Jean Shopping Tips!

In this video, I want to talk about denim. Jeans are the perfect wardrobe staple. You can dress them up or down and they go with anything. There’s so many styles and brands that it can make shopping for jeans feel extremely stressful. But I’ve got a few tried and true tips that have helped me find my perfect pair of jeans.

Before we dive in, I’ll give you a quick introduction, I’m Emmaline Chappell and I’m a certified personal stylist. I have my own business here in Richmond. I help busy women elevate their style by discovering a new way of dressing to look luxe for less.

Tip one is embrace the process: unfortunately, there’s no magical formula for jean shopping. It really is all about trial and error. So for me, I’ll either take the afternoon off and go to big department store like macy’s or Nordstrom, where they carry a variety of brands and take the time to try on different pairs. Or if I’m shopping online, I’ll take a chunk of time to really browse, order pairs in multiple sizes and try on at home. So yes it’s a definitely a process but if take the time, don’t rush and approach your shopping expedition with patience, I promise it’ll pay off.

Tip two: get your measurements. Having your measurements will make deciphering the size charts a breeze. Get a friend or a professional stylist like me, to measure your waist, hips and in seam. But try not fixate on your measurements or what size you are because denim brands in particular can range in sizing. The number does not define you. And quick tip on measuring: when measuring your waist, make sure tape is snug around smallest part of your waist and for inseam, try on pair of shoes that you’ll likely be wearing with jeans to decide how long you want them, and take the tape from the inseam of the crotch to the bottom of the hem which is usually on the ankle. And for the hip measurement, measure around the widest part of your bottom.

Tip three: be aware of the rise. This has happened to me a lot particularly when online shopping, I’ll see the picture and think that looks cute, buy it without taking the time to read the description, try it on and it’s not a flattering rise for me. You can’t always tell based on the picture so make sure you know what rise of the jean is and if it’s something you’re comfortable with. For me, low-rise looks bad on me, mid rise is eh and high rise is my best friend.

Tip four: read the descriptions and reviews: so this applies online but also in person shopping. This goes back to taking your time when shopping. Read the description of the jean, what’s the fit description is it baggy, form-fitting, is it true to size, what’s the fabric blend, is their much stretch, zoom in on the photos they provide and read the reviews. This has saved me from wasting my money when I see what others have said about the piece.

Tip five: do a full try on test: whether in the store or at home, move around in them jeans, squat, sit and maybe even dance to get the best read on how comfortable they’ll be for you. Also, always consider that jeans can start to give after a few wears if they’re not raw, rigid denim so consider this when buying or even trying them on to determine if you want to size down or not.

Tip six: don’t forget about tailoring. I added this tip because I had a huge revelation during my last jean expedition. I had bought two pairs online. They were the correct size but I found that I don’t have enough junk in my trunk so the seat of my jeans is almost always baggy and so I paid a little bit extra this time to invest in a tailor. She tightened it up in the back and the jeans fit and feel perfect. So if you find that no matter what you do, there’s always something off with your jeans, try contacting a tailor. It’s really worth the investment.

If you have any questions about this video please leave a comment or send me a direct message and I’ll answer you asap or if would like any help with your personal style or your wardrobe, reach out through my website.

Work with me! As a personal stylist and style coach, I believe you deserve to feel amazing in your clothes and have a wardrobe that you love to wear. With my guidance and expertise, you’ll have a closet that works and a style that makes you feel confident and fabulous!