How to Choose the Best Jeans for Your Body Type

If there’s one thing I get excited to wear once the weather cools off, it’s jeans. You’ll find me in a favorite pair almost every day of the week, whether dressed down at home or for a weekend night out.

Even though my denim excitement is at an all time high, I didn’t always feel this way.

Jeans are notoriously difficult to shop for. They tend to surface more negative body image thoughts than other items, and finding a pair that fits well can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack.

Denim shopping might never be effortless, but it can get easier if you know two things: your body type and the styles that flatter it.

Shopping for jeans based on my body type changed the denim game for me and created so much more wearability and versatility in my wardrobe. I feel better in my jeans, I wear them more often, and I’m not wasting my money on styles that don’t work for me.

So today, I’m sharing a guide to choosing jeans based on your body type. Keep scrolling for an overview of common body shapes and the most flattering denim styles for each. I also share my body type and the jeans I feel my very best in!

blogger wearing the best jeans for body type womens

natalie yerger wearing AGOLDE best jeans for body type everlane turtleneck gucci loafer

Body Types

Before we dive in, here are common female body types, in case you don’t know yours. I love the fruit analogy because it’s fun and easy to visualize.

Most women tend to fall into one of these buckets, but you could be a mix of two (I am!):

Banana: Banana figures have a straight or athletic build and are not particularly curvy. Your weight is evenly distributed throughout your body. Examples include Cameron Diaz, Gwenyth Paltrow, and Zoe Saldana.
Pear: This figure is smaller on top and wider on the bottom. A few examples include Jennifer Lopez, Leighton Meester, and Shakira.
Apple: Apple figures are widest in the middle. Examples include Melissa McCarthy and Rebel Wilson.
Strawberry: Strawberries are wider up top (large chest or broader shoulders) and a narrow hip area or straight lower half. Examples include Kate Upton, Chrissy Teigen, and Angelina Jolie.
Hourglass: Someone who has curves up top, curves on the bottom, and a well-defined waist is an hourglass. Examples include Sofia Vergara, Blake Lively, Beyonce, and Scarlett Johansson.

An Important Note About Body Types

I want to emphasize that I think everyone should wear what they love and makes them feel good. These are just suggestions for those of you who are looking for guidance on how to dress in a way that flatters your particular body type and shows off your best assets.

I don’t personally choose the most flattering shapes for my body type 100% of the time (sometimes I buy jeans that don’t do anything for my figure, and that’s okay), but when I’m shopping I generally try to select items that follow guidelines for my shape.

how to choose the best jeans for your body type womens

natalie yerger wearing white shacket outfit with AGOLDE 90s pinch waist jeans and everlane turtleneck

How to Choose Jeans for Your Body Type

Best Jeans by Body Type

Apple Shapes

Most apples want to draw attention away from the waist, so they’ll choose dresses, skirts, and tops in a-line, empire waist, flowy, and tiered styles. Use your denim to create a vertial line that elongates your figure and makes you look taller. Here’s what I suggest:

Ankle length skinny jeans are elongating because they show ankle skin (this is slimming for everyone) and define the lower half, drawing attention away from the waist.
Bootcut and flared jeans also balance your middle if you’re looking for a slimming effect.
Stretch denim that molds to your body (but isn’t too stretchy) is a great option. Look for 2-6% of lycra, spandex, or elastane.

Banana Shapes

Many banana/straight figure body types want to add curves to their frame, if they feel like they’re lacking in that area. Up top, ruffled sleeves, voluminous tops, and plunging v-necks can create the illusion of volume and draw the eyes up, and I recommend the following denim for doing the same on your lower half:

Straight leg jeans and wide leg jeans will give you an appearance of more fullness throughout the lower half.
Small pockets are an option to try if you want to make your bottom area look larger.

Strawberry Shapes

Strawberries with larger chests and/or wider shoulders tend to want to focus on defining the waist. Since your lower half is straight, here’s what I recommend:

Light or colorful denim is a great way to draw eyes away from a fuller top half or chest, if that’s what you’re seeking.
High waisted jeans look amazing on strawberries as do wide leg jeans because they balance out broader shoulders.
Styles that are fitted through the thigh and butt will draw attention to the lower half and minimize the upper half, so don’t be afraid to show off your legs with slim styles!

Hourglass Shapes

Hourglass figures who are full up top and on the bottom with a defined waist usually want to highlight the waist above all else. Without this, it’s easy to loose your shape (such as in an a-line dress or an untucked top with loose jeans). This is why you’ll often see hourglass celebrities in fitted bodices that draw the eyes to the narrowest part of their body and in loose bottoms (a-line, flare) that “hide” the hips.

For hourglass figures, it comes down to the details. I think this shape can rock just about any jean, but these styling tips are key:

Tuck in tops when wearing any denim to draw attention to the waist. Voluminous and oversized tops over any style of denim can make you look bigger than you are.
High rise jeans are your friend! These will draw attention to the waistline.
Try jeans with larger pockets, such as AGOLDE and Citizens of Humanity, if you want to draw focus away from a larger bottom. Large pockets diminish the butt while small pockets accentuate it.

Pear Shapes

The best jeans for a pear body type tend to be similar to those that flatter an hourglass, since most pear shapes want to minimize the lower half, emphasize the waist, and draw attention upward for balance.

Flare styles will balance out a large lower half, especially when paired with a voluminous, tucked top.
Skinny jean styles help create a long line that will elongate your frame.
Try jeans with larger pockets, such as AGOLDE and Citizens of Humanity, if you want to draw focus away from a larger bottom. Large pockets diminish the butt while small pockets accentuate it.
Gravitate toward darker-wash jeans when possible and try avoiding lights, brights, and printed denim as these will draw attention to the lower half.

blogger wearing best jeans for her bodytype

pear shape blogger wearing straight leg best jeans for body type

My Body Type and The Jeans I Choose

My Shape: The Banana Pear Mix

I have a very small chest and an athletic lower half from playing soccer. I wouldn’t say I have have a larger than average lower half, but it is definitely wider than my chest and shoulders, so I’m somewhere between the banana and pear shapes.

Over the past year, my body has changed a bit such that I’m now a true size 25 in most bottoms. I’ve always had a small waist and thighs/butt, but something shifted this year such that my lower half is more in proportion to my waist (though I’m still not a totally straight figure).

I’m not sure what happened— my theory is reduced muscle from running less as I’ve worked on my fatigue issues over the past year or simply body changes that naturally occur in the 30s. Anyway, I’m a banana pear hybrid!

What I Focus On When Buying Jeans

As a banana pear, I love the way straight leg, wide leg, flare, and skinny jeans look on me.

I almost always tuck my tops and look for jeans with large rear pockets.

Defining my waist is especially important for creating shape, and some of my favorite top and denim combinations are an oversized sweater tucked into skinny jeans, a voluminous blouse tucked fully into bootcut and flare jeans, and fitted tops and sweaters with straight leg jeans. Also, a belt does wonders for adding definition!