Colored denim

Photo: Devon Jarvis/Studio D

Adam Says…
1. Choose dark-wash jeans with side seaming that curves into the thighs to make them look slimmer.
2. Higher rises help control muffin top.
3. When you find the perfect pair of jeans, buy two and hem one for flats, the other for heels.


Jeans With Benefits:
Top left: The comfort of pajama jeans, but with real pockets and zippers.
$70; llbean.com

Top right: Stretch plus-size jeans available in sizes 14–32.
$48; avenue.com

Bottom left: A built-in elastic waistband prevents gapping.
$54; lee.com

Bottom right: Contouring seams visually slim the butt and thighs.
$110; nydj.com
Slimming jeans

Photo: Ben Goldstein/Studio D

Katie Childs
28, special projects director, New York City

Why She Was Skeptical of "Slimming" Jeans
"I'm wider in the hips, narrower in the legs, and I get muffin top," says Childs, an executive at beauty company Red Flower. "I need stretch jeans, but most of them seem to lose their shape quickly."

Why She Loves Them Now
Childs's pull-on jeans feature an elastic waistband that holds in wobbly bits, plus extra-sturdy fabric that stretches without stretching out. "The higher waistband makes me feel secure," she says. "If I needed to literally run to a meeting, I could."

Cardigan and shirt, C. Wonder. Jeans, JAG Jeans, $64; nordstrom.com. Earrings, Coralia Leets. Ring, Tuleste Market. Shoes, Vince Camuto.
Denim Shaper

Photo: Devon Jarvis/Studio D

Q: What undergarments do I wear with jeans?
A: If you need shapewear, choose seamless pieces with laser-cut edges, for comfort and to avoid a panty line. Thongs and panties should always be cut lower than your jeans to avoid inadvertent underwear display.

Yummie Tummie paper-thin-fabric shortie, $48; yummielife.com
Shoes

Photo: Devon Jarvis/Studio D

Guaranteed to Fit You Perfectly!
Customizing comes with Imogene + Willie jeans. "We alter one of our five styles to create the perfect jean," says cofounder Carrie Eddmenson. The service includes consultations to determine cut and fit; jeans are delivered within a week. Starting at $225; imogeneandwillie.com

Keep Reading: How to wear colored denim
From the February 2012 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine