These days, however, jeans come in a multitude of washes, rises, cuts and fits. Reading the labels on jeans can get confusing. What does it all mean?
Wash
Wash refers to the color and finish of a pair of jeans.Dark Wash
Dark washed jeans are the original denim; they are a deep indigo color and are often a bit stiff.
Stone Washed
These jeans are pre-washed and weathered to create a softer look and feel. The color is faded and the cotton in the jeans has a worn appearance.
Dirty Washed
Dirty washed jeans are like stone washed jeans in that they have been pre-washed to make them softer and to give them that worn-in look, but they have also been treated in a way that makes them appear dirty, or tinged beige, brown or khaki.
Distressed
Distressed jeans are highly faded and are finished off with holes, rips, tears and often fraying hems.
Rise
The rise on a pair of jeans determines how high or low the jeans will sit on the waist.Classic Rise
This traditional denim look is quickly coming back in fashion. A classic rise comes right below or at the belly button. Low Rise
Low rise jeans sit well below the belly button, above or just at the hip bones.
Ultra-Low Rise
These jeans sit even lower than low rise jeans, usually below the hip bones.
High Waist
Currently out of fashion, high waist jeans have a rise that comes above the belly button.
Cut
The cut of a pair of jeans refers to how the garment is shaped. The cut usually refers to the legs of the jeans.Straight leg
Straight leg jeans have a uniform fit from the top of the pant leg to the bottom. The bottom does not flare out, nor does it come in at the ankle.
Boot Cut
Boot cut jeans are slim in the thigh area and begin to angle out below the knee to make a moderately wide hem at the bottom.
Skinny
Hugely popular this year, the skinny jean is tight throughout. These jeans usually have a higher percentage of elastic in the denim to keep them slim yet comfortable.
Flare Leg
Like boot cut jeans, flare leg jeans angle out below the knee, but much more so, creating a bell-like shape at the hem.
Ankle Length
Ankle length jeans should fit with the hem coming down to above the ankle bone.
Capri Length
Capris are short jeans, with the hem stopping at mid-calf level.
Fit
The fit of a pair of jeans refers to how the garment sits on the body; it especially refers to the seat and thigh area.Slim Fit
Slim Fit jeans are tight in the seat and thigh area.
Regular Fit
Regular fit jeans are slim in the seat and thigh area, but are roomy enough to be comfortable.
Relaxed Fit
These jeans are roomy in the seat and thigh area, but not baggy.
Loose Fit
Loose fit jeans are very roomy and often baggy throughout.
