The Best Jeans for Women Over 50 in 2024 | Members Only Access (2024)

3. Stick with stretch denim.

The best jeans comfort your curves with a blend that includes elastane, Lycra or spandex — stretch fibers that add flex to the fabric. All-cotton jeans may sound appealing, but they feel stiff, lack stretchability and take years of laundering to soften up. However, most jeans now have at least 1 percent stretch. That’s enough give to hug the body and keep your jeans in shape. Some, like the J.Jill The Boyfriend Jeans in Chelsea Wash ($89, jjill.com), have 2 percent spandex, which amps up softness and stretchiness even further. Pull-on stretch jeans like the Chico’s Travelers Pull On Cropped Jeans in Skyway Indigo ($90, chicos.com) and Gloria Vanderbilt Shape Effect Women’s High Rise Pull On Flare Leg Jean in Sonoma Valley ($48, jcpenney.com) have wide elastic waistbands and a fashionable look, but they’re a quiet trend. You may not see them on Facebook or Instagram, but thanks to a combo of stretch, design and style, pull-on jeans make normal weight fluctuations easy to deal with and give untucked tees and button-downs a smoother line at the belly.

4. Choose a practical length and the right hem.

The best jeans now, regardless of style, are of a length that works with your shoes. Many women — especially the under 5-foot-2 crowd — and those who now live in flats year-round, can count on ankle-length jeans that stop at or right above the anklebone and crops that are shorter and stop an inch or two above the ankle. Both pair easily with ballet flats, sneakers, loafers and strappy sandals to show off your shoes and your trim ankles.Others prefer the leg-lengthening illusion of full-length jeans that graze the tops of feet or puddle over your shoes. Whether straight, boot-cut or wide, longer lengths optically add inches to the legs, especially when teamed with wedges, chunky heels or kitten heels for extra lift and extension. Puddling (where pants pool on the ground) is in, so wear full-length jeans with flats and flip-flops too if you like the look. Just don’t overdo the excess to avoid tripping on the hem. Check out the Ellos Women’s Plus-Size Crop Bootcut Jeans in Light Stonewash ($57, target.com), H&M Women Slim Straight High Ankle Jeans in Light Denim Blue ($38, www2.hm.com/en_us/) and Lands’ End Women’s Mid Rise Denim Wide Leg Ankle Jeans in Lafayette Blue ($80, landsend.com). A tip about length and hems: Jeans length is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Leg proportions vary and altering the length by even a half inch often improves the glide of the jeans leg so it doesn’t buckle or look bunched up. Frayed hems make DIY trims simple, but they’re casual and look better on light to medium washes. Neat hems require pro tailoring, but they give jeans a chic, pulled-together look.