How to Find Flattering Jeans for Pear-Shaped and Curvy Women

Curves are in thanks to voluptuous celebrities such as Beyonce, but it is still difficult to find a great pair of jeans to fit curvy and pear-shaped body types. These shopping tips make it easier to find the perfect jeans to flatter curvy bodies.

What is Pear Shape?
The terms curvy and pear shape are overused and do not have a single, clear meaning. For this jeans guide, we will keep it simple and present these fashion tips for women whose bodies are fuller through the hips and thighs with smaller waists.

Rise: Big Zippers Mean No Creeping Crack
Obviously, pants have to accommodate your biggest area, but that is a challenge if your waist is significantly smaller than your hips. Look for jeans with a long zipper and higher rise in the back than the front. They do not need to be mom jeans--mid-rise should work--but they should open wide enough to fit over your hips and cinch closed tightly around your waist without playing peek a boo undies.

Waistband: Find an Umbrella
Look at jeans before wasting time trying them on. Pants with a contoured waistband will look like an upside down umbrella. This subtle curve helps them comfortably fit over hips and stay in place.

Material: Stretch Can Equal Sag
Stretchy denim seems like the perfect solution for a curvy body, but it can leave you looking saggy. Traditional denim naturally loosens a bit with wear, but stretch denim loosens as you move and stays puckered. Try jeans with a hint of stretch, about 2%, for an easy fit without drooping.

Cut: Bootcut and Straight Leg Jeans
Instead of wearing shapewear or trying to hide curves, try bootcut or straight leg jeans to help balance fuller hips.

A looser cut is usually flattering, but be careful of wide leg jeans. Instead of looking shapely and natural, wide leg jeans can make your body look like one big cylinder.

Color: Dark Denim Delights
Jeans that are faded or feathered draw attention. Think of the lighter fabric as a spotlight shining on various parts of your body. Dark denim is a good go-to option and versatile enough to wear for casual or dressier occasions.

Pockets: Suit Your Seat
Not all curvy bodies are the same. Women with bigger thighs and smaller rears can add balance by choosing pants with larger pockets and embroidery or embellishments across the backside.

Women whose assets do not need accentuating should try the opposite approach and look for jeans with smaller pockets and little or no embellishments.

Some manufacturers take this strategy to the extreme and create pants with tiny, child-size pockets or huge pockets that look salvaged from JNCO or G-Unit. Look in the mirror to make sure the pockets achieve the desired effect.

The Number One Secret to Buying Great Jeans
All of these tips can help you save time by knowing what features to look for, but you will have to brave the poorly-lit dressing rooms and try jeans on to make sure they fit and flatter your unique body.