Video: How to Choose Jeans for Women

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About the Expert

Erin Busbee

http://www.busbeestyle.com/

Ever since Erin Busbee was a little girl she has had a passion for fashion and beauty… dressing her friends and family, including her poor baby brother and styling hair for any and all willing participants. It’s a love she has carried into her professional life. For years, Busbee worked as an award-winning producer for WCBS-TV in New York, where she routinely researched and wrote about fashion trends. She also collaborated closely with top magazine editors/writers from the most elite fashion publications like “Vogue,” “Elle,” “In Style,” and “Lucky” Magazines. In 2005, she founded Hewitt Media Consulting through which she personally trained CEO’s, entrepreneurs, magazine editors and TV reporters. Her consulting sessions always included fashion and beauty pointers, helping clients shine for their major TV appearances. Erin didn’t stay behind the scenes; she has been front and center with extensive experience on camera. She worked as an anchor/reporter in Watertown and Rochester, New York. She also became the entertainment/fashion reporter for WCBS-TV where she kept up on all the hottest trends. In 2007, she took on the role as host and producer for Hotnewz.tv, a revolutionary Internet news program focused on the young and hip college crowd. Erin created and wrote a weekly segment for Hotnewz called “Fashion Fix.” It gave viewers the inside scoop on, what else, fashion! Recently, Erin moved to the Texas Hill Country and started her image consulting business “Busbee Style”. Busbee Style is her newest baby, a passion for sure! Through Busbee Style, Erin does personal shopping, fashion styling and closet organization. Now, Erin is dressing and styling all types of Texans from cowboys to socialites.

Transcript

Hi, I'm Erin and I'm a fashion stylist. Jeans are wonderful on women, they are modern, sexy, flattering and versatile. But sometimes, finding the right pair for your body type can be about as fun as beating your head against the wall. Which for most of us, isn't that fun. Our model, Heather is wearing what I would consider to be the most universally flattering jean. The dark wash, medium rise, boot cut jean. When in doubt, this is the jean style you go for, but let's breakdown those jean features. O.k., first, rise there is high rise, or high waisted jeans, A.K.A. mom jeans. The waist goes up to about your belly button. These are really on trend right now, and they do happen to be fabulous, if you are a mom. I've discovered the hard way that you can't run and pick things up after a toddler, in low rise jeans, inevitably, will expose your bottom. High rise alleviates this problem, but if you're short waisted, you should probably stay away from this rise. Medium rise is somewhere between your hips and your belly button. Low rise is down around your hips or a little higher. Low rise is great for someone with a short torso. The nest thing to consider when picking out jeans, is wash. There are so many different washes to choose from, color denim, light blue, dark blue, black, faded, etc. If you are in doubt, go dark, the darker the wash, the more slimming the jeans. The darker wash jeans with little to no fading are also dressier. The lighter wash, or faded jeans will be more casual and less slimming. Next, you have to think about cut. Should you buy skinny leg, straight leg, boot cut, flared leg, or exaggerated wide leg. Again, when in doubt, go boot cut, that cut works best on most body types. Skinny jeans, they're much trickier. Lastly, price is always a factor, of course. Should you buy designer jeans? I tend to buy designer jeans, because I like the fit and the fabric, better. For me, buying great jeans is a great investment. That said, I usually buy my designer jeans on sale, or at an outlet, and don't forget about outlets. The Saks Outlet Off Fifth, for example, carries countless designer brands for half off retail.