Jeans That Fit

Denim lovers, meet Niki. Niki’s from Davis, California and recently became indiDenim’s newest customer. Being a stylish jeans and t-shirt type of girl, Niki appreciates a good pair of jeans that fit. In fact, her favorite is a pair of dark, low rise, bootcut jeans that after all these years are finally looking a bit worn.

To replace her beloved jeans, Niki came to indiDenim to customize a new pair she could call her favorite.

Being a first time online denim customizer, Niki was a bit hesitant to buy a pair of jeans that she hadn’t tried on. With bad experiences shopping for jeans online in the past, Niki found that when they came in the mail, the jeans never fit her body correctly.

With these denim hardships haunting her past, Niki discovered how indiDenim stood out from other online shopping sites:

“The idea of providing my size measurements and letting me design a pair of jeans was appealing - much better than selecting a general size category (0, 2, 4, etc.) and hoping I fit someone else’s idea of that size.”

Niki couldn’t be happier with her new pair of indiDenim custom jeans. After going through our online process, she designed a great pair of dark, slim fit bootcut jeans with a super low rise - and she looks terrific in them. Check out the before and after!

     
                                  Before                                                                              After

When asked if she has any advice for other first time denim designers, Niki says, “Go for it!” After all, thanks to our perfect fit promise, there’s really nothing to lose. No matter what, you will end up getting jeans that fit your body and your style exactly the way you want.

And the best part is that once you find your perfect pair of jeans from indiDenim, we automatically save all of your measurements in our system. What does that mean? It means you can keep designing jeans anyway you like with confidence, knowing that the jeans we send you will fit you every time.

I hope that Niki’s story inspires newcomers to indiDenim to give us a try. And to our loyal customers, I know all this is old news but hopefully it reinforces your confidence in indiDenim and puts a smile on your face.

posted by: deborah on February 8, 2010 at 11:45 am
filed under: indiDenim Success Story | comments (2)
TAGS: jeans that fit, customer success story

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In short, the answer is yes—absolutely yes.

With all the feasting and fun to be had in the next few weeks, it can be stressful to pick out party clothes and make sure you don’t wear any outfit twice. And considering the economy, this is definitely not the time to buy multiple dresses that you may only wear once. 

So what’s the solution to looking great during the holiday season and getting around the unspoken “don’t repeat” rule?

Answer: A great pair of jeans that fit. And besides, it’s no secret that you can wear the same jeans every day and no one will ask questions…

But I know what you’re thinking. Jeans? At a holiday party? This brings me to confront a very popular myth about these annual shindigs: Truth be told, most are actually not black tie affairs. But although this is the case, I will say that many of these festive occasions do require a bit of effort on your part to “tis the season.”

A few months ago, we posted a blog about jeans for going out and we recommended that if it is a fancy affair, it’s always best to go with a pair of dark denim. Dark wash skinny jeans or bootcut jeans are great options for an evening of jolly cheer. To show your love for holidays, dress up these jeans with shiny accessories, dainty clutches, dressy shoes, or an embellished satin top with sequins—however you accessorize, they are guaranteed to go fabulously with dark jeans.

This holiday season, indiDenim is dedicated to helping you put jeans back into the “dressy” section of your closet. So put your holiday party stereotypes aside and remember that jeans are on the guest list for every party this year.

posted by: deborah on December 14, 2009 at 5:13 pm
filed under: Denim 101 | comments (1)
TAGS: jeans that fit, bootcut jeans, dark jeans, dressy jeans

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Have you ever wondered why every time you shop for jeans in the mall, you fit into a different size?

Think about it. Isn’t it a bit curious that although your waistline stays the same, your closet is full of 8s, 6s, or even 4s? With such discrepancy between labels and sizes, shopping becomes a guessing game in which you should rightfully reward yourself with a latte when you correctly answer the question, “What size am I going to be today?”

So if you’re not gaining or losing weight, what’s the deal with the difference in sizes? Cosmopolitan just published this great article tackling this very question on vanity sizing. Let me help break it down:

Basically, women are so consumed with being thin and measure up to a size 0 ideal, that designers manipulate their sizes to make women feel like they are smaller than they may actually be. This is called vanity sizing. As the article describes, this is when “designers add extra inches of fabric to clothing without changing the number on the tag.” Great. It’s not like shopping for jeans isn’t hard enough already.

As a result, our anxiety to fit into smaller sizes and the variation of sizes themselves causes us even more of a headache. This means that without ever being able to identify with just one number, we are forced to pull at least two or three jean sizes into the dressing room with us. This means more time, more effort, and ultimately more frustration.

We at indiDenim understand your stress and know how difficult it can be to deal with the never ending size confusion. With custom jeans, you don’t have to worry about vanity sizing—every jean is custom made to your measurements.

Ah…the power of customization. 

posted by: deborah on December 7, 2009 at 3:52 pm
filed under: Denim 101 | comments (2)
TAGS: custom jeans, jeans that fit

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According to Tommy Hilfiger, ladies only need one pair of jeans in order to get through life—just as long as they are jeans that fit.

A man who is all over denim like PB on J, he believes that it is absolutely essential for every woman to own a pair of high-quality jeans, even if that means spending some extra cash to get them (clearly he didn’t look at how affordable our custom jeans are before saying this, tsk tsk).  Mr. H thinks that when you find “the one,” they can be dressed up or down for night or daytime, which is why a lady doesn’t need more than a single pair.

Duh Tommy—jeans are versatile, we know this.

Although, here at indiDenim, we may not agree that one pair of jeans is enough—remember, we’re obsessed with jeans and arguably slightly biased—we do understand the reasoning behind Tommy’s point of view. There’s no denying that whatever jeans you own, in order to look your best, the jeans must fit properly.

Tommy went on to say that you should always dress to flatter your shape and personality. We couldn’t agree with him more on that one. That’s why we don’t force feed you style or fashion trends—we just let you design your own.

And we love ya, Tommy, but just one pair? Come on, that’s no fun…

posted by: deborah on December 2, 2009 at 12:13 pm
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TAGS: custom jeans, jeans, jeans that fit

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Just dropped a few pounds?

Well, slimming jeans are the perfect way to complement your new, slimmer body.

And after all the grilled chicken, salads with the dressing on the side, power walks, and crunches, you deserve a new pair of slimming jeans as much as, well, that chocolate mousse cake you weren’t allowed to eat last night.

And not just any slimming jeans, mind you. You owe yourself some slimming custom jeans. You’ve worked hard to lose that weight, so now it’s time to show off your curves with a pair of slimming jeans that’s actually made to mimic your glorious shape.

Don’t fall victim to one of the biggest fashion faux pas out there: baggy clothing that makes you look bigger than you actually are! Fitted clothing is key. Fitted custom clothing is ideal.

So that means it’s time to get rid of those baggy jeans you used to wear. That’s right. Trash. Them. Now. Those old jeans don’t fit your fabulous new body anymore, anyway… Which means, you NEED new slimming jeans. 

And you know how we love when shopping becomes a necessity, and not just a desire!

posted by: deborah on October 21, 2009 at 9:50 am
filed under: Fit Jeanious | comments (1)
TAGS: custom jeans, jeans that fit, slimming jeans

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Custom made jeans are the key to looking fly—short or tall, straight or curvy, human or otherwise.

Just take our canine friend below, who is decked out in a fabulous pair of custom made jeans. Our whole office laughed out loud when we saw this picture of Harley, the Boston terrier from L.A. and his rockin’ denim. There’s no doubt about it—Harley knows that in order to get that perfect fit, custom made jeans are the only way to go.

So…what do you think? indiDenim Mascot, anyone?

image courtesy of latimesblogs.latimes.com

posted by: deborah on October 14, 2009 at 10:30 am
filed under: Misc Musings | Add a comment
TAGS: custom jeans, jeans that fit

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Free jeans got your attention?

Good. Now listen up.

indiDenim has gone through a lot of changes in the past month (we’re growing up, aww, we know). No our voice isn’t deepening, nor our body maturing. Our technology is what has grown with leaps and bounds. And as of this week, you can SEE your jean as you BUILD it and then SHARE it with all your friends through Facebook (or your other favorite social media site) and in our public gallery called the Design Vault!

Now here are the deets on how to score free jeans from indiDenim:

All you have to do is design your perfect jean and add it to our Design Vault during the month of October, and you’ll be entered in our jean giveaway to win a free pair of custom jeans!

So help us celebrate, will ya? Start designing your jean today!

posted by: abigail on October 9, 2009 at 8:48 am
filed under: Happenings at indiDenim | comments (1)
TAGS: design your own jeans, jeans that fit, free jeans

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Short jeans shopping shouldn’t have to be a nightmare.

But if long jeans are an illusive tiger—out there somewhere and fairly impossible to find—then short jeans are the adorable tiger cub; smaller, and therefore that much harder to locate (see them both in their rare photographed glory in the image below).

So since we gave a shout out to all the long-legged ladies out there last week, we’d like to represent for our short-stemmed friends today.  Although their distance from the ground may differ, women with long legs and short legs can grab a latte and commiserate over the same shopping problem: how hard it is to find jeans that actually fit.

And the reason why short jeans are virtually non-existent? Well it all goes back to what we said before about retailers refusing to carry inventory for the people who aren’t “average.”

Most in-store inseams are around 30 to 32 inches. Seem long for a short stature? You betcha! So what’s a short girl to do?

Buy indiDenim custom jeans, perhaps…

Well, not to shamelessly plug ourselves, but there is definitely a time and a place for a little props to indiDenim for helping our tall and petite ladies with long and short jeans alike.

Egos aside, now come the stats. We’ve made some short jeans. To date, we’ve gone as short as 24 inches, but we can go shorter.

So the real question is, how low can we go?

Got an inseam shorter than 24 inches? Send us your order, and we’ll step up to the challenge.

image courtesy of: http://missourigreen.burningbird.net/

posted by: deborah on October 6, 2009 at 1:02 pm
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Long jeans are kind of like an illusive tiger.

You know they are out there, but where and how to find long jeans in their natural habitat takes tremendous skill and patience.

So even though you may have been “blessed” with runway model legs and “enjoy” being able to see over the crowd and reach anything on the top shelf, when it comes to finding a great pair of long jeans, you are a second class citizen! 

Most retailers discriminate against you (single tear)—and with good reason! Carrying inventory for a small percent of the population that may or may not buy from your store can get expensive. 

So where does the discrimination begin, you ask? Well if you have an inseam greater than 31.5” for women or 33.5” for men, you’re in the top 10th percentile of the population. Awesome for towering over your fellow 7th graders. Not so awesome for finding jeans long enough to cover your ankles.

But then indiDenim waltzed onto the scene. And with us as your personal denim sherpa, the pursuit of the long jeans has become a lot easier.

And not to brag or anything, but we’ve gone pretty long. We’ve even made jeans for pro-basketball players.Yeah—we’re kind of a big deal.

So how long have we gone? A quick query from our trusty database yields the results.

The winners are (drum roll please):
43” for men
39” for women

If you or someone you know (or someone you don’t know, for that matter—people with 43” inseams are easy to spot!) can beat our record—let us know. We’ll even devote an entire blog post to them and their impressive inseam.

Let the tall human hunt begin!

And when you find this giant, make sure to send us a photo of him (or her!) looking especially tigerish.

Perhaps something in the same vein as this would be appropriate:

image courtesy of http://www.konicaminolta.com

posted by: abigail on September 29, 2009 at 5:38 pm
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TAGS: custom jeans, jeans that fit, long jeans

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Thank god for low rise jeans…

Unfortunately, they’ve produced an unseemly side effect: the muffin top. You know, that horrendous phenomenon where a person’s belly—usually their love handles—hangs ever so gracefully over the top of their fave pair of jeans?

(credit: christopherfountain.wordpess.com)

And by gracefully we mean, not gracefully.

So, given that we’ve seen FAR too muffin mishaps in our time, we’re calling out to denim lovers everywhere to wake up, snap out of it, take a good, long look in the mirror—and then follow these denim dos to help us rid the streets of the dreaded muffin top!

#1 DO: Get jeans that FIT. You think it’d be pretty obvious, right? Don’t buy a pair of jeans if you have to squeeeeeeze the button shut. How comfy can it be to be constantly bulging out of your jeans, anyways? Buy jeans that cover your curves. And, of course, we recommend custom jeans.

#2 DO: Add an inch or so to the back rise. Fortunately more people are catching on to the muffin top problem, and are opting for pants that sit a little higher in back but still low rise in the front. This is how we make our jeans at indi. By adding a little to the back rise, we ensure appropriate coverage of this “problem” area, while still avoiding the “mom” jeans look.

#3 DO: Wear a long shirt. The problem of a too tight/too low waistband is only half of the muffin top battle. If, say, the above unfortunate fashion victim had invested in a better fitting, longer shirt, the love handle overhang wouldn’t be such a big offense.

Bottom line—don’t try to squeeze it all into somewhere it doesn’t belong. Trust us, the people walking behind you will thank you.

posted by: abigail on August 7, 2009 at 5:43 pm
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TAGS: custom jeans, womens jeans, low rise jeans, jeans that fit, muffin top

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Ask women what it’s like to feel sexy, to look sexy, and most women could probably make your ears bleed in a matter of minutes.  Ask what makes a jean sexy, and all the sudden you have a much more philosophical conversation on your hands.  So, what is a sexy jean?  And what makes a jean sexy or not? 

Is it the same things that makes butts and legs look sexy?  Is our brain stimulated by clothed legs and, by default, the clothing on the legs?  I guess that harkens back to the adage of old “Is it the man that makes the clothes or the clothes that make the man?”

Well, ladies, in this post we briefly discuss two things: lines and butts.  As you’re reading this, know that you are just a few clicks away from finding out what will make your jeans so… well, sexy!

Lines

The lines of the jean determine the silhouette.  To create a sexy silhouette for your body type, take a deep breath, zen out, strike a yoga pose… Do what you’ve got to do to think BALANCE!

If you’ve got great hips and your girlfriends are always complimenting you on your hot “hour-glass figure,” then choose bootcut or flare to balance the curvature of your hips. 

If you’re long and thin, there are a number of leg openings you can go with that compliment those lengthy lines.  Narrow, straight leg, bootcut, wide leg and flare are all in your repertoire.  Go crazy.
Round and rectangle? Mid-rise bootcut jeans will slenderize and tenderize those lines for a truly sexy look. 

Making your lines pleasing to the eye is dependent upon what you think is sexy on you, so sometimes the best advice is to go with your instincts.  You can only pull off a style if you look and feel comfortable, so make sure you pick a style that YOU feel good in! 

Butts

In our world at indiDenim, we think about pockets - a lot… and it shows.  Seriously, let’s face it.  Butts attract our attention for a reason.  And depending on who you ask, butts are pretty sexy all by themselves, but you can’t just go around mooning people to attract the attention you crave in that direction now can you?

Not unlike shaking your tail feathers, our human nature urges us to embellish, embellish, embellish!  Sexy jeans call for sexy pockets, embroidery or embellishments.

For ideas about what back pocket embellishments will work best for your particular body type, check out our post “Flattering Your Assets”.

Want to see more options? Check out our pocket portfolio in the next post and vote on your favorite sexy back pocket for jeans from indi.  And remember, at indi we put you in control of designing a sexy jean that’s perfect for just you. Once you’ve designed your jeans, come back here and tell us what worked for you! 

posted by: Amy D on May 22, 2009 at 2:12 pm
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TAGS: womens jeans, back pockets, sexy jeans, jeans that fit

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I’d like to take the time to talk about body shape, and how to make yours work for you.

Some of you might have already noticed that when shopping for the “Ashbury” plus size jean, our body questions are a little different from the other styles. If the illustrations aren’t clear enough, here’s a quick guide to what each body type really looks like, along with a few do’s and don’ts to help you find the best fitting jean (even if you aren’t interested in plus size jeans).

The Inverted Triangle- The Best Fitting Jean

What it Looks Like: Top heavy, broad shoulders, large bust, narrow hips, thinner legs, wider waist.

What to Wear: Items that divert attention from shoulders and bust, flare or boot cut legs, embellishments that accentuate the seat and lower body. The goal here, especially for plus sized women, is to not give attention to what you already can’t ignore. You’re top heavy already, so try to give the illusion you’ve got more going on below the belt than you actually do.

What to Avoid: Straight leg or tapered jeans

Hourglass- The Best Fitting Jean

What it Looks Like: Symmetrical shoulders and hips, full bust, defined waist, shapely legs.

What to Wear: It usually isn’t very hard for you to find something to wear, even as a plus. Boot cut jeans are always safe, and rise is (almost) a matter of preference in this case.

What to Avoid: Ultra low-rise jeans, plus anything too tight or skinny.

Rectangle- The Best Fitting Jean

What it Looks Like: Straight up and down, if you have curves they aren’t defined, you gain weight pretty evenly across your whole frame, undefined waist, broad back.

What to Wear: Anything with a close-body fit, flaps on the seat, jeans with a fade (to give your thigh some shape)

What to Avoid: Straight cut

Circle (aka Apple) - The Best Fitting Jean

What it Looks Like: Fat distributed in the abdomen/chest, relatively slimmer thighs and upper legs, a “top heavy” appearance, full bust, waist and upper back.

What to Wear: Lighter washes, whiskering, high rise (contains the tummy without cutting into the stomach).

What to Avoid: Skinny legged pants, boot cut

Triangle (aka Pear) - The Best Fitting Jean

What it Looks Like: Shoulders are narrow compare to hips, large hips, smaller waist. It’s the opposite of the inverted triangle.

What to Wear: Boot cut, dark washes, a crease

What to Avoid: Too much embroidery, capri’s, flaps on seat

Average- The Best Fitting Jean

Luckily for the average girl, just about anything will work. There aren’t any pitfalls to be aware of! The average plus sized woman can use the style tips for dealing with specific areas, e.g. staying away from flaps if she has a larger seat. Otherwise, just do what feels right.

No matter what your style or size, indi has the look for you. By following these guidelines, the best fitting jean for your body type is easy to find. At indi, we’re all about helping you look and feel great

posted by: maggie on February 11, 2009 at 2:28 pm
filed under: Fit Jeanious | comments (5)
TAGS: jeans that fit, plus size jeans

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Special thanks to everyone in Northern California who has visited our design studio in Emeryville to be among the first to try our Intellifit Virtual Fitting Room (TM) or VFR.  We’ve gotten a few really cute comments throughout this process… One woman came in and said that our custom jeans fitting room looked like something out of an Austin Powers movie.  Ha!  To me, its cylindrical glass walls and shiny framework would fit in perfectly as the glass elevator in Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. 

In any case, finding jeans that fit in the San Francisco Bay Area just got a whole lot easier.  Our VFR is helping men and women of all shapes and sizes find jeans that actually fit.  We’ve scanned female athletes with the ever-problematic Serena sisters’ quads, moms who don’t want to wear mom jeans, women who don’t fit their mom jeans like they used to, dudes who know how to dress, and guys with bellies who have sworn that they will never wear suspenders.  Yes, we’ve fit jeans on just about every shape and size you can think of.

I was recently asked how old this technology was and my answer was an “uhhhh…a few years?”  And actually, my guess was right!  Intellifit technology (around 200 mini antennas applied to a fitting room environment) has been around for exactly a “few years” and has scanned over 230,000 people since 2003. So, in actuality, the technology (i.e. antennas) has been around since the late 19th century, though I doubt that Thomas Edison would’ve ever thought to use an electromagnetic field to fit and fashion custom jeans.
 
The experience in the VFR is much like the wave of a magic wand.  As the wand revolves around your fully clothed body, the virtual fitting room is recording hundreds of thousands of measurements based on the coordinates that your body occupies in space.  Then poof!  The result is a list of full body measurements accurate within one centimeter. 

So, in case you didn’t already know, finding jeans that fit in the Bay Area of California just got easier!  Click here to schedule an appointment for your own personal or group custom jeans fitting at indi. 

posted by: Amy D on January 16, 2009 at 6:08 pm
filed under: Happenings at indiDenim | Add a comment
TAGS: custom jeans, womens jeans, jeans that fit

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Making the Cut

Choose the denim cuts and style elements that are designed to work with your figure, not against it.  In the era of a skinny jean trend, it may be tempting to jump on the bandwagon, but remember that the surest way to stay stylish is to know your own body.  Be conscious of what works for you.  We suggest considering the classic bootcut—its slight flare toward the hem draws attention away from a round belly by balancing out your lower half.  Pair the style with heels to elongate your legs, and you’ve got a thoroughly modern look that can outshine any passing fad.

There are plenty more tricks of the trade to minimize and disguise the belly.  For instance, try a zipper instead of a button-fly to reduce bulk near the waist. And for the average woman, a mid-rise trumps a low-rise because of the coverage it offers and the way it visually divides the torso and lower body.  Fabric and color play a role, too.

Material Girl

Selecting the right fabric can make all the difference.  If you’re left frustrated by stiff denim material that doesn’t forgive even the smallest of flaws, stretch denim may offer the comfort you’ve been missing.

Stretch denim, a blend of primarily cotton and just a touch of spandex lycra, gives you a more accommodating fit and ease of movement.  One word of caution on stretch: don’t go a size smaller and assume the fabric will make up for it.  Clothes that pinch too tight never look sharp, and the wearer may become the unfortunate recipient of dreaded “muffin top” gossip.  Nobody deserves that!

Dark Wash Is the New Black

Darker shades are slimming, so take advantage of the illusion and avoid lighter washes!  We recommend selecting a wash like indi’s own Midnight or Out of the Blue. A dark jean will keep looking chic and new, long after other styles fades.

Jeans That Fit Your Genes

indiDenim is proud to offer the customization options that will help you find your perfect personalized fit for every body type.  If you’re stuck choosing between styles or just looking for some friendly advice, send us your questions .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

posted by: Emily H on September 30, 2008 at 3:02 pm
filed under: Fit Jeanious | comments (6)
TAGS: custom jeans, design your own jeans, jeans that fit

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