I have a love hate relationship with jeans. That includes jean shorts and jeans jeans (pants). If I could live in joggers and leggings daily, I would but the reality is that I cannot. On the weekend, you will find me in joggers, but once Friday night or Saturday night comes, my joggers and leggings do not make the cut when I am headed out for a girls night or getting dinner at a nice restaurant with my husband. Don’t get me wrong, there are times that I do go to dinner with my husband and wear my sweatpants or pretend my leggings are pants but that is besides the point. I enjoy getting all dressed up and heading out and that is where jeans come in.
Jeans go with everything. You can dress them up or dress them down. You can wear jeans with sneakers, sandals, flats, flip flops, heels, boots, you name it, jeans go with them! It is the same for jean shorts too! Therefore, I must find jeans that I love and can actually feel comfortable wearing.
Why is jean shopping so hard?
The jean comfort brings me to my next hate about jeans. There are so many styles, colors, and cuts to choose from. However, finding a pair that fits JUST RIGHT has to be the hardest thing ever!!!! I have been searching for my perfect pair of jeans for years and years and years. I also hate trying on jeans in store because I end up going into the dressing room with 273 pairs and come out with NOTHING fitting. The struggle is real and I need to be in a specific mood to try on jeans. Sometimes, I think I am in the mood and I get to the mall and I am like NOPE, not today denim!
What I look for in jeans…
Over the years, I have come to learn the fit of jeans which works best for me. I am on the shorter side, at 5’2″. Therefore, I love a cropped jean. I love my ankle bone to be showing ( I know, it is a little odd, but for a visual, it works!). I also only will wear a high waisted jean. High waisted goes for both shorts and pants. Thirdly, I will only wear light wash jeans. And I do not mean acid wash, but a nice light blue. I struggle HARD with finding the perfect shade of blue. Do you understand why jean shopping is so hard for me?!?! Lastly, I despise stretch jeans. I feel like they just do not hug me right and they do not fall right on me. I try to find jeans that are 100% (or close to) cotton, with little or no stretchy material. And do not even get me started on if the jeans start to stretch while I am wearing them…I CANNOT.
My favorite pairs of jeans!
Now that I have listed every hate I have toward jeans, I have come across ones that hit all my checkmarks:
- Levis – 501 Jeans (these jeans are 100% cotton, high rise, but they are not cropped. I cut the bottoms to show my ankle bone)
- Levis -Wedgie (these jeans have little to no stretch, high rise, but they are not cropped. I cut the bottoms to show my ankle bone)
- Levis – 724 Jeans (these have some stretch but not much, they are high rise, but they are not cropped. I will cut the bottoms to show some ankle)
- Abercombie High Rise Mom Jeans (these jeans do have stretch but it is 100% do-able, they are high rise, and they are cropped)
Now on to jean shorts…
My criteria for jean shorts is pretty similar with a few differences because well they are shorts. First, I hate shorts that ride up (you ladies know what I am talking about). It is SO SO SO uncomfortable and annoying! Second, I do not like my shorts too short. If they are too short, I find that when I sit, my bare butt is pretty much touching the seat/chair/etc and I am not a fan. Third, I again only will wear light colored blue denim shorts (aside from white or black). Lastly, I am not a fan of stretchy shorts either, just like in jean pants!
Some of my favorite shorts that I have found are:
- Abercrombie 4 Inch Mom Shorts – These shorts are my #1 recommendation! They have good length (not too short, not too long), they do not ride up, I repeat, they do not ride up & they come in great colors. They are usually on sale too!
- Abercrombie High Rise Mid Length Denim Shorts – These shorts are also a favorite, coming in second. They also have good length, they do not ride up, and they come in good colors! I found mine on super sale this winter and go on sale often!
Hope this was helpful if you have the same struggles with jeans that I do!
If you have any other questions, I am here 🙂
xoxo Jess
