Best Overall

Frame Le Sleek Straight

Credit: Frame

$258$168 at NordstromView on Frame-store.comView on Bergdorfgoodman.com

Why We Love It: As a big Frame fan, I was anxious to see if my mom would love the designer jeans brand as much as I did. Spoiler: The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, at least where fashion is concerned. She praised the jeans’ feel, telling me the denim felt durable and had the perfect amount of stretch while still retaining its shape. This was a critical feature in the waist, which allowed her to breathe but didn’t lose its elasticity with wear, preventing a frustrating waist gap situation. And, if she says so herself, she looked really good in them: The fit hugged her body in all the right places while having a slightly looser fit around the thighs.

Who It’s For: If you’re only upgrading your fall wardrobe with one pair of jeans, make it the Frame Le Sleek Straight. The ultimate evergreen piece, thanks to a high waist that holds tummies in and classic straight-leg style, you’ll feel highly confident in this figure-flattering silhouette.

Worth Noting: The jeans don’t come in a tall size, and as a woman who is 5 feet, 8 inches tall, my mom wouldn’t have minded a little extra length. Additionally, it’s best to air-dry these so they keep their perfectly structured shape.

Material: Cotton, modal, elastane, elastomultiester polyester | Size: 23–34

Pamela, tester with an hourglass shape (not pictured): “I found the jeans to be a perfect fit. I liked the high rise and the way the legs of the jeans were loose and not form-fitting. They looked adorable with nice tennis shoes or sandals. They washed well, but I didn’t put them in the dryer.”

Best Budget

Quince Bella Stretch Straight Jeans

Credit: Quince

$50 at Quince.com

Why We Love It: Buying jeans online is as notoriously frustrating as swimsuit shopping—i.e., there’s lots of trial and error—so the fact that our tester adored this affordable pair of jeans from the first wear is huge. We aren’t surprised, considering Quince makes a lot of our favorite affordable basics, and now we can add the Bella Straight jeans to that list. InStyle tester Susan was surprised by how well they held up after frequent wear and washing. She appreciated how they were just slightly snug in the waist and thighs and had a relaxed fit throughout the legs, giving her wearable jeans for day-to-day errand running and casual activities.

Who It’s For: If you’re seeking a relaxed pair of everyday jeans that you don’t have to be too precious with, try the Quince pair.

Worth Noting: Combined with the relaxed fit, our tester, who tried the medium wash, felt the look was a little too casual to dress up. Additionally, she noted that this high-rise fit wasn’t as flattering as other options, as it emphasized her stomach area. Perhaps a darker wash would’ve solved these issues.

Material: Cotton, polyester, elastane | Size: 24–33 short, regular, tall

Susan, tester with athletic build (not pictured): “I found the Quince jeans immediately comfortable right out of the box. There was no struggle to pull them on or zip them up—they were easy to wear with no need for a break-in period. The fit was smooth and relaxed, making them an effortless everyday option.”

Best Budget, Runner-Up

Lee Ultra Lux Comfort with Flex Motion Bootcut Jean

Credit: Lee

View on AmazonView on Lee.com$60$55 at Kohls.com

Why We Love It: I’ve always been a firm believer that you should invest in your jeans, but this tester has been second-guessing just how much you need to spend for a quality pair. “For the price point, I was impressed with how nice the denim feels on the skin and how well constructed the jeans are,” says InStyle tester Esther. She describes the Lee bootcut jeans the same way I’d tell you about my favorite leggings: lightweight, slightly stretchy, and complete with a flexible waistband.

Who It’s For: Whether you want to feel a little more dressed up on your work-from-home days or need a true day-to-night pant, you can very comfortably wear the Lee jeans all day. The body-hugging denim and flared bottom create an elongating and proportion-balancing effect, making our tester feel very confident while wearing them.

Worth Noting: If you’re petite like our tester, these jeans could drag on the floor unless you wear them with heels, which we recommend anyway, considering how well the bootcut flare flatters high-heeled options.

Material: Cotton, polyester, spandex | Size: 2–18 standard, medium, long

Esther, tester with curvy shape (not pictured): “The jeans felt lightweight and did not weigh down on the body. They are very comfortable and can be worn for any occasion. I like this style of jeans and feel confident in them. I wore out for nice lunches or casually to the cinema or to run errands.”

Best Baggy

Abercombie & Fitch Curve Love Mid Rise Barrel Jean

Credit: Abercrombie

View on Abercrombie.com

Why We Love It: I’ll say it: Baggy jeans are a scary sartorial venture at any age, but hey, we’ve seen Katie Holmes, Jennifer Lopez, and Anne Hathaway rock them, so our tester brazenly gave the divisive style a try. She loved it. As a skinny jean enthusiast, InStyle tester Patsy couldn’t believe how well the oversized pants highlighted her silhouette. The fitted high-rise made her waist look narrower as the pants appropriately ballooned out in the thighs and legs. Plus, since Abercrombie didn’t overly exaggerate the wide leg or make the pants too baggy, she was right in step with the cool kids, while still feeling that the overall look was versatile.

Who It’s For: Since our tester typically wears skinny and straight-leg jeans, it’s a massive win that she found this baggier fit flattering. I’d recommend these to anyone who prioritizes comfort, but still wants to try a trendier, fashion-forward style. As a bonus, the fit comes in short, regular, and long lengths, offering more opportunities to find your perfect fit.

Worth Noting: Finding your fit could take some trial-and-error. Abercrombie markets the jeans as a mid-rise, but our tester felt they hung pretty low on her hips, leading her to tailor the waist.

Material: Cotton | Size: 24–34 short, regular, and long

Patsy, tester with an hourglass shape (not pictured): “I walked very confidently in these jeans because they always instantly made me feel like I was lounging around everywhere. After sitting, bending, and walking around, the jeans felt very good. Due to the ample space from the baggy fit, I never felt too tight or trapped in the pants. They feel well constructed and like top quality. I was so stylish and put-together with these on!”

Best Relaxed Fit

Abercrombie & Fitch High Rise 90s Relaxed Jean

Credit: Abercrombie

View on Abercrombie.com

Why We Love It: Relaxed fit jeans are tricky, considering you need a pair that reads casual while being tailored in the thighs and waist to prevent a frumpy look. Our tester confirms that Abercrombie nails this fit, and tops it off with supremely soft denim you might mistake for pajama material. Surprisingly—considering the ultra comfortable feel of the fabric—the non-stretch denim was rigid enough to give the jeans a great shape. Translation: They won’t look out of place with dressier tops and heels. Another bonus was the flared cut—it opened wide enough to accommodate boots and chunkier sneakers without disguising cute sandals with too much fabric.

Who It’s For: Like finding the perfect white T-shirt, the Abercrombie ‘90s Relaxed Jeans will become a wardrobe staple for when you need something dressier than jeans, but less fussy than trousers. Comfortable and available in various lengths and sizes, you’ll always look and feel good wearing these, whether you’re on or off duty.

Worth Noting: While this user found a great fit, others with different proportions might not, especially if they usually struggle finding pants that accurately fit their waist and thighs.

Material: Cotton, elastane | Size: 23–38 extra short, short, regular, long, extra long

Kolleen, tester with a curvy shape (not pictured): “I’ve been trying to find a flare jean for a long time, and these are my favorite. After wearing all day, they held their shape and did not stretch out. These will be my go-to jeans from now on. I feel stylish and confident wearing these, and I’m very comfortable.”

Best Mid-Rise

GAP Mid Rise ’90s Loose Jeans

Credit: Gap

View on Gap

Why We Love It: Ask any stylist and they’ll tell you that when in doubt, the best jeans for women over 50 are typically a mid-rise style. The key is finding ones like this Gap pair, which has tummy control and is roomy enough to sit comfortably in and wear for long periods. Additionally, four-season friendly jeans are hard to come by, and while Gap makes these in a flattering mid-rise, they also have the perfect mid-weight fabric. Our tester never felt like they were too lightweight or too heavy, allowing her to wear them when the late summer weather flip-flopped between breezy and blustery.

Who It’s For: Our tester was most impressed by the jeans’ waistband and rise, noting they’re ideal for someone who seeks more room in this area. Notably, you can shop these jeans in regular, tall, and petite—finally, our 5 feet, 9 inches tall tester found a pair long enough to fit her legs.

Worth Noting: These jeans have more fabric near the bottom, prompting you to cuff them or lean into the streetwear style look. We understand that this isn’t everyone’s preferred look, nor is it as versatile as, say, a classic straight-leg jean.

Material: Cotton, elastane | Size: 24–35 regular; 27–33 tall; 24–30 petite

Peggy, tester with an athletic build (not pictured): “It fits perfectly on my body and I like the weight of the jeans—they aren’t too heavy or thick. They feel very soft, and I like the way they fit my hip area.”

Best Straight Leg

Levi’s 314 Shaping Straight Jeans

Credit: Levi’s

$70$53 at AmazonView on Levi.com$70$26 at Jcpenney.com

Why We Love It: Straight-leg jeans tend to be universally flattering, but Levi’s truly perfected this pair, according to our tester. She particularly liked their mostly cotton construction, saying they had a lot of mobility for walking. And, when she took the jeans off at day’s end or washed them, they weren’t stretched out of shape. These are some of the best jeans for women over 50, because they give her support everywhere she needs it, like her backside, waist, and thighs, without ever feeling restrictive. Plus, thoughtful details like the dark washes, subtle fading, and whiskering give the jeans character and keep the style current while remaining age-appropriate.

Who It’s For: When you need a trustworthy, not-too-trendy pair of jeans you can rely on to support your body, go for the Levi’s 314. They’re very easy to dress up with heeled footwear and a button-down, but no one will ever know that they’re nearly as soft and relaxed-feeling as your favorite sweatpants.

Worth Noting: Our tester is 5 feet, 8 inches tall and found the 30-inch length to be a little short on her frame, around the ankle. For a full-length look, we recommend one of the two longer lengths.

Material: Cotton, polyester, Lycra | Size: 24–34, varies between lengths

Karol, tester with slim build (not pictured): “The rise is just right—high enough to feel flattering and supportive, but not restrictive. These jeans are extremely comfortable whether I’m sitting, walking, or bending, and they hold their shape beautifully without stretching out throughout the day.”

Best Stretch-Fit

NYDJ Barbara Bootcut Jeans

Credit: NYDJ

$99$40 at ZapposView on Nydj.comView on Target

Why We Love It: NYDJ, the Oprah and Martha Stewart-worn brand, has been a favorite among InStyle editors and their moms forever. The key to its success is constructing jeans with a stretchy fit that looks like rigid denim, giving every wearer the best of both worlds. Offered in an array of styles, the timeless bootcut pair might be the most classic and versatile of the bunch. It’s accommodating to all footwear, particularly heels. I suggest taking the small extra effort to elevate them with heels, a belt, and a mid-length top, considering how easy it is to dress up this darker wash and sleek, body-hugging style.

Who It’s For: If you like your jeans not to feel like, well, jeans, you’ll love NYDJ’s stretchier fit and very lightweight fabric.

Worth Noting: My mom had a couple of caveats before recommending these jeans. First, they run large, especially since they’re stretchy, so it’s best to go one size down. Additionally, she notes these don’t have a high-waisted rise, which she says those shopping for the best jeans for women over 50 prefer.

Material: Cotton, polyester, lyocell, elastomultiester, elastane | Size: 00–18 regular; 14W–28W plus

Pamela, tester with hourglass shape (not pictured): “They’re very stretchy and comfortable when you first put them on. They tended to stretch out a bit over the day.”

Best for Pear Shapes

Rag & Bone Sofie Ankle Wide-Leg Jeans

Credit: Rag & Bone

$275 at NordstromView on Rag-bone.comView on Saks Fifth Avenue

Why We Love It: Complete with a very wide leg and raw hem, the Rag & Bone jeans were one of the more contemporary options our tester tried, and she was here for it. Our tester appreciated the deviation from traditional straight-leg jeans, noting how she loved experimenting with the style we’ve seen celebrities like Katie Holmes and Amal Clooney wearing. Meanwhile, she still got everything she sought from a pair of jeans for her pear-shaped body type, including a slightly stretchy material, a roomier waistband, and a higher rise.

Who It’s For: Trend setters, especially tall ones or those who prefer chunkier shoes with some heft, like combat boots, will get a lot of wear out of these. Since the material is a bit thinner, they’re great for warmer weather.

Worth Noting: The jeans run a little small, and our tester found she still would’ve preferred to go up one size after using the site’s size calculator.

Material: Cotton, lyocell | Size: 23–32

Angela, tester with a pear-shaped figure (not pictured): “The jeans were comfortable and flowy. The jeans were very stylish and something I wouldn’t normally go for, so it was a fun test to try them out and go out of my comfort zone.”

Best Petite

Spanx EveryWear Flare Jeans

Credit: Spanx

$148$104 at Nordstrom$148 at Spanx$148$79 at Revolve

Why We Love It: Another Oprah favorite, most people know Spanx jeans for having the shapewear-like quality to hug you firmly in the tummy area and backside without squeezing you too tight. Another bonus: The flare jeans come in a petite option—this was ideal for our tester, under 5 feet, who no longer needed to visit the tailor. Unlike her other jeans, whose waistband stretches as the day wears on, these rebounded nicely. The higher-rise and slight tummy compression helped her feel secure and more confident wearing shirts tucked into it.

Who It’s For: The flare on the Spanx jeans seemed just right for our petite tester, elongating her shorter legs, and it didn’t drag on the floor when she wore the jeans with flats. The dark wash and streamlined cut give them a trouser-like look, ideal for wearing in more formal settings.

Worth Noting: Odd, but our tester simply couldn’t seem to rid the jeans of their very distinct straw-like smell. It may be worthwhile to try dry-cleaning the jeans if you find this is the case, which would add to the overall cost.

Material: Cotton, polyester, elastane | Size: XS–3X regular, petite, tall

Joy, petite tester with hourglass figure (not pictured): “I do like that the factory hem is substantial—it’s a full inch, which makes the jeans lay nicely, more like a trouser.”

Best Skinny

Universal Standard Skinny Jeans

Credit: Universal Standard

View on Universalstandard.com

Why We Love It: InStyle has long loved Universal Standard for its size-inclusive fits, making it one of the best jeans for women with round tummies or thick thighs. Now, we’re paying special attention to its skinny jeans since our tester had such a positive experience with this somewhat controversial jean style. It fit her perfectly in the waist, hips, and thighs, leaving just enough room in the waistband to breathe while remaining snug enough to hold in her tummy. She liked how the material stretched as she moved, providing all-day mobility, and kept its timeless, straight-leg look ideal for any age.

Who It’s For: By nature, skinny jeans sound intimidating to wear, but this pair highlights figures rather than stretching and pulling in the wrong places.

Worth Noting: This material is lighter than some premium brands, which is a highlight if you run hot or plan on wearing these in warmer weather. However, we can’t speak to what this means for long-term durability.

Material: Cotton, polyester, elastane | Size: 00–40, standard, long, extra long

Patsy, tester with hourglass shape (not pictured): “These are skinny jeans and they are form-fitting but still realistic where I can breathe while wearing them. This is a style I wore confidently. I can easily dress these pants up or down.”