Do You Have to Go Up a Size for Jeggings?

Actress Katrina Bowden sports a pair of jeggings.

Photo: Robin Marchant/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

If jeans and leggings had a child, it would be "jeggings" -- the perfect blend of skintight stretch with denim fabric. And since your jeggings are so tight, you'd better have the body and fit to pull off a pair if you’re going to wear them. The size you wear in jeggings really depends on the manufacturer. For the most part, you should be able to wear the same size in jeggings that you typically do in jeans. Since they are tighter, however, you may want to go up a size so you can breathe comfortably and move properly.

Jeggings Description

Jeggings take skinny jeans one step further by introducing some extra stretch in the material, hence the "leggings" portion of the name. Jeggings may be of the pull-on variety or have an added snap. The jeans usually hit right at the ankle, so you can wear them with platforms, pumps or another high heel to elongate your legs. Since the material clings to every curve, jeggings have to fit just right to be flattering. When you do get it right, they look great paired with a longer tunic or button-down shirt.

Why Jeans Are Different

In a perfect world, every item of clothing would be cut the exact same way, so you could try on any pair of jeans in your size and they would fit. However, manufacturers use all different sorts of patterns and measurements, which is why you may wear a 10 in one pair of jeans and an 8 in another. The same is true for jeggings; your jeggings may run true to size for one manufacturer, but another may cut the pattern a little differently, and you’ll need to bump up a size to get the right fit.

Measuring

A fast way to determine the best jeggings size for you is to measure your waist with a standard tape measure. Wrap the tape measure around your waist, just above your belly button, and also at your hips by putting your feet together and measuring around the widest point of your hipbones. You can take these measurements along with you to a clothing store. Before you try on your jeggings, you can check the jeans measurement-sizing guide. If these match up to the size you normally wear, try that size first to make sure your jeggings fit just right.

Getting It Right

Since jeggings are meant to be super-tight, it’s understandable that you may want to go a size up so your jeggings won’t show off every flaw. Here’s how you tell if these jeans fit just right: your jeggings are too big if the fabric pools at the knees, giving you bunchy “elephant knees." The jeans are too tight if you can’t breathe properly, have cellulite showing or your stomach is coming out over the top of your jeans (also known as a "muffin top.") Don’t worry about the actual tag size; think about the fit instead.

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