It's in the jeans

Fashion is fickle, but jeans and a jacket are true love. Five women who make their livings behind the fashion scenes give a favourite uniform some personal spin. Here are some tips on getting the right fit.

Fit tips
Anna Greco-Taylor, the Calgary-based marketing manager for Mark's Work Wearhouse, gives us clues to finding your perfect fit.

1. Identify your body type. Your figure influences the style of jeans you wear. For example, a woman with an average figure might choose classic-cut jeans; someone with a fuller figure might select a boot-cut style to balance her proportions; a petite woman would choose a petite cut, perhaps in a straight-leg style for an elongated line.

2. Frustrated with jeans that gape at the back? Try a low-rise pair -- you might be surprised at how well they solve the problem.

3. Avoid a saggy seat. Regardless of your body type, jeans that gently hug your hips are always more attractive. Stretch denim eliminates a saggy seat and provides extra comfort and ease of movement.

4. Unless the style is cropped, the hem of your jeans should stop at around the midpoint of the back of your shoes. The pant legs should not bunch up at the ankle.

5. Grab a variety of styles and try them on, try them on, try them on. Don't be afraid to give a new style a whirl. Regardless of what the sign or label says, it's how the jeans fit that will make them yours.

Petite-cut
• Designed with a shorter inseam and shorter rise for petite proportions

Boot-cut
• Pant legs flare out gradually at the bottom to fit over boots

Relaxed fit
• Generous through the seat and thighs
• Fuller pant legs that taper from knee to ankle, or pant legs that are straight from knee to ankle

Low-rise, boot-cut
• Waistband that sits at or just under the belly button
• Boot-cut pant legs

Classic five-pocket
• Straight waist, hip and thigh
• Slim-fitting pant legs that taper slightly from knee to ankle

Page 1 of 1