Appropriate for heavy-duty farm work or to be worn at a chic metropolitan social engagement, a great pair of five-pocket denim jeans will last you years and are probably one of the most comfortable things you will ever wear. Although the perfect fit is elusive, once you find it, you are set.

I have found the fit is completely dependent upon each person’s body type. What might be fantastic on a tall, slender woman may not look very good on a woman with a shorter, stockier build. A great rule of thumb is the skinnier the jean, the skinnier the woman.

If you are looking to minimize a rotund posterior, a tapered cut is just what you are not looking for. To hide the appearance of “extra junk in the trunk” a darker, high rise, straight leg should always be a first choice.

For women with curves, denim can be your best friend, or worst enemy.

Just a note: you are the only one that sees the size written on the inside of your jeans. Squeezing into a size because it is what you “have always worn” or wish you could wear is just stupid. No one knows it’s a smaller size; all they see is that they are too tight and that they give you a muffin-top. For those of you who don’t know, a muffin top is the number one most unattractive thing a woman can do to herself. It is the extra that hangs over the waistband (particularly on the back) due to a woman wearing a bottom that is way too tight. This is not just one woman’s problem. It can happen, no matter how thin you might be, if you wear jeans that are too small for your figure.

The best thing a woman can do is be honest about her body and accept its strengths and weaknesses.

Another thing to consider is that a size two by one manufacturer could be a size six or eight by another. Sizes even vary by style of the jeans. Personally, I have about five of six different sizes that I wear. Yes, some are those skinny jeans for good days and fat jeans for bad days, but the point is they all fit me. If all of your clothes are the same size, you have serious issues with the perception of your own body.

Size is not the only issue when it comes to denim. Style is also a major component of how a pair of jeans looks on a person. Jeans could be the perfect fit for your body, but if they are out of date, you might as well put a stamp on your forehead that says, “I live in 1992.”

Here are just a few “outs” and “ins.”

Outs: acid washed jeans, high waters, jeans that drag the ground, overly baggy jeans, skin tight jeans, gray jeans, jean jackets, over embellished jeans, jeans with too many holes, ultra low-rise jeans, and jeans without back pockets.

Ins: raw denim jeans, well-fit jeans, original hem reattached when jeans are hemmed, COOP designer denim, pocket logos, some tapered-leg jeans (not for everyone), Levi jeans, light wearing on certain parts, a more modest higher rise (butt cleavage doesn’t look good on anyone), jeans found at vintage stores, crisp starched dark jeans, winter white jeans, sassy black jeans and jeans that make your butt look terrific.

If you are having any trouble finding the perfect pair for you, know that most department stores have a denim specialist to help you. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, be prepared for honest answers, and know that you will try on scores of pairs before you find that perfect pair of jeans.

The other day I was getting ready for a party, trying on jeans and getting a female friend’s opinion. When we found the perfect pair for the event, she said, “Those make your bum look fantastic.” With the perfect amount of panache I said, “I know, right?”