Wide-leg vs straight-leg vs bootcut jeans for curves

The leg shapes at a glance

Wide leg

A wide leg is fitted through the waist, hips and seat, then falls straight and generous from the upper thigh. On a curvy shape, that does two things at once: it shows off the waist-to-hip curve at the top, and it gives the leg one long, smooth line below. Because the fabric skims rather than grips, wide legs are usually the most comfortable to sit in.

Works best with: a fitted, tucked or cropped top, and shoes with a little lift so the hem skims the floor. Watch out for: hemming too short. A wide leg that stops at the ankle bone looks unfinished. Full styling guide here.

Straight leg

A straight leg keeps the same width from the thigh to the hem. It's the most classic jean shape and goes with almost any shoe. On curves, the fit at the thigh is the thing to check: if your thighs are full, a straight leg sized for them can feel roomy at the knee and ankle, while one sized for your knees will grip the thigh.

Works best with: sneakers, loafers, ankle boots and most tops, tucked or not. Watch out for: a narrow straight leg that's really a loose skinny, and pulling lines across the thigh when you sit.

Bootcut and flare

Both are fitted through the thigh and knee, then open up below the knee. Bootcut opens a little, enough to sit over a boot; a flare opens more. The width at the hem balances fuller hips and thighs visually, and in heels a long flare makes the leg look very long.

Works best with: heeled boots, platforms and wedges, which give the flare room to fall. Watch out for: the knee. These cuts are close-fitting through the thigh and knee, so they need more stretch or a careful size choice if your thighs are full. And like wide legs, they need length.

Skinny

Skinny jeans follow the leg all the way down. They're great if you want to show the shape of your legs or tuck jeans into tall boots. For curvy figures, they almost always rely on stretch denim, and the thigh measurement often decides the size, which can leave room at the waist.

Works best with: longer tops, tall boots, ballet flats, and sneakers. Watch out for: very stretchy fabric that relaxes at the knees and seat during the day.

How to choose

Rise matters as much as leg shape. A high rise pairs naturally with wide and flared legs because the line starts at your waist and runs all the way to the floor. Compare rises here.

Length by leg shape

Each shape has its own ideal hem: wide legs and flares close to the floor, straight legs touching the top of the shoe, skinny jeans at the ankle. Heel height changes all of these. Our inseam and length guide has a table for every shape.

Why your size can change between leg shapes

Even within one brand, you might wear a different size in a skinny than in a wide leg. That's because each cut has a different "deciding" measurement:

So if your thighs are full and skinny jeans always force you up a size at the waist, a wide leg sized for your hips may let you wear a size that fits your waist better too. More in between sizes in jeans.

Can one pair do everything?

If you want one pair of jeans for work, weekends and evenings, a dark, high-rise wide leg or straight leg is the most flexible choice. Both go with flats and heels, both can be dressed up with a blazer, and neither depends on a trend to look current. Add a second leg shape later for variety, not because the first one can't keep up.