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While your long legs may be the envy of your friends, they don’t know about the jeans drama you face when it’s time to buy new pants. The trick to finding the best long jeans is finding a pair that also flatters your figure, which can seem easier said than done.
What to Shop For
The best pair of long jeans are those whose hem line reaches at least the bottom of your heel. If you wear tall shoes, the inseam can be even a little longer. Look for a pair that comes in a boot cut, cigarette cut or wide-leg style. To help accentuate your booty, not make it look flat or bulbous, find jeans that have back pockets that are at least the size of your fist. To make your legs look lean, go for two-tone jeans, especially if you have a pear-shaped figure. Most importantly, the best long jeans are those that feel comfortable because you will feel more confident when your clothes hug you just right.
What to Avoid
Tapered jeans with high waists belong back in the '80s, not on your body. These jeans, even if they are long, will make you look frumpy, short and like you have a big butt — and not in a good way. If you want to give your tummy a more tone look, avoid low-rise jeans or you may be at risk of strutting around an accidental muffin top. Stay away from jeans whose waistbands do not form around your waist or hips well, unless you intentionally plan to sport a whale tail.
Insider Secrets
Finding a good pair of long jeans can seem like a hunt for the Holy Grail even though more companies are making jeans with longer inseams. Stacy London of “What Not to Wear” says that if you find a great pair of jeans that are a bit too short, buy them. You can always take the hem out so they are longer. Stacy’s television co-star, Clinton Kelly, says there is a difference between jeans that cost lass than $50 and those that cost more than $100. Jeans with a higher price tag usually have higher quality denim, which tends to feel more comfortable.
Where to Shop
While you can buy jeans virtually anywhere, you are most likely to find long jeans at department store and chain retail shops. There is a good chance that you will find long jeans while flipping through clothing catalogs. Whenever you can, try before you buy. While shopping online or ordering clothes from a catalog can be convenient, finding out that a pair of pants that doesn’t fit you well can be frustrating, especially if you have to pay shipping and a restocking fee to return the jeans.
