Wondering what are the best jeans for women over 50? This is the right place for you. A lot of my readers are mature ladies over 50 and this is a very common question.
Shopping for denim can be a serious journey, regardless of your age. Over the years, I’ve found jeans has traditionally one of the most difficult types of garments to shop for among women. So, if you struggle, you’re definitely not alone!
Finding the best jeans only gets more difficult as mature. But we’re not here to talk about all the negatives with jeans! I want to help make your jeans shopping experience a more positive one and in order to do that, I’m going to share some key tips to consider along your journey.
I hope you’re breathing a sigh of relief, because I’m here to walk you through this. Read on for my favorite tips to help you find the best jeans when you’re over 50.
Table of Contents
The Best Jean Rise for Women Over 50
Before I get into the best jean rise for women over 50, I want to clarify what rise actually means.
I’m sure you’ve heard about the ‘rise’ of a jean throughout your jean shopping experiences, but I know a lot of women don’t REALLY understand it.
Rise is the distance from the middle of the crotch seam (right between your legs) to the top of the waistband. It usually ranges from 7 inches to 12 inches. There are three types of pants rise: regular rise, low rise and high rise.
Ok, so now that we’ve established what exactly the rise of denim refers to, there are two rises that are best suited for women over 50.
Mid rise and high rise are the winners!
These two rises help to flatter your midsection, or to create a more defined waistline if you don’t have natural definition. Another reason mid + high rise are best for mature women is because the higher the rise the more of a slimming effect it has on your legs and waist.
Let me explain.
When you wear pants that have a higher rise, like a mid or high rise, it creates the illusion of a longer leg line. That illusion helps to elongate your entire shape which aids it helping create that slimming effect I mentioned.
Low rise? I would skip it at all cost! Even though low rise jeans is making a come back this year, I do not recommend anyone over 30 to wear it. They are just not flattering in general, because they make your legs look shorter. In addition, when you sit down, you have to worry if your undies are properly covered.
The Best Jean Wash for Women Over 50
Yes, there are certain denim washes that are going to be more flattering when you’re a woman over 50.
Dark wash jeans
While there are exceptions to things, in general darker wash jeans are best for mature women.
The reason? There are a couple reasons!
First, a darker wash jean tends to be much more figure flattering. You know how black is known as a ‘slimming’ color? Well, dark wash jeans have a similar effect.
In addition to the figure flattering aspect, dark wash denim also lends to a more age appropriate wash. Light, distressed denim is fun but it often leans toward a more youthful vibe that doesn’t always flatter a mature woman. Stick to the classic jeans in a darker wash to give you a modern, updated appeal that’s also age appropriate.
White denim
I don’t want to confuse you, but I do want to give you another jean wash that can be a great choice for women over 50. You may be surprised but WHITE denim is another great choice for you.
White is different from light wash denim because it’s a crisp, fresh, modern aesthetic with denim. The reason they are a great choice for women over 50 is that they look really youthful and they go pretty much with anything in your summer closet!
Black jeans
Ok, ok so last denim wash to consider: black. This one may go without saying because, well…black is black and it’s always a great choice. But I wanted to mention it because sometimes it’s an overlooked wash in regards to jeans!
Should you wear distressed jeans?
While we’re on the topic of jean washes, I’ll address the elephant in the room: distressing. I know this is an area women over 50 struggle with when selecting denim jeans. Especially since it can often feel like ALL denim has distressing on it.
I generally suggest staying away from a lot of distressing on your denim jeans when you’re a woman over 50. Similar to the way light wash jeans can look too young, a lot of distressing on jeans can have the same effect.
As a mature woman, stick to a more classic style/wash of denim jeans. The less distressing and ‘stuff’ on denim the more classic it looks and classic style choices are a woman over 50’s best friend.
Best Jean Silhouettes for Women Over 50
Now that we’ve established some of the basics you need to look for when choosing the best jeans, let’s get into one of the biggest factors to consider: the silhouette of your jeans. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you the actual fit, or silhouette, of your jeans is really the focal point of the jeans as a whole. Unfortunately, not all jean fits are flattering for everyone.
Straight leg
First up, one of the best jean silhouettes for women over 50 is a classic straight leg denim fit. Straight leg jeans have maintained their classic denim appeal for YEARS now, and with good reason!
One of the main reasons is because it’s a jean style that’s universally figure flattering. Yes, straight leg jeans look good on every body type. More than just being figure flattering, the classic aesthetic of a straight leg jean is also flattering on a mature woman aesthetically.
Skinny jeans
Another great jean silhouette for women over 50? Skinny jeans!
This one may come as a surprise, especially because skinny jeans can feel intimidating for a lot of women. However, skinny jeans are incredibly flattering for women over 50 because it’s a simple silhouette that fits close to the body to enhance your natural shape.
I will say when choosing skinny jeans as a mature woman, it’s essential that you stay away from skinny jeans that are TOO tight. Yes, I get that skinny jeans are meant to fit close but you want a happy medium on the fit. Skinny jeans that are too tight have the reverse effect and end up NOT being flattering at all.
You also need to wear skinny jeans with the right shoes to create the look for different outfits.
Bootcut jeans
Last but certainly not least, another one of the best jean silhouettes to try is a boot cut. You may notice a theme by now: the best silhouettes for mature women are the classic options. Boot cut jeans are another great classic choice! Since boot cut just has a slight flare at the bottom, the silhouette isn’t too voluminous or bold – making it a great choice for women 50+.
Fit Factors for Jeans to Consider
We’ve gone over a lot of important factors to help you find the best jeans to suit your age, but there are a few other things I wanted to mention to you so you’re even more successful on your journey.
Fabrics
You’ve likely tried jeans on that are made of different materials throughout your life. The great thing about jeans today is all the variety available.
Generally, I find jeans that offer some stretch are the best for mature women. When you have denim with natural stretch, or spandex, they’re SO much more comfortable to wear. In addition to the comfort factor, stretch denim tends to be more flattering.
When denim has stretch they’re more likely to fit to the body in a more natural manner, giving you fit AND comfort. Major focal points when you’re a woman over 50 – gone are the days of sacrificing comfort for style, am I right?
I’m always about finding jeans that are a mix between a legging and a jean – these options give you ALL the comfort and style you’ll feel great wearing all day long.
Hemline
Finally, it’s essential you’re paying attention to the hemline of your denim. Now that you’re a woman over 50 the fit of your clothes plays a major role in your overall style. You want a style that’s classic, modern and comfortable.
The best way to achieve that? Make sure your clothes are fitting you the way they’re supposed to! This means getting your jeans tailored when necessary.
For some reason, a lot of women are opposed to tailoring denim when in reality jeans need to be tailored for the best look. Not to mention, it’s RARE to find jeans that fit you perfectly right off the rack – no shame in the tailoring game.
Make sure you’re hyper aware of the length of your jeans and you’re getting them tailored to be the right length.
Petite Jeans for Women over 50
Calling all petite ladies real quick! Ok, so I’m sure as a petite woman you’re well versed in the world of tailoring. I do suggest looking at the petite denim selections, however it can be limited in regards to denim. So if you find that you’re not having much luck finding petite denim that you like, just keep your mind open to having things tailored to fit.
Hot tip for tailoring your denim: if you wear shoes of varying heel heights you may want to consider having different denim options to cater to them. There’s nothing worse than only having ONE pair of jeans you can wear with certain heel heights. If you wear denim often, it may be worth investing in a few pairs to have them tailored at different lengths.
If you are under 5’4″, I highly recommend you read my post on how to find the best jeans for petites.
Hopefully these tips help make your jean shopping experiences a little less stressful. Remember these concepts and you’re well on your way to finding the BEST jeans to suit you.
Top 10 Jeans for Women over 50
Ok, now that we established the basis of what kinds of jeans are best for women over 50, I’ll give you the best choices below based on the feedback of our readers. Some of their recommendations are already discontinued, but I replaced it with the closest from the same brand in terms of the same leg shape, same wash, same rise and etc.
Joe’s Jeans Charlie high waisted jeans
Loved by our readers over 50s! They mentioned Joe’s are the softest jeans they’ve ever worn. These jeans are so stretchy and they fit your waist and hug your hips so well that our readers said they’d gone back and bought more than one pair.
NYDJ Marilyn straight leg high rise
Our readers are raving about how super comfortable this pair is because of its stretch. Some mentioned this one hides muffin tops really well! They also love how this pair washes.
Wit & Wisdom Ab-solution stretchy skinny
The reason our readers are raving about this is the stretch! When you wear jeans for a while, it tends to start to loosen. However, with this pair, it grips your waist pretty well still and stays in shape. Plus, they are such an affordable price!
Liverpool kickflare jeans
Our readers voted for this pair because it’s super comfy! The flare leg plus high waist makes it a great jeans option for women over 50.
Levi’s skinny wedgie jean
Our readers recommended this pair because it’s tight but still comfortable. It is the right amount of high rise but not too much, which is important for women with shorter torso. Our readers’ feedback is these last quite well for the price!
LOFT curvy slim skinny jeans
Our readers like this pair because how easy it is to fit in the spring and summer closet! They also like how comfortable it is.
Old Navy High-Waisted Secret-Slim Pockets Rockstar Jeans
Our readers love this high waisted jeans from Old Navy! Some said this is the most comfortable pair they’ve ever had. Plus, you can’t beat this price anywhere!
PAIGE high waisted white jeans
This is a new jean for the season that is similar to the pair loved by our readers last year which has been discontinued. Our readers recommended the comfort because of the high rise and the wide leg!
