Curves ahead -- jean buyers beware

By Kimberlina Rocha
The Collegian

For decades, women have been facing the same fashion dilemma of finding the perfect pair of jeans.

For most slender women, having that ideal pair of jeans may come more easily, since the fashion industry is geared more towards women who can slip into a size 2.

But for those with a smaller waist and a bigger backside, finding the perfect fit could seem like an endless battle.

Elizabeth Trujillo, a senior political science and Chicano Latin America Studies major at Fresno State, said it’s difficult to find a pair of jeans that fits her curves. She said her proportions measure up to a size 6.

However, when it comes to trying on jeans at the mall, she usually has to go one size up.

“For me, it’s harder to find a good pair of jeans,” Trujillo said. “The sizes aren’t according to the proportions. It makes me feel depressed when I try on a pair of jeans and it doesn’t fit me.”

Designers are now becoming more aware of this dilemma, partly due to the rise of celebrities with shapely derrieres such as Jennifer Lopez and Beyoncé Knowles.

Fashion lines for women who have fuller hips, thighs and derrieres with smaller waistlines (also known as a pear shape) are entering the fashion industry with full force.

Lopez debuted her fashion line, J.Lo, in 2001 which features jeans for women who have a curvy backside. Rap star Nelly also came out with his denim collection, Apple Bottoms. The brand name is synonymous to the voluptuous backsides of target consumers.

Other popular name brands are Citizens of Humanity and Seven for All Man Kind. These jeans are well known for their roomy fit and dark wash.

In spite of the comfortable fit and embellished designs, these jeans come with a hefty price tag. Jeans from both labels can run from $150 to $220, depending on the design.

Trujillo said she doesn’t care about the prices. She owns several pairs of Citizens of Humanity and Seven jeans. The only thing that matters to her is the fit.

“They’re worth the money,” she said. “I feel they’re more tailored for women with curves. The one thing that helps is the elasticity which makes them fit better.”

For college students who are on a tight budget, buying $200 jeans is out of the question.

The best option would be to go for J.Lo jeans or Apple Bottoms. Both lines were created for the budget-minded consumer. Jeans run from $60 to $80 and are available at department stores such as Macy’s and Gottschalks.

The Gap also features a line of “Curvy Jeans” which are targeted for women whose waist is smaller than their hips. The jeans come in a flare design and in a variety of washes. A pair of Curvy Jeans are $58 and run from a size 0 to 12.

Danielle Bryngelson, a junior liberal studies major, prefers to buy her jeans from The Gap and she said the store’s Curvy line is a great fit for a small amount of money.

“It’s a good deal,” she said of her Curvy Jeans. “I like the fact that they come in a variety of colors. I also like that they come up to a size 12 because most designer jeans don’t run that big.”

Niomi Granados, a personal stylist and a fashion designer of eveningwear, is pleased with the trend of derriere-friendly jeans.

“I think it’s fabulous, because not everybody is petite,” she said. “A lot of ethnic women are very curvy. I think it’s great that designers are now offering jeans for all sorts of shapes and sizes.”

In the 1950s, having curves was the biggest fashion rage. As the years passed, the fashion industry began to emphasize slimmer silhouettes and made designs focusing on this new trend, Granados said.

Now that designers are starting to put their focus back on womanly curves, some people wonder if thisis just another fashion trend that will soon die out. Granados, however, believes this trend has staying power.

“I think it’ll continue,” Granados said. “Everybody’s different and we’re not all going to stay the same size forever. It’s not just a fashion statement, which will last for one year and the next it’ll be different.”

Two more design labels were launched this year that target the curvy backside market. CB Brand for curved bottoms was released last April by Leslie Ungar and Tessia Thomas, the ladies who were behind Nelly’s Apple Bottoms label.

Ungar and Thomas introduced a four-way stretch denim as a part of their new collection.

Beyoncé has also released her fashion line The House of Deréon, which is named after her grandmother.

Beyoncé and her mother, Tina, teamed up and designed clothes with a retro flair. Included in their collection are jeans made specifically for “bootylicious” women.

The jeans come with a darted waistline which will give room to a curvy backside. The jeans range from $98 to $118. They are available for purchase online and they are expected to debut in Macy’s some time early this year.

“We want to add a touch of couture with a reasonable price,” said Beyoncé in a September interview with Life and Style magazine.

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