The Colorist

The Colorist

The Denim 101 Guide

How to find the perfect pair of denim everytime

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The Colorist
Oct 10, 2026
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Are baggy jeans out? How do we feel about barrel? Are skinny jeans still in? With fashion changing so quickly and trends cycling, here is your colorist-approved denim guide.

Think of this guide as a way to understand the best fit and styling tips for each type of jean. That way you don’t have to rely on a trend but can make the jean work for you and it will always look good.

Finding the right pair of jeans comes down to understanding two important things:

Part 1: Understand Your Denim Fit Details

Part 2: Understand the Main Denim Silhouettes.

Plus, I’ve also included what key terms brands use when describing their jeans so you can actually find them. I’ve also added a link to SHORTLISTED the monthly curated shopping list at the end of this article.

Let’s get into it.


Part One: Know Your Denim Fit Details

Most people buy jeans based on the style, barrel, wide leg, straight, etc., or how they see them fit on a model or someone else without realizing the same pair is going to fit very differently on their own body. Then they end up confused about why they don’t look the same. There are three major details you should check before purchasing a pair that will help reduce this problem 99% of the time.

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