Jean-ius denim for everyone!

Courtesy of Flickr via Seatbelt67

Have you ever walked down the street, seen someone’s backside and had a moment from Mean Girls when you (almost) said “Oh no she did not!” out loud?

I do this more often than I would like to admit. The worst is when there is spillage (oh, the muffin top), crack, and/or crevices in jeans. Understanding your body is a hard thing to do, especially with denim. But once you come to grips with the fact that not everyone’s body is sexy as Giselle Bündchen’s or rock-solid as David Beckham’s (though we wish they were), you can begin to appreciate the body you have and give it a little respect by dressing it appropriately.

Ah, jeans — my staple. Finding the perfect pair is like searching for true love — you can search forever, but once you find what you’re looking for, you should never let go! The key to looking good in jeans is to find a style that works for you, so that you can make it work.

Courtesy of Flickr via Kevin Kerosene

Pear and curvy shapes– With this shape, it can be hard to find a good pair of jeans that loves your curves the way you do. Try a pant leg that flairs a little toward the bottom in a dark wash.  The dark color will add a nice silhouette and the slight flair at the bottom will flatter your upper leg.  If you want to wear skinny jeans, pair it with a loose-fitting top, like Jennifer Hudson at her 2010 Superbowl performance. Avoid wearing over-sized jeans; contrary to popular belief these make you look bigger.

Boyish figures– The last thing you need is a straight cut that will just make you look longer and straighter. Luckily for you, you get to rock the skinnies to help create the illusion of curves. Make sure you keep them dark and pair them with a good pair of flats or a sexy heel (see how Nicole Richie does it). Avoid pairing tight pants with a tight top, try a flowy floral print tank, or my favorite, a cool blazer with your skinny jeans.

Courtesy of Flickr via Evil Erin

Petite frames – Do not roll or cuff your pants — this makes you look shorter! There are styles out there for you, and if you can’t find those, find a great tailor and make him or her your new best friend. Your hem-line should never cover your shoe or extend past it. Shop at stores that have a petite option available. Old Navy, Gap and Banana Republic are the best places for you to find jeans. Reese Witherspoon wears ankle cut jeans- the right way in this photo.

Men– Don’t think that you’re excluded from this! (Yes, it does matter what you wear. Women care. No, really– we do). Make sure you stick to dark jeans as well. While I personally prefer slimmer leg pair on men (it’s so clean cut!) try to keep the bagginess and sagginess to a minimum. Do you want to look like you’re wearing hand-me-downs?  If you’re struggling with what to pair with a great pair of denim, stick to a solid v-neck or crew-neck shirt. You can never go wrong with that combo.