Style Resolutions: How to Look Chic in Flared Jeans

Levi's 501 Original Fit Women's Jeans

Levi's 501 jeans silhouette is the literal blueprint when it comes to denim. They're utterly timeless, and thankfully, very flattering. With a high waistline and straight legs, they're also really easy to wear any way you like. This medium-wash pair in particular will fit closer around the waist and hips before flaunting a looser fit along the legs. The material they're made of boasts a gentle stretchiness to move with you perfectly! Available in sizes 16-24.

Old Navy Extra High-Waisted Sky-Hi Wide-Leg Jeans

One major quality I look for in plus size jeans is a high waistline, because I've found it fits my body best and helps smooth out my tummy. This pair from Old Navy features an extra high waist which is balanced out by wide legs, creating a silhouette that favors bodies that might be more top-heavy. The coolest part is the colorblocked design that'll absolutely turn heads wherever you wear 'em. Available in sizes 00-30.

Gap High Rise Barrel Jeans

Gap also has tons of plus size jeans to pick from! Barrel jeans are hot right now, and no one should be left out of the trend. This style is shoppable in a wide size range and four different denim washes to help you find your perfect pair! This one is especially comfy since the legs are meant to be very drapey and loose. The waistline is definitely more fitted, and the hem of these jeans tapers inward to create a playful shape that can work stylish wonders with your body. Available in sizes 24-35.

Good American Always Fits Good Legs Straight Jeans

Good American's plus size jeans are really unique in that they follow a versatile one-size-fits-four sizing chart and always flaunt a gap-proof waistband. The material they're made of has 100% stretch that "ensures optimal flexibility and unrestricted movement." You'll find that the mid-rise waistline and straight leg styling will work with a variety of outfits and garments, making these a great pair to rock year-round. Available up to size 32.

Madewell The Plus '90s Straight Jean

These jeans are made from a stretchy material that still retains some rigidity for shaping your body, but not restricting it. They are fairly fitted through the hips and thighs but boast a higher back rise for a "curve-enhancing lift." I really enjoy the darker wash on these, too. It feels perfectly formal for in-office days or date nights, but can easily be styled for casual outings. Available in sizes 14-24.

Abercrombie & Fitch Curve Love Low Rise Baggy Jean

Abercrombie & Fitch's Curve Love line is a total godsend for curvy and plus size people. The bespoke fit "eliminates waist gap with additional room through the hip and thigh," and while you may feel weary about rockin' a low-rise pair, I'd argue they're the comfiest silhouette you could ever rock, since the waistband won't dig into your stomach. The baggier fit around the hips and legs is helpful on lazy days, too, all while still making you look put-together. This style comes in so many different washes and lengths. Available in sizes 23-37.

Old Navy High-Waisted OG Loose Utility Jeans

The vertical seaming on these jeans can help shape your body and supply a nice elongating effect for your legs. The waistline sits at the belly button while the fit is only semi-fitted through the hips and thighs. These also have a slight stretch to them, thanks to 1% spandex. Available in sizes 00-30.

American Eagle Stretch Super High-Waisted Straight Jean

American Eagle also brings the range when it comes to plus size jeans. If you're on the hunt for a solid everyday pair, these straight-leg jeans are it! They're crafted from a mid-weight structured denim material with "just enough stretch" for everyday comfort. The medium wash is perfect for pairing with anything from blazers to t-shirts, though they also come in two lighter colors. Available in sizes 000-24.

We The Free CRVY Gia Wide-Leg Jeans

These designed-for-curves jeans have an additional 2-inch difference between the waist and hips to accomodate for larger, curvier bodies. The high waist-wide leg combo is ultimately super flattering since it can help balance out your figure. I'd absolutely wear these with my fave sweater and ballet flats for fall time! Available in sizes 28-35.

Levi's Classic Bootcut Jeans

Another staple in the Levi's jeans vault, this bootcut pair is especially laidback. They have a hint of stretch that's perfect for sporting every day, and the vintage-inspired silhouette is totally on-trend for this season. Levi's says they're their "softest jeans ever." Available up to size 26.

Abercrombie & Fitch Curve Love High Rise Cropped Wide Leg Jean

Cropped jeans are especially fun to wear with boots, so you can show off your best footwear. These A&F jeans also follow the brand's Curve Love guidelines, being made with additional room along the hips and thighs. The material is equal parts drapey and rigid to help shape your bod. Available in sizes 24-34.

For A Petite Body Type

American Eagle Stretch Super High-Waisted Straight Jean

Finding jeans for a petite frame should be an Olympic sport. Given that people with petite body types have to search for garments that suit their shorter proportions, a lot of traditional jeans on the market simply just don’t fit.

When shopping for petite jeans, look for brands that offer a wide size range. For example, American Eagle currently offers jeans as small as size 000. They also offer different inseam lengths, from extra-short to short, and regular to long.

Old Navy High-Waisted OG Straight Ankle Jeans

You can find most any fit of jeans for petite sizing, but straight leg styles may be more complimentary based on your proportions. Straight leg jeans aren’t everyone's cup of tea, though, and we get that.

Madewell The Petite Perfect Vintage Wide-Leg Crop Jean

Bootcut and wide leg jeans can also help shape your figure even more – what matters most is the length and fit!

For A Plus-Size Body Type

Ava & Viv High-Rise Straight Leg Jeans

The “plus-size” part of plus-size isn’t necessarily a formal body type in the fashion world. You can be plus-sized and also have an hourglass, apple, spoon, or pear shape – it simply depends on your numeric size.

Abercrombie & Fitch Curve Love High Rise 90s Relaxed Jean

For plus-size jeans, look for brands that offer a wide size range, like 14-30 (or higher). Plus-size jeans will naturally accommodate for higher measurements in the bust, waist, and hips, helping you find your perfect fit. Abercrombie & Fitch's sizing currently goes up to a 37-inch waist.

Gap Mid Rise Vintage Slim Jeans

Straight jeans work best for plus-size frames since they’re more form-fitting, whereas you might lose some of your natural body shape (or distract from it completely) with baggy or bootcut styles. Stretchy fabrics can also be a big help if you’re prioritizing comfort!

For A Curvy Body Type

Abercrombie & Fitch Curve Love Low Rise Baggy Jean

If you consider yourself curvy (hourglass or pear), you’re blessed, because a lot of jeans brands have started to create “curvy” collections. Jeans specifically fashioned for the curvy body type will often accommodate the ample difference in the waist-hip ratio, eliminating the pesky “gap” that can potentially appear around the waistband. Abercrombie & Fitch's Curve Love line is made to do exactly this.

Everlane The Original Curvy Cheeky Jean

The type of jeans you get to complement your curvy body type really depends on the fit you desire. The length of your torso will vary no matter your body type, but it can be important to note based on the rise of the jeans you want. High-rise jeans typically flatter short torsos, where low-rise jeans can better flatter longer ones.

Good American Always Fits Good Curve Straight Jeans

Stretchy jeans can be really helpful here, too, since they move with your body really well. This curvy pair from Good American features a "gap-proof" waistband, tummy smoothing technology, and 3% elastane for a stretchy fit.

For A Straight Body Type

Levi's Ribcage Wide Leg Jeans

For a straight or rectangle body type, wide leg, bootcut, or flared jeans are your BFF. These styles can easily give your body some extra shaping without ever disturbing your comfort levels.

Gap High Rise Stride Wide-Leg Jeans

High-waist and low-waist jeans can work equally as well for straight body types, though you should be mindful of the inseam length so that the waistband hits around your belly button (and no more than an inch above or below).

We The Free Good Luck Mid-Rise Barrel Jeans

It really all depends on the look you’re going for, though these styles tend to be the most-loved.

​We're Back On The Outer Banks!

FINALLY! After a couple of seasons in the Caribbean and South America, Outer Banks is back, well, on the Outer Banks. Honestly, this automatically makes the season better because it provides a ton of familiarity, nostalgia, and comfort for readers. And it also provides a realistic, grounded aspect to the adventure. Because let's be honest, a group of teens hopping on a tiny plane and taking part in a jungle treasure hunt requires a little too much suspension of disbelief for me. Plus, just like Gossip Girl wouldn't be the same without Blair and Serena hitting up Bergdorf's, a Pogue beach & surfing day just feels right.

​The Pogues Open Their Own Shop

The first episode of Outer Banks season 4 catches us up on that season 3 time jump. After learning how much money they actually have their hands on, the Pogues move into JJ's old house (renaming it "Poguelandia 2.0"), and open a bait, tackle, and charter shop. While I have a few questions about how six teens literally built a business without the help of a contractor, I love seeing this group lead regular lives. The shop plays into their strengths and allows them to cultivate their relationships in normal settings instead of life-or-death ones. Friendships are made in those boring moments, IMO.

​The Pogues And Kooks Are Fighting Again

Because so much of Outer Banks season 4 takes place on the OBX, it means John B., Sarah, JJ, Kie, Pope, and Cleo are once again clashing with Topper, Rafe, and the rest of the Kooks. Despite the fact this season features plenty of death-defying stunts, the scene that will stick with me the most is when the Pogues and Kooks wind up at the same beach access.

I audibly gasped when Ruthie, Topper's new girlfriend, plays chicken with the Pogues on the beach, almost hitting Kiara with her Jeep and running over a turtle hatch in the process. (IRL, protecting endangered sea turtles & their hatches are a big deal on the Outer Banks, so this definitely got a visceral reaction from me).

At the end of the day, the major (and arguably, the most painful) conflict of this teen drama is how the Kooks make the Pogues feel like they don't belong anywhere. And if you ask me, exploring this tension and these relationships is where the show truly shines.

​The Villains Are Actually Scary

That being said, I found the villains this season, Lightner and Dalia, to be way scarier than I expected — especially once Lightner killed Terrance and almost killed Cleo. Every time he showed up onscreen, my heart started pounding like he was chasing me! The thought of being stuck in my bait shop alone with a creepy guy, especially one brandishing a knife? Thank you, next.

​The Pogues Are Searching For More Than Blackbeard's Treasure

After Outer Banks season 3, the one thing I said I didn't want the show to do was go into supernatural, ghost territory. Turns out, that's exactly where we're going. Wes Genrette and his son-in-law Chandler Groff hire the Pogues to find Blackbeard's treasure, but it doesn't take long for them to realize they're once again in over their heads.

Wes is a direct descendent of Francis Genrette, the man responsible for killing Blackbeard and his wife Elizabeth. Now, Elizabeth haunts every generation of the Genrette family, and once she appears, you don't have long to live. Wes reveals his daughter Larissa (Chandler's late wife) saw Elizabeth a week before she died, and Wes himself has seen her, which means his days are numbered.

Now the Pogues have to find Elizabeth's amulet to break the curse. Their race against Lightner and Dalia brings Pope, Cleo, Sarah, and John B. to Charleston — and leavesPope and Sarah trapped in a crypt as it slowly floods.

​Powers At Be Want To Bulldoze The Cut

If this show has proven anything, it's that the OBX is far from paradise. This season, some big names are trying to turn The Cut — including Poguelandia 2.0 — into an extension of the wealthier Figure Eight. Things get even more complicated when Hollis, who worked with Ward before he died, wants Rafe to be her financial partner...and then gets his girlfriend Sofia to convince him to sign her contract.

​Rafe Could Actually Be Getting A Redemption Arc

Drew Starkey admitted after season 1 that he didn't care whether Rafe got a redemption arc, and I agreed at the time. I found the idea of Rafe, who was so driven to please his father he'd literally murder for him, incredibly compelling. Plus, he's been the ringleader of the War on Pogues this whole time, so suddenly making him sympathetic towards them felt like backtracking on his character.

But now that I've seen him with Sofia, the romantic in me is kicking her feet and giggling.

Rafe still has his moments (like saying he'd never date a Pogue after finding out Sofia was from The Cut), but for better or worse, Sofia brings out the best in him. And in the aftermath of Ward's death, and his ultimate wish that Sarah and Rafe would make up, feeling sympathy for the Pogues might be Rafe's way of staying loyal to his dad.

I just want to know how Rafe is going to respond when he finds out Sofia overheard his comments about never dating a Pogue...and then tricked him into signing Hollis' contract. Messy, messy.

​Luke Is Back

After JJ & Kiara said goodbye to JJ's dad Luke in Outer Banks season 2, he's been totally off the grid. Except, apparently, he hasn't? JJ learns Luke is back when he visits Barracuda Mike, but the father-son bonding quickly takes a turn for the crazy when Luke drops a piece of news that changes everything: he isn't JJ's biological father. Chandler Groff is.

JJ Has Actually Been A Kook This Whole Time

JJ's entire character is based around the fact he's proud to be a Pogue. He hates the Kooks and everything they stand for, which is why when Luke reveals he isn't JJ's biological father, and that JJ is related to the Groff/Genrette clan, it totally sends JJ into orbit.

This Kook identity is something he's been running from the entire series — even before Kie had to reassure him that finding the gold didn't make them Kooks — and he's going to have to do some serious soul searching to figure out who he actually is now.

I was wholly sold on the theory Outer Banks 4 would reveal JJ and Sarah were siblings, but this is a pretty good alternative. And who knows? Maybe they're cousins. Fingers crossed JJ doesn't get a deadly visit from Elizabeth's ghost in part 2...