<p>I have one pair of jeans with either very little or no spandex. They are Ann Taylor Loft and to be honest, I don’t even remember buying them. They are a mid rise pair, very comfy.</p>
<p>I find the opposite of the rest of you. My jeans with spandex stay nice and snug. My all cotton jeans loosen up as the day wears on.</p>
<p>I wish I could find 100% cotton jeans, but that seems to be impossible. I don’t like the way jeans with spandex fit me. As others have mentioned, they seem to stretch out.</p>
<p>I like FDJ (French Dressing Jean), Suzanne cut. They have petite and regular. At 5’4", hourglass shape I can (and do) wear both the petite and regular - petite with flats and regular with my heeled boots. The regular come up to just below the belly button, and petite about two finger widths below belly button. Although the list price is expensive, I get them on sale at a local boutique for $30. They’re also on amazon and sierra trading.</p>
<p>I got a pair of red J jeans at the same boutique last week for $40. Very comfortable.</p>
<p>I have a pair of NYDJ that I loved, but I gained 5 pounds so they’re sitting in the back of the closet now.</p>
<p>I have some older pairs of Cookie Johnson jeans that fit well, but they have since changed their proportions and the thighs are too tight now.</p>
<p>Bought Levi 528 curvy jeans (529s also available) for D. They looked nice while covering everything up :)</p>
<p>I like the spandex too.</p>
<p>I take a petite in jeans and like you, a bit more “mature” around the midsection and thighs. I have had luck with fit in mid-rise Donna Karan, Salt, Gap 1969 and Not Your Daughter’s jeans. I’ve also had occasion to buy non-denim jeans in Ann Taylor Loft. Ann Taylor is nice because they have a couple of cuts per size to reflect different waist to hip ratios. </p>
<p>I must admit I have two pairs of the newer higher-waisted jeans, coming just to the belly button, no front pockets and a little bit of spandex for comfort in movement while keeping a more slender silhouette. They come in handy with some of my shorter tops and sweaters that I don’t tuck in. Being long-waisted, I was uncomfortable before when I raised my arms and suffered accidental bare tummy reveals while wearing mid-rises. There are some things at my age that are better left to the imagination.</p>
<p>I am petite and on a limited budget. I am probably not what you would call “fashionable” but I dress much nicer than most people at work! However, I work at a university in the IT department, so not much competition there!</p>
<p>The jeans that fit me best are Lee jeans, trouser style. I found my first pair at Kohl’s, but lost weight and needed the next size down, and at the time Kohl’s didn’t carry that style any longer. I was desperate and called Lee directly and since I had the style information from the larger size was able to order them directly from Lee.</p>
<p>Since then (still losing weight) I have found a similar style from Lee at J C Penney’s. A new, even less expensive source has been a Vanity Fair (VF) outlet store.</p>
<p>Other non-jean slacks which I have had luck with have been Worthington from Penney’s, Ann Taylor, Dockers, and Talbot’s curvy fit, all of which I found in petite sizes at Goodwill.</p>
<p>A lot may depend on your shape - I am a ‘pear’ and even though I’ve lost 50 lbs, I have thicker thighs and can’t wear skinny style jeans. I feel my jeans are age-appropriate and I like the way they fit and how I look in them. My college-age D even approves!</p>
<p>“My jeans with spandex stay nice and snug.”</p>
<p>Mine, too. </p>
<p>In my opinion almost every shoe looks great with skinny jeans, at least on me. I can wear stiletto’s, platforms, wedges, pumps, ballet flats, ankle boots, riding boots, rain boots, keds, flip flops and my Uggs with them. </p>
<p>My seamstress also uses the original hem when I need my jeans shortened. I don’t sew so have no idea how it’s done but you cannot tell they have been hemmed.</p>
<p>Ann Taylor has lots of styles in regular and petite and often are on sale. Try them.</p>
<p>I read the Good Housekeeping article and did not find it useful at all. I’m no where near that model’s size so what worked for her would not work for me at all. And I’m not looking for trouser-style jeans. I like the good old fashioned 5 pocket jeans.</p>
<p>abasket - shoes!
Now there is a good question. It’s amazing to me what a difference shoes make.
I’m a casual person and own two pairs of sanitas which I wear almost everyday. So I like casual jeans to go with that. </p>
<p>I had a giggle when I looked up a brand that another CCer suggested and the models were in very high spike heels. It would never occur to me to wear shoes like that with jeans.</p>
<p>So Sanitas are kind of cloggish?? So do you prefer something with just a little flare???</p>
<p>I’ve been doing a little scouting. It looks like some crops will be starting to roll out for spring. Others seeing same?</p>
<p>Crops (at the ankle?) are my favorites!!!</p>
<p>I love Levi’s Mid Rise Skinny. Kohl’s usually has them on sale.</p>
<p>Speaking of jeans, I walked into Nordstroms last week and told the sales person that I am interested in some dark colored skinny jeans. She picked about 10 pairs of “popular” jeans for me to try on.I found one pair that was really comfortable and just received it through UPS after they hemmed it for free. As I was paying, there was another fashionably dressed younger woman purchasing the same jeans.
I really like the service at Nordstroms for someone like me who is not really up to the latest fashion. Very often I just describe what I need and they pick them out for me.</p>
<p>I wonder why spandex in jeans works well for some people and not at all for others.</p>
<p>Nordstrom’s has the service/price point thing nailed.</p>
<p>It is worthwhile trying on several brands and styles to figure out what works for YOU. As was posted, there is huge variability in sizes and brands, and even in “cuts.” I am so glad that most jeans are now well below the belly button–for me it is MUCH more comfortable to wear now (even though it’s harder to keep the shirts tucked in, since they were made for higher-waisted styles, I think).</p>
<p>I used to love a brand of jeans that they sold at Costco, but have finally switched over to another of the brands they carry (often Gloria Vanderbilt, but now Levis 526 slender boot). I prefer never to pay more than about $30 for any pair of slacks or jeans and so far have been able to stick to it, at least for my clothing. I prefer 100% cotton and often have been able to get it–lycra gets hot sometimes around here.</p>
<p>I am pleased that lately I have even found some jeans that I don’t have to hem (had to hem quite a few in my time as well).</p>
<p>Our thrift shops and Goodwill doesn’t seem to have the same generous donors as some of the neighborhoods you all benefit from, sadly. Oh well, am glad I can generally find something to clothe myself comfortably and fashionably in at Costco.</p>
<p>True Religion, Joe’s, and… Levis. </p>
<p>I love my Levis and they are so inexpensive, particularly online.</p>
<p>I had forgotten about Levis and then a few years ago, out of town, saw a store and went in. And loved them. Again. </p>
<p>And the price cannot be beat. They have a measurement guide online where if you put in your measurements, they will tell you the “right” pairs of jeans.</p>
<p>NYDJ “Hayden” fit me best. They are not so huggy around my lower butt area. And i also have a pair of French Dressing “Peggy”. My new faves are the J Jill Tried and True. It is a more modern fit. Ann Taylor online has a curvy fit. They have some spectacular colors being shown this spring.</p>