In no way do I want to represent myself as a fashion expert but I do have a question for you. What kind of jeans and pants do you wear?

When my kids and I went up to Boston this summer I noticed my sister who is 48, 5'2" tall looking old and fat. Which she is neither. She was wearing high waisted jeans, no pockets in the back and tapered legs. She looked like she had a bigger pooch than she does, a fat/wide butt, and seemed really short.

My dds's and I took her to the Gap. She tried on different pairs of jeans and ended up buying a lower rise, dark wash, boot cut jean.

What a tranformation! She lost ten years and ten pounds and seemed to be four inches taller!!!!!
We also took away her Liz Clairborne long and pleated shorts for a 5 inch inseam short with a flat front. Her legs are adorable!

After we left she went shopping and bought a few more pairs of jeans and shorts. She feels amazing.

Just wondering if anyone else needs a pant/shorts makeover? LOL!

I'm watching "What Not To Wear" on tv and this made me think of this! )

By Crystal915 on Sunday, August 7, 2005 - 03:57 pm:

I have to wear low rise, because I have a very short waist. The only downside is the "muffin top" phenomenon, because of my stretched out belly. Jeans are my biggest hassle, when I find a pair that fit right, I wear the heck out of them!! I see women wearing the wrong cut/style jeans all the time, especially heavy women wearing low,skin-tight jeans, looking like a denim sausage. Ugh!! I'm a big believer in dressing to your body.

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, August 7, 2005 - 05:11 pm:

I wouldn't want to wear low-rise jeans. I'm just not skinny enough. My belly would hang over my pants. Yuck!

By Kim on Sunday, August 7, 2005 - 05:24 pm:

I think it was on Oprah one day...they showed women in their old jeans that made them look like they had all butt and they transformed them into mcuh more modern looking women all by shcnging theit jeans to low rise! The change was unbelievable! I usually do not wear jeans as I have a very loooooong rise and they ride up. But I wrote to a fashion expert and she gave me some advice. One suggestion was a pair of jeans by Old Navy and they are called "just below the waist" *I think*. I tried them and they worked! No riding up! I think if you buy them in the right size maybe the extra tummy wouldn't hang over the top? As soon as I can I plan to buy some of those jeans! I haven't worn any since high school! And it gets rid of the "all butt" syndrome!

There are a few women at my work that I would LOVE to suggest they get into the 21st century with their hair......the poofy, sprayed-into-place (glued together actually) look was soooo long ago! One in particular, if she got a shag cut she would look so cute and 10 years younger! I think people get stuck in what they liked in their youth and they stay there!

By Andi on Sunday, August 7, 2005 - 05:33 pm:

I usually wear Ann Taylor Loft stretch dark denim jeans. They are so comfortable and I feel like they look good. LOL

By Annie2 on Sunday, August 7, 2005 - 05:49 pm:

Those are cute, Andi! They are so soft, too.

By Kate on Sunday, August 7, 2005 - 05:54 pm:

Um, can I have your sister's Claiborne shorts?? I love those!!

My jeans definitely have pockets on the back, but they are normal waist (high, probably, to many of you). They're Gap 'classic fit' ones. I won't wear low rise anything...I can't tell you the number of women's rear ends I've seen in the past few years...WAY too many!!

By Jann on Sunday, August 7, 2005 - 05:57 pm:

I wear mid rise jeans, ususally a boot cut since I am not very tall. In the summer I wear capri's.

By Eve on Sunday, August 7, 2005 - 06:28 pm:

YES!! I hate those jeans!! I have a friend who still wears tapered jeans and they make her look bigger than she is! She finally bought her first pair of lower rise jeans-- I can't wait to see them on her.

I'm short waisted and everything I wear is lower rise. My underwear don't stick out. If your belly is hanging over, then you should go with a size larger with the low rise.

By Crystal915 on Sunday, August 7, 2005 - 06:35 pm:

Also, the size and spacing of the pockets is important. I had a pair of Bongo jeans with pockets that were too small, and they made my butt look HUGE. Eve, I disagree about the belly hanging over on low rise. I need a tummy tuck to get rid of the extra skin the just droops. If I go up one size the jeans don't fit, but no matter what (unless I wore jeans up to my ribcage) my belly puffs out. Plus, going up one size creates that gap in the back that allows the whole world to see down my rear.

By Trina~moderator on Sunday, August 7, 2005 - 06:39 pm:

The fashions of my youth are now back in style! However, at 41 and after two kids, I'm not a spring chicken and don't feel comfy with my midriff or love handles showing. I have a pair of Old Navy "just below the waist" bootcut jeans. I like them and they are very comfortable, but DH tactfully/honestly told me that they don't do my butt justice. He prefers my classic 550 Levis, but I must mention that he is an ultra conservative dresser. I try to keep stylish but prefer to wear things that compliment my body type.

By Kate on Sunday, August 7, 2005 - 06:49 pm:

Now, boot cut...those are straight leg? Or are they wider at the bottom? I've never gotten into the 'flair' pants that came back. I prefer a tapered leg as I don't like a lot of width at the ankle. I also don't like the leg to be one entire size...your REAL leg is smaller at the bottom than top, so shouldn't the pants reflect that? Yes, I am hopelessly out of style and hate to shop so it will remain so.

By Marcia on Sunday, August 7, 2005 - 07:14 pm:

Boot cut means that they are wide enough, all the way down, to fit over boots. Flare means that they flare out to a very wide bottom. Straight legs are much tighter all the way down.
Tapered means wide thighs and tight ankles.

I saw that Oprah, too, and the difference was amazing! I have never owned low rise jeans, because I'm too fat too feel comfy with my gut hanging out. Then again, I guess just wearing a long enough top would help solve that problem??

By Pamt on Sunday, August 7, 2005 - 07:34 pm:

I wear boot cut just below the navel jeans, but I have a HORRIBLE time finding jeans that fit. I am 5'9" and have long legs and a long torso. Tall jeans are too long for me and regulars are too short by about an inch and worse if I wear anything with a heel. I generally do wear a slight heel because me feet are also size 10AAA and look a little smaller in heels than flats. I do have some more trendy tops and stuff, but overall I am a very classic dresser. I tend to buy the type of stuff that will be in style for a long while. I have gotten rid of all pleated pants/jeans and only wear flat fronts. Iused to have LOTS of pleated, tapered jeans because that was in style when I was in high school. I do hate when I see 40 y/o's dressing like teenagers, but I do think we should stay somewhat with the current style while dressing age appropriately. My personal favorite place to shop for the style and the money is New York and Company. Almost all of my new clothes come from there.

By Eve on Sunday, August 7, 2005 - 08:00 pm:

Crystal, I'm not saying buy huge jeans. I just saying if a low rise is cutting into your stomach and is snug, then they are going to make your buldge stand out even more. Where as if it was a little larger and layed flat against your stomach with a little give, then it looks better IMO.

I agree with finding a style that suits you, but I don't think it's flattering to wear a style that comes up past your belly button. Low rise doesn't have to mean your butt hanging out, just that it comes slightly below your belly button. Which for me, because I am so short waisted, means right below mine. IMHO, wearing super high jeans with that tight waist brings greater attention to your hips. Even though, you may have perfectly small and fabulous hips...they are going to look larger. The same goes for your rear end. If you are wearing high wasited, it makes the surface area of your butt appear larger. If that look is what you want, then by all means wear it.

I agree Pam, just update a little. You don't have to go "trendy" or do anything foolish. Just switching from tapered to a straight leg is a pretty minor transition.

By Reds9298 on Sunday, August 7, 2005 - 08:49 pm:

I wear boot cut low rise jeans. LOVE Gap stretch, have 800 pairs of them (ok, not quite that many!LOL) and I loved them in maternity, too. I have a hard time finding jeans that I like because I'm very small waisted and short. They always fit my booty but not my waist, LOL! Has to be petite for me or they won't work. I don't even TRY anymore if they're not petite. I also always wear a heeled shoe unless it's tennis shoes because of my height. Boot cut jeans are the best thing to happen to us short-legged gals if you ask me! They make us look so much longer!

Andi - mmmm, haven't tried Ann Taylor Loft jeans! Good idea! I love Ann Taylor Loft and all my cropped pants are from there in petites, so I should try them out.

By Sue3 on Sunday, August 7, 2005 - 10:39 pm:

Annie,
I just saw a skit on those exact type of jeans you described that your sister wore on Saturday night live last night.
It was hilarious.
They called them Mom jeans or something like that.And all the women that wore them in the skit made them look like they had big bottoms.
They were high waisted and straight legged.
I still have some too .
I just wear them around the house.
I have a hard time finding jeans too ,I am short waisted and short and have a tummy.
I don`t like the low rise either because then my stomach hangs out over the jeans.
I`ll have to give Gap a try again.
I tried one pair from long ago that I likes but doubt if they still make that style.

By Ilovetom on Sunday, August 7, 2005 - 11:05 pm:

LOL Sue3! I watched that too and thought of the same thing. MOM jeans from JC Penney. That was too funny and they came with a free vest.

Oh and I buy Old Navy- low waist size short for length.

By Boxzgrl on Sunday, August 7, 2005 - 11:18 pm:

I can say ditto to Crystal on everything.

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, August 7, 2005 - 11:47 pm:

I have some capris (cropped pants?) that I just bought this summer. They don't go as high as other pants I have, but not as low as the pants my kids wear! They look okay on me. they are stretchy, so they are soooo comfy! The minute I put them on, I knew I was buying them! I almost wish I had 2 pair, but I think since I only bought them recently, that I wouldn't have found another pair.

By Crystal915 on Monday, August 8, 2005 - 12:24 am:

Eve, I didn't mean to come across as snarky, just that buying a size bigger doesn't help for some. After carrying twins, my belly is beyond stretched, it stinks!!

By Eve on Monday, August 8, 2005 - 07:34 am:

LOL, Crystal--you didn't. I'm just speaking from my own experience. It doesn't bother me one bit. I have never seen your tummy and for you it may be true. For me it works. Well, we'll see after this baby if it works! LOL!

By Karen~moderator on Monday, August 8, 2005 - 07:35 am:

Reds, I LOVE Gap stretch jeans too!!!!!! I have the ones that *you* didn't buy! LOL I'm tall and my legs are long, and I love that Gap has different lengths - I can finally find jeans long enough.

By Bellajoe on Monday, August 8, 2005 - 08:10 am:

I saw a Oprah show with those two british women on it one day. Their motto that day was "get rid of the tapered jeans!" They make your ankles look skinny but then you look like you have a big butt. Kinda like this V

I have a bigger butt but a smaller waist. It is a pain to find anything that fits me. If it fitts my butt, it is too big around the waist. If it fits my waist, it is too tight in the butt. I usuallly buy the more expensive jeans, because that is what fits the best. I get Liz Claiborne or Ralph Lauren...on sale usually!

By Reds9298 on Monday, August 8, 2005 - 09:08 am:

Ditto Bellajoe! I always have to go more expensive because it's just what works best for me unfortunately. I haven't tried the RL's but I see other short, small friends like me wearing them and they're so cute. Have to try them. I have some Tommy Hilfiger's that I don't love but like...they're not bad either.

Karen - That's the best thing about Gap jeans - the lengths and washes, too!

By Paulas on Monday, August 8, 2005 - 05:47 pm:

I have a big butt and small waist (well, small for my butt size) and I have a horrible time with pants. To get them over my butt they are so big in the waist. I can use a belt but then they are all bunched up. I've even tried the kind that they now have that are like a maternity waist (adjustable) but they, too, are too puckered.

Would someone please come to my house and do a make over?????