Women's Fashions: How to Buy Jeans

Oprah has an ongoing love affair with women's fashions. Recently, Stacy London, the stylist from the television show, "What Not to Wear" and the author of "Do I Look Fat?" appeared on Oprah's show to talk about fashion and how women can look their best by selecting jeans that fit.

London advised that if a woman has "a J.Lo backside," it is wise to first find a pair of jeans that fits across the biggest part of the body. Then, it is most likely that a woman with this type of build will need to have the jeans tailored to fit perfectly. Even if you are thinking you don't want to buy new jeans only to pay to have them altered, keep in mind that jeans last virtually forever. So, if they fit you like a glove and make your rear look fantastic, those jeans might just be worth that extra cash to get them fitted.

A good-fitting pair of jeans should not ride up above the knees, according to London. The best fit does not mean too tight. Jeans that ride up are probably constricting and uncomfortable. Although you want a snug fit, don't go for the skin tight look. It's best to select jeans that feel comfortable and conform to your body's best features.

Another tip offered by London was to "make the waist the focus" if you have a large derriere. Doing so will draw attention away from your rear. Keeping with this idea, it may be wise to forego jeans that have pockets on the backside, because they only serve to bring focus to the area you are trying to downplay. Avoid large stitching and other decorative designs on your backside as these types of patterns amplify your behind.

Wear darker colored jeans if you have a large tush and hip area. London says it can be figure-flattering to enhance your look in jeans by wearing a blouse or blazer that cuts across the span of your rear. Wearing empire-waist blouses are en vogue and provide a great fashion cover-up to areas on the body many of us wish to hide. In particular, a v-neck blouse attracts the eye upward, away from the hips, which can be helpful if your bottom is bigger than you'd like, according to London.

For women with a more robust shape, Michael Kors pants were recommended as quite figure-flattering. If you have a very narrow hip (who does?), London says you may want to wear flap pockets on the back with split seams. In this case, A G Club jeans might work for you.

One woman appearing on the Oprah show, Grace, was long, lean, and narrow. London suggested she don a lighter wash pair of jeans to bring attention to her legs and give the illusion of curves. Flap pockets were also recommended to give shape to her rear and legs.

Various celebrities were "consulted" to find out what types of jeans they love to wear. Eva Mendes likes her Humanity jeans while Anne Hathaway goes for Habituals and Zara's jeans. Hudson jeans are Faith Hill's preferred jeans.

Tia Carrera acknowledged she has 2 problem areas: her hips and her thighs. After she gave birth, she found herself often choosing to wear black, in an effort to hide her leftover baby weight. Stylist, Mary Alice, suggested Tia wear a tulip skirt from Saks Fifth Avenue that flares at the bottom to look sassy and great. A bias cut also can help one look slimmer, in this type of situation. Carrera selects Marc Jacobs jeans as her favorite jeans.

Trisha Yearwood loves the Long and Lean jeans at Gap and Elie Tahari. They stretch and are very forgiving, according to her. For Eva Longoria, it's J & Company jeans. And for Marc Jacobs himself, it's Levis all the way.

Stacy London stresses that, in order to find the right pair of jeans, you have got to examine your backside from all angles. You must know your own shape before you know what to look for to find the most flattering fit for you. Marc Jacobs jeans and Levis were also at the top of London's list of stylish, good-looking jeans.

One person on the show, Mariah, was an attorney who admits she spends her life trying to hide her derriere. Stylists Joe Lupo and Jesse Garza-who penned the book, "Nothing to Wear?" gave her feedback on how she was dressing. Firstly, she wore tops that cut straight across the bottom, which they found "boring." Then, she donned a long jacket which they both agreed, was not "flattering" for her. Finally, they helped her find a look she loves. They suggested she wear a sleek, Stella McCartney pantsuit. And she looked gorgeous in it. Lupo and Garza also emphasized that a pleated skirt would look great on her, given her shape.

Another fun mix the stylists suggest was to wear a white jacket with khaki pants by Tahari. The pants should be only slightly flared at the bottom. A turquoise shell with a large, chunky necklace comes next. Then, top it off with a dark belt. And there you have it-summer's perfect outfit for work or play. Bet you are mentally going through your closet right now to see if you can come up with those pieces.

Speaking of khakis, the most flattering Khakis are Elie Tahari pants, according to London. They have a thick waist, a shallow front pocket, straight legs with minimal flare, and split back pockets. Avoid cargo pockets on the side of your legs as they holler, "look at me, I'm large." Ralph Lauren's khakis called "Lauren" are lovely with their wide legs and thick waistband, also applauded by London.

Julia, a young mom of 3 children wanted fashion advice. She said she thinks her tush is much too large. London says that, if that's the case, the length of the blazer/jacket worn is important because you can plan for the length to fall where it will "bisect your butt." Thus, your rear appears smaller. Also, London stressed that, if your tush is larger than you would like, avoid pleats and tapered legs on your jeans. Using overlarge, chunky jewelry can draw the eye away from your rear, which improves your look and helps complete the full ensemble.

The focus for the next discussion: the perfect black pants for every figure. London stressed women should look for a thick band around the waist, a low mid-rise, and no back pockets when shopping for black pants. The Gap Stretch Curvy at $49 is a good one, says London. Another is the Theory Max C. Banana Republic Martin black pant are $98 while the Akris classic side zip pant is-are you ready for this? $700! It has a mid-width straight leg with a little flare at the bottom. Oh, so nice but oh, so expensive!

Let's not forget the underwear. That's right; the type of underwear you select can make or break the fit of your sleek jeans or pants. London recommends Donna Karan's Body Perfect collection. (I'm a Spanx girl, myself.) It comes in 2 levels, aptly named Level 1 and Level 2. These items come in a flesh color or the whitest white. It's also best to wear nude panties under white pants, in case you didn't know. Seamless boy shorts underwear ensures you have a long, smooth line because they don't bunch or show a line along the sides of your upper thigh.

If you want to look fantastic in jeans, take all of the above information into consideration before you go shopping. Knowing your own shape and understanding which style "faux pas" to avoid can put you on the road to the best-looking jeans you have ever worn.

Resource: Oprah Show, 2009, Does My Butt Look Big? Harpo Productions.