style guide

Perfect Jeans for Every Figure

Too high, too faded, too tapered, too outdated. If any of these describe your favorite jeans, then it's time for a fashion intervention, because it means you're wearing mom jeans. The good news is that after years of distressing denim trends, stores are finally stocking jeans that flatter all different kinds of figures, not just skinny starlets. Stylelist challenged fashion consultant Emily Neill to find the best fit for five Massachusetts moms.

Liz Linder

It's been almost a year since Esme became a mom, but she's still having trouble finding jeans that work as her body adjusts to its post-baby shape: She needs something to flatter her new curves, not make them look square.

Liz Linder

Michael Kors knows how to make women feel beautiful, so it's no surprise his jeans include a little stretch in the fabric to smooth out lumps and bumps and sculpt the bum. This silhouette clings to Esme's thighs in all the right places, emphasizing her shapely legs. Emily added a jacket instead of a belt to help camouflage the new mom's trouble zone:

Michael Kors, Plus Size MK Signature Jeans, $119.50, www.macys.com.

Liz Linder

Talk about a genius jean makeover: Banana Republic's Classic Straight Leg jeans fit like they were custom made for Esme -- the dark color is nice enough for the office, the length can be worn with flats or a low heel and the cut sits perfectly on her hips and make her legs look even longer.

Banana Republic Classic Straight Leg, $89, wwww.bananarepublic.com.

Liz Linder

These mom jeans are a textbook denim don't. Dorothy wears anywhere from a 12-16 depending on the jean brand/cut and her go-to pair these days is a high-waisted flare cut. In theory, the flare should add balance and make her hips seem smaller, but these dark denims have the opposite effect and make her thighs look bigger as well.

Liz Linder

Banana Republic's Urban Flare jeans have a lower rise and a fuller cut leg, making Dorothy's bottom half look curvy in a good way. The wide hem flares nicely and adds the right proportion to her hips, and the cut of the legs is roomy enough to make her thighs shapely.

Banana Republic, Urban Flared Leg, $54, www.bananarepublic.com.

Liz Linder

Another style that is kind to Dorothy's curves is from Old Navy : the shorter inseam of the Diva (Low Rise) keeps her hips in check, and the fuller cut straight leg doesn't overemphasize places Dorothy would rather not be highlighting. The longer length of this cut lets Dorothy pair with heels, providing the benefit of longer looking legs to balance out her overall proportion.

Old Navy Diva Low-Rise Jean, $34.50,www.oldnavy.com.

Liz Linder

With her athletic build, Jess thought the skinny jean trend might be an easy update for her wardrobe, but this pair isn't really doing her any favors: with a high waist, weird bunching at the crotch and unflattering taper in the calves, this pair screams "see you at the soccer game!"

Liz Linder

The dark wash jeans by Mossimo are a recessionista's dream come true: Jess's legs look long and lean, her waist small, hips sexy and she can easily dress them up or down.

Mossimo Target, Henry Wash, $29.99, www.target.com.

Liz Linder

This mom has got it going on! The sandblast color of Victoria's Secret V-cut jeans make them casual enough for hanging with her kids but the extra long cut that makes it look as if her legs go on forever is definitely appropriate for an adults only evening:

Victoria's Secret Pink, Low Five Flare Jean, $59.50, www.victoriassecret.com.

Liz Linder