Fashion
The One Pair Of Jeans You Need This Fall
If you’ve ever had the near life-changing experience of stepping into *the* perfect pair of jeans for your body, you know that it more or less feels like angels are singing and rays of light are beaming down on you — even if in reality, you’re in a poorly lit fitting room. They hug you in all the right places; most importantly, your butt looks higher, tighter, and generally cuter.
Similarly, if you’ve found *your pair*, you know that truly great denim doesn’t come easy. Hands up if you’ve contorted your body in ways you didn’t even know were possible trying to get into said perfect jeans? Yep, been there. Which is why, when Gap announced their new Super Slimming Denim, we were more than a little intrigued by their premise: they use an innovative technology that ensures there’s no stretch in what denim experts call the “weft” (aka left to right — and what typically leaves your jeans looking stretched out and saggy), but plenty of stretch in the “warp” (the fibers in the fabric that run up and down). The result? An admittedly *tight* pair of jeans (think: compression stockings) that once wiggled into, feel like a second skin.
We’re always up for a challenge — and so figured there was no better way to test Gap’s Super Slimming Denim for ourselves than to have two members of Team Cov and two staffers from Bustle determine whether they were truly worth the wiggle. After all, doesn’t anything worth having usually require a little elbow grease?
STEPHANIE MARK | Co-Founder, Head Of Business Development and Partnerships, Coveteur
Her dream pair of denim:
“My ideal pair of jeans makes my butt look A+ (think: good curves and perky!), plus a high-rise.”
Her denim icon:
“I love Gwen Stefani in the early ’90s: baggy jeans and a crop top. For me, that’s the ultimate inspiration.”
Her body type:
“I’m definitely curvier on the bottom than I am on the top. Because of this, I usually look for pieces that accentuate my bottom, and that have a higher rise to frame the waist. I usually go for a lighter wash, but recently have been getting into darker washes, too.”
Her first impression of Gap’s Super Slimming Denim:
“I don’t usually wear denim that’s super tight, so it took me a couple of minutes to get used to the fit. By the end of the day, I was really into it.
“I have to say I loved how they made my thighs look! The only way to describe it is that they looked firmer. I loved the dark wash because it was something I don’t usually wear, and was happy to know I could easily incorporate it into my wardrobe.”
Time elapsed getting into her jeans:
“I would say it took me about 30-45 seconds to wiggle myself into the pants. Definitely worth it!”
How she’d style them:
“I would stick to the basics and wear with a solid T-shirt or tank top for day. For night, I would add a stiletto, but have the top be a bit more fun and colorful.”
Featuring: Gap Softspun Ribbed Sleeveless Mockneck in Grey; Gap Mid Rise Super Slimming True Skinny Jeans in Rinsed
JACKIE BERNSTEIN | Director Of Branded Content, Bustle
Her dream pair of denim:
“I live in skinny jeans, but a good pair is hard to find—especially when you’re petite and have a butt. Often, I have to choose between (a) jeans that fit my butt and are loose in the waist, or (b) jeans that fit my waist but crease under my butt because they’re a bit too tight.
“My holy grail is a medium-rise pair that fits perfectly at the waist (doesn’t ride up or down), is crease-free in the thigh area, and has enough stretch for me to go about my business.”
Her denim icon(s):
“Honestly, probably someone like Paul Newman or Steve McQueen. The style is bit rumpled, rugged, and effortless, but never sloppy. You throw on a white T-shirt and jeans, assemble a quick Canadian tuxedo, and go. The ideal vibe is that you haven’t tried at all. You just happen to look incredibly cool.
“The other secret is that Newman & McQueen raced motorcycles and played outlaws in major motion pictures. I have done neither of those things. I am wholly convinced that being a movie star is one key way to make your jeans look amazing.”
Her body type:
“Petite but with an athletic frame. I have some muscle to me, which can make finding jeans difficult.”
Her first impression of Gap’s Super Slimming Denim:
“The first thing I noticed was that they were super soft but held their shape (and mine) as I tried them on. In other words, they had a nice amount of stretch, but they felt like soft denim rather than a true ‘jegging’.
“They fit my butt and waist perfectly, didn’t crease, and didn’t feel like they were constricting me.”
Time elapsed getting into her jeans:
“Honestly, I actually had a fine time getting into these! I didn’t have to sit down and roll them up. They were true to size in that they fit my waist and my butt perfectly, and they didn’t suffocate my calves or ankles. So it only took a few hops to pull them up — 10 seconds, max.”
How she’d style them:
“Given that I plan my closet around a rotating cast of skinny jeans, I could see myself wearing these year-round. In cooler months, I'd pair with an oversized sweater and boots; in warmer weather, I'd do a simple tank or tee and fun mules or platforms.”
Featuring: Gap Fitted Crewneck Tee in True Black; Gap Mid Rise Super Slimming True Skinny Jeans in Rinsed
LAUREN GONZALEZ | Director Of Production, Coveteur
Her dream pair of denim:
“My ideal pair of jeans elongate my legs and lift my bum. You know, like J.Lo.”
Her denim icon:
“J. Lo, Lauren Hutton, and Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake at the AMAs that one time. Anyone that can make denim work for the red carpet is my hero.”
Her body type:
“I’m pretty petite (5'2 and 3/4”, to be exact) and have a short torso, so anything that hits too high on the waist or is too wide in the legs doesn’t really work for me. I love a black jean or dark denim wash — easy to wear to work, and then out for drinks or on a date with my boyfriend.”
Her first impression of Gap’s Super Slimming Denim:
“The first thing I thought was no muffin-top, which never happens in skinny jeans. They hugged and lifted me in all the right places. Like every other predictable New Yorker, I mostly wear black, so I naturally gravitated towards the darker wash. The jeans are so easy to incorporate into my wardrobe — they’re super-stretchy and comfortable so I look put together without sacrificing comfort.”
Time elapsed getting into her jeans:
“I’m not going to lie, getting the jeans on was a bit of a struggle — there was a lot of lunging, kicking, squatting, jumping, and definitely some wiggling. All in, it probably took a good 2-3 minutes to feel settled in them, but after having them on I felt (and looked) great.”
How she’d style them:
“I’m always on my feet during the day, so comfort is key. For work, I’d probably throw on a T-shirt and loafers or a pair of sneakers. For a night out, I wouldn’t change much except maybe my shoes. I like to think I’m pretty low-maintenance, so a swipe of eyeshadow and some booties and I’m ready to hit the town.”
Featuring: Gap Fitted Crewneck Tee in White; Gap Mid Rise Super Slimming True Skinny Jeans in Matte Black
MELISSA LOUIS-JACQUES | Sales Planner, Bustle
Her dream pair of denim:
“My ideal jeans would be high-waisted with a bit of stretch to them — I like the coverage, plus I have a small waist, so the style flatters my figure well, making my butt look nice and full. I love denim that can really show off a woman’s shape.”
Her denim icon:
“Anyone who can show their curves well in denim is an idol to me!”
Her body type:
“I have a pretty average body shape — but I like the minimal curves I have. I can look womanly when I’d like to but can also pull off the boyish look. I always, always, always look for high-waisted, black, slim denim with some stretch to it. No raw denim or light washes for me!”
Her first impression of Gap’s Super Slimming Denim:
“I must admit that I like how they held me in and they were quick to form to my shape (granted, I was jumping around in them quite a bit). The black ones were my go-to. They looked tight but I felt supported and curvy, which I like. I felt like a woman; I felt good.”
Time elapsed getting into her jeans:
“The Super Slimming Jeans were pretty slim — it took me a couple of minutes to ‘wiggle in.’”
How she’d style them:
“For the shoot, I had the denim paired with a bodysuit, which was pretty sexy for me, but I felt like everything hugged my body in a good way. I felt comfortable! Usually I would pair my jeans with a loose, romantic top. Denim to me is very casual, so I would most likely wear a heel or wedge to dress it up.”
Featuring: Sleeveless Mockneck Bodysuit in Black; Gap Mid Rise Super Slimming True Skinny Jeans in Matte Black
Photography & Direction: Jake Rosenberg/Coveteur; Stylist: Meagan Wilson/Coveteur; Hair: Mustafa Yanaz; Makeup: Andriani Vasiliou
