巧用牛仔裤打造最佳体型-By Sadie Nicholas, 29 March 2012
Jeans, according to Joan Collins, are unflattering when worn by a woman over 40. Earlier this month, the 78-year-old Dynasty star advised older women to ditch the denim, saying it was a fabric that rarely looked good.
But, as these five women in their 40s and 50s tell SADIE NICHOLAS, it’s possible to look dazzling in denim thanks to jeans that are specially designed to fix figure faults and flatter certain body types.
SHORT LEGS
Margaret Fiddes, 58, is a freelance florist and gardener who lives in Knottingley, West Yorkshire.
Result: Margaret Fiddes looks taller and slimmer, right, in Marrakesh style jeans, ￡154, mih-jeans.com
DRESS SIZE: 14.
BODY TYPE: Short legs.
JEANS: Marrakesh style, ￡154, (mih-jeans.com), available in sizes 6-14. Deliberately cut extra-long, the hip-skimming style claims to flatter all body shapes and elongate legs.
MARGARET SAYS: Women of my age take care of themselves and look younger than ever before, so I think Joan Collins is talking absolute nonsense.
Having said that, I rarely wear jeans as I just can’t find any that suit me and don’t make my legs look even shorter and stumpier than they already are.
I dream of being able to find flattering jeans that I can feel comfortable in when working, and that I can wear to meet clients without looking too scruffy.
I tend to lean towards boot-cut styles, but I have to get them taken up by several inches which can ruin the look. Marks & Spencer is one of the few places that does different leg lengths, but their styles can be a bit old fashioned.
These jeans look wonderful because they slim my legs and make me look so much taller. They hold it all in so are a little stiff to wear, but I’m prepared to suffer for a result like this.
APPLE SHAPE
Linda Kirkbride, 58, is an artist who lives near Petersfield, Hampshire.
Flattering: Linda Kirkbride wears Magi Fit jeans, right, ￡34, marisota.co.uk
DRESS SIZE: 12.
BODY TYPE: Apple shape.
JEANS: Magi Fit style, ￡34, (marisota.co.uk), available in sizes 10-32. Designed with a cleverly concealed elasticated waistband and a hidden tummy control panel to flatten and camouflage the midriff area.
LINDA SAYS: Like many women, I tend to store my fat around my middle, which makes buying jeans very difficult as they nearly all leave me with the dreaded ‘muffin top’. Low-rise jeans leave my stomach bulging over the waistband, but jeans that sit on the waist make me look even rounder.
I also find that many styles gape at the back, but when you’ve got a big tummy the last thing you want to do is draw attention to it by wearing a belt. It’s hard to know where to shop — I’m too old for younger stores such as Topshop but I find Marks & Spencer’s styles frumpy and boring.
The Magi Fit jeans did flatten my tummy without coming up to my armpits like something Simon Cowell would wear! They also didn’t gape or fall down without a belt either. They felt expensive and good quality, so the ￡34 price tag was a really pleasant surprise.
CHUNKY THIGHS
Claire Taylor, 44, is a clinical therapist. She is divorced and lives in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, with her daughter, nine
Worth the expense: Claire Taylor thinks she would get lots of wear from Hello Skinny Jeans, ￡145, slimthing.co.uk, worn right
DRESS SIZE: 16.
BODY TYPE: Chunky thighs.
JEANS: Hello Skinny Jeans, ￡145, (slimthing.co.uk), available in sizes 6-18. Made from dark, ultra-stretch denim designed to make legs looks slimmer and longer. The fabric is cleverly shaded to slim hips and thighs, and there’s a hidden tummy control panel in the waistband.
CLAIRE SAYS: My chunky legs make finding jeans very difficult. Skinny and straight-leg denims are a no-no, while wider leg styles make them look like tree trunks. Levi’s and Gap look terrible on me because to get a fit on the leg they are huge around the waist. I’ve found flattering styles in Next before but then I wear them until they’re virtually threadbare.
I wouldn’t normally wear skinny jeans because I have fat knees, so I was pleasantly surprised by the fit of this pair. They felt nice and, unusually, sat well on the waist and leg. They’re expensive but worth it as they are amazing quality and are something you’d get value for money from as they can be worn for day and evening wear.
PEAR SHAPE
Julie Gyi, 51, a company director from Thornton Cleveleys, Lancashire.
Save for special occasions: Julie Gyi liked the look of her Indigo jeans, right, ￡110, wizardjeans.com, but felt they were too restrictive for everyday wear
DRESS SIZE: 14.
BODY TYPE: Pear shape.
JEANS: Indigo jeans, ￡110, (wizardjeans.com), available in sizes 6-20. Designed to be like an old-fashioned ‘roll-on girdle’, the top half is made with a bonded fabric that claims to lift the bottom, flatten the stomach and add a flattering contour to the hips.
JULIE SAYS: I struggle to find jeans I look good and feel comfortable in, even though I’m happy to pay more for a good quality pair. Designers only ever seem to produce styles that flatter the under 30s.
I wear jeans at the weekends when I dress more casually, but if I found a really smart pair I would wear them with a blouse and blazer for work, too. I thought these jeans were going to be the answer but, although they looked good, they felt like denim Spanx. I would definitely wear them for a special occasion, but they’re too restrictive for everyday wear.
FLAT BOTTOM
Samantha Check, 41, owns a venue in north London that hosts private tea parties (www.teaparty.uk.com).
Value for money: Samantha Check found Great Bum jeans, ￡18, By George at Asda, surprisingly flattering, right
DRESS SIZE: 14.
BODY TYPE: Flat bottom.
JEANS: Great Bum style, ￡18, George at Asda (0500 100 055), available in sizes 8-22. These jeans have a special back panel and seam construction for an uplifting effect. The waistband is made of soft fabric that sits high on the waist but doesn’t dig into the flesh.
SAMANTHA SAYS: My bum is so flat that I need to wear jeans with pockets and Lycra to make it look shapely — anything else just accentuates how flat it is. My current favourites are a skinny pair from River Island. I also have some flared jeans by Hudson that I like.
I once spent ￡200 on jeans by 7 For All Mankind, and I loved them, but then I discovered River Island’s designs at a fraction of the cost. The one cut I’d never buy in a million years is Boyfriend. That male style is so baggy it just makes what little bum I have look non-existent.
These Asda jeans are surprisingly flattering. I’d have preferred them to be a bit tighter round the bum but, for the money, I can’t complain. In the past, I’ve paid five times this amount for jeans that didn’t look nearly as good.
THE GOLDEN RULES FOR LOOKING GOOD
- Always go for darker shades (indigo, black or navy) as they look more expensive and have a really slimming effect.
- Stretchy styles will hug your figure, flatten your stomach and lift your bottom too.
- Forget low-waisters though. A high waist is much more flattering and won’t give you a muffin top.
- No matter how slim you are, beware of tucking your top in to your denims as it will shorten your body and ruched fabric creates a ‘roll of fat’ effect.
- Wear your jeans long so the hem skims the floor and team with boots or wedge heels to create a fabulous long-legged look.