5 Expert Tips to Actually Find Perfect-Fitting Skinny Jeans

If you’re a skinny-jean enthusiast (like I am), your denim drawer is probably stocked with a variety of the slim-fitting denim. But do you have that perfect pair yet? If you don’t, we're here to help you get one step closer to uncovering that ideal cut with a few skinny-jean fit tricks to keep in the back of your mind next time you’re shopping.

Sure, everyone’s style and body types are different, but after we caught up with Emma Grede, the CEO and co-founder of Good American (which prides itself in designing flawless-fitting denim), and Shopbop's fashion director, Caroline Maguire, it quickly became evident that there are a few general tips that could help you actually find those perfect-fitting skinny jeans. We rounded up their five expert tricks for you below, along with some of the best skinnies from Good American—which has a fresh range available on Shopbop right now. You can also keep on scrolling to shop other flawless skinny jeans that are worthy of a little add-to-cart action as well.

1. Always look for high-rise skinnies.

"Always look for high-rise skinny jeans. My favorite pair are my Good American Good Waist skinny jeans because of their super-high waist. The fit is so flattering, and you can pair it with any top for a casual or put-together look." — Emma Grede

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2. Ensure there is enough stretch.

"Because skinny jeans are such a closet staple in any wardrobe, it's important for them to be stretchy and hold their shape from wear to wear, allowing you to wash them less and preserve the fabric." — Grede

3. Opt for a gap-proof waistband and reinforced belt loops.

"A gap-proof waistband is another crucial aspect of great-fitting skinny jeans because there's nothing worse than pulling on pants and feeling exposed by an ill-fitting waistband. Also, every woman seems to pull up her jeans by grabbing on to the waistband and shimmying in. (We’ve all done it!) For this reason, it's important to find jeans that have reinforced belt loops that won't snap under pressure." — Grede

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4. Don't forget about the wash.

"Find a favorite wash. The wash on a jean completely changes the look of a given style." — Caroline Maguire

5. Pay attention to the inseam.

"Know the right rise and inseam for you. Everyone's body is different, so I recommend trying multiple pairs to find the most flattering and comfortable dream denim style." — Maguire

Grede went on to mention that sizing tools (like Good American's online tool) are worth checking out if you order online and don't want to gamble with the wrong size.

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Now, shop more skinny jeans:

Check out Good American's Open Casting initiative for a chance to star in the brand's next campaign with Khloé Kardashian.

Next, cool skinny-jean outfits that won't feel dated this year.

Bobby Schuessler
Market Director

Bobby Schuessler is a fashion editor with over a decade of editorial experience covering shopping, style, and beauty. He's spent over seven years at Who What Wear, currently leading the market team to deliver highly covetable and convertible content. He creates data-driven shopping guides featuring top retialers like Nordstrom, Shopbop, and Net-a-Porter and is at the forefront of Who What Wear's shopping tentpole strategies, including Amazon Prime Day. He also works on branded content initiatives and appears on camera in video and shopping livestream franchises. He has also worked across a variety of other media brands and fashion retailers like Refinery29, PureWow, Men's Health, and Gilt covering commerce, trend reporting, women's and men's fashion, home, and lifestyle.