I don’t know about you all, but finding jeans I actually like is so freaking hard for me. Maybe it’s because I have a significant hip to waist ratio (16 inch difference from my waist to hips) or maybe it’s because I am a petite plus size girly, or maybe brands just can’t get their sh*t together when it comes to plus size denim.
And every time I talk about the fact that I am both plus size and petite, it nearly breaks the internet. I think people haven’t grasped the concept that petite sizing has nothing to do with your weight and are clothes designed for women 5’4” and under (shorter inseams, shorter lengths overall, and a slightly different design approach). So yes I am petite, and yes I am plus size.
Anyways, I digress…
I recently ordered as many pairs of jeans as I could find (and thought were interesting enough) in my sizing from Nordstrom and to my surprise every single pair fit me! A total win in itself. That said of the five pairs of jeans I tried, there were only two jeans that I said yep, let’s rip the tags off and add these to my closet.
So let’s get into this Nordstrom jeans try-on sesh. The good, the bad, and the “just okay” jeans I found.
1 | Silver V-Yoke High Waist Ultra Wide Leg Jeans
similar tee | jeans (22) | sneakers (tts)
I know we all are reminiscing about 2016, and boy oh boy are silver jeans definitely giving me all the nostalgic vibes. I have a LOT of memories around Silver jeans not fitting me as a teenager and young adult because (obvii) they didn’t sell plus sizes then.
jeans (22)
But y’all whoever is on the design team at Silver has won me over because these v-yolk jeans are really, really good. And in fact my second pair I’ve purchased in the last few months and both pairs are absolutely stellar.
similar tee | jeans (22)
DETAILS & FIT:
These jeans have that cool girl yolk design in the front and the back of the jean. They are the perfect wide leg jean, sit at more of a mid rise inseam, and the color way is absolute perfection. They run ever so slightly long with my low profile sneakers, but would be perfect with heels or a platform sneaker for me. Sizing wise these fit quite true to size, I am right on the cusp between size 20 and 22 and likely could have sized down in these but overall they are pretty damn perfect.
2 | NYDJ Teresa Rhinestone Split Hem Wide Leg Jeans
similar tee | jeans (22) | sneakers (tts)
Two for two y’all becuase these charcoal black studded jeans are freaking incredible. I selected these on a whim thinking ehhh, they look okay on the website, but wondered whether I’d alctually like them on myself. And yep, I LOVE them 😍. They feel like the kind of jean you would wear to a concert or a night out on Broadway here in Nash.
I love the studded detailing and the feel of the fabric is seriously soft. These are the most lux feeling of all the jeans I tried.
similar tee | jeans (22)
DETAILS & FIT:
The asymmetrical stud detailing on these jeans are such a fun added element and it tapers off into an open slit near the hemline. I personally am a sucker for good pocket placement, and don’t like when the pockets are too far apart from each other. And these jeans, they have perfectly placed pockets! The material of these jeans are a much stretchier style fabric and have give if you ebb and flow in sizing and again for me I’d probably size down to the 20s because they were quite spacious on me.
3 | JUNE + VIE High Rise Jeans
similar tee | jeans (22) | sneakers (tts)
If you are looking for a classic pair of jeans then these high rise jeans might be the jeans you would likely steer towards. Unfortunately for me, these were far too high rise (again, hi, I’m 5’2”). I typically find that wide leg jeans aren’t quite wide enough in the thigh area, but these are that perfect wide fit. Overall, they are just a “just okay” pair of jeans, they’re good enough, but didn’t wow me.
similar tee | jeans (22)
DETAILS & FIT:
These have a significant inseam, so if you’re a person who likes your jeans to sit higher then these might be a great option for you. They were just too high for me. I found these to run large and would likely need to size down in these for a better fit. They have ample stretch which again is great for weight fluctuation.
4 | High Waist Ankle Barely Barrel Jeans
similar tee | jeans (22) | sneakers (tts)
What can I say… I think I don’t like barrel jeans, and honestly now that I have tried on at least a dozen pairs, I just can’t get behind them. I thin the tapering that happens at the bottom of this style of jean just doesn’t work for my body shape. These barrel jeans make me feel even more “hippy” than I am and why the heck are these so freaking short?! I mean I guess they are supposed to hit at the ankle, but it makes me feel like I am wearing flooded jeans (not my vibe).
similar tee | jeans (22)
DETAILS & FIT: These jeans are a bit of a 90s style wash with slight ripped details at the pocket. They fit pretty true to size, though they run very short. If you are taller than me, these will likely look like capris on you.
5 | Eileen Fisher High Waist Ankle Straight Leg Jeans
similar tee | jeans (22) | sneakers (tts)
These Eileen Fisher jeans are some of the worst jeans I’ve tried in a long time. They are categorized as high waisted, but I’d say they are certainly a low rise, maybe a mid rise at best. The material doesn’t feel like the quality you would expect from Eileen Fisher and something is off with the front pockets, they are so shallow and not usable.
similar tee | jeans (22)
DETAILS & FIT:
Honestly extremely disappointed in Eileen Fisher with these, especially considering they are the most expensive of all the jeans I tried. They are scratchy on my skin, such thin fabric that I’m sure you would burn a hole through the thighs after one wear (especially if your thick thighed), and they just aren’t cute. The fit is technically true to size, but overall these are poorly designed. These are an absolute no for me, and I’d recommend skipping them all together.
Well there you have it, my very honest thoughts on the jeans I found from Nordstrom. A few absolute gems, and some very mediocre at best jeans. I’d love to know from you though, what kind of jeans do you tend to wear the most and if you’re also plus size LMK your favorite denim brands.
XX – Kat @thekatrinanichole on IG
