Sustainable Jeans for Curvy and Plus Sizes
Pear-proportioned people – often labeled “curvy” in today’s denim fits – have more than a 10″ difference between our waist and hip/butt measurements. It’s not about clothing size – you can be considered curvy whether you’re a size 4 or 34.
Of course, even within today’s more accommodating fashion landscape, simply slapping a “curvy” label on something doesn’t guarantee it will fit all curvy bodies.
And then there’s the issue of how clothing lays on the body. When you’ve got curvy hips, “boyfriend” and “straight cut” denim just isn’t going to look the way it does on more straight-figured people.
When it became popular a couple years ago to buy LEVI’s vintage men’s jeans, for instance, there was simply no way my body was going to make that work. This is also why “gender neutral” clothing, while certainly a step toward greater gender inclusivity, can unintentionally leave out a portion of the population if they aren’t making clothing for all bodies.
While I have been tempted – especially in pandemic times – to blame my body for not fitting into clothing, I am actively counteracting negative self-talk by reminding myself that clothing is made for bodies; bodies aren’t made for clothes. So, if fit is an issue, blame it on the clothing!
In this post, I’m sharing some of my favorite styles and brands that make comfortable jeans for pear shapes and curvy figures.
While some brands listed do not meet my most stringent qualifications for ethics and sustainability, they make high quality denim that actually fits, meaning I’ll get more use out of them in my wardrobe. You can learn more about my Ethical Rule of 3 philosophy here.
This post contains affiliate links
My Personal Picks (Size 8-10/30-31)
American Eagle Curvy Mom Jeans / 000-24
With a super high waist and 13″ difference between waist and hip measurement, these offer a great cinched waist look while being loose through the seat and leg. I have these in two washes. They’re a bit cropped, so if you have longer legs or want full-length, order tall.
LOFT Curvy Straight Crop & Boyfriend Jeans / 2-26
I have a boyfriend style that’s currently not in stock, but I really like the mid-weight denim Loft uses for many of their styles, and the straight fit has the right proportions to look put together without restriction throughout the leg.
Additional Size Inclusive Options
Universal Standard / 00-40
With a specific focus on size inclusivity, Universal Standard prioritizes natural and technical fibers with better labor standards. While they don’t offer a curvy fit, their denim is fit-tested on a variety of sizes. Many of their classic denim styles come with a guarantee, and you can try them at home for free.
Price: Under $100
Free Assembly / 0-22
Walmart’s “more sustainable” line focuses on organic and mono-materials. Because they don’t make a curvy fit, you’ll likely want to size up in these (make sure to check the size chart).
Price: Under $30
Coco Cooper / 0-40
Coco Cooper is a size inclusive denim brand that produces their line ethically in California with a focus on high end, more sustainable, European-milled denim fabric. Their products come with a fit guarantee.
Price: Under $200
Eileen Fisher / 0-28
Organic cotton, ethically made denim in looser, more classic fits for comfort and longevity. Not curvy fit, so check the size chart for accurate sizing.
Price: Under $200
LEVI’S / 0-26
With super high-waist options, curvy fits, and plus sizes, LEVI’s has a lot of variety. Some of their denim is made with less water-intensive practices. Look for the Sustainable marking on each product listing.
Price: Under $100
Madewell / 0-24
Madewell makes sturdy, beloved denim, some with fair trade and sustainable practices. They offer a specific Curvy fit as well as plus sizes.
Price: Under $150
Comovita / Custom
Comovita’s denim is made with organic cotton in an ethical, UK-based manufacturing facility. And ALL of it is made to order, for the perfect custom fit.
Price: Under $200
One tip for shopping: If you’re not buying a style labeled as curvy, you may need to go up one size to accommodate your hips. This was a difficult realization for me, but it’s much better to have a small gap at the waist than to wear over-tight jeans. You don’t want to put too much stress on the threads or fabric of your denim if you want them to last a long time.
More Denim:
