Hi! Welcome to My Guide to buying jeans online.  I would like to share with you some ideas, advice and all around good sense when you are thinking about purchasing a pair of jeans or pants that you can not 1st try on and see if they fit you. Now, you may be thinking...who are you to tell me advice!  Well, here are my credentials: I (1st and foremost) am a woman.  I know how I like my jeans to fit me and am very picky, but I also like to get deals on eBay and need to know what to look for. 2nd, and maybe more important, I have retail knowledge. More specifically, I worked at a Levi's Store for 5+ years and learned a lot about fits and styles of jeans. I also have been buying experienced jeans and pants and selling them on eBay for over a year now.  Hey...I just love jeans!! Here is a little preview of what I hope to tell you in this guide:

• Quick Explanation Of Styles
• Ideas On How To Make Sure You Find The Right Pair Of Jeans
• Hunting for Jeans :The Do's and The Don'ts

ARE YOU READY???

Quick Explanation Of Styles:

Wow - There are a lot of styles out there, hopefully most are self explanatory. For example, low rise would mean not at waist, or below waist, but what measurements mean that?  Well, anything 8" (or less) to about 9.5" rise measurement is going to be a low rise, ultra low rise, hip hugger, you get the idea.  On sizes 14 and up, even a 10" - 10.5" rise measurement can be a below waist/low rise!  11"-12"+ rise measurement is usually a at waist style jean. If you are wondering what you are (rise wise) we will get to that in the "ideas" section.

Loose fit, straight leg, boot cut....why all the different fits? There are more, too, I just wanted to hit on some of them and give some typical measurements.  Flare leg is a very popular one right now, and it means that the bottom of the jean flares out from the knee area...very easy to spot in photos, usually @10" or more across the hem, however larger sizes can mean a bigger flare, because it has to "flare" from the measurement of the knee.  Boot Cut is about 9"-10" across and is usually straight down from the knee, a relaxed fitting jean with a boot cut leg will slightly taper, but can still be a boot cut...confusing!!  Tapered Leg will go in at the ankle from the knee, and you, in theory, would not be able to wear a boot under your pant. What I am trying to say is, 1st and foremost, know what kind of fit and style you like in a jean.

Ideas on How To Find The Right Pair Of Jeans:

Ok, Here is the best advice I can give you: Go, right now, and get your favorite pair of jeans, a measuring tape, a piece of paper, and a pen and come back to the computer.  Can you see where I am going with this??  If you love how a certain pair of jeans you have fit you, then you should get the measurements off of them, write them down and have them ready to compare to.  Here is what you need:  Waist in inches, Rise (crotch seam up to waist over zipper) in inches, inseam (inside leg measurement) in inches.  You also may want to measure hips, thigh, calf, knee, leg opening...write them all down.  You now are ready to start looking online! Women's Sizes are not enough information for you to go on, even if you are looking for a certain brand and a certain size (example Gap, size 12), there are so many variables, you need those measurements, in inches, to make sure you get a pair of jeans that will not only fit you, BUT FIT YOU WELL!!  If you love Tommy Hilfiger brand or Gap or whatever brand you like, great, that is you search starting point, the brand that you want.  If you tend to have a lot of those jeans, then you know that those look good on you and you are more likely to find another. Now to go find a great pair of jeans...here are the Do's and don'ts -

Hunting For Jeans: The Do's and Don'ts

• Do..ask sellers for all the measurements you want, you need that information and good sellers will list it with the item (I always list actual measurements: waist, Rise and Inseam...very important!!!)
• Don't...assume that because it is a 16 that it will fit! I have had same brand, 2 pair of jeans, the 16 fit and the 18 was too tight... ALWAYS fall back on Measurements!!
• Do...look at all the pictures and request more if you want, you can tell a lot from the pictures: Fit and what kind of leg opening are more info for you!!
• Do...look in sizes above and below what you think you fit into...forget the number size you think you are and focus only on measurements!!  I have one body and it fits anywhere from a size 14 to a 20, but all these different size pants and jeans measure almost the same! So, my point is, look in the sizes above yours and below yours and you might find a great item.
• Don't...forget about men's jeans.  I have pairs of mens jeans and they fit me just like womens, look for a relaxed fitting jean (for womens hips) and mens jeans are great because they are already sized in inches, waist by inseam (waist X inseam). Men's jeans are usually longer in the rise 11" - 12", but some have the lower rise styles coming out, so take a look at those, too!  Hey, guess what, jeans are jeans, just as long as you love how they fit you...it does not matter if they are "men's" or "women's".

Ok, so hopefully now you have some good ideas and are ready to go find that great pair of jeans!  Hey, just remember, the more information you have about your body type (ie measurements, your likes and dislikes) the better equipped you are to making a good decision! Good luck to you and, if you read this guide...I THANK YOU VERY MUCH!! Please vote yes, that this guide was helpful to you...Have a great day!

Sincerely, Erika

The RE*DENIM*IZE Boutique