FASHION: Plus Size Jeans Tested for Fit & Flair…

Squeezing real-world curves into lean-fitting denim – few things are more frustrating.

A few years back, “Not Your Daughter’s Jeans” came to the rescue with a line of functional denim jeans that promised to flatter what you have and hide what they should.

Thighs get sausagey, derrieres get flattened (or worse) and you can’t bend over without offering innocent bystanders a free peep show.

Today, amazingly, premium denim brands that didn’t want to lower themselves to make sizes larger than 30 are now getting in on the action. Even J Brand – makers of Mary-Kate Olsen and Nicole Richie’s toothpick-thin dungarees, have just introduced a line of roomier styles called Blue Label.

Five of these supposedly figure-fixing jeans have been tested. Here are the results:-

Rozzie Rae “Bette” – $145
www.rozzierae.com

Rating: 4 stars

Designed “for the sexy American woman,” meaning those with a pear or apple shaped figure.

Style: Raw indigo coloring and a high, ’70s-style waist put these pants right in step with today’s denim trends, but there was a problem. The area between the pockets and the waistband are much less constricting than either of them, resulting in an unsightly bulge right around the love handles.

Comfort: They’re stretchy but thicker than the other pairs. Sexier through the thighs, but above the thighs? Not so much.

Bottom line: They’re cute, comfortable and go up to a size 36. Just wear a long shirt.

J Brand Blue Label “Monroe” – $178
www.jbrandjeans.com

Rating: 3 stars

With its latest line, J Brand expands on its famous peg-leg silhouette by adding roomier hips, thighs and a contoured waistband to minimise the chance of contracting denim’s deadliest disaster: the dreaded plumber’s crack.

Style: Our midnight blue trousers were the coolest-looking pair in the pack. Blue Label uses the same ink-stained washes and sleek, stretchy fabrics that have made J Brand a fashion favourite since 2005. Next to a pair of J Brand’s standard fit jeans, you’d be hard pressed to tell Blue Label apart.

Comfort: They’re tight, all right – they sucked us in like a Dyson. But the excess blubber had to go somewhere, and it spilled over the low-rise top. Low-rise and love handles don’t mix.

Bottom line: As longtime J Brand devotees, we couldn’t see a difference between the favourite standard-fit pairs in our closet and the Blue Label curvy cuts. Compared with the other jeans we tested, these had the lowest waistband, the longest legs, and the most limited size range (only up to a 33) – which means they won’t appeal to every woman.

Beija-Flor “Jennifer” – $170
www.beijaflorjeans.com

Rating: 2 stars

These Brazilian-engineered jeans aim to flatter natural curves with a slightly high waist, contoured bottom support and contrast stitching that distracts from trouble spots.

Style: That contrast stitching is pink and purple, a glittery front button, and flat circular rivets dot the front and back pockets.

Comfort: It’s like wearing tracksuit bottoms – free-as-a-bird-feeling jeans. There was no gaping when seated, so there’s no fear of revealing that builders bum!

Bottom line: They felt good, and they go up to women’s size 16. But these jeans had too little of a figure-flattering effect to forgive their poor styling.

Hello! SkinnyJeans “NiteWash” – $178
www.skinnyjeans.com

Rating: 5 stars

This Los Angeles-based label claims that its jeans make you look thinner – no lipo or boot camp required – and go up to size 38.

Style: A super-dark wash, contrasting trim and slightly flared straight-leg cut let these jeans exceed trendy. The classic look is cool enough to wear now and won’t go out of style later.

Comfort: These Skinny Jeans had just the right amount of stretch and cuddled our curves like a Porsche on the Autobahn.

Bottom line: The nerdy name was a little off-putting, but looked good over thighs!

Not Your Daughter’s Jeans Tummy Tuck Bootcut – $118
www.notyourdaughtersjeans.com

Rating: 1 star

“Made for real women with real curves” and available in the biggest size range (up to a women’s 24)

Style: A faded indigo finish and trendy high waist look harmless on a hanger. But on the body, these awkwardly proportioned jeans did do us justice – creating curves in places we didn’t have any before…..and not in a good way!

Comfort: Because of the high waist, we had to reposition ourselves to keep the front button from creating a second belly button while we sat.

But overall, the stretchy cotton and Spandex made these pretty breathable. An added bonus….they kept things under wraps when we bent down and leaned forward.

Bottom line: Our boyish bottom half suddenly looked hippy.

Saddlebags showed up out of nowhere, and our behind should have been plastered with a “Caution: Wide Load” bumper sticker. It’s true: Your daughter wouldn’t be caught dead in these.
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