JFF: Bootcut or Skinny Jeans?

Updated on October 16, 2013
L.C. asks from Newport Beach, CA
26 answers

Now that the weather is cooling down, I am wearing jeans everyday. I have pretty much made the transition to skinny or straight leg jeans, although I have a huge stockpile of bootcut jeans in the closet. Today, I put on a pair of my bootcut jeans, and they looked odd to me, because I wore skinny jeans (with a rolled cuff) all summer.

I personally don't find skinny jeans to be very flattering for most women. I'm pretty skinny, so I think they look OKAY on me, but I really prefer just a straight leg fit. I haven't found a straight leg cut that doesn't end up looking like skinny jeans, so I'm going to take some of my boot cut jeans to the tailor and have them taken in for a straight leg cut.

My first question: What are you wearing this season? Skinny jeans or boot cut? Or mom-jeans with front-butt ;-)

My second question: If you have found a pair of straight leg jeans that you like, where did you buy them? I am petite and have a pretty short and narrow pelvis, so I tend to stick with Gap or Loft. But I'm open to other options.

Hope you're all having a great night!

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So What Happened?

Thanks for all of your responses! I really enjoyed reading them, and I will try the suggestions of some of the other brands of jeans.

I'm looking forward to cooler weather so I can wear tall boots with my skinny jeans. Meanwhile, I will patiently wait until the fashion industry phases out the skinny jeans and pumps out more straight leg jeans...

Featured Answers

V.B.

answers from Jacksonville on

Boot cut here. Noooo skinny jeans. No way, no how. Sorry. 45 year old ladies need to be wearing skinny jeans about like they need to be wearing mom-jeans. emmm emmm nope.

5 moms found this helpful

C.M.

answers from Washington DC on

I only wear boot cut. I hate the way skinny jeans look on me. I think they are super uncomfortable and just ugly (on me at least)

The one trend that I think is just horrible and I wish people would realize how awful they look are those black leggings! I don't mind it if people wear them, but they need to wear a top that is long enough to cover their butt. I think they are horrid! No one should EVER dress like that unless they are under 3 years old. There is 1 girl I work with who is very overweight and she wears them every single day in different colors with just a sweatshirt that does NOT cover her butt. Trust me, you can see every little speck of everything and see it jiggle when she walks. It's nasty.
Those things should be banned. Forever.

3 moms found this helpful

C.V.

answers from Columbia on

Skinny jeans look effing AWFUL on most women who are actually shaped like women. I am a 5'9" size 6, and I would likely look fine in them, but I have a booty and just can't bring myself to wear them.

I wear American Eagle Favorite Boyfriend. They have a relaxed leg opening. Very cute and comfy.

3 moms found this helpful

More Answers

S.J.

answers from St. Louis on

All of the above!

I am a size 2, (5'7, 125lbs), tall and thin, so I can get away with anything. Yes, I can brag on that because I am also a size 32 BARELY C chest, so all you nice tatas can suck it for a while! =) I mean that in the nicest way of course.

I like skinny jeans when I am being lazy - I can throw them on with a tunic or a decent length shirt, flats and run out the door. I can pair them with a tunic sweater and stylish low-heel boots for a weekend where I need to be a bit more dressy. I don't think skinny jeans are the most flattering for any figure, but if done right, they can be quite versatile and stylish. The way I normally wear them, you barely see anything but the middle 4 inches between the knees and the waist. (ie long tunic, under the knee boots, barely any jean showing).

I like straight leg for similar reasons, although I have a hard time finding those as well. I have a nice butt, despite my size 2 body, so I tend to find a bit of gapping in the waist in anything but skinny jeans.

I love bootcut and flare to wear with heels to be more dressy.

I have jeans from the Limited, Ann Taylor loft and the general department stores. Each fall, I swear I am going to splurge on myself and get some amazing Gucci or Seven For All Mankind jeans, but it never happens....

6 moms found this helpful
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E.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

To me, jeans should be comfy so I'm all about the boyfriend or trouser cuts. They're also more flattering on me as I'm a little curvier than average.

Mom jeans should be banned ;)

4 moms found this helpful

C.C.

answers from San Francisco on

I don't wear skinny jeans. If my daughter, who is a ballerina (dances 2+ hours per day, 6 days per week, and is all legs) isn't flattered by them, then I'm sure as heck not going to be flattered by them. I think it is a rare grown woman who can wear them and look okay. Just about all of my jeans have a straight leg. I have a handful that are boot cut. I'm tall (with a 36" inseam) so I buy most of my jeans from Nordstrom (Seven or Citizens of Humanity usually), or I order them from CAbi.

3 moms found this helpful
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J.B.

answers from Boston on

Skinny jeans shouldn't even be made above a size 6 and even that is pushing it. I am nowhere near that size so no skinnies for me. I wear curvy boot cut.

I agree with you that very few people actually look good in skinny jeans - for girls and women who are built like boys, with no hips or thighs, they can look good. For everyone else? No...

2 moms found this helpful

R.X.

answers from Houston on

I have several pAirs of skinny jeans. I'm 55 but am in top shape. I wear them with flats, ankle boots or boots and blazers so that it does not look like I'm trying to be 25 and in stilettos.

I get mine at H&M when there's a sale or at a thrift store. I get all my blazers at the thrift store so that I have a good amount.

If a mom can wear skinny jeans, do it but don't wear a teenager's top with it.

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K.O.

answers from Atlanta on

Bootcut. I only where skinny jeans with taller boots. Skinny jeans look good on about 1% of the population.

2 moms found this helpful

S.G.

answers from Grand Forks on

I like both. I like Old Navy Rockstar skinny jeans and Old Navy Sweetheart bootcut. I prefer Gap, but will only buy them used as they are more expensive. I find they fit the same. I have the skinny jeans in various colours and lengths, and I have bootcut in dark wash. It depends on what kind of shoe or boot I am wearing. Some don't work with bootcut and some don't work with the skinny jeans.

ETA: I wear skinny jeans as tights, so with a longer blouse or tunic style top, long sweater or jacket.

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M.J.

answers from Sacramento on

I'm not skinny or 15, so no skinny jeans for me. I can't wear boot cut because I'm curvy (size 8, but have thighs with a narrow waist) and can't get them over my thighs, no matter what brand. Straight leg is hands down the winner. I get mine through Eddie Bauer. They have styles to fit just about every shape.

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L.O.

answers from Detroit on

I am not skinny.. so skinny jeans would look horrible on me.

I wear straight leg jeans . I think they have a tiny bit of flare at the bottom but not boot cut.

skinny jeans are perfect for folks with perfect bodies. I think if you are size 5 or 6.. not too skinny and without any extra pounds they can look great.. but for most folks skinny jeans just show all of your problems...

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J.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

I'm very thin (size 4-6) but the skinny jeans still make me look to "hippy" I guess after 3 kids that's what happens. I wear a boot cut but they are pretty straight through the leg and flair out slightly going towards the ankle. Love them. They had them in various dark shade washes and various pocket designs. Got them at JC Penneys last year.

1 mom found this helpful

C.T.

answers from Santa Fe on

My legs are too skinny and I have no butt...I look horrible in skinny jeans....like a complete freak. Bootcut for me.

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M.W.

answers from San Francisco on

Bootcut for me.... I just don't like the look of skinny jeans no matter the shape of the body.

But to be honest, I prefer elastic waistband anything :) But that was not one of your options. Oh how I love my elastic/drawstring Roxy pants.

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B..

answers from Dallas on

I wear boot cut jeans. I am really petite, but have really long legs. For whatever reason, skinny jeans in my size are ALWAYS way too short.

I am a Levi's girl. They are one of the few brands that have my size in long, and one of the few brands that have the most options in long. I've not tried any Levi's skinny jeans, because I haven't had to buy jeans in a few years. I get the more expensive Levi's and they last many years.

1 mom found this helpful

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

As someone who has lived through
bell bottom,
boot leg,
straight leg,
tapered leg and
skinny jeans
(and my closet probably has at least one of almost every kind in there somewhere) I most often wear straight leg these days.

Bell bottoms and boot legs use to get caught in my bike chain too often and right now I don't enjoy the flappy feeling around my legs as I walk.
Skinny jeans are glorified denim tights - I never was much of a tights person and I look too much like an over stuffed sausage in an undersized casing - I refuse to terrify people with a sight like that.
Really you have to be about 10 lbs underweight in order to look good in them and most people don't look as good in them as they imagine they do.
Tapered leg - I've got a few pair with the zippers down by the ankle - they are too narrow to get your feet through without unzipping the zippers but they are a bother when you just want to slide your clothing on and off with minimum fuss.
They didn't have them much in jeans but I rather enjoyed stirrup pants when they were in fashion.
Wrangler or Lee jeans are the brands that fit my shape best so anywhere they sell them is where I buy them.

1 mom found this helpful

K.M.

answers from Chicago on

I like the "skinny jeans" that are Gradual skinny. Basically the cut is NOT skin tight and is cut a bit closer than your typical tapered "mom jeans."

Skinny Jeans work with the right top, go well with a layered look and riding style boots or other high calf boots.

Typically I go with Boot Cut, but I REALLY like a wide leg cut of jeans that go straight down from the hips.

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H.L.

answers from Houston on

So glad to hear that you are realistic about skinny jeans. Seriously, I breathed a sigh of relief and actually smiled as I read your post. I am convinced that about 85% of the people who wear them are delusional about how they really look, and 10% just don't care that they look ridiculous. The other 5% are the only ones who actually look decent, and this includes 7yo grasshoppers. My eyes and I thank you.

Regarding my jeans, I have a petite frame and short legs, but I'm hour-glass curvy. I can't flare too much with my boot-cut because it looks ridiculous on me, but I don't like the look of high heels with a straight or tapered leg. Well, straight can be okay if it's long enough to cover at least the top quarter or third of the heel of my shoe. I tend to go with boot-cut.

I tend to like NYDJ, Calvin Klein, and Levi's. Gap used to work for me. I just haven't been there in a while.

1 mom found this helpful

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

I'm petite, no muffin top, size 0-2 depending on who makes the jeans.

I love skinny jeans and I wear those or very straight legs. A boot cut has too much material flapping around for me.

My faves right now are from White House black market. I have them in denim as well as a couple if bright colors and white. They are super reasonably priced at $78 a pair. This will he my 2nd year with these jeans.

My Stevie's from Anthropologie are super soft and straight. I paid about $165 for them 4 yrs ago and they still look great.

Other brands I like are Daredevil by Guess and Rock Revival.

The price rage for great jeans $75 and up sounds shocking to many but I've worn some if my jeans over 10 years so if you look at it that way, they are not that badly priced.

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D.P.

answers from Minneapolis on

Both...depends on the boot/shoe I am wearing with them. Most of my closet is AG. I have a few others but always seem to go back to my AG's. I wear jeans everyday to work and at home so feel the investment in them is totally worth it!

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X.Y.

answers from Chicago on

Mavi has some nice straight leg jeans. I love my skinny jeans too, mostly cause I wear a lot of boots and they don't bunch up, it's a nice clean look.

1 mom found this helpful

⊱.⊰.

answers from Spokane on

mostly boot cut but I do have a couple pair of straight leg b/c they are easier to tuck into riding boots.
No skinny jeans for me, but they look great on my 18 y/o!

1 mom found this helpful

T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

At any age or weight, dark wash, straight leg, boot cut, looks best on me.
I do have some "skinny" jeans, but I wear them strictly with chunky sweaters, jackets and tunics.
The key to style is knowing what looks good on you and WORKING IT!
As a "straight figure" girl (narrow hips, thicker waist) I look best in Gap, Lucky and Michael Kors, so those are the brands I seek out.

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B.P.

answers from Cleveland on

I hate skinny jeans I have thighs and a butt so won't look good on me I love my boot cut jeans 100% that's all I wear I have a pair I got from torrid that I love they are tore up on the bottom but broken in perfectly I have to get long jeans because my legs are super long and regular inseems are too short I hate having pants come above my shoes.

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M.F.

answers from Chicago on

Straight leg, always.

1 mom found this helpful
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