How to Find Your Perfect Dear John Denim Size

Between stretch blends, rigid denim, and different leg shapes, the same numeric size will not feel identical across every pair. This guide walks you through how to measure at home, how to read our chart, and how popular Dear John fits usually behave on the body.

Why denim sizing feels different

Cotton denim relaxes with heat and movement; elastane and polyester blends snap back after you sit. That is why two pairs in the same tagged size can feel different on day one — and why we publish inseam, rise, and fabric notes on each product page so you can compare apples to apples.

For a visual overview of how our core silhouettes sit on the body (skinny, straight, bootcut, flare, boyfriend, jogger, wide leg), start with our interactive Denim Fit Guide before you lock in a size.

How to measure yourself

Waist: Stand relaxed, feet under hips. Wrap a soft tape around the narrowest part of your torso — usually just above the belly button — parallel to the floor. Do not suck in; you want the number you actually live in.

Hip: Measure around the fullest part of your seat, feet together. This measurement matters most for slim and straight cuts that pass closely over the hip and seat.

Inseam: Measure from the crotch point straight down the inside leg to where you want denim to end. Compare that number to the inseam listed on the colorway you are viewing. Cropped and ankle lengths are intentional — buying “long” and hemming is fine, but buying “short” when you need length rarely works.

Using the Dear John Denim size chart

Open our size chart and find the row where your waist and hip measurements fall. If you sit between two sizes:

• Prefer a relaxed, vintage feel through the seat → take the larger size, especially on rigid or low-stretch washes.
• Prefer a snug start that will relax after a few wears → take the smaller size on high-recovery stretch jeans.
• Always let hip be the tie-breaker on slim and skinny fits; let waist be the tie-breaker on wide-leg styles where the leg is intentionally voluminous.

Fit notes by style family

Jeanne (high-rise skinny): Jeanne is the pair many customers try first — a clean high rise and a narrow leg from thigh to hem. It generally runs true to size for shoppers who are already comfortable in premium stretch skinny denim. Browse washes in the Jeanne collection.

Jodi (straight): Jodi carries a straighter line through the thigh than a true skinny. If you are between sizes and carry more curve through the seat, trying one size up in Jodi is a common fix. Shop Jodi and compare leg opening photos on the PDP.

Gisele (skinny / ankle icons): When you see Gisele on site, think refined skinny and ankle lengths that work with flats and sneakers. Use the same waist and hip rules as Jeanne, then double-check listed inseam against your measurement. See Gisele.

Fiona & Audrey (wide leg): Wide-leg fits anchor on the waist; the leg is meant to drape. If the waist is snug but the hip feels tight, size up — the leg volume hides extra ease better than a too-tight waist digs in. Explore Fiona and shop all silhouettes in Shop All Denim.

Rigid vs stretch — how it changes the size you pick

Rigid or low-stretch denim often feels firm at try-on and eases slightly over the first few wears. Stretch blends with strong recovery feel softer immediately and hold shape after sitting. Our Denim Guide pairs well with this article if you want more context before you add to cart.

Still deciding?

If you are between two sizes and your return window allows, ordering both is the fastest way to learn your Dear John baseline for future seasons. For personalized help, contact us with waist, hip, and inseam numbers and the style names you are comparing — we are happy to suggest a starting point. Keep the size chart and Fit Guide bookmarked for your next order.