Does the thought of trying on jeans make you break out in a cold sweat? Fear not. A fashion pro explains how to find jeans that will flatter your body type.

Transcript: Find Women's Jeans That Fit
Hi, I'm Brett Lally, designer for Borne, for About.com Style. I'm here today to help you find a pair of jeans that fit and flatter.
Choose the Cut of Jeans
You need to find out why you're buying a pair of jeans. Are you buying them to follow a seasonal trend, for a body conscious flattering fit, or for comfort?

There are four main body types. There is classic straight leg, boot cut or flare, cigarette, and then the new and improved version of the 70's high-waisted jean.
Who Can Wear Straight Leg Jeans
The straight leg is a classic look. It's really built for ease and comfort. It's generous in the thigh, the knee, and has a straight bottom opening.

Its look is boyish, so wear it if you want to be kind of handsome and cool, a la Annie Hall.

A straight leg is great because it allows for all body types. You're meant to wear it kind of like it's your boyfriend's jean.
Who Can Wear Boot Cut Jeans
Boot cut generally has a lower rise, tighter around the waistband hips and thighs, and starts flaring at the knee, so you get a slightly larger bottom opening.

Boot cut is great for voluptuous women because it's tight around your hips and thighs and flares at the bottom. What it does is balance out your proportion.
Who Can Wear Cigarette Jeans
Cigarette is another word for a skinny jean. It's tight all the way down, tapering at it goes, finally with a very small bottom opening.

Cigarette is great for the genetically blessed. It's good for long, skinny, straight girls. It emphasizes your legs while deemphasizing your upper body.

So, if you want to focus on your legs, and you have naturally skinny legs, it looks wonderful.
Who Can Wear High-Waisted Jeans
The last body style is the high-waisted jean. We haven't seen it for a while, but it's coming back in reaction to all the low-cut jeans.

It sits on your true waist, which is much higher then you're all accustomed to. Then it can either taper all the way down or flare a bit. But largely, it's determined by where it sits on your waist.

High-waisted jeans are good for women with small waists and hips because it emphasizes your narrowest point. It makes the eye focus on your thin waist while deemphasizing your fuller areas
Benefits of Styling and Stretch Denim
Styling is where denim gets really fun. Styling happens in back pocket treatments, in whether you get rigid or stretch denim. The wonderful thing about denim is that you can treat it in many ways.

Stretch denim is awesome because it's the equivalent of wearing a knit T-shirt or a sweater. It allows for many sizes. You don't have to be so fit-specific with stretch, because it will make allowances for you.
Make Your Jeans Last
I think it's very important to know that you don't have to spend a lot of money on jeans. I also think you should keep your jeans for a long time. Jeans should last. They should grow old with you.

Rip them, sew on patches or cut off the waistband.

Pair them with Manolos to be an urban princess or with cowboy boots to be a windshield rancher.

Jeans transcend age, economic and style barriers. Washes, embellishments, leg openings and labels fluctuate with fashion whims, but jeans themselves have reached iconic status.

Although they are the quintessential American item, denim probably originated from a fabric from Nimmes, France (serge de Nimmes means "of Nimmes" -- which became denim).

In time American cowboys, railroad workers and farmers adopted them for their rugged wearability.

After WWII, jeans evolved into rebel wear for teens and then for the hippies. The '70s saw an explosion of styles and fabric treatments; the '80s brought designer denim.

Today, jeans are the stuff of high-end designer wear.

Marc by Marc Jacobs, Jill Stuart, D & G (Dolce & Gabbana): these designers and many more don't think this sturdy fabric is too humble for the catwalk.


What's hot
Low-rise
Zippers
Slim cut
Dark denim
Vintage washes

Glossary

Right hand twill - Using uniform yarns, this weave is considered more rugged.
Left hand twill - The weave runs diagonally, resulting in a softer, loftier feel.
Ring Spun Denim - The original denim fabric, which is known for its characteristic slubs.
Open-End Denim - The most popular type of denim that results in a consistent yarn thickness.
Dirty denim - Filler yarns are brown (instead of natural which is woven with the indigo) which gives the denim a "dirty" appearance
Stonewashed - Most jeans today are stonewashed, but not in pumice stones like the original method. Now enzymes, sand, ceramic balls and other methods give jeans their worn look.
Flares - Slim through the legs, flaring right above the ankle -- to about an 21+ inch opening.
Bellbottoms - Start to flare at the knee, resulting in a 22+ inch leg opening.
Peg legs - Extremely narrow leg opening (very '80s)
Bootcut - Slim through the legs, with a slight flare at the ankle to accommodate a boot (about a 16-18 inch opening)

Cool jean facts

Denim is unique because it is woven with two yarn colors: the indigo yarn and the "filler" yarn, which is undyed (turn your jeans inside out and see the white inside for yourself!)
Jeans were called "waist overalls" or just "overalls" until 1960 when Levi Strauss changed it to its popular name of "jeans."

Hot premium labels

Paper, Denim & Cloth
D & G
Chip & Pepper
True Religion
Blue Cult
Hudson
Earnest Sewn
Joe's Jeans
Jordache Vintage
Paige Denim
Citizens of Humanity
Frankie B
Earl Jeans
Marc by Marc Jacobs
Salt Works
Seven for All Mankind