Overview
Slim, relaxed, boyfriend and baggy -- the plethora of terms for jeans can make it hard to decipher the style that best suits your figure. Slim-fit jeans, designed for those with matchstick legs, are nice but can highlight your pear shape. Straight-leg jeans can feel like corsets for your thighs. If that's the case, relaxed-fit or baggy jeans may adequately provide the look and feel you prefer. Before purchasing a pair of cozy creature comforts, insure you're not choosing a loser. Relaxed doesn't mean baggy, and baggy only contributes to the pear-shaped bubble look.
The Cut
Where relaxed jeans slouch, baggy jeans sag. Relaxed women's jeans offer a fitted feel through the hips with a slightly larger leg opening than a straight-leg jean. The baggy jean is just that -- baggy. Loose through the hips with an ultra sloppy lower leg, often caressing the top of the floor. Relaxed jeans provide the cuteness of the boyfriend look, whereas baggy jeans make you look like a rapper. If you covet your womanly figure, choose the relaxed option for its flattering shape.
The Fit
Relaxed jeans gently hug the hips and fit snug around the waistline. With baggy jeans, you dare not leave the house without a belt. The loose-fitting waist and the wide leg profile will have you tugging up your jeans all day long. Still, if you prefer a comfort fit, free of restriction and stretch, weigh out your options. Relaxed jeans, with their slightly form-fitting style, showcase femininity and pair well with a long, slim tee. Baggy jeans may require enlisting some leggings to cover up the infamous view of your "plumber's crack."
The Comfort Factor
You may think baggy is a comfy option, but pants that ride low inhibit movement. Long rises equate to droopy crotches, making walking a bit of a chore. Add to that a waistband needing constant readjustment and you end up fumbling with your clothes more than wearing them. Relaxed jeans stay put, yet still allot room for movement. The wider leg opening eliminates cobra-like constriction and does not gap and fold. Additionally, the waistband rests neatly on the hipbones, providing ample room for the belly.
The Appeal
If you aim to look like a girl, but prefer a less "put together" approach, relaxed-fit jeans get the job done. A nice pair could potentially turn the heads of hotties attracted to your casual womanly taste. On the other hand, emerging from the house in baggy jeans gains you no attention. Since the baggy cut is more appropriate for sweatpants and sitcoms, do yourself a favor and wear baggy cuts when you're home alone.
