The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - The Telegraph Magazine
‘I want an alternative to skinny jeans’
Q
I’ve got a wobbly belly, but a slim waist and legs. Skinny, high-waisted jeans are my go-to as mom jeans don’t fit very well, but I’m bored of these. Can you suggest another style? I’m 33, a size 12 and want to be able to wear them for smart and casual. — Ally
A
Ah, the eternal search for perfect jeans. Ally, I feel your pain. You mention mom jeans, which are the buzz style right now, but I think denim trends should largely be ignored – concentrate on what works for you instead. That said, the jeans world has moved on a lot since skinnies became the default silhouette over a decade ago, so it’s great that you’re ready to try something different.
Our jeans do expose our biggest body hang-ups, so I’ve thought about styles that will emphasise your small waist and slim legs while skimming over your ‘wobbly belly’. A brilliant tip I heard recently was that your personal view of your jeans is always looking straight down over your tummy, whereas everyone else sees you front on, so do bear this in mind when you’re trying on.
A great place to start would be a high-waisted, cropped kick-flare pair. These have everything you love in your skinnies, but as well as emphasising your legs, the flick at the bottom adds some interest and shows off your ankles. You can wear them with the same shoes you’d style skinny jeans with, too – trainers, ballet pumps, loafers, sandals or ankle boots.
On the high street, I love the Mood and Crush styles from & Other Stories, and M&S’S denim selection is really underrated – the high-waisted flared jeans could work well for you. If you have more to invest, then Mother Denim has brilliant options with various degrees of kick, including the Tripper, the Insider and the Weekender, or try Frame’s Le Crop. Whistles’ kick flare is a great mid-range possibility.
If you want to keep the streamlined finish you get from skinnies, then simply moving on to a high-rise, straight leg, like Boden’s relaxed straight, could be all you need to feel that zing of newness. I also wonder if you might be surprised by more of a culotte-style jean, like H&M’S wide high-ankle design – these will really make the most of your waist and skim over your tummy. Most of these styles come in different washes, from sleek black and indigo to more relaxed mid-wash.
And finally, if the fit still isn’t quite right, try an alterations service like the Denim Doctor, Blanc or a good local dry cleaner to help you get exactly what you want.