Denim Buying Guide

Dangerous curves lay ahead. The hipster jean revival used to mean that your thong was making more public appearances than Tom Cruise in love. Nobody wants to see that. You can't hide your booty or hips in those baggy jeans. Instead, wear bootcuts and slight flares that will balance out your above-the-ankle architecture. Choose your pockets wisely (big, not small; embellished ones for the booty-ful), cuts that dip just below your waistline, and steer clear of all light washes.

True Religion's Joey Twisted Seam make a for a great trompe l'oeil, dragging all eyes down your legs and away fromx your hips. 7 For All Mankind's Bootcut and AG Jeans Clubicon are the co-champions of bootcuts and have back pockets that flatter almost every derriere. Paige Premium Denim's "Pico" Flap Pocket Stretch jeansicon offer a great, light flare, stretchy material and great pocket distractions.

You've been lovingly labeled as "tank-shaped," or "athletic" and your architecture appears to be more boyish than serpentine. Contrary to your masculine physique, you are not supposed to buy men's jeans. Instead, create the illusion of curves by bringing attention to your ankles with either a taper or a slim, straight leg.

If skinnies suit your leg circumference, J Brand's surprisingly soft and stretchy 12" Skinny and Radcliffe's NW1 Skinny Leg are both stylish and accommodating. If you're uneasy with extreme tapering, try Levi's Red Slouch Straight Jeans, or American Eagle's AE Straight 77 Stretch Jean.

Radcliffe Denim NW1 Skinny Leg Stretch, $181 @ shopbop.com.

Levi's Red Slouch Straight Jeans, $39 @ Dillards.com.

American Eagle Straight 77 Stretch Jean, $50 @ AE.com.

If you're either too tall or too tiny, buying jeans generally means a trip to the tailor for a little seam adjustment. For the leggy, longer inseams are increasingly available. Bootcuts, flares, and cuffs offer a visual break in your long lines. For the shorter shorties, pairing low-rise, narrow-legged jeans with heels should do the trick. If you're curvy opt for ankle flare to balance out your hips.

Extra-long inseams (starting at 34") are found on Hudson's Supermodel, Lucky Brand's Lil' Maggie and Notify's Anemone styles. With petites the situation is trickier. You don't want your legs to appear shorter than they already are. Both Talbots and Levis carry chic petite cuts, and general styles that look great are Sass and Bide's Frayed Misfits and Chip and Pepper's Pamela Straight.

Having a heavier top-line, a swimmer's body, or a waistline that's greater than your hipline can be a rough denim fit. Don't hide your waist. Adding definition in the form of a medium-rise waistline will not only avoid the fashion faux pas muffin top (flesh that balloons over your waistline), but also detract the focus you'll get from a high waistline. Keep darks on top and lighter washes on the bottom. And stay away from drainpipes and skinnies.

DKNY's East Village jeans have a strategically placed medium-rise waistband. Not Your Daughter's Jeans' Tummy Tucks, as their name would suggest, are built to narrow your girth. Wide waistbands help break up your tummy's visual magnetism, so try Miss Sixty's Edgard Jeans if that's the case.

Denim is such a big deal these days that whole sites are dedicated to fitting, fixing and obsessing over them.

Zafu combines denim business savvy with the power of math and science to help you find jeans that fit you best. Find more jeans made to fit you perfectly in our custom made clothing and accessories newsletter.

If you're looking to get your jeans fixed, DenimTherapy.com reconstructs jeans with denim thread (no patches) for $7 an inch.

Shopbop.com has a great sizing system and a list of the trendiest brands on the market from James to Joe's to Earnest Sewn.

If you're looking to catch up on all the denim celebrity gossip, check out Denimology to find out who's wearing what jeans, when and why.

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