If you’re shopping Ava Lane denim for the first time, you probably have one important question before you order:
Do Ava Lane jeans run true to size?
For many Ava Lane denim styles, your normal jean size is the best place to start. But not every pair of jeans fits exactly the same.
Fabric, stretch, rise and the intended fit of the jean can all affect which size feels best. You might wear your true size in one Ava Lane style and prefer to size down or size up in another.
That’s why we recommend checking both the size chart and the Fit Advice on the individual product page before choosing your size.
The goal isn’t to wear the same number in every pair of jeans. It’s to find the size that gives you the fit that particular pair was designed to have.
Start With Your Normal Jean Size
Your usual jean size is a good starting point, but don't stop there.
Two pairs of jeans in the same size can feel very different depending on the amount of stretch in the denim, where the waistband sits, how the jean fits through the hips and thighs, and the shape of the leg.
Before ordering, pull up the size chart for the Ava Lane jeans you're considering and read the Fit Advice on that product page.
If the style is recommended true to size, start with the size you normally wear.
If the Fit Advice recommends sizing down, the denim may have enough stretch or the style may have enough room that your normal size could feel too loose.
If the Fit Advice recommends sizing up, that particular style may fit more closely or differently than the jeans you normally wear.
For example, The Esme High Rise Tummy Control Wide Leg Jeans are listed as:
Fit Advice: True to Size | Medium Stretch. Most customers find these match their usual department store jeans size.
The Esme size chart then gives you additional information, including waist, hip and rise measurements for each size, along with three inseam options.
This is important because “true to size” is the starting recommendation, while the measurements help you determine how that recommendation applies to your body.
For another Ava Lane style, the Fit Advice may recommend sizing down or sizing up based on that jean's stretch and intended fit. That's why we recommend checking the information for the individual style rather than assuming every Ava Lane jean will fit exactly the same.
Don't Skip the Size Chart
The number on the tag doesn't tell you everything about how a pair of jeans will fit.
A size chart gives you something much more useful: actual measurements you can compare with your body or with a pair of jeans that already fits you well.
When you're looking at an Ava Lane denim size chart, pay particular attention to these measurements:
Waist and hips: These help you understand how the jean is proportioned through the areas where fit differences are often most noticeable.
Front rise: Rise helps determine where the waistband will sit on your body. This is particularly helpful if jeans often feel too high or too low on you.
Inseam: Your inseam determines where the jean will hit on your leg and is especially important with wide leg, bootcut and flare jeans.
One important detail: check the measurements for your actual size.
Measurements such as rise can change as a jean is graded across the size range. The rise measurement in a smaller size will not necessarily be the same as the rise measurement in a plus size in that same style.
That's one reason simply seeing “mid rise” or “high rise” isn't always enough information to predict where the waistband will sit on you.
Low Rise, Mid Rise, High Rise: Why the Label Matters Less Than the Actual Rise Measurement
Compare the Measurements With Jeans You Already Love
One of the easiest ways to shop for jeans online is to stop relying entirely on the size printed on the tag.
Grab a pair of jeans you already love.
Look at where the waistband sits. Measure the front rise. Check the inseam. Compare the waist and hip measurements with the Ava Lane size chart.
You now have a much better reference point than simply knowing you usually wear a certain size.
This can be especially helpful if you're petite, tall, between sizes or frequently find that jeans fit one part of your body but not another.
Pay Attention to Stretch AND Recovery
Stretch can make a big difference in how your jean size feels.
A stretchier jean can give you more room to move through the waist, stomach, hips and thighs. A more structured denim may feel closer to your body even when you're wearing the same size.
But there's another part of the equation that gets talked about less:
Recovery.
Recovery is the denim's ability to return to its shape after it stretches.
You want enough stretch to comfortably sit, bend and move, but you don't necessarily want jeans that become increasingly loose as you wear them.
If you've ever put on jeans that fit perfectly in the morning only to find them sagging through the waist, butt or knees several hours later, you already know why recovery matters.
That's why fabric and Fit Advice should be part of your sizing decision instead of choosing a size based only on how stretchy a jean sounds.
Your Rise Can Change How Your Size Feels
Sometimes jeans feel too tight or uncomfortable and the size isn't actually the entire problem.
It may be where the waistband is hitting your body.
Low rise, mid rise and high rise jeans sit at different points through your midsection. Your torso length, body proportions and where you prefer your waistband to sit can all affect which rise feels most comfortable.
For example, someone with a shorter torso may find that a high rise jean sits much higher than she wants. Someone else may prefer that same higher waistband because of where it sits on her body.
This is why we recommend checking the actual rise measurement, rather than relying only on a low rise, mid rise or high rise label.
Low Rise, Mid Rise, High Rise: Why the Label Matters Less Than the Actual Rise Measurement.
What If You're Between Sizes?
Being between jean sizes can be frustrating because neither option always feels quite right.
Size up and the waistband may feel comfortable, but you could end up with too much room through the hips, thighs or legs.
Size down and the rest of the jean may look great, but the waistband could become uncomfortable.
If that's happening, don't automatically assume you need to squeeze into the smaller size or settle for the larger one.
Check the Fit Advice and fabric first.
You may need a jean with more stretch through a particular area, a different rise or simply a different fit.
Sometimes you don't need a different size. You need a different jean.
That's an important distinction.
Try the Sitting Test
Don't decide whether your jeans fit based only on how they look while you're standing in front of a mirror.
Sit down.
The waistband shouldn't suddenly become painfully tight or dig into your stomach. The rise shouldn't become uncomfortable. You should have enough room through the hips and thighs to sit naturally.
Then stand up and walk around.
Do the jeans stay in place?
Are you pulling up the waistband?
Did the knees immediately start stretching?
Are you constantly adjusting something?
A good fit needs to work when you're actually living in your jeans, not just when you're standing still.
If you cannot wait to take your jeans off, that is not a fit win.
Don't Forget Your Inseam
Finding your size doesn't help much if you love the fit but hate the length.
Your ideal inseam can also change depending on the jean.
A straight leg may hit exactly where you want it with one inseam, while you may want additional length with a bootcut or flare that you'll wear over boots.
This is why multiple inseam options can make such a difference.
Instead of relying only on labels like petite, regular or tall, measure the inseam of a pair of jeans you already love and compare that number with the inseam options available for the style you're considering.
So, Do Ava Lane Jeans Run True to Size?
For many Ava Lane jeans, your normal jean size is the best place to start. But sizing can vary by style because different jeans have different amounts of stretch, rises, proportions and intended fits.
That's why we don't recommend choosing every Ava Lane jean based only on the size you wore in your last pair.
Before ordering:
- Start with your normal jean size.
- Check the size chart for that specific style.
- Read the Fit Advice on the product page.
- Look at the fabric and amount of stretch.
- Check the rise measurement for your size.
- Choose the inseam that works for the style and how you plan to wear it.
And remember: wearing a different size in a different style doesn't mean anything changed about your body.
It simply means you're choosing the size that works with the construction and fit of that particular jean.
Ava Lane Jeans Sizing FAQs
Should I size down in Ava Lane jeans?
Some Ava Lane denim styles may have enough stretch or a roomy enough fit that sizing down is recommended. Other styles are designed to be worn true to size.
Check the Fit Advice on the individual product page before automatically sizing down.
Should I size up in Ava Lane jeans?
If the Fit Advice recommends sizing up, follow the recommendation for that particular style. You may also prefer a larger size if you're between sizes and the smaller option feels restrictive, but make sure the larger size still fits properly through the hips and legs.
Do all Ava Lane jeans fit the same?
No. Fabric, stretch, rise, leg shape and construction vary between denim styles. That's why Ava Lane provides individual Fit Advice and measurements rather than relying on one sizing recommendation for every jean.
Are Ava Lane tummy control jeans supposed to feel tight?
Tummy control jeans should feel supportive, not painfully restrictive.
You should still be able to comfortably sit, bend and move. Tummy control should not mean spending the entire day waiting to take your jeans off.
What if Ava Lane jeans fit my waist but not my hips or thighs?
That can be a sign that the jean's proportions aren't the best match for your body rather than simply being the wrong size.
Look at the Fit Advice, fabric and stretch, and consider trying another fit before automatically moving up or down a size.
Why Do Jeans Fit My Waist but Not My Stomach, Hips or Thighs?
How do I know which Ava Lane inseam to choose?
Measure a pair of jeans you already own that hits at your preferred length and compare that measurement with the available inseams.
Also consider the leg shape and shoes you plan to wear. Your preferred inseam for a straight jean may not be the same as your preferred inseam for a bootcut or flare.
Where can I find sizing information for Ava Lane jeans?
Check the size chart and Fit Advice on the individual product page before ordering. Those details will give you more useful information than relying on your usual jean size alone.