Tuesday night I was invited to a blogger preview of Levi’s new Curve ID fit system. I was intrigued by the idea, so I went; it didn’t hurt that they were offering a free pair of jeans and 25% off everything in the store.
The idea behind the Curve ID fit system is a good one: a size that is simply a number doesn’t take into account female curves. Women of entirely different proportions are considered the same size, when in reality they will not all fit into the same pair of jeans. This helps explain why, in a global digital survey that Levi’s conducted, they found that more than half of women (54%) try on at least 10 pairs of jeans to find one pair they would buy. But this isn’t news, right? The lucky ladies among us tried that many before finding a brand/style that worked. The rest of us are still looking.
The Curve ID systems isn’t just a size, it’s fit system based on the difference in measurement between your seat and hip. Here’s how it breaks down, straight from the horse’s (Levi’s) mouth:
Slight Curve – designed to celebrate straight figures
Slight Curve is designed to define a woman’s waist, while accentuating her curves. If jeans usually fit in the hips and thighs but are too tight in the waist, a woman should try the Slight Curve.
Demi Curve – designed to fit even proportions
Demi Curve is designed to flatter a woman’s waist, while smoothing her shape. If jeans usually fit in the waist, but don’t flatter the figure, a woman should try the Demi Curve.
Bold Curve – designed to honor genuine curves
Bold Curve is designed to hug the waist, without gapping or pulling. If jeans usually fit in the hips and thighs, but gap in the back, a woman should try the Bold Curve.
All of these models are a size 27, but clearly they all have a different shape. The Levi’s crew was very passionate about correctly fitting a greater proportion of the female population, and the fact that they came up with this new fit system convinced me that Levi’s was dedicated to the cause. Part of the experience was getting measured in order to identify your fit.
I was measured as a bold, but still tried on jeans in all three different fits. In fact, I probably tried on at least 10 pairs of jeans that night alone, and still didn’t come away with a perfect fit. The fit problems I *always* run into were not covered by Curve ID: jeans are never long enough, and I always have a saggy butt. If I’m able to find a pair with an amply narrow enough waist and enough room in the thighs, the butt is just always cut a little too roomy. At Levi’s I found an awesome pair of grey skinny jeans (bold) that gasp – didn’t leave me with a saggy butt! But they didn’t come in a 34” inseam. I found it odd that Levi’s is making a bit deal about fitting all women, but yet they’re not even consistent in making their jeans available to tall people. The jeans I ended up with (skinny bootcut, demi fit, 34” inseam) leave me with the usual saggy butt and have a little bit of the gap in the back, but that’s nothing a belt can’t solve. Because different washes and different styles had different amounts of stretch the demi ended up providing the best fit overall. I’m glad Levi’s is tackling the endemic problem of ill-fitting jeans, even if for me they haven’t quite cracked the code. But maybe for you they’ll be the perfect fit.
I’ll leave you with this – a few party shots from the professional photographer at the event.
What's your opinion?