You are more than your measurements

By Tina Falkner

The great jeans debate you may have seen it working up quite a froth on social media. Gen Z telling the Millennials that skinny jeans are out. Highwaisted jeans are vying for the top seat amongst every other rise. Tapered vs. flare. Mom jeans? What in the world is going on here? The lines have been drawn and folks are taking sides.

Not sure I am the one to broker peace when it comes to which cut of jeans is the goto silhouette this year, but maybe I can shed some light on what you need to know to help you make a more informed decision when buying your next pair, especially if they are vintage.

First off, know thyself. In this case, I don’t mean on an existential plane, although it can’t hurt. I mean know your measurements. Go ask your grandma if you can borrow her measuring tape and start off with measuring your waist.

“Measure my waist? I don’t know how to do this! I don’t even know where my waist is!” No worries! Let me help. Use your belly button as your anchor. Starting there, wrap the measuring tape around, breathe in, and as you exhale, look at your number. Another good measurement to know is your hips. Tracking downward to where your trunk is its fullest, that is where your bum and legs meet. Wrap around and measure there.

Now, know your jeans; grab your favorite pair and measure them as well — the waist, hips, rise, and inseam. The best way to do that is to lay your jeans flat. Start with your waist and measure the top band of your jeans, then double that number. Same with the hips. The rise is from the top edge of the jeans from the button to the crotch. (For the life of me, I tried to figure out how to say this measurement description without using the word crotch, but I couldn’t. Sorry.) Your inseam is from the crotch (cringe) to the hem of your jeans. Now you know your jeans, but there is one more thing.

Fabric content. What are your favorite jeans made of? Do they have stretch? Lycra, spandex? Take that into consideration with your measurements.

Sidenote: The measuring tape can feel brutal. Don’t sweat that. Consider these numbers as just guideposts to help you find the jeans to suit your silhouette. That is all. They don’t define who you really are. Can that measuring tape capture the depth of the love you give, or your tenacity that shows itself in persevering at a really hard task? No. Can it record the speed that the glow of your kindness travels? Not at all. These measurements are just numbers that help you find YOUR best jeans. They can’t quantify how awesome you really are. You are more than your measurements. Just sayin’.  Moving on.

Back to fabric content. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but what gives those modern jeans their stretch can be negative for the environment. The Lycra and spandex are a plastic that is not biodegradable. That’s a bummer. The presence of the plastics limits the garment’s recycling options and can contribute to the microplastic problem burdening our oceans. Boo.

If you are feeling compelled to make the switch to 100% cotton jeans, like the majority of vintage jeans are, giving up the stretch can be a tricky jump. Here is the thing about 100% cotton that you may not know: The cotton relaxes with wear, becoming your most comfy jeans. When you wash and air dry, that causes the cotton to relax even more. Highheat drying is what draws the garment up. Did you just pull out your favorite pair from the dryer and they are having a hard time meeting in the middle? Don’t despair because it’s not permanent. Wash them again and let them air dry this time. Even hang them up to invite gravity to help. Don’t give up on a pair of jeans if they are a little snug just relax because they will.

So, there you go. I didn’t really tackle skinny vs. loose jeans. Maybe another time. Perhaps the great jeans debate is a blessing. Since it’s up for discussion what the ontrend jeans are right now, you can feel more freedom to wear whatever works for you! In the meantime, know yourself, know your jeans, and what they are made of. We already know you are made of awesome. Remember you are so much more than your measurements.