On the hunt for the best bum lift jeans? Well, you're in the right place. We tasked one Cosmo UK staffer with the challenge of trying on as many jeans as possible in the hunt for the perfect butt-hoicking pair.
Jump to:
- Shop Cosmo’s edit of the best bum lift jeans
- The best jeans we've seen on Instagram
- The best jeans we've seen on celebs
- The best jean recs from a trend forecaster
- What to look for in the perfect pair of bum lift jeans
- Top tips from a fashion expert on buying the best bum lift jeans
- How we tested the best bum-lifting jeans
The verdict? 132 pairs later, she reckons she's found the perfect fit, plus has 8 top tips from another fashion expert on how to find the right pair for you. Although every body is different, there are things that take jean fit from a solid no to an absolute winner.
Shop Cosmo’s edit of the best bum lift jeans
There are now jeans that can create all kinds of visual trickery, thanks to clever fabrics, pocket placement, and construction techniques. To be crystal clear – none of our bodies need sculpting, slimming, or lifting to be valid and worthy.
But if a killer pair of jeans could give a confidence boost and they're comfy, why not? With this in mind, Cosmo’s former fashion editor, Maddy Alford, began her search for the perfect bum-boosting pair. And that search, like so many things in life, starts with Instagram.
Keep reading to find out how she got on. Plus, browse the shopping team’s fave picks.
The best jeans we've seen on Instagram
Best overall: Aligne Straight Flare Jeans
Key Specifications:
| Sizing: | UK W24-40 |
|---|---|
| Rise: | Mid/high rise |
| Cut: | Straight flare |
We adore Aligne for its clean, sculpted tailoring that makes even the simplest of capsule wardrobe pieces look ultra high-end, and we’ve recently discovered that the brand's jeans are a silent wonder.
The flared cut, mid/high waist and low V-shaped back seam on the Straight Flare Jeans come together to create the perfect bum-lifting fit. Made from cotton and elastaine, they have just the right amount of stretch to keep you lifted and supported, while feeling super comfortable all day. Available in W24 to 40 and an inside leg of 85cm, they are perfect for tall babes too.
Best ankle-length jeans: Gap High Waisted Vintage Slim Jeans
Gap Medium Wash High Waisted Vintage Slim Jeans
Key Specifications:
| Sizing: | 26R-34R |
|---|---|
| Rise: | High rise |
| Cut: | Slim, angle length |
I post a poll on my feed, asking friends what their favourite jeans are. A few mention Gap, which I haven’t actually considered since about 1995. I ‘pop’ in, and among the piles of logo sweatshirts and tees, I find a lovely, calm corner of denim. Two hours later, I’m still in there. I pull on an intriguingly titled pair called the High Waisted Vintage Slim Jeans. Boom - they are an effortless straight leg shape, they give my bum a little boost.
Best high-street jeans: M&S High Waisted Smart Wide Leg Jeans
Key Specifications:
| Sizes: | 6-24 (petite, regular and long leg length available) |
|---|---|
| Rise: | High wasited |
| Cut: | Wide leg |
M&S offers some of the best high-street options if you’re looking for a reliable, budget-friendly pair. All styles are available – from boot leg to barrel – but if you’re after something in the bum-lifting department, the High Waisted Smart Wide Leg Jeans are made with added stretch and a dropped V-shaped section at the back to create a lifted illusion. Available in UK sizes 6-24 (including petite, regular and long lengths) you’re bound to find a pair that fit just right.
Best embellished jeans: Free People We The Free Firecracker Flare Jeans
Free People We The Free Firecracker Flare Jeans
Free People We The Free Firecracker Flare Jeans
Key Specifications:
| Sizing: | W24-33 |
|---|---|
| Rise: | High rise |
| Cut: | Flare |
Elevated denim, be it studs, tassels or crystals, add a touch of charm to any outfit, making them the perfect option for dinners or evening events – and they only need a simple tee to complete the look. The Free People We The Free Firecracker Flare Jeans are a favourite of Cosmo’s Senior Fashion and Beauty Ecommerce Writer, Clare Stephenson.
The stretch fit and high-waist cut makes them instantly flattering, and the high positioning of the stars gives the illusion of a perkier look. The ‘70s inspired flare (and of course the bold stars emblazoned on the booty) will look exceptional at the Harry Styles Together, Together tour – if you were lucky enough to score tickets.
Best wide-leg jeans: Mother Hustler Roller Sneak
Key Specifications:
| Sizing: | W23-32 |
|---|---|
| Rise: | High rise |
| Cut: | Wide leg |
My next stop is a brand called Mother. For my entire career, fashion cupboards at magazines always seem to have a big stash of this brand for photoshoots. I try the Looker, whose extended high waist looks cool on the website model – not so much on me. My bum looks about two miles long. The Hustler Roller Sneak high-rise wide-leg jeans have a lifting effect, which if I'm honest, was a lot more visible and enhanced on my own size 14 frame than the model in the photo below.
Best cropped jeans: Re/Done Cropped high-rise wide-leg jeans
RE/DONE Cropped High-rise Wide-leg Jeans
RE/DONE Cropped High-rise Wide-leg Jeans
Key Specifications:
| Sizing: | UK 23-30 |
|---|---|
| Rise: | High |
| Cut: | Cropped, wide leg |
Re/Done – an interesting brand that takes vintage Levi’s and re-sews them into modern cuts, as well as producing their own styles – fares better, though the price (around £200) is slightly eye-watering. They are our fashion director’s favourite, and I have my heart set on the High Rise Ankle Crop and a boot cut pair, but neither work. I’m gutted, because they look incredible on their more famous fans. But not me.
The best jeans we've seen on celebs
Best straight leg: DL1961 Patti High Rise Jeans
Celebs from Rihanna and Anne Hathaway to Alexa Chung and Kim Kardashian, have been snapped in a pair of DL1961 jeans, so we were keen to give the brand a try. Who better to test a pair of jeans than a dress-wearing, denim-hating fashion writer with an aversion to straight-leg styles! Cosmo’s Senior Fashion & Lifestyle Ecommerce Writer, Shadé Owomoyela, took the Patti Straight Leg High Rise Jeans for a spin and, drum roll, she’ll be keeping the pair in heavy rotation throughout the summer.
“I avoid wearing jeans where possible – I find them restrictive, uncomfortable and often struggle to find styles that fit my long legs and have a flattering hip-to-waist ratio. The Patti jeans were a seriously pleasant surprise. They were ultra-soft, super-stretchy and grazed my ankles perfectly (a mean feat for a tall gal).
As you can see from the snaps I took of them, they do give the derrière a pretty good lift. I’ll be throwing them on with plain tees and ballet flats for running errands as a chic, Audrey Hepburn-approved alternative to butt-sculpting leggings.”
Best boot-cut jeans: Good American Soft Tech Boot-Cut Stretch Denim Jeans
Good America Soft Tech Good Classic Boot-Cut Stretch Denim Jeans
Good America Soft Tech Good Classic Boot-Cut Stretch Denim Jeans
Key Specifications:
| Sizing: | UK 4-22 |
|---|---|
| Rise: | High rise |
| Cut: | Boot leg, slim fit |
After exhausting Instagram, a friend of mine starts talking about celebrities with their own clothing lines. I immediately think of Khloé Kardashian's revered denim label, Good American, which is stocked at all of London's fanciest department stores. Lately I've gravitated towards looser-fit jeans, as I like the 90s-inspired cuts, but I often find that high street pairs give me a bit of a flat pancake bum.
Not the case with Good American. I don't know how they've done it, but they seem to have found a way to magically craft the on-trend, looser cuts we're looking for, while still offering flattering rear pockets.
Best skinny jeans: Frame Le High Skinny
Key Specifications:
| Sizing: | W23-34 |
|---|---|
| Rise: | Mid rise |
| Cut: | Skinny |
Frame is a brand loved by the celebrity set – the Hadids, Taylor Swift and Miranda Kerr are all fans, though I suspect winning the genetic lottery also plays a part. The Frame PR kindly sends me their Le High Skinny style to trial, and they’re so comfortable and stretchy I even wear them on my eight-hour flight home to America for a family holiday.
On US soil, I run into an ex-boyfriend. I ask him what he thinks of my jeans. Without further prompting, he says my “ass looks good” in them. They’re rather pricy, but they’re so comfy that their cost-per-wear ratio is probably worth it.
The best jean recs from a trend forecaster
It was time for some expert intervention. I enlisted the help of Kelly Harrington, a designer and trend forecaster with a specialty in denim. Her top tips for buying the most flattering jeans are at the bottom of this article (in short, an angled yoke and higher pockets). Now, back to the ultimate task at hand...
Best for lifted pockets: Paige, Levi and Wrangler
The Paige Hoxton Ankle High Rise Skinny have the same effect – the higher pockets and angled yoke really do make a difference. I feel like I’m starting to get this down to a science.
Paige Hoxton straight high-rise jeans
Key Specifications:
| Sizing: | W23-34 |
|---|---|
| Rise: | High rise |
| Cut: | Straight |
Armed with Kelly’s tips, it’s incredible how easy it is to find a pair that works. I give you, in no order of preference: Levi's 501 Originals, (ultra-flattering leg cut) and pretty much every pair from Wrangler's Mom Straight range all have those key lifted pockets.
Key Specifications:
| Sizing: | UK 23-34 waist, UK 30-34 leg |
|---|---|
| Rise: | Mid rise |
| Cut: | Slim |
Best splurge-worthy jeans: Citizens of Humanity Caia Straight Leg Jeans
Citizens of Humanity Caia mid-rise straight jeans
Key Specifications:
| Sizing: | W23-34 |
|---|---|
| Rise: | Mid rise |
| Cut: | Straight leg |
A friend suggests that Citizens of Humanity make excellent quality jeans, and I love every single pair that I try on. The denim feels like it holds in my stomach and bum due to the stiffer cotton (which somehow still feels soft). Tick, tick, and tick. But with everything at the triple-figure mark, I’d need to Ebay half my stuff to afford a pair.
What to look for in the perfect pair of bum lift jeans
Don’t be swayed by the very clever marketing names every pair now comes with – you need knowledge. Take at least five pairs of jeans into a fitting room with you and choose one size above and below what you think you are – they will all look different. And pay just as much attention to the pockets as you do the leg shape. Why we’ve never been told this, I do not know.
But most of all what I have learned is this: when you take your jeans off at the end of the night, you’re still going to have the arse that life has decided to give you. The right pair of jeans can just help you love it a little bit more.
Top tips from a fashion expert on buying the best bum lift jeans
Look for:
- A high, upward-angled ‘V’ yoke (that’s the seam that runs above the back pocket but under the waist). It helps lift the eye upwards, creating an anti-gravity effect.
- Smaller, higher pockets. These too draw the eye upwards and inwards, creating that lifted, peachy look.
- A bit of stiffness. Jeans with around 2-5% elastane keep their shape well, but 100% cotton jeans (AKA zero stretch) are stiffer, and therefore hold you in.
Plus, some tips for what to wear to the dressing room, while you're at it.
- Don't wear granny pants. They may dig in and create lines, making it harder to tell which jeans are the most flattering
- Do wear a seamless thong. This ensures your jeans fit smoothly with no added lumps and bumps. Briefs can pinch inwards and create a distorted silhouette.
- Do wait until your cycle has finished. Period bloat can force you to go up two to three sizes, and you’ll end up with a baggy fit.
- Do wear layers. This way, you can strip down when you work up a sweat. Slip-on shoes are good for making multiple trips back and forth, too. A tight tee or vest will let you easily check out the shape of the jean.
- Do use the personal shopping services. These are offered free by some of the bigger stores. Call ahead, tell them your size and have a selection waiting for you, instead of trawling around the shop floor.
How we tested the best bum-lifting jeans
I am in Selfridges’ changing rooms struggling to hoist a pair of skinny jeans up over my belly. I’ve worn granny pants instead of a thong, and now realise the gravity of this mistake. I turn around and catch sight of my arse in the mirror. Even Selfridges’ lighting can’t disguise the fact that my bum now looks like four Dairylea Triangles. I suddenly feel exhausted. Can a pair of ‘miracle’ jeans really help create the illusion of a more lifted, perky bum?
To answer that, I went on a journey. A journey that involved lots of denim, looking at my arse and lots of existential questioning conducted in high-street fitting rooms across London. The next thing you know, I have tried on 132 pairs of jeans – and I now have an arsenal of arse-helpers to wear from work to late-night bar, with my absolute all-round favourite (for value, fit and comfort) being the Gap Mid-Rise Curvy True Skinny.
Maddy Alford is the Fashion Editor at Cosmopolitan UK and Women's Health UK, covering fashion content online and in print. Maddy specialises in shopping galleries and first-person reviews of the best fashion buys, from jeans and jewellery to wedding dresses, gymwear, and winter coats. She also writes op-eds on on pop culture, viral fashion moments, travel journalism, fitness, and the LGBTQ+ community's relationship with style. Maddy is also a fashion stylist who has worked on over 100 photoshoots at Hearst, including those starring Raye, Niall Horan, and Lena Dunham. Previously, she has worked in fashion PR and e-commerce, including stints at ELLE US and UK, Net-a-Porter, InStyle, and Time Out New York. Maddy has ten years of experience in the fashion industry in both London and New York City, after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. She is passionate about second-hand shopping, inclusive fashion, running on Regent's Canal, and finding London's cosiest pubs.
Shadé (pronounced sh-ah-day) is the Senior Fashion & Lifestyle Ecommerce Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. From what to shop in the latest Revolve flash sale to how to style the hottest new trends, she shares shopping advice, reports on new collabs and reviews your fave fashion brands.
