5 questions to find the perfect denim for you

How to find the perfect denim for you.

Okay we’re diving into uncharted territory today but I’m confident that with all my retail + clothing experience over the past 7 years that I can give you direction and leave you feeling a little less dread when shopping for denim.

As a human who LOVES denim, I don’t feel that jeans get the love they deserve. People struggle to find the right fit, don’t know where to look, get frustrated and just say forget it and wear leggings. Look, leggings are great (you know how much I adore Athleta), but I’m a person who really loves wearing jeans.

I’m not saying shopping for pants is easy, but I do have some questions + ideas for helping make the experience better.

First, you need to know what you’re looking for. Which, for the majority of people, probably means some market research needs to happen first.

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Questions I like to ask when working with style clients:

1.) What leg style of denim do you like? Are you open to others?

Stuck on skinnies – want to switch it up with a slim straight? Always wear boyfriend jeans? Maybe want to try a high rise skinny? Wide leg cropped?
Whatever you’re looking for – start here!

2.) What rise fits you best?

(High, medium and low) and remember these can differ per body. For example, I have a super short torso. I prefer a rise between 10-11 inches, which ends up being “high” rise on me. For someone who has a long torso or is tall, “high” rise could mean a 13 inch rise. A few inches on a rise can make a big difference in fit. Because of this, knowing your body and what you like is necessary.

If you’re reading this and thinking “Maddy I have NO flipping clue what rise of jeans I wear,” no a big deal. Go into your closet, pull out some pairs you like – if you can look them up online/in store and see the rise. Or try to find a similar style. Worse comes to worse I’d recommend putting them on and taking a photo of yourself in the mirror to see where they hit. From there – use that as a reference point when shopping.

Knowing your preferred rise will serve as a great starting point, as well as a point to help weed out options/contenders.

3.) Do you prefer stretch denim or structured denim? (How much stretch) 

Personally, I like my denim to be one of the following:
100% cotton
99% cotton and 1% elastane
98% cotton and 2% 

I rarely go below 98% cotton. I would rather have denim tighter and more structured then break it in over time. [But, as a note. If it’s 100% cotton I have to size up for my butt and thighs and get the waist altered.]

My friend Meagan is also a jeans > leggings person. We were discussing this the other day on IG actually. But, where I love tight, structured denim, she is a stretch denim girl all the way. This is truly all a preference thing! If you have no idea what kind of jeans you’re wearing now go investigate a few inside tags!

I know this sounds like a lot of work, but having jeans you love feels damn good. And I’d much rather take the time to find the right pair then be constantly unsatisfied and hunting for jeans.

4.)What is your preferred inseam length?

Full length versus crop versus ankle skimming. Ps don’t be afraid to chop an inch (or three) off your own denim if you like the raw edge hem. I’ve cut 3-4 pairs of jeans in the past year. If you plan to wear them with boots – my recommendation would be to either have 1.) have them be short enough so your ankle is showing between the end of the jean and the beginning of the boot OR 2.) cuff them.
If your boot comes a bit higher (low to mid calf) that’s where you could tuck in skinny jeans!

5.) What features + styles are you interested in?

This can essentially cover every other detail. Things such as:
What type of wash?
Light wash, medium, dark? If black denim is it true black or faded black?
Do you prefer button fly or zipper fly? (If button- exposed or not?)
Do you want distressing? A lot? A little?
Are you into raw edge hems?

And last but not least…do not be afraid to get them tailored.

Everyone’s body is different so everyone’s denim choice will probably differ as well.

We are all unique humans and not going to fit perfectly in something made in large quantities and sold at major retailers.

For example – my Edwin jeans that I’m wearing here. (and raved about HERE and HERE) have been altered. I ordered a size up, my mom darted the waist (took it in) and we cut 2 inches off the bottom.

The most important thing to focus on is finding a pair that makes you feel good. (And look good, which goes hand in hand with feeling good).

The clothes are here to work for you, not the other way around.

And if you’re feeling lost in your closet and are interested in help, let me know! I offer multiple styling services and we can find the best one for you!

Make sure to pin this post for the next time you go shopping!

xo, Maddy

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