A little like a push-up bra for your butt, the perfect pair of jeans instantly lifts, shifts and lengthens your appearance. And while finding the right jeans may seem like a daunting task, once you've determined your body shape, selecting a flattering cut is surprisingly easy.
Chances are, your body fits into one of the following five categories:
- Apple: Similar measurements at the chest, torso and hips, with little waist definition
- Pear: Narrower chest measurement and wider hip measurement
- Strawberry: Larger breasts and narrower hips
- Hourglass: Fuller hips and breasts, with a smaller waist
- Straight: Narrow from shoulder to knee without much curve
Decide which of the shapes above best describes your body, then follow this shopping guide to pick the most flattering styles for you:
Skinny
Select skinny jeans with a length that hits just at the ankle bone to highlight the smallest part of your leg.
To buy: Levi’s, J Brand, Gap, Lane Bryant or Paige
Boot Cut
Great on almost everyone, this style can create the illusion of curves in women with straighter body types or flatter bodies that are already curvy—especially when chosen in a dark wash.
To buy: Gap, Levi’s Curve ID, Old Navy or J Brand
Straight
The straight cut is a more conservative alternative to skinny jeans and works on almost all bodies.
To buy:Ann Taylor, Coldwater Creek, Lane Bryant or Hudson
Cigarette
This style is similar in cut to skinny jeans but features a looser ankle opening.
To buy: Old Navy, Levi’s or J.Crew
Boyfriend
Probably the most comfortable cut out there. You can avoid an unflattering rear by looking for jeans with high pocket placement.
To buy:Gap, Current/Elliot, Levi’s or Rag & Bone
A version of this story originally appeared on iVillage.