8. I’m actually wearing an 8L because I wanted the longer inseam, and the color I’m wearing is called Stormy Sky 3. These jeans are a nice weight, but they are a tiny bit thinner than the pair below.
Different Jean Cuts – Bootcut Jeans
These jeans fit me great and are probably my favorite of the four jeans that I am showing you today. The Free Assembly bootcut jean in dark indigo is the heaviest of all of the jeans that I am wearing today. They are of great quality, and I’ve loved everything that I’ve purchased from this brand.
The leg opening isn’t much different than the straight-leg pair above, but if you look at the photo of all of the jeans on top of each other, this pair is about 1 inch wider than the straight leg one. That is just enough room to let the jeans slide over the top of ankle jeans.
Here is the look from behind. Even though I am wearing a size 10 in these jeans, I feel like they fit me better than the 8’s I wore above. They aren’t skin tight, but they don’t bag as badly as the Levi pair. These are high-rise jeans, so they also fit me tighter in the waist than the Levi’s.
Different Jean Cuts – Flare Jeans
I’ve become a huge fan of flare jeans, and you’ve probably seen me styling them a lot lately. SPANX is the brand that I’m currently loving for my flare jeans and pants, and you can see me wearing a medium wash pair and a black pair by clicking on the link.
These pull-on black flare jeans have the widest hemline of the four pairs that I’m wearing today. Even though the hemline is wider than the others, it is not too exaggerated and looks modern and trendy. This pair is lighter weight than the other pairs, and that is possibly because it is a pull-on style.
I’m wearing a size 10 in these jeans, and I thought they fit alright until I saw this photo. They don’t look great from the back and they look baggy. But, they fit tight through the tummy region, so I’m not sure that I could size down.
Different Jean Cuts – Bootcut Jeans With A Twist
This dark wash, mid-rise, slim-fit bootcut pair of jeans has a secret. These are a pair of jeans by Sofia Vergara, and even though they are bootcut jeans, they have a wider leg opening than the bootcut pair by Free Assembly. This is a great example of how apples don’t always compare to other apples.
Here is the secret, the bootcut jeans have a slit hem! This hemline is super cute for giving a peek-a-boo look at your shoes or boots, and it also makes it easier to put your boots on. These are mid-rise jeans, and they are heavier weight than the black pair, but not as heavy as the Free Assembly pair.
Since these are slim-fit, they might look a little bit tighter from the back, but it’s hard to say since the photo isn’t exactly like the others. I’m wearing a size 10, and the color is called Celestia.
If you are confused about mid-rise and high-rise jeans, high-rise jeans sit at your natural waist, around your belly button. Mid-rise jeans sit between your waist and your hips, and they usually hit about an inch below your navel.
So, which pair is your favorite??? Here are the links for everything to keep you from having to scroll back and forth.
animal print henley top // AWESOME hoop earrings // SHINE script necklace // Levi mid-rise straight-leg jeans // Free Assembly bootcut jean // pull-on black flare jeans // slim-fit bootcut pair of jeans
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Thank you so much for teaching us about all these jeans. Now I have a better idea on what to buy. I love the high waisted slim fit boot cut jeans.
Thank you for this post. I think you look great in all the styles. I would like for you to point out where in the picture of you wearing the Levi straight leg that you think they are a bit baggy. This would be helpful so I don’t make the mistake of wearing something even a bit baggy.
Thank you for showing these in one place. It makes me crazy trying to understand which jeans are which, and especially what in my closet is now in style! I have 5, 10, and 15 yr old jeans, and many went in/out/in. You are giving me a much better view as to which ones need to go in the attic til next year. Mine are not worn often, as I live in Florida, so you are such a big help to me.
Thank you for this post about the different types of jeans. This is soooo helpful. I especially enjoyed that you took the time to wear the lower cost jeans.
This post was very confusing. Had you worn a different top with each pair of jeans, it would have been easier to determine which jeans were which, or had captioned each picture from the beginning. Instead, I did, indeed, scroll up and down (and up and down) trying to make a determination — until I arrived at the last of the post for the links … to keep us from having to scroll up and down. Augh!!! 😉
Having your shirt cover your rear isn’t helpful at all. It means I can’t see the pocket placement or shape which is very important.
Thank you for clearing up the confusion. I never understood all the differences until now. And you look great in all of them.
THANK YOU! The different styles of jeans has been so confusing for me; I am thrilled to finally have an explanation and examples. THANK YOU.
Good info! What I would give to be tall! Being 5 ft, pear shaped and not being able to wear heels anymore poses so many limitations.🙁
Thanks for this great comparison! The retail industry does a great job with keeping us confused and feeling like we need to keep buying new styles. I can’t pick one that I like the best.
Great post. I think the Free Assembly look the best on you. I’ll try those. Thanks Tania.
I was hoping you would address the boyfriend jean, and what is the difference between the boyfriend and the girlfriend…
Melissa, there isn’t much difference except Boyfriend jeans are looser and baggier. Girlfriend jeans have a tighter fits, even though they still fit loose.
Very interesting post.
I learned a lot.
How about a post on the different blues of jeans? Which ones are in style now?
Wonderful and informative post! You look great in all of the jeans. My choice of jeans will be limited to what I can wear with the comfortable shoes I have have spent a lot of time and money acquiring. Thankfully, most of my “skinny” jeans were a bit looser, so they might be seen as straight legs. Thank you for all of your hard work!
I’m still a fan of skinny jeans and that’s what I wear most often, but I do have one pair of boot cut. I love your black & white top and my favourite jeans from today’s post are the boot cut with a slit. Love that extra little detail!