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I have a complicated relationship with denim. For years, shopping for jeans as a plus-size woman felt less like a fun fashion montage and more like a punishment. Usually, I’m stuck choosing between two evils: jeans that fit my hips but leave a massive gap at the waist, or jeans that fit my waist but cut off circulation to my thighs.
Most days, I just give up and wear leggings. But leggings aren’t always appropriate, and sometimes I just want to feel put together in a classic pair of blue jeans. I’ve seen the Gloria Vanderbilt Amanda Classic High Rise Jeans floating around the internet for years. They have a massive following, but I always hesitated. The name “Gloria Vanderbilt” sounded a bit… dated. Like something my aunt would wear to a garden club.
But after reading yet another review claiming these were the “holy grail” for curvy bodies, I caved. I bought a pair to see if they could actually survive a full week of my life—sitting at a desk, running errands, and chasing a dog—without making me miserable.
The Problem: The “Standing Only” Jeans
My biggest issue with denim is the “sit test.” We all have those jeans that look incredible when we are standing still in front of a mirror. Everything is smoothed out, lifted, and tucked. But the second you sit down in the car or at your desk, the waistband turns into a knife digging into your stomach.
I was tired of that pinch. I was also tired of the constant “hike up.” You know the move—you stand up and immediately have to grab your belt loops to yank your pants back up because they’ve slid down your backside. I wanted jeans that would stay put and move with me, not fight against me.
The Discovery
I found these on a list of “best-selling clothing items” that kept popping up. What caught my eye wasn’t the style—it’s a pretty standard tapered leg—but the price and the size range. It is rare to find a brand that offers Short, Average, and Tall inseams across such a wide range of plus sizes.
I ordered the “Amanda” cut in a dark wash. I figured if they were terrible, I wasn’t out a fortune compared to the $100+ designer denim I’ve wasted money on in the past.
How It Solved It: The Magic Stretch
The moment I pulled them on, I understood the hype. They slid on easily. I didn’t have to do the “jump and wiggle” dance to get them over my hips.
The fabric is a cotton-polyester-spandex blend, and that little bit of spandex does heavy lifting. They hug the hips and thighs without squeezing. But the real victory was the waist. It sits at my natural waist (actually high rise, not “fake” high rise), and there was zero gap in the back. The contoured waistband seems to understand that bodies are 3D objects.
I sat down at my computer to work. I waited for the dig. It didn’t happen. The waistband has enough give that it expands slightly when you sit, so I could breathe comfortably. I wore them for eight hours straight, and when I took them off, I didn’t have those angry red indentation marks on my stomach.
⚠️ It’s Not Perfect
While I love the fit, I have to be critical about the pockets. The front pockets are frustratingly shallow. This is a chronic issue in women’s clothing, and these jeans are guilty of it. I can fit a chapstick or a single key in there, but my smartphone? Forget it. It sticks halfway out and falls out if I bend over.
Another thing I noticed is that because the fabric is soft and stretchy, they tend to “bag out” a little by the end of day two. If you like your jeans to stay extremely crisp and tight, you might find yourself washing these more often to snap the fibers back into shape.
Pros vs. Cons
Here is my breakdown after a week of wear:
| Life Improvements (Pros) | Annoyances (Cons) |
|---|---|
| No Waist Gap: Fits the curve of the lower back perfectly. | Tiny Pockets: Front pockets are practically useless for phones. |
| Real High Rise: actually covers the belly button and smooths the stomach. | Stretch Fatigue: Knees and butt can get a bit loose after multi-day wear. |
| Inseam Options: Petite/Short options mean no hemming required. | Sizing Inconsistency: The black pair felt tighter than the blue denim pair. |
| Softness: Feels broken-in right out of the package. | Zipper Quality: Zipper feels a little lightweight compared to heavy-duty denim. |
Why It Beats the Old Way
My “old way” involved compromising. I either looked good and felt uncomfortable, or I looked sloppy and felt cozy. These jeans bridge that gap.
Unlike 100% cotton jeans, these don’t require a painful break-in period. You don’t have to wear them around the house for three days to get them to mold to you. And unlike leggings, they have structure. They have a zipper, a button, and belt loops. I can tuck a blouse into them and wear a blazer and look professional enough for a meeting, which is something I can’t get away with in yoga pants.
Recommendation
If you are looking for ultra-trendy, rigid, raw denim that will last you 20 years, these aren’t for you. They are definitely more of a “comfort classic.”
However, if you suffer from the hip-to-waist ratio struggle, get these. They are specifically designed for bodies that have curves. I recommend ordering your usual size, but if you carry most of your weight in your stomach specifically, the high rise is very forgiving.
They are affordable, durable enough for daily wear, and most importantly, they let you sit down in peace.
