Like many curvy women, I’ve always had a hard time finding jeans—they either gap in the waistband or are too tight in the hips. But my picks for the best jeans for curvy women do neither. For example, my favorite pair overall, the NYDJ Marilyn Straight Jeans have a flattering fit and cut, while my best value pick, the Gloria Vanderbilt High Rise Jean features a comfortable elastic waistband and is available on Amazon for only $30.
To find the best jeans for curvy women, I focused on brands that have an inclusive size range, comfortable and stretchy materials, and a great return policy. Then I personally tested over a dozen brands, read online reviews, and consulted experts— including a professional stylist and body acceptance advocate. After some hits and misses, I narrowed down the field to this list of the nine best jeans for curvy women.
Sizes: 00-18, 14W-28W (Plus, Regular, Petite) | Colors: Haley, Quinn, Rinse | Shipping and returns: Free shipping and returns within 30 days
All NYDJ jeans feature the brand’s Lift Tuck construction, which is a proprietary technology that slims the tummy with the help of a panel, and utilizes a criss-cross design to shape and contour the butt and hips. “It boosts the curves in the back for a flattering effect,” says Cassandra Sethi, NYC-based Personal Stylist at Next Level Wardrobe. The straight-leg fit elongates the leg and creates a streamlined silhouette, and the style looks good with a variety of different tops. I especially love the feel of these jeans; even though they are fitted, they aren’t too tight. They are soft and stretchy; I’d recommend sizing down for the best fit.
Best Value Jeans For Curvy Women
Elastic Waist And High Rise Fit
Gloria Vanderbilt Women’s Amanda Pull On High Rise Jeans
Sizes: 4-26 (Standard, Petite, Plus)| Colors: 14 in total, including Black and Denim Blue | Shipping and returns: Free shipping; free returns on select sizes and colors
With a hidden elastic waistband and a stretchy blend of cotton, polyester and Spandex, these highly-rated jeans are remarkably comfortable. They have “real” pockets, despite the jegging construction, and are great for those who don’t like zippers or buttons (if you have sensitive skin or are postpartum, for example). They are slim but not tight—no bunching in the calf area—and they sit at your natural waist for a flattering fit. Since the waistband is elastic, I prefer a longer top with these jeans so you don’t see the waistband.
Best Petite Jeans For Curvy Women
Inclusive Sizes With Shorter Inseams
Spanx EveryWear Kick Flare Jeans
Sizes: XS-3X (Petite, Regular, Tall) | Colors: 4, including White and Clean Black| Shipping and returns: Free shipping and returns
If you’re on the shorter side, you’ll appreciate that there’s no hemming required with these Spanx jeans, which come in three lengths, including petite, with a 25.5-inch inseam. “Petite denim items can be pretty hard to find but Spanx has great options,” says Sethi. These jeans have a high waist with built-in Spanx TummyTamer Tech to shape your middle, and the four-way stretch fabric hugs your curves and provides a comfortable fit. The pull-on style doesn’t have a button, zipper or even front pockets, providing a streamlined look, and the trendy kick-flare leg hits at the ankle works well with ballet flats, sandals and loafers.
Best Straight Leg Jeans For Curvy Women
Leg Lengthening And Versatile
Liverpool Kennedy Straight
Sizes: 0-16 | Colors: Halifax | Shipping and returns: Free shipping over $175; free returns within 30 days
Up-and-coming brand Liverpool has great options for curvy women, says Sethi. The straight-leg fit is especially comfortable and provides a lot of stretch (because of this, Sethi says the jeans can run big so she recommends sizing down). The Kennedy fit is versatile, and elongates your legs, she adds. These jeans have a mid-rise waist, with traditional five-pocket styling, and a zipper fly and button closure. They are also made using sustainable practices: The denim is aniline-free (aniline is a potentially toxic dye associated with indigo) and recyclable, plus the buttons and hardware are chemical-free, and even the tags are made from recycled materials.
Best Skinny Jeans For Curvy Women
Skinny But Not Too Tight On Your Hips And Thighs
Warp + Weft Mxp Plus High Rise
Sizes: 14-24 | Colors: 2 total, including Twilight and Raven | Shipping and returns: Free shipping over $75; $7 return shipping fee (exchanges free)
Skinny-fit jeans are often annoyingly tight for curvy types. Warp + Weft’s denim, however, sculpts and smoothes your body with a high-rise fit that’s extra comfortable and supportive without being constrictive, and the tightly woven fabric feels silky and lightweight. The ankle opening is slim (but not uncomfortably tight), and the 29-inch inseam is versatile and the ideal length for wearing with almost any type of shoe—from boots to flats to flip flips. You can also feel good about the fact that the jeans are made using energy-saving technology and planet-friendly materials.
Best High-Waisted Jeans For Curvy Women
From A Brand That Truly Understands Women’s Bodies
Good American Good Waist Palazzo Jeans
Sizes: 00-32 Plus| Colors: Indigo759 | Shipping and returns: Free shipping over $125; returns within 21 days of order date, with restocking fee
Ultra-high rise Good American Good Waist Jeans are available in both skinny and wide leg (palazzo) styles—and each style comes in a cropped length for petite figures. So there are lots of options. “Good American really nails comfort, trend and size inclusivity,” says Katie Sturino, a body acceptance advocate, author of Body Talk and founder of Megababe. I found these high-waisted jeans to be soft, stretchy and easy to wear. Keep in mind: Orders are subject to a restocking fee, but it’s waived if you exchange sizes or opt for a store credit.
Best Wide Leg Jeans For Curvy Women
On-Trend And Ultra Flattering
J.Crew Denim Trouser in 1996 Semi-Stretch
Sizes: 23-37 (Classic, Petite, Tall )| Colors: 3 total, including Resin Rinse which is on sale | Shipping and returns: $5 shipping (free for J.Crew Rewards Members); $7.50 for returns online (free in-store) within 30 days
J.Crew has transformed into an inclusive brand with a wide variety of styles for curvy women, says Sturino. These denim trousers are fitted through the hip and wide in the leg, which makes for a comfortable combination. (However, they run a little big, so you may want to size down so they don’t gap in the waist.) This pair is structured so it doesn’t lose its shape after hours of wear, but it has a bit of elastin to prevent it from feeling too stiff and tight. In addition to the fit, I love how versatile these jeans are; I can dress them up to wear to the office or dress them down on the weekends. Note that J.Crew also makes a Curvy Trouser, but reviewers prefer this classic trouser fit.
Best Mom Jeans For Curvy Women
Classic That Comes In 15 Sizes
Levi’s Women’s High Waisted Mom Jeans
Sizes: 24-39 | Colors: 16 colors, including Indigo and Black | Shipping and returns: Free shipping; free returns on some sizes and colors
Levi’s does retro mom jeans right. The relaxed fit in the hips and thighs is great for curvy bodies, the high rise accentuates your waist, the hint of stretch makes them feel comfortable and not restrictive, and they have a trendy tapered leg. We also like that the jeans are available plus sizes and 16 colors (including fall shades like Decadent Chocolate and Plum Perfect) and some styles have strategically placed rips for a more casual look.
Most Comfortable Jeans For Curvy Women
Stretch Denim That Retains Its Shape
DL1961 Florence Skinny Mid Rise Instasculpt 30″
Sizes: 23-34 | Colors: Warner | Shipping and returns: Free shipping and returns
DL1961 is a celebrity-favorite denim brand, and their high-quality designs and performance fabrics make them hard to beat in this category. Their Instasculpt construction harnesses high-retention elastane technology that smooths, lifts and sculpts your waist, thighs and butt, and these jeans won’t lose their shape after you wear them (this is what the brand refers to as 360-degree hold). They have a flattering mid-rise cut, a skinny silhouette and the dark wash is perfect for fall and winter.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
We research, test and thoroughly analyze all of the products that we recommend, including the best jeans for curvy women.
This story was written by Forbes Vetted contributor Dory Zayas, who has written extensively about fashion and beauty for national publications. A petite and curvy woman herself, she has worn many of the jeans on this list.
The publication of this article was overseen by deputy editor Kari Molvar, who has written and edited lifestyle content for more than 20 years.
We tap both internal and external expert sources when researching our stories. For this piece, we spoke to Cassandra Sethi, NYC-based personal stylist at Next Level Wardrobe and Katie Sturino, a body acceptance advocate, author of Body Talk and founder of Megababe.
How We Chose The Best Jeans For Curvy Women
We performed in-depth research on jeans to find pairs that rated high in terms of comfort, fit, style and size inclusivity. We also researched which brands offered the best return policies.
Forbes Vetted contributor Dory Zayas considered brands well-known for producing high-quality jeans that are cut for curv
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