We asked celebs and we asked you, our readers, about a subject close to your heart—and thighs: Jeans. More than 80,000 votes were cast in our online survey, and here, in our ultimate jeans guide, we reveal the results and show you the hottest new styles for spring, how to wear them, what the stars are choosing and the latest in denim news. Says Terence Bogan, v.p. of merchandising for Barneys New York: "You need a pair for every occasion. You can never have too many."
Jennifer Lopez
wore a clean, classic jean at a BET 106 & Park event in N.Y.C.
Paris Hilton
belted a super-low-rise cut in Manhattan.
Beyoncé
went casual glam with a subtly distressed pair in London.
Lindsay Lohan
cuffed her Abercrombie & Fitch jean at the Saved! premiere in L.A.
Jessica Simpson
wore Paper Denim & Cloth at an event for Dessert, her beauty line, in Manhattan.
you voted!
WHO LOOKS BEST IN HER JEANS?
50% Jessica Simpson
20% Jennifer Lopez
15% Beyoncé Knowles
8% Paris Hilton
7% Lindsay Lohan
THREE NEW JEAN SHAPES
We'd never try to come between you and your favorite low-slung, boot-cut blues. But for spring, check out these cropped, skinny and higher-rise silhouettes
1 Cropped
Whether tight and sexy, cuffed or trouser-style, cropped jeans are a fresh look. "Anybody can wear them," says jeans expert Bogan. Find the length that works best with your leg shape. A longer crop is universally flattering.
CITIZENS OF HUMANITY
Cambridge jean in Jenner wash, &202; Dish, Berkeley, Calif., 510-540-4784
HARLOW STUDIO
Emma jean, $106; E Street Denim Co., Highland Park, III., 847-433-8338
CHOICE CALVIN KLEIN
Cuffed crop jean, $39; Macy's, macys.com
PAIGE PREMIUM DENIM
Little Santa Monica jean, $190; Neiman Marcus, 800-944-9888
WEAR CROPPED JEANS WITH...
TOPS
When wearing cropped jeans, be aware of proportions. A too-long top will make you appear shorter. With a wider-leg jean, try a cropped jacket; the tighter the leg, the looser the top can be.
BCBG MAX AZRIA
Cropped seersucker jacket, $250; 888-636-BCBG
ZOOEY
Butterscotch V-neck pique tee, $64; shopintuition.com
KENNETH COLE
Navy cropped jacket, $168; kennethcole.com
WALTER
Silk crinkle top with beading, $165: walterbaker.com
SHOES
Choose a shoe that suits the cut of your jeans. A flat thong looks chic with a skinny pair. A heel or wedge is flattering with any shape. Best all-around choice: a kitten heel.
ENZO ANGIOLINI
Vic raffia woven mule, $79; 800-999-1877
NINE WEST
Hemi flat ring-toe sandal, $59; ninewest.com
KATE SPADE
Firey wedge in coral, $325; 800-519-3778
A.S. STUDIO BY ANDREW STEVENS
Flair silver sandals, $79; 800-818-7877
CATE BLANCHETT
dressed up her Juicy jeans at a BAFTA affair in L.A.
SARAH JESSICA PARKER
rolled her Gap jeans for a Gap event in Manhattan.
REBECCA GAYHEART
opted for cropped jeans from Capital Tailor
ELLE MACPHERSON
splurged on custom Nina Morris jeans.
readers' poll
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE STYLE OF JEANS?
54% prefer boot-cut
30% prefer flared
14% prefer straight-leg
3% prefer baggy
2 Skinny
"This is our most requested style," says Toni Lehr, owner of the hip jeans boutique Henry Lehr in N.Y.C. "American girls like to wear narrow cuts long over their shoes, stovepipe style. The Europeans like to shorten theirs to the ankle."
Slim Cut
BIG STAR
Stretch classy jean, $86; Fred Segal, Los Angeles, 323-655-3734
Skinny
LEVI'S
Super-low skinny jean, $58; levis.com
Super Slim
MISS SIXTY
J-Lot trouser, $169; 212-575-0315
WEAR SKINNY JEANS WITH...
TOPS
A longer, fuller top complements the lean look of the jean and can hide imperfect abs. Flawless bods can go tighter and shorter.
THEORY
Linen/silk-blend top in plantain, $155; theory.com
MINT
Beaded silk tank, $233; Curve, Louisville, Ky., 502-899-3252
MAX STUDIO
Silk crinkled chiffon cami, $138; maxstudio.com
SHOES
Whether flats, sandals, or a pump, it's all about showing cute toes. Don't try this look with mules—jeans catch under the heel.
COACH
White Gianna sandal, $180; coach.com
S.EDELMAN
Staci Gold embroidered flat, $79; lordandtaylor.com
FORNARINA
Courtney Pink caged shoe, $130; fornarina.com
HEIDI KLUM
in slim-cut Sewn jeans.
MISCHA BARTON
took a stroll in skinny Miss Sixtys.
EVE
sported perfect stovepipes in Beverly Hills.
Figure Flatterers
Meet your new best friends. A little pricier, they're designed to hide, boost and elongate
Legs
Serfontaine, $215; Rodeo Jean Intermix, New York (800-297-7983)
With its lack of a sideseam and its bold stitching on the inside seam, the design makes your legs look skinnier.
Petite
Joe's Jeans, $174; Provocateur Jean, Ron Herman, Los Angeles (323-651-4129)
Proportioned for petite sizes, they fall naturally with a shorter inseam and higher knee break.
Butt
AG Adriano Goldschmied, $130; Legend Jean AG Adriano Goldschmied, Los Angeles (310-247-3222)
Butt-enhancing, the curved back yoke gives the illusion of roundness.
readers' poll
HOW MANY JEANS ARE IN YOUR CLOSET?
37% 5-10 pairs
28% 3-5 pairs
21% 10 or more
14% 1-3 pairs
WHAT'S THE MOST YOU'VE SPENT ON A PAIR OF JEANS?
34% say $50-$80
27% say $25-$50
20% say $80-$110
19% say $110 or more
3 Higher Waist
Rises hit bottom; now they're inching up. But these aren't your mother's jeans. With full back covering, they're still cool enough to wear out and safer to wear to the office.
7½" rise
GENERRA
slub jeans, $155; Barneys New York, 888-822-7639
9" rise
BLUE 2
Mid-rise boot-cut jean, $88; E Street Denim, Highland Park, III., 847-433-8338
8" rise
GAP
Long and lean jean, $58, gap.com
WEAR HIGH-WAISTED JEANS WITH...
TOPS
Don't worry about overexposure! With higher rises, feel free to wear shorter, cropped camisoles and tops.
ALLEN B. BY ALLEN SCHWARTZ
Chiffon embroidered top, $240; macys.com
LILY MCNEAL
Tangerine and lavender tank, $99; lilymcneal.com
MIMI & COCO
Mint tie-waist top, $77; Andrea's, Marlton, N.J., 856-596-8388
SHOES
For a funky vibe, try a cork wedge. A pretty flat is a great daytime option. At night, a metallic sandal dresses up the look.
CARLOS BY CARLOS SANTANA
Cork and leather platform sandal, $89; shoes.com
J.CREW
Lucy floral print flat, $138; jcrew.com
DELMAN
Sonia pink metallic sandal, $275; 800-233-6462
VENUS WILLIAMS
in Roberto Cavalli jeans.
reader's poll
LOW-RISE JEANS: SEXY OR PASSE?
74% say sexy
26% say passé
HOW MANY DAYS A WEEK DO YOU WEAR JEANS TO WORK?
32% never
30% 1-2 days
20% 3-4 days
18% 5 days
Celebrity Faves
Stars never seem to have a bad jeans day. Why? Here, five new reasons...
RACHEL BILSON
loves her Seven Havana 2 jeans.
Seven, $187
Havana 2 flare jean
Barneys New York, 888-822-7639
Worn by: Mischa Barton, Claire Danes, Keira Knightley, Jessica Simpson
The latest: Super distressed, with more fading than ever.
James Cured by Seun,$182
Premium label
shopbop.com
Worn by: Paris Hilton, Nicole Kidman
The latest: The new Premium line mixes cashmere into the denim.
the latest buzz!
Méli-Mélo, $167
Charlotte jean
E Street Denim, Highland Park, III., 847-433-8338
First to wear: Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Garner
Debut line: Spring is the first season for this high-end jean.
True Religion, $372
Woodstock Joey jean
Fred Segal. Santa Monica. 323-651-4129
Fans of the line: Jennifer Lopez, Angelina Jolie, Kate Hudson
The latest: Each pair is hand-detailed, so no two are alike.
Chip + Pepper, $275
Road to Nirvana boot-cut jean in Rainy River wash
revolveclothing.com
Fans of the line: Uma Thurman, Faith Hill
The lates: Embroidery on bestselling fit, Sorority Girl.
star talk
High-waisted jeans: Will you or won't you?
"It depends. You have to do it right, because they can look soccer mom and scary."
Chloë Sevigny
"I'm all about a high waist. I have a little pouch and it keeps it in. I have a hard time with low-rise because I can never find tops that are long enough."
"They can be chic if they're super-high: the kind with a waist-band like a cummerbund."
Iman
"High-waisted jeans should definitely be in! The low-waisted is only for the young."
"Some people can get away with it—I can't do it. Women's butts look better when it's hip-hugging."
readers' poll
JEANS TUCKED INTO BOOTS: DO OR DON'T?
79% say don't
21% say do
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