6 Women on the Best Plus-Size Jeans They’ve Ever Worn (Plus, 12 Other Pairs You'll Want to Know About)
Shopping for denim is a struggle for everyone, but that rings especially true for gals looking for a pair of curve-hugging plus-size jeans. You have to contend with weird gaps at the waist, styles that don’t hold up against chub rub and weird sagging at the knees and/or rear after just a few wears. Fortunately, more brands are rethinking the way they approach plus-size clothing, starting from scratch with new fit and fabric technologies that are made to compliment your body. So, we set out to round up the best of the best, polling real, curvy women on the brands they shop over and over again.
Read on for recommendations from six stylish women on the best plus-size jeans they’ve ever bought, plus 12 additional brands worth checking out.
RELATED: 12 Affordable Plus Size Brands Every Curvy Girl Should Know
1. Universal Standard SEINE HIGH RISE SKINNY JEANS 27 INCH
The IRL Review:
“I love these jeans because they were made to fit me instead of the other way around. They’re comfy, come in a dark wash that goes with anything and they fit down my calf without being too loose! They are the perfect plus-size skinny jeans.” - Stefani Nicole
Size range: 0 to 40 with tall and petite sizing
Universal Standard offers the largest size range of any brand on this list. But just because the brand works with a lot of body types doesn’t mean it skimps on attention to detail. Each size is specifically engineered to address the most common fit issues among curvy women, and this particular style also happens to be the brand’s best-selling jean of all time. So, it looks like Stefani’s love for this pair of denim is shared by many.
2. LEVI’S 724 HIGH RISE STRAIGHT CROP JEANS
The IRL Review:
“These Levi’s fit so well and they’re unique and fun! They hug my curves really well and even though they’re distressed they're still super chic enough to dress up.” – Mona, The Smiling Sweetheart
Size range: 25 to 33
A fantastic classic wash and universally-flattering cut mean these jeans will stay in style for at least a few years to come. Made from Levi’s sculpt fabrication, these jeans are soft and stretchy enough to move with your curves (rather than against them) while still sucking everything in to create one smooth line.
3. NYDJ Teresa Trouser Jeans
The IRL Review:
“These jeans hug every single curve and even have a slight lift at the bum. I'll be the first to admit that I don't have a big butt, but when I’m wearing these it gives the appearance that I do (lol). The quality is also incredible. NYDJ really knows what it’s doing when it comes to denim!” - Essie Golden
Size range: 00 to 28 with petite sizing
Born in the age of super-low rise jeans and whale-tails (the horror), Not Your Daughter’s Jeans set out to design denim that real women, not trend-focused teens, could wear with confidence. Look for pairs with Lift Tuck Technology, which is built in for an extra smoothing, slimming effect.
4. Madewell The Curvy Perfect Vintage Jean in Sumner Wash
The IRL Review:
“I am really pumped to get back into these post-summer, and they come in Tall which is ideal for me. They really look like ‘90s mom jeans, but actually have stretch in them, and a perfect cropped inseam." - Katie Sturnio, The 12ish Style
Size range: 26 to 37 with petite and tall
Madewell’s curvy collection caters to those with wider hips and a smaller waist wit the mission to eliminate that pesky waist gap that plus-size women know all too well. As Sturino notes, the three inseam lengths guarantee that this easy retro cut will hit just right (in this case, right at the ankle) no matter your height.
5. Levi’s Premium Ribcage Crop
The IRL Review:
“Nothing beats a classic pair of vintage Levi’s! When you find the right pair they hold you in all the right places, make your butt look AMAZING and makes you feel like a badass. Hunting a good vintage pair in the wild takes a ton of patience, but Instagram, Esty and brick-and-mortar vintage shops have done the work for you with curated selections of vintage Levi’s. And you aren’t up for a hunt, the Levi’s Ribcage Jeans are a great option. My vintage pair is a dead ringer for that exact style.” - Shanna Battle, Me and Minnie
Size range: 25 to 33
Another advocate for Levi’s denim, Battle also provided a pro vintage shopping tip: try the men’s section. “Head to the men’s section when looking for vintage Levi’s. They are great for curvy girls and give you that amazing high waisted fit.”
6. ASOS COLLUSION Plus 005 Straight Leg jeans
The IRL Review:
“These are my current favorite pair of jeans because I am a huge fan of acid wash (it reminds me of the ’90s). They are high rise with rips on the back pocket, and I like how they feel on my legs—super comfortable!” - Stephanie Yeboah, Nerd About Town
Size range: Size 14 to 24
These throwbacks are made from raw denim and have no stretch, but thanks to impeccable construction they’re likely to hug your hips and thighs anyway. A classic cut and high waist make them feel classic enough to wear day in and day out, even if the wash harkens back to the start of Madonna’s career.
RELATED: 5 Plus-Size Outfits to Wear on Repeat for the Rest of This Winter
MORE BRANDS THAT PLUS WOMEN LOVE:
7. Liverpool
Size range: 0 to 24
This Los Angeles-based company is all about creating high-quality, easy-to-wear pieces at an affordable price point (most of its styles are under $100). It also incorporates a new type of stretch technology called Dual FX that conforms to your curves without losing shape or support over time. So buh-bye, annoying waist gap and saggy knees!
8. Good American
Size range: 00 to 24
Since the launch of her brand in 2016, Khloé Kardashian has put a major emphasis on inclusivity and finding the perfect fit—no matter your size. In fact, she recently updated her site to include photos of models wearing every size from her core styles (for some, that means up to 15 different photos) to give shoppers a clearer sense of how the jeans will look on them. The site even has individual size guides for each cut. So basically, Good American is ensuring you’ll wind up with a pair that you really love.
9. Warp + Weft
Size range: 00 to 24
Warp + Weft isn’t just size inclusive and affordable, it’s also majorly eco-friendly and is constantly working to update its sustainable practices. As the brand explains on its website, a single pair of jeans made in the traditional manner requires 1,500 gallons of water, but a pair from Warp + Weft requires only 10 gallons, with 98 percent of that H20 then being treated and recycled. So not only will you look good, you’ll be doing good as well.
10. LOFT
Size range: 0 to 26
While we love LOFT for its adorable and on-trend workwear selection, it’s not the first name we think of when shopping for denim. But it might be time to change that. The brand has slowly but surely been expanding its plus-size designs and its jeans selection is pretty fantastic. Look to them for comfy classics under $90, with a few special touches thrown in for good measure (oh, hello there, festive gold sailor buttons).
11. Wit & Wisdom
Size range: 0 to 24
Wit & Wisdom’s Ab-solution technology is built into the waistband and back of the jeans to smooth out any trouble areas and give your booty a flattering lift. Despite the addition of curve-hugging spandex, these jeans are designed to resist sagging over time (yes, even if you end up wearing them four days a week). Even better, not a single pair will cost you more than $100.
12. Lucky Brand
Size range: 24 to 35 with four inseam options
Lucky Brand is known for its true vintage, worn-in, “oh I’ve had these for years” look and its plus styles are no exception. They also feature a built-in slimming tummy panel to really streamline your silhouette and most styles offer multiple inseam options, so tall and petite ladies can find their perfect length in addition to a waistband that fits like a glove.
13. Old Navy
Size range: 00 to 30
Old Navy is one of our favorite go-tos for easy dresses, adorable workout clothes and colorful accessories. And, of course, denim as well. The plus offerings aren’t just straight sizes with some extra room. Contoured waistbands ensure no gapping and a seamless fit, while secret-slim pockets (a feature included in some straight size jeans as well) give you plenty of room to actually put something in your pocket without adding any extra bulk or bumps.
14. Lane Bryant
Size range: 12 to 28 with petite, short and long sizing
Lane Bryant is entirely focused on creating clothing for plus women, which means all the brand’s energy goes toward problem solving specific issues that plus-size women deal with. It tends to offer simpler, more classic items but the fit and feel make up for the lack of originality in design. Plus with most cuts available in regular, long, petite and short inseams, it’s basically guaranteed that there’s a pair that will fit you perfectly, no tailoring required.
15. American Eagle Outfitters
Size range: 000 to 24, with x-short, short, long and x-long
All of AEO’s denim comes in sizes 000 up through 24 (although not every style is offered in all five inseam lengths), but it’s the Curvy collection we like best for plus sizes. It’s specifically designed for those with a smaller waist but larger hips, bum and thighs to eliminate annoying waist gaps and give your hips room to move. As Essie Golden notes, AEO doesn’t limit its Curvy collection or plus sizes to only jeggings or skinnies, however. “American Eagle has so many different non-traditional styles that are right on trend. I’ve wanted a pair of wide-leg crop jeans for a while but could never find ones that fit my thighs correctly, but these AEO jeans do.”
16. Kut from the Kloth
Size range: 00 to 26
This Los Angeles-based brand is yet another that excels at creating timeless silhouettes to fit a wide variety of sizes, all for under $100. It also has a super in-depth fit guide that breaks down the ins and outs of each and every style Kut from the Kloth has to offer, with videos offering style advice and notes on which styles might fit each body type best. One note on sizing, however: Multiple reviewers suggests the inseams are pretty long (a bonus for tall gals, not so much for petite women), so those on the shorter side might want to pick up a cropped pair or think about taking them to a tailor.
17. Eloquii
Size range: 14 to 28
Eloquii has a fantastic mix of both classic styles and trendy or specialty cuts. Plus, because the entire brand is designed specifically for sizes 14 and up, you know you'll be getting a pair of jeans that fits your curves like a glove and wasn’t just sized up from a narrow-hipped size 6. If you’re still a little wary about investing in a new pair of jeans you can test them out for a week or two (or more) with Eloquii’s new rental service, Eloquii Unlimited. That way you can see exactly how they stretch and wear over time before purchasing them outright (at a discount, we might add).
18. Torrid
Size range: 10 to 30 with short and tall sizing
Another brand dedicated solely to plus-size fashion, Torrid excels at classic denim cuts that fit like a glove. There are skinny jeans and jeggings in just about every blue wash imaginable, as well as bootcut styles, straight-leg options, cropped kicks and cut-off shorts that won’t result in a dreaded camel toe situation.