Sizing up jeans to create desired look/style

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heidi-ho

heidi-ho

Member
Jul 9, 2019
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#1
I have been looking for certain leg styles of jeans in my size and they were sold out, and I couldn’t size down.
I had the idea that if I size up certain jeans and wore a belt so they fit my waist properly, I could create the appearance of jeans looking like another leg style. I don’t know if anybody has tried to do this, but here are the results. Let me know if you think they look good or I should return the two pairs of jeans.

Gap high rise true skinny jeans.
Sizing up I tried to have them look like a thin bootcut.

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American Eagle next level high waisted jegging. Sizing up I was trying to create a kick bootcut look.
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#2
Personally I have found jeans to be very tricky and dependent on the design and each brand’s sizing.
From personal experience, I find it easier to buy a specific design (like bootcut) in my size rather than trying to make something look like a specific design based on sizing. I feel it never quite looks right.

There are many variations of bootcut, some with more flare than others and some that are very subtle. It may take a bit of digging and time but I find it worth the time.
 
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#4
880 said:
They look nice, but not like a different style. Personally it doesn’t work for me to compromise with denim.
I just end up spending more money to buy what I wanted in the first place and give the compromises away.
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I couldn’t find my size available. I’m tall and those sizes sell out quickly online. It was never about price, but I get what your saying if they had exactly what I wanted for a higher price yes it would have been worth it to spend extra to get that perfect look.
I was going to return these if they didn’t look like the other styles, but regardless I still like how they look with my outfits so I might as well keep them 😊
 
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#5
By nature of the cut, skinny jeans aren't going to look like bootcuts as they're tapered from the top and bootcuts go in at the knee and flare. A tailor might be able to give it more of the bootcut shape, but it might be more worth it to look at alternatives. I know CoH, DL1961, and 7FAM all have inseams ranging from 32 to 34 in.
 
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#6
Unfortunately, denim from the Gap and AE doesn’t retain its shape. So, you are just going to end up with really baggy jeans that don’t fit properly. Because they are reasonably priced, you could buy the right style, in a bigger size, and take them to a tailor and get the waist nipped in. I always think it is a significant value as it really makes a difference in the tailoring and look. Plus gives you the option of not needing a belt (even though I know you love belts)
 
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#7
@leechiyong My inseam is a 36, I am very tall with long legs.

@A1aGypsy The waist fits fine with a belt, but sizing up the leg area does tend to bag out. Tailors I guess could fix that. My biggest issue is finding jeans long enough, tailors can’t make short jeans longer and length limits what I can find. American Eagle and Gap happen to sell some of the longest inseam jeans, but in my smaller waist size that is limited so I am usually forced to size up to get the size jeans closest to my size.
 
#8
heidi-ho said:
@leechiyong My inseam is a 36, I am very tall with long legs.

@A1aGypsy The waist fits fine with a belt, but sizing up the leg area does tend to bag out. Tailors I guess could fix that. My biggest issue is finding jeans long enough, tailors can’t make short jeans longer and length limits what I can find. American Eagle and Gap happen to sell some of the longest inseam jeans, but in my smaller waist size that is limited so I am usually forced to size up to get the size jeans closest to my size.
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In that case, I'd go for jeans that fit in length, then have them taken in to fit your waist and legs. That said, also found Good American offers inseams up to 37 in., so might be worth checking out too.
 
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#10
heidi-ho said:
I have been looking for certain leg styles of jeans in my size and they were sold out, and I couldn’t size down.
I had the idea that if I size up certain jeans and wore a belt so they fit my waist properly, I could create the appearance of jeans looking like another leg style. I don’t know if anybody has tried to do this, but here are the results. Let me know if you think they look good or I should return the two pairs of jeans.

Gap high rise true skinny jeans.
Sizing up I tried to have them look like a thin bootcut.

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American Eagle next level high waisted jegging. Sizing up I was trying to create a kick bootcut look.
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To judge this, photos of the back are necessary.In these photos it doesn't really convince me.
By the way, I find the washing of the upper jeans much nicer.
 
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#12
Sizing up by one size shouldn’t ever change the fit of a skinny to a bootcut in a quality jean. A jegging would stretch out like crazy and look like denim sweatpants.
Find your correct size. Some maybe sold out currently… but go to a store with a good variety and try on in person.
 
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