Jeans. What a daunting concept.
I used to shudder at the mere thought of pulling a pair of jeans over my thighs and wearing them around for a day. It wasn’t just that I found them to be uncomfortable (although that was a definite factor). It was more about the psychological torment I associated with them. I could easily get over the annoying restriction of movement brought upon by stiff denim; what I couldn’t get over was how jeans made me feel on the inside.
Shopping for those denim devils was a constant battle. Time and time again, I struggled to squeeze into pants that were built for someone with a completely different body type than my own. And no matter how long and hard I searched, I continuously found myself staring into changing room mirrors in utter disappointment and then settling for pairs that were too long on my legs, too tight on my thighs, and too loose around my waist.
For years, I believed that the only explanation for why I couldn’t find a single pair of jeans that fit me perfectly had to be that there was something wrong with my body. I concluded that my legs must really be too short in comparison to how large my thighs were. I avoided wearing anything other than leggings and sweatpants at every cost and occasionally threw on a pair of jeggings if the situation really required it. Every instance in which I would finally (and hesitantly) make the decision to wear jeans was preceded by a lengthy amount of time spent standing in front of a mirror, desperately trying to get past my own perceived imperfections that were only amplified by ill-fitting pants.
It wasn’t until this year that I came across a couple pairs of jeans that fit me flawlessly, and let me tell you, it has been life-changing. For me, it was the MOTO Jamie Jeans from Topshop and the BDG Girlfriend High-Rise Jean from Urban Outfitters. They awakened within me a newfound self-confidence that I didn’t know I could have. I finally felt as though my body shape was legitimized. One single change in my wardrobe was followed by a chain reaction of stylistic freedom and body positivity.
Although the price is steep on both of my pairs of holy grail jeans, they were well worth the investment for me. That’s not to say that there aren’t plenty of wonderful and much more affordable options out there that are still waiting to be found! And it’s likely that even though they were my perfect pants, they might not be yours.
Once you find a way to move past some of your insecurities – whether it be spurred by a perfect pair of jeans or not – life will be that much brighter. And luckily, it seems as if many clothing companies are going in the direction of being more inclusive to different body types.
So, whether or not you’ve “found your jeans” yet – literally or figuratively – here’s the moral of this story: your body is perfect the way it is. If a company isn’t making clothes in a way that fits your body type, it’s not your fault. Just remember, we are all made more beautiful in our distinctions from one another. So, put on your favorite outfit that showcases your own unique style, look into the mirror and notice all of the amazing things about who you are inside and out, and then take on the world. One pair of jeans at a time.