Are you someone that follows “fashion rules?” Do you read blogs and Youtube videos going through each body type and the best fit for it? Jeans are known to be one of the hardest articles of clothing to get right — and its for a good reason — there are so many options, and no body is the same. I tend to think of fashion rules and how I think about dressing myself in three parts. Number one: Is there an objective reality in which I might look best in something that aligns with a “fashion rule,” even if I never gravitated toward that cut/shape/length before? I think the answer could always be yes to that, and that is why we must always be open to at least trying out a suggested style, but there are two more things to consider when choosing whether it is right for you. Number two: Do I feel that I look my best? Have you ever heard the phrase, “When you look good you feel good?” I could also flip it around and make it say “When you feel good you look good!” They say that confidence is the best accessory. This carries me into my third consideration: Do I feel comfortable? I think there can be a scenario, where looking my “best” to someone else could involve me dressing in a way that makes me personally uncomfortable — like wearing clothes that show skin or are tight on the figure. Let’s go through a couple classic fashion rules for jeans, and then I will talk through some caveats.

Hourglass
Characteristics: Balanced hips and shoulders, defined waist.
Best Jeans:
- High-Waisted Skinny Jeans: Accentuates the waist and showcases your curves.
- Straight-Leg Jeans: Keeps the look streamlined and complements your proportions.
- Bootcut Jeans: Balances your curves for a timeless look.

**Andrea in AG full length Farrah Bootcut Jeans**

I think Bootcut jeans on Andrea are her
best fit. She has an hourglass figure, but
she has very long legs. On someone with
shorter legs, a cropped straight leg or for
me, a wide leg looks better. It is interesting
how wide leg is not mentioned at all for an
hourglass figure, yet for me, it is what I look
and feel my best in.

**Andrea in AG Cropped Farrah Jeans**

Andrea also loves a kick flare on her, which
would be the cropped version of a full length
bootcut jean. It is a modern take on a traditional
bootcut that gives you more shoe options, and
allows them to shine.

**Morgan in Agolde Harper Wide Leg Jeans**

As someone with shorter legs, I think a jean
that doesn’t vary so much in shape from
the top to the bottom helps give the
illusion of a longer line of leg, as opposed
to “cutting the leg in half” by making the
thigh tighter and the leg looser. My
personal preference would also allow for
an even wider leg, to almost align with the
width of my shoulders, giving the illusion of
a smaller waist.

2. Pear-Shaped

Characteristics: Wider hips, narrower shoulders.

Best Jeans:

Wide-Leg Jeans: Provides balance by flowing away from the hips.
Flare Jeans: Adds proportion to the lower half, balancing wider hips.
Mid-Rise Jeans: Defines your waist without overemphasizing the hips.

**Example photo of a pear shape in a Wide Leg**
**Jean.**

Maybe I’m partial to wide leg jeans, but I
find they look cool on everyone. However,
I have also read many other blogs where a
straight, cropped jean is what is said to be
preferred on a pear shape.

There are many other different body types, such as the Apple body type. The characteristics of the Apple body type is a fuller midsection with slimmer legs. According to a few blogs, the best jean for that type is a high waisted straight leg jean, a relaxed fit/ boyfriend jean, or a bootcut. According to Carly, the Apple body looks best in a skinny straight, a cropped bootcut, or a skinny bootcut. This is the issue with “fashion rules.” They are so subjective to each person. Yes — there are certain styles that may objectively just look better or worse on a person, but we think that is where the in-person shopping experience comes in. There are so many factors that can go into whether a jean looks awesome — the color, the wash, the length, the size of the back pockets, the weight, and the fabric content. I truly think the act of coming into a store like Gladiola Girls and trying on a pile of jeans and talking through each one is the key to finding what looks objectively best on you, what you feel good in, or what you’re comfortable wearing (hopefully all three).