A lot of jean styles have appeared on the market lately, taking the place of skinnies, which were never a good look, to be honest. Older women have tried many of the new styles with varying degrees of success. But the one winner of them all is the ever-flattering, easy-to-wear, chic, modern straight leg jean.
If you’re a woman over 60, you know the struggle is real when it comes to finding jeans that fit well and look stylish without being age-inappropriate. So many denim styles these days seem geared towards teenagers and 20-somethings. But you don’t want to get stuck wearing dowdy, outdated “mom jeans” either.
Straight leg jeans are flattering for the over 60 body
Straight leg styles strike the perfect balance between too tight and too loose. The legs skim straight down from the hips and thighs without being skintight or dating ultra-flared. Paired with tops that hit at the right lengths, straight leg denim elongates your silhouette for a long, lean look. But not all straight leg cuts are equal – the devil is in the details like rise, stretch factor, and where the denim hits at the ankle.
Finding that singular pair of perfectly fitting straight leg jeans only gets harder as you get older and your body changes. Weight fluctuations, a tummy that doesn’t lie flat, and losing muscle tone and curves can make jeans that used to fit great now feel frumpy and ill-fitting.
So, which straight leg jean styles should modern 60+ women seek out to renew their denim game? We’ve done the research to find some sophisticated yet fashionably flattering options that will have you feeling confident and looking fabulous. From classic dark rinses to trendy cropped lengths, read on for our top straight leg jean picks.
A few considerations
What is your rise?
Rise is the distance from the top of the waistband to the seam where the crotch meets the legs of the pants. It typically ranges from 7 inches to 12 inches. It’s important because it determines where your pants sit relative to your bellybutton.
High rise jeans are especially good for women with long waists. “High-rise” means they sit higher on your torso or just above your bellybutton depending on your height.
The waistband of “medium or mid-rise” jeans sits between the hips and the navel, just below the natural waist. Mid-rise jeans cover more of the lower stomach than low-rise jeans do than low rise, but not as much as high rise.
Are you short or tall?
As you will see, straight-leg jeans vary in width. Some fall straight from the high hip; others skim the leg without being skinny jeans.
Tall women have more latitude with length and style, but older women will look best with a higher rise. They can sport both the wider and narrower leg straight leg jeans. For the most part they also can wear full-length and ankle-length jeans.
Full length-jeans are the best choice for shorter women as they will elongate your look. The problem with ankle-length jeans on short women is the chopped-off look. That can be overcome by wearing shoes with a heel that lengthens the legs.
What is your body contour?
To find the perfect pair of jeans, assess your body type. If you have a long, string-bean body you may decide that jeans that hit at the ankle offer a better proportion. Curvy ladies will find jeans with wider straight legs, such as stove pipe jeans, offer a visual balance to their figures.
Of course, most of us have some combination of body types. That’s why we created this chart to help you wade through the multitude of jeans shapes and sizes available these days.
We selected a dozen pairs to illustrate the variety of new straight leg styles, from super casual to date-night worthy. They can be found at retail stores and online. We’re adding to cart now…
We may have an affiliate relationship with some of them, which means we will earn a small commission if you purchase anything through the links on this page.
LEVI’S 501 90s Jeans
A classic mid-rise and a loose, straight fit with just the right amount of bagginess through the leg. Full-length, non-stretch 100% cotton denim with a touch of fading. Find Levi’s 501 90s jeans at Shopbop and Levi.com.
REFORMATION Cynthia High Rise
Cynthia High Rise Straight Long Jeans are designed to be fitted in the waist, butt, and hips with a straight leg. $168, Thereformation.com,
RE/DONE 90s High-Rise Rigid Straight Jeans
Re/done’s 90s-inspired jeans are cut from rigid denim. This lightly distressed style showcases a high-rise, straight legs silhouette with five-pocket detailing. 90s High-Rise Rigid Straight Jeans, Saks Fifth Avenue, $275.
AGOLDE 90s Pinch Waist Straight Leg
Agolde’s iconic 90’s pinch waist holds you in. Featuring a flattering high-rise waist with a close-fitting top block through the hips, and an easy, classic straight leg in a longer inseam. 100% organic non-stretch cotton. $238, agolde.com.
MADEWELL The Curvy ’90s Straight Jean
Engineered for those with an hourglass shape, these ’90s-inspired curvy jeans fit snugly through the hips and thighs with the holds-you-in sorcery of Madewell’s Magic Pockets™ in front and a higher rise in back for a cheeky, curve-enhancing lift. The Curvy ’90s Straight Jean, $128 at madewell.com.
LEVI’S 314 Shaping Straight
Levi’s 314 Shaping Straight jeans are made with super soft, stretch denim that lengthens your legs, hugs your curves and celebrates your features. Plus, they’re designed with a built-in tummy panel that flatters, smooths and supports. 314 Shaping Straight Women’s Jeans. levi.com. $69.50
EVERLANE The Way-High® Slim Jean
Long and lean and made from low-stretch regenerative cotton, The Way-High Slim Jean features extra room at the waist (compared to Everlane’s regular Way-High® Jeans) with an updated slim, straight leg, and a longer, full-length inseam. The Way-High® Slim Jean, $98 at everlane.com.
Levi’s Classic Straight Women’s Jeans
White jeans having their moment in this modern take on a relaxed vintage fit. Levi’s Classic Straight Women’s Jeans have an easy silhouette and a classic straight-leg finish. They are made with a hint of stretch for a worn-in look that fit and feel as good as new. Levi’s Classic Straight Women’s Jeans in Simply White, from Levi.com, $42
Madewell ’90s Creased High Waist
Madewell’s’90s-inspired jeans fit snugly through the hips and thighs and have old-school deep creases down the straight legs. This full-length pair features holds-you-in front pockets rise for a curve-enhancing lift. The ’90s Creased High Waist Straight Leg Jeans by Madewell, Nordstrom, $128
& Other Stories Slim Cut Jeans
5-pcket Slim Cut Jeans from & Other Stories features a high waist and a full-length, slim leg. 99% cotton, 1% spandex offers a bit of comfort stretch. $119 at stories.com.
LEVI’S 70’s High Rise
With a curve-hugging fit with a waist-emphasizing high rise, these are classic slim straight leg jeans with a vintage-inspired fit. 70’s High Rise Straight Leg Jeans. Levi.com $58
Levi’s 70s High Slim
There’s something about Levi’s ’70s High Straight Jeans that—despite their nods to a decade known for lava lamps and pet rocks—feel incredibly fresh and modern. Classic straight leg silhouette and ultra high rise fit for a true vintage look and feel. Fits slim through the hip and thigh; super high rise. 70’S High Slim Straight Women’s Jeans at Levis.com, $60
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