The 7 laws of denim shopping

1. Shop with confidence. Whether you’re a size 2 or 20, it’s important to leave your body issues at home when you shop for jeans. Women often buy jeans that are too big because they’re self-conscious, but a pair that hugs your shape is more flattering.

2. Get the right help and take your time. Shop for jeans the same way you would a bathing suit or bra. Find a salesperson who understands fit and body shape, and who offers you lots of choices. Do not fret: It can take eight or nine tries before you find the exact cut and style you want.

3. Pockets make the booty. Pocket placement is crucial when it comes to a fabulous rear view. Look for ones that are centred on both cheeks, which creates balance, and placed higher, which makes for a perkier-looking bottom. Pockets that sit too low lengthen your backside and shorten your legs, ones that are too small make your backside appear bigger and oversized pockets are overpowering and unflattering.

4. Get to know the yoke. The yoke is the piece of fabric on the backside that sits between the pockets and the waistband and extends across from seam to seam. Look for a narrower, V-shaped yoke, it raises the pockets and curves out the backside nicely. A yoke that’s too wide causes flattening and sagging.

5. Check the outseam. The outseam sits on your outer thigh and affects how your legs look. For a slimming effect, look for an outseam that sits more to the front and gently hugs and shapes the thigh.

6. Feel the fabric. Good-quality denim will hold its shape and resist wear and tear. As long as you’re not wearing them every day, a quality pair of jeans should last at least a year.

7. Avoid the back gap. Look for jeans that are cut lower in the front and higher in the back with a contoured waistband that stays snug to prevent gaping. Also, a looser knee and more relaxed thigh will prevent your jeans from pulling down at the back when you sit.

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