Finding the perfect jeans

Sep 10, 2009, 9:16 GMT

Hamburg - Boot cut, low waist, high waist, straight fit. These are descriptions for styles of blue jeans, universally understood in English. In fact it seems impossible to go shopping for jeans anywhere and not encounter these words no matter where the shop is.

But even when these descriptions are translated into the local language they usually don't shine enough light on the subject. The style that best matches a particular figure is most easily revealed in the dressing room mirror. And shoppers who already know what looks best on them can leave the styles that don't fit on the rack.

'There are jeans on racks now with a tight cut - the very tightest are tube jeans,' said German style consultant Silke Gerloff. 'Their opposite is the Marlene, which are cut straight with a wide leg.' Aside from that, there's the boot cut, which flares out a bit at the bottom to allow for cowboy boots. They also come in cuts from wide to very narrow.

Wrangler, Mustang, Levi's, Closed, Meltin' Pot and others all use such descriptions on the labels of their jeans. There's regular fit and skinny as well, and descriptions that vary by maker.

'You should always pay attention to ensure the jeans do not sit too low,' said German style consultant Maria Hans. Whether the jeans are the right size or not is revealed in the way they fit one's bottom.

'The jeans simply must sit well on the backside and should not stand out,' she said. A good indication is the back pockets. They should not sit too low or too high, and the front also should have neither wrinkles nor creases in places where they are too tight.

Women with long legs and a slender figure have a lot of choice, mainly because they can select any style. They look good in 7/8 jeans, as well as boyfriend jeans, which are wide in the leg and seat, said Gerloff.

The wide Marlene jeans can conceal figure problems, but they aren't a panacea.

'Marlene jeans also can look crimped,' said Hans, adding that women should by all means make sure they get the right size. Berlin-based designer Gesine Wessels offers similar advice. She said a woman must be able to move well in the jeans.

'She can manage this only when she feels good in the jeans,' said Wessels. She advises against tight-fitting tube jeans, and notes that a perfect style is truly hard to find.

'Those who have found their personal style of jeans should stick with them. That's like having the right six numbers in the lottery,' said Wessels. Saleswomen can be helpful in finding them by encouraging customers to try on a completely new pair of jeans.

'What label the jeans have doesn't matter at all. The main thing is that they fit. And that's something for a neutral person - not a best friend - to judge,' said Wessels.

There are good styles in all price categories. The saleswoman just has to look long enough to find them. 'I can find something that fits at a discount store and in the Gucci shop be off the mark,' Wessels added.