Mastering the Fit of Your Denim: A Four Part Series // Part 1: Denim Rise
Four things You Need to Know to Master Denim Fit: A Four Part Guide to Great Fitting Jeans
How To Measure Your Rise
How to Find Your Three Inseams
Your “Shape” of Jean that’s best for you
What Can Be Altered in a Jean
Over the next few days, I’m going to be covering the most important parts of denim fit, starting with understanding how to find your average rise. One of the most common complaint I hear from my clients is they have the hardest time finding the right fitting jeans. From years of working with women to find them a great pair of jeans, or four, this is one of my favorite topics.
It starts by understanding the core shape of your body and the measurements that align with your body shape. It’s time to start seeing ourselves first, and holding up a pair of denim to align with our bodies, instead of trying 100 pairs of jeans not knowing what to look for.
Part 1: DENIM RISE - Understanding Jeans Rise for Your Body
Here are the steps to finding your rise
Step 1: Measure from your crotch to your natural waist (your most narrow part of your waist) and write that number down (for example, my measurement is 12 1/4”)
Step 2: Then measure two of your favorite jeans (or the jeans you wear most often, you can also do this with leggings) from crotch to top to the jean. Write both of those numbers down. (for example, two of my jean rises measure 11 3/4” and 12”)
Step 3: YOUR RISE = the range between your measurement in step 1 and the average between the two numbers in step two. (for example, my range is between 12 1/4” and 11 3/4”)
Why is my rise important?
Knowing my rise “range” is important because if a jean is listed online at:
then I know it might feel to “low” for my comfortable rise range. Or if I wanted something more “baggy fit” then they might sit a little lower than my comfort rise range of between 12 1/4” and 11 1/4” and that might be okay because I’m going for a baggier, looser fit. But if I wanted something to sit at my narrow waist, I’ll aim for 12 1/4” or 12” and something to sit comfortable just below my narrow waist, "I’ll aim for 11 1/4”. This becomes a matter of preference and comfort once you get to know your rise better. Does something feel too high? Measure the rise! It’s probably above your rise range. Something too low? It’s probably below your rise range. Get it?
When you are looking to order jeans online (which a lot of us do to save time, or so we think before aiming and trying again and again and returning and such…), the rise is listed. If you understand what your denim range is you can imagine how it’s going to sit on your body around your waist. If you’d like to take more measurements and follow along with me as I walk through the remaining three parts of denim fit, download that here. Please share your thoughts on your journey as you discover your rise, too!