Ultimate guide to finding the perfect pair of jeans whatever your age – fashion editors from their 20s to 50s share all

The Sun

21 hours ago

FINDING the perfect pair of jeans is like finding the ideal partner.
In your twenties you play the denim field, having low-rise flings, trying out wide-leg wonders and flirting with a flare.
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But as the years roll on and you look to settle down, you want comfort, you want reliability, you want something that just 'gets' you.
What worked during wild nights out might not cut it for the school run or daily commute.
And with fashion moving faster than your relationships, keeping up with the right fit is a full-time job.
But once you find The One, you'll never look back.
Here, Clemmie Fieldsend reveal the most flattering style of jeans for every decade, with the help of four volunteers from Fabulous HQ.
20s - BAGGY
Fashion assistant Emily Regan
I'M 25 and, as my more experienced colleagues often tell me, now is the perfect time to experiment with different styles.
But I've already found the jeans for me.
I would never dream of wearing a pair of skinnies as I feel like it would instantly age me.
It's a millennial trend and I'm firmly in Gen Z territory.
I'm a midsize 12 and I've found the perfect pair of jeans that suit all body shapes - they're so stretchy and affordable
I can't imagine wearing a pair of bootcut jeans either.
That's what I imagine women in their 50s and 60s wear, not that there's anything wrong with that look.
For me and many women my age, it's go big or go home.
I like oversized jeans – a low to mid-rise pair in a baggy shape that are comfortable but look on-trend, too.
This style works well with a tucked T-shirt but it also flatters the waist
if you want to show it off with a crop top because the waistband is loose so there's no overhang.
I like my jeans to pool around my feet so I can go for a laid-back look with trainers, or dress them up with a low heel without them looking too short.
I'm 5ft so the petite section is my go to.
Brands such as Gap mean you can order your real leg and waist length, like with designer denim, which is perfect for petites.
These mid-rise jeans are the perfect pair for me.
They are so soft they feel like joggers.
They hang well on my hips and don't have a crotch that goes up to underneath my bust, which is usually what happens when you're petite.
CLEMMIE SAYS: Baggy jeans are not only comfortable but, despite being ill-fitting, create a flattering silhouette for women in their 20s who are still in the stage of their life where they are trying to figure out their identity and what works for them.
The key is balance, balancing the loose fit by tucking in a top with a loose shape that mirrors the bottom nips in at the waist and lengthens legs too.
30s - STRAIGHT
Video producer, Anya Browne
WIDE-LEG baggy jeans like Emily's look great on her, but they just wouldn't work for me now I'm in my 30s and a mum to 22-month-old Ted.
I need a jean that holds in my stomach – secure enough to resemble my pre-baby body – so definitely not a low-rise pair.
But my jeans also need enough stretch for constantly bending over to pick up my little one.
I need clothes that can move with the demands of my lifestyle.
My jeans need to survive everything from food to mud being thrown at them and they need to be durable for when I crawl around on my hands and knees pretending to be a lion.
But I'm not ready to graduate from skinny to mom jeans just yet.
When I slip on a pair of skinnies, they remind me of my youth and the days when stumbling out of bars rather than stumbling over toys was a regular occurrence.
I love being a mum but skinny jeans make me feel like me again.
Plus, my legs have always been the part of my body that I like the most and I don't want to disguise them in baggy jeans.
I am aware that the spray-on skinny jeans of yesteryear are a big millennial red flag, though, and, according to TikTok, can be ageing, so I prefer a straight leg.
This pair ticks tick every box.
CLEMMIE SAYS: Straight leg jeans satisfy the millennial itch of those dying to put on skinny jeans and reclaim their youth but will work with your body's ever changing demands.
With their streamlines silhouette but where skinny hug areas of your body, therefore enhancing them and meaning they don't need hiking up every five minutes, straights cut from the hip down elongate your legs and create a slimming effect for the whole body.
40s - BARREL
Former fashion editor, Antonia Kraskowski
HAVING worked in fashion for decades, it's deeply rooted in me to keep up with the jeans trends.
From skinny jeans to flares, I've done them all.
But now, in my 40s, I've found a style that is hard to beat.
Enter the barrel.
For the last few seasons, the barrel, horseshoe, carrot, whatever you prefer to call the arched leg shape, has become the It style.
The high waist accentuates the waistline.
The curved silhouette is wider at the hips and tapers at the ankle so there's plenty of room for any hormonal bloating.
They can be dressed up or down, too.
And the best bit? They're comfortable.
At 5ft 3in mine are short – I don't want to trip up when chasing my four-year-old son Mylo around.
CLEMMIE SAYS: : For women on the go in their 40s but who are still hot on the trend, barrels with their curved, tapered cut are perfect. They gently skim the body in all the right places.
Relaxed through the hips but still nipping in at the waist, they strike that sweet spot between laid-back and flattering.
Plus it means you can, unfortunately, pick up after the kids.
50s - TAILORED
Fashion director, Tracey Lea Sayer
I'M all about hardworking wardrobe heroes that earn their keep – pieces that make the morning outfit rush a no-brainer.
A cracking white shirt, a never-dates blazer and, of course, a pair of jeans that look good with everything.
Now I'm in my 50s, when it comes to denim, it's got to be indigo.
There's something about that deep, rich hue that instantly polishes up your whole vibe.
I'm a high-rise girl through and through.
I want jeans that give me a waist, skim over the hips and give the illusion of legs for days.
But not skin-tight.
Comfort is non-negotiable.
That's why this pair is a total wardrobe win.
Chic and comfy, they're real everyday heroes – at a price you can't fault.
CLEMMIE SAYS: A smart pair of indigo tailored jeans says 'I mean business', perfect for women in their 50s who are often reclaiming their style and social life after years juggling work and raising a family.
A confidence booster, tailored jeans work with your shape, skimming the silhouette and offering support around the middle.