If there’s one thing that’s worse than shopping for swimsuits, it’s shopping for jeans. And the area that seems to cause the most despair? You guessed it: the derriere. To help ease your pain, we’ve rounded up the best jeans for your butt. Flat, wide, small or saggy, it’s all about strategic pocket placement and knowing when to embellish and when to keep things simple.
Now, who’s ready to hit the stores? It’s time to learn to dig your denim.
QUIZ: Do You Know Your Body Type?
1If your butt is flat… pick flap pockets
Flat-bottomed girls, look for styles with flap pockets and added detailing to pump up some much-needed volume, suggests YouBeauty style expert Jacqui Stafford, author of “The Wow Factor: Insider Style Secrets for Every Body and Every Budget.”
Hudson Signature Boot-Cut Jeans, $198, Neimanmarcus.com
Or for a more affordable option, try Silver Jeans Suki Flap Pocket Bootcut Jean, $39.97, Nordstromrack.com
2If your butt is flat… embellish
“Look for pockets that are placed high on the butt, because they give a more rounded look,” Stafford advises. “Embroidery, contrast stitching and other embellishments also give the illusion of a curvier bottom.”
3If your butt is wide… go for mid-size pockets
“The number one mistake women with wide butts make is thinking pockets will make their butts look bigger, when actually, it’s the opposite,” Stafford says. “The secret to making the butt look smaller is finding jeans with mid-size pockets, placed centrally. It creates an optical illusion because it’s breaking up that expanse of the wide butt.”
4If your butt is wide… keep it simple
“Stay away from flap pockets or embroidery,” Stafford notes. “You want to keep things as plain as possible. Also, go for darker washes, with no whiskering or fading.”
J Brand Jeans Maria High-Rise Super-Skinny Jeans, After Dark, $188, Neiman Marcus
Or for a more affordable option, try Moto Black Joni Jeans, $65, TopShop
5If your butt is small… find a flap pocket
Stafford says women with small butts are wise to choose jeans with flap pockets that are embellished with stitching, buttons or other prominent details.
True Religion Halle Skinny Jeans W/ Button Flaps, $188, Neiman Marcus
Or for a more affordable option, try Silver Jeans Suki Slim-Fit Bootcut Jeans, Blue Wash, $88, Macy’s
6If your butt is small… choose jewel-encrusted pockets
Give your caboose some extra oomph by drawing attention to it with jewel-encrusted back flap pockets.
Miss Me Embellished Bootcut Jeans, Dark Blue Wash, $99.50, Macy’s
7If your butt is saggy… skip the boyfriend jeans
Is your rump in need of a lift? “Don’t go for a boyfriend jean—that’s the worst style if you have a saggy butt,” says Stafford. “You want to look for tighter-fitting jeans.”
Hudson Krista Skinny Ankle Jeans, Revelations, $209, Neiman Marcus
Or for a more affordable option, try BDG Twig High-Rise Jean, $58, Urban Outfitters
8If your butt is saggy… avoid long pockets
When you want curves, not sags, opt for jeans with pockets placed high on the seat. Make sure the bottom of your pockets never hit lower than the top of your leg, Stafford adds.
