The hunt for the best type of jeans can be tricky. There are so many factors to take into consideration when you’re looking for the perfect pair of denim, including your body type and body shape, height, personal style, etc. However, starting with the right types of jeans in terms of cut can help you to complement your capsule wardrobe, and have a small variety to choose from depending on the outfit and occasion! These 5 types of jeans are timeless and classic, meaning you don’t have to worry about them going out of style by next season. Keep reading for the list of jeans that will complete your capsule wardrobe.
1. Straight-Leg Jeans
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90s Straight Jeans
If you’re looking for the perfect pair of jeans that pairs well with nearly any shoe, look no further than straight-leg jeans. This style is a French girl’s favorite for a reason! This style features a straight silhouette, like the name would imply, and has a consistently even leg width from your hip down to your ankle. Straight-leg jeans look great on nearly every body type, but particularly flatter those who are trying to emphasize their waist, or who are taller. They also work well if you would like to balance out the shape of your hips.
How to Style Them
When it comes to what shoes work well with straight-leg jeans, the answer is nearly all of them. Loafers, ballet flats, pointed-toe ankle boots, and strappy heels all look great with straight-leg jeans. If you want to create the illusion of more height, go for a heel! The straight shape of the jeans, paired with the extra heel height, will make your legs look both slimmer and longer.
2. Slim Jeans
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High-Rise Vintage Slim Jeans
Mid-rise slim jeans or ones with a high waist are a great middle ground between straight-leg jeans and skinny jeans. Slim jeans fit snugly (but not too tightly) through the hips and thighs. They taper out ever so slightly at the ankle. If you prefer a slightly more relaxed fit than skinny jeans but still like the shape and close fit, this might just be your best type of jeans.
Once again, slim jeans can look amazing on every body type but can especially flatter those with an hourglass shape, an athletic build, or a lean silhouette.
How to Style Them
When it comes to what shoes to pair with slim jeans, go for pairs with a slim profile. Avoid chunky boots, loafers, or sneakers that could add too much visual weight to your feet and throw your look off balance. Instead, go for ballet flats, Mary Janes, kitten heels, or sandals. These will better complement slim-fit jeans and still give you a flattering look!
On top, you can create a casual chic look by pairing your slim jeans with a t-shirt and blazer. As for your accessories, try a quilted shoulder bag and classic ballet flats for a French girl-approved outfit idea.
3. Wide-Leg Jeans
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Perfect Vintage Wide-Leg Jeans
Wide-leg jeans will flatter those who are trying to balance out their curves and add visual weight to their lower half. They can also provide a slimming effect if you have wider hips or thighs and are looking to create a streamlined look. Try going for high-waisted jeans in this style. Low-rise jeans in this cut might draw the visual line outward, instead of up and down. This will add extra visual heaviness to your frame and might overwhelm you, especially if you are petite or have shorter legs.
How to Style Them
When it comes to styling wide-leg jeans, try going for shoes with a pointed toe. This will help to make your legs appear longer by continuing the visual line of your body vertically all the way down from the waistband of your pants through the very tip of your shoe. Pointed-toe ankle boots, flats, or heels would all look great with this style of jeans!
On top, you can balance out your midsection by choosing a slim-fit shirt or sweater. Once again, if you choose anything too boxy or oversized on top, this combination could overwhelm your frame. If you’re looking to create balance with the fabrication of your pieces, you can balance out the look of rigid denim with a cotton sweater or t-shirt. Throw on a suede blazer, and add a pair of leopard print boots if you really want to make things interesting!
4. Crop Jeans
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High-Rise Crop Jean
For all of my fellow petite women out there, crop jeans can be especially flattering! On the flip side, they also look great on taller women. The key is finding the right length for your specific leg length. They are most flattering when they hit just above the ankle. Try measuring your inseam to find the length that’s perfect for you – just measure from the seam at the crotch of the pants down to the hem at the bottom.
Crop jeans come in a number of different silhouettes, depending on your personal preferences. This includes straight-fit jeans, ones with a slight flare, flare jeans, low-rise, and high-rise jeans, etc. There are so many styles to choose from, which could make this your best style of jeans!
How to Style Them
Crop jeans are ideal for warm-weather looks. Pair them with clogs, sneakers, or sandals for a casual outfit. Or, dress them up with ballet pumps, kitten heels, or slim ankle boots (just make sure that the boots are tall enough that there’s no awkward gap between the top of your shoe and the bottom hem of your pants).
If you choose a slim pair of crop jeans, you can balance out your look with a top that has more volume, like an oversized sweater. This is one of my favorite looks on a day when you’re going for comfort, but also want to add an elegant touch with a pair of pointed-toe kitten heels!
5. Skinny Jeans
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High-Rise Skinny Jeans
Trends come and go, but skinny jeans are one of the best types of jeans that can outlast fleeting styles. Although they might be trending again right now, this classic style isn’t going anywhere. They can flatter a number of body types, but it’s really all about how you style them. They will fit closely like a pair of leggings, so keep that in mind when you’re choosing the fit that works for you! Darker wash skinny jeans also tend to be more flattering than light-wash, so that might be something else to consider if you’re going for a slimming look.
How to Style Them
Just like slim jeans, you’ll want to stick to a low-profile shoe when you’re styling skinny jeans. However, you can also play around with choosing tall knee-high boots to wear over them. This is a fun twist on the style if you’re looking for something different!
Jean-ius Style
When it comes to the best type of jeans, there’s no one pair that is the magic solution. Every body type and shape will look best in a different pair! However, having these 5 types of jeans in your capsule wardrobe will give you a great collection and variety. If you love classic style and don’t pay attention to fleeting trends, this list of jeans will be your new best friend.
Are you in the mood for more jeans looks? Up Next: 7 Fresh Ways to Wear White Jeans This Spring and Summer
