We Found 16 Pairs of Jeans for Big Butts That Eliminate the Dreaded Waist Gap

Finding jeans that fit well all around when you have a big bottom is no small feat. It often feels like you have to choose between a pair that fits your hips like a glove but gaps in the waist, or hugs your waist just right while pushing the limits of stretch denim to cover your rear. And while it’s always an option to take your jeans to the tailor to be altered or to attempt to shrink your jeans in the wash, those shouldn’t be the only solutions for the curvy booties among us. So, as your friendly local fashion editor, I set out to track down as many fabulous jeans for big butts as possible by reading through endless reviews, reading up on the latest in denim fabrication and fit technology and, of course, talking to women who know this topic better than anyone, i.e., real shoppers who’ve been combing the market for years. In the end, I found 16 pairs that will fit you and your booty like a glove and compiled a list of additional tips that will help you find the pair of your dreams.

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To find the best of the best we went straight to the source and asked women with big butts what brands, styles and silhouettes they love above all others. We then watched YouTube, TikTok and Instagram videos, read through hundreds of reviews and scrolled through Reddit shopping threads to confirm these below jeans really and truly live up to the hype.

Unfortunately, it’s not quite so simple as walking into a store and trying on any style you like. There are a few key things to keep in mind to increase your chance of picking out the right jeans the first time.

• Look for jeans with stretch. Stretch and curves are a match made in heaven, but there are some limits to what it can do for you. Too much stretch and you’ll risk looking like you’re sporting leggings. Or, worse, your jeans will permanently sag and slouch after just a few wears. Denim that incorporates between one and five percent elastane, Lycra or spandex should give your bum enough wiggle room without being overly stretchy. (BTW, lots of brands have developed their own innovative curve-hugging formulas, so check out the in-depth fabric descriptions to get a better idea of fit before you buy.)
• Curve collections were made for you. The makers behind numerous “curve” denim brands understand that women with big butts, wide hips and thick thighs can’t just “size up” and expect their jeans will still fit well all over. Which is why these collections feature special details like contoured waistbands, extra room in the trunk and just the right ratio of stretch to accommodate a wide variety of bodies. And while some brands use the term to denote plus-size options, many use it simply to refer to bodies with curves, whether they are a size 2 or a size 22.
• High-waist styles fit better than mid- or low-rise (most of the time). I suggest you take this “rule” as more of a suggestion. Most of the women I spoke with (and most of the reviews we read) said that high rises were more likely to fit both their butt and their waist, while lower rises tended to produce waist gaps, especially for those with more dramatic hourglass figures. That said, you can definitely find lower rises that fit well, it just takes a bit more trial and error. Once you find a brand whose high-rise styles fit you well, look to see what others are saying about their mid- or low-rise jeans in the reviews.

To answer this question we reached out to stylist and former PureWow fashion director Dominique Hobdy, who says the key is all in paying attention to proportions. “If there’s something about your body you’d like to draw attention to or away from, you can always play with proportions.” If you want to minimize wider hips, she suggests opting for straight or slightly flared legs to create a straight line and visually slim down your lower half. On the flip side, if you want to emphasize your hips, Hobdy recommends looking for jeans with a high waist and either a skinny, bootcut or flared leg to create a more dramatic hourglass shape.