How to find the perfect pair of jeans for your body

Low rise, high waisted, bootcut, flared and pocket proportions. Ask just about any woman and she'll tell you that even the slightest differences between pairs of jeans can make her look slim and sexy or lumpy and frumpy. Style choices can be daunting and the perfect pair of jeans can be elusive.

Even fashion reporter Jeanne Beker, host of FashionTelevision, admits that shopping for jeans can be as frustrating as choosing a new bathing suit -- but it's important to stick with it and find the perfect fit for you.

"If you're not comfortable, you're not going to feel good, " says Beker. "And if you're not going to feel good, you're not going to look good."

In favour of fit
Similarly, Noah Stern, CEO of Montreal-based French Dressing Jeans, says finding the right fit is more important than following the hottest trends.

"Don't try to force yourself into something that's tailored to an 18-year-old body if you are 40 or 50 years old, " he warns. "Find something that you are comfortable in."

But this doesn't mean you have to forfeit fashion altogether. The key is to know which jean styles suit your body -- and which don't. Here's some help:

Best jeans for petite women
Stern suggests a mid-rise (rise goes from crotch to waist line) jean for women who aren't especially tall; something that falls just below the belly button. A low waistline will make your torso look longer and your legs look shorter whereas a higher waistband will accentuate your waist and elongate your legs.

If you're petite and slim, you can easily wear skinny jeans. If you'd like to add some curves, try a denim in a light-coloured wash.

If you're petite with hips and don't want to accentuate your curves, you might want to avoid wearing skinny jeans and opt for a boot cut or a slight flare so people's eyes aren't automatically drawn to your hips.