As Americans have grown physically larger, brands have shifted their metrics to make shoppers feel skinnier—so much so that a women’s size ... boyfriend jeans that hang too loose, for example ...

As a woman who was blessed with athletic thighs, I’m particularly excited about the move from skinny to loose denim ... prioritize is your waist size when shopping for jeans.

What makes the 541 especially great is the sheer range in terms of styles and size offerings ... denim and tough-as-nails construction make its jeans a better value. The denim is truly beefy ...

Shopping for jeans ... blend to make them feel more comfortable, and you’ll often see that as a percentage of elastane, spandex, or Lycra (a.k.a. trademarked spandex) on the size tag.