I have worn a lot of jeans. I have worn a lot of jeans and I have written a lot about the experience. This is the post I want a plus-size woman to find when she searches “what jeans should I buy” at 11 PM on a Tuesday in a fitting room about to give up. Save it. Send it to a friend. Use it.

Over the last four years I have tried the brands that come up over and over in plus-size denim conversation. I’ve ordered from online-only brands. I wandered into mall stores and asked for the highest size on the rack. I tried Etsy. Most of it I returned. Some of it I kept. One brand I now own nine pairs from.

Here is what I actually think about four denim brands that the plus-size fashion Internet tells me I should love.

1. Universal Standard: 9.4 / 10 — I keep going back

I bought my first pair of Universal Standard jeans in October 2019, black, straight-leg, in a size 22. I still own them. They have stretched exactly 0.5 cm at the waist, which I notice because I had a tailor measure them for this post.

What works:

  • Fabric quality. This is the single most important thing in a jean and Universal Standard’s denim is heavier than what most brands use. It drapes better, holds shape better, and lasts longer.
  • Their seat doesn’t bag. I have written about this elsewhere but it bears repeating. The “Muse” cuts are designed specifically for women whose hips measure more than their waist by more than 12 inches. They are made for this.
  • Sizing is consistent. I am a 22 in their brand. I am a 22 every time.

What doesn’t:

  • Price. Around $98 per pair. On sale, $80. For some people this is prohibitive.
  • Shipping is slow. 5–7 days before you’ll see your pair if you order online.

Best for: anyone whose jeans are at the center of their daily outfit. Buy two pairs at once. The cost-per-wear is unbeatable.

2. Good American: 6.8 / 10 — good if you are shaped like me, but the brand has issues

Good American was the first plus-size denim brand I bought outside of Torrid. Khlo茅 Kardashian’s brand. I had a moment of “oh, this is supposed to work for me” and ordered my first pair in 2020.

The denim is good. The cuts are flattering. There’s real variety. I still own three of the four pairs I’ve bought.

What works:

  • Wide range of washes. They have the basics but also go deep into distressed, raw hem, coated, etc.
  • Fits a specific body type really well. If you have a defined waist, a bigger butt, and a proportionally smaller waist, Good American will probably love you.
  • Modern cuts. The straight-leg and wide-leg options are on trend.

What doesn’t:

  • The inconsistencies. I’ve owned two pairs of the “Always Fits” style and they fit differently. Quality control varies.
  • Sustainability. If you care about where your jeans come from (the water, the dye, the labor), look elsewhere.

Best for: trying something new once or twice. Not your everyday jean.

3. Torrid: 5.5 / 10 — they are getting better but I’m not sold

Torrid is the answer I get when I ask friends “where do I get jeans for under $50.” So I tested Torrid over six months. I bought five pairs. I kept two.

What works:

  • Cheap. You can get a pair for $45 during sales. That is real value.
  • In-store. You can try jeans on in most mall-based Torrid locations. The staff are knowledgeable about plus-size fit.
  • Variety. Wide leg, skinny, mom, flare, straight. They have it all.

What doesn’t:

  • Quality. Two of my five pairs had loose stitching on the inside seam by month three.
  • Sizing changes between washes. The same pair of “size 22” had a slightly different fit between washes.

Best for: fashion jeans, trend-driven washes, the one pair you don’t care about. Not your everyday workhorse jean.

4. Old Navy: 4.5 / 10 — we have a complicated relationship

Old Navy has been in plus-size denim for years. They have a “Curvy” line that is supposed to be designed for a defined waist-to-hip ratio.

What works:

  • Cheap. Thirty-eight dollars on sale.
  • Available everywhere. Stores in nearly every mall in America.
  • Decent for casual. A pair for coffee, errands, casual Saturday.

What doesn’t:

  • The Curvy line is inconsistent. I’ve owned pairs where the waist was great and the thigh was too tight.
  • Lengths are wrong for taller plus-size women. Even at “tall” sizes, I’ve heard complaints from friends above 5’8".
  • The fit changes between washes. Same complaints as Torrid.

Best for: backup pair, casual weekend, not the foundation of your wardrobe.

So which brand should I buy?

If I had to pick one pair of jeans and recommend them to a plus-size woman who has never owned a pair she loved, it would be the Universal Standard “Muse” Straight. I would buy them on the company’s bi-annual sale (Memorial Day, Black Friday) and I would order true to your size (use their size chart, not your guess).

If the budget is real, start with Good American “Always Fits” — they have a returnability structure that lets you try a pair risk-free.

For absolute beginners trying to find something that fits before the denim conversation becomes overwhelming: Torrid + a fitting appointment in a real store.

But here’s the truth: jeans are not one-size-fits-all, and the size on the label is the least useful piece of information. The shape of the leg, the rise, the back pocket placement — these are why a jean feels right or wrong. Order from places with good return policies. Return what doesn’t fit. Don’t feel guilty about it.

The right pair is out there. They were not on the first rack at the first store you walked into. They might be on the second try, or the sixth try, or the twelfth try. They are out there.

Have a denim brand you want me to test? Send me the name. I’ll order a pair and write the honest review.