Struggle finding your perfect size in jeans? This viral TikTok hack may finally be the answer
This must be prefaced: there was no way I thought this jeans hack would work.
Denim sizes are a minefield at the best of times and working out your size stepping foot into a changing room seemed too good to be true.
So when I saw TikTok videos of people wrapping the waistband of jeans around their necks to check the size, I had to try it for myself.
And no one was more surprised than me to find: It actually works.
Lottie Franklin, fashion content creator at Eliza, models two different shades of skinny jeans after trying out a viral TikTok hack to find the perfect fit
Lottie paired 3/4 length dark blue jeans with a tan belt and tan sandals and a floral ruffled blouse for a summery look
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The TikTok hack relies on one simple formula for in-store shopping: the circumference of your neck equates to half the circumference of your waist.
So no more unreliable sizing charts. If the two sides of the jeans fit snuggly around your neck, the waistband of the jeans should then fit perfectly around your waist.
I tried it in H&M and those wide-leg jeans in the video came straight home with me and fitted like a dream.
A fluke? Apparently not. Comments flooded in on the Eliza TikTok about mums, grandfathers, sister-in-laws doing this jeans trick for years.
By adding a white blazer to her casual T-shirt and jeans look, Lottie dressed up her entire outfit and made it fit for a more formal event
Lottie wore a white shirt with black jeans and black loafers for a simple, understated look that would be perfect for the office
Lottie said the ‘inconsistent sizing’ on the high street is an ‘age-old’ dilemma that all women have to contend with
It could solve the age-old dilemma of inconsistent sizing on the high street. We’ve all been there – size 12 in one shop, 14 in another.
And denim shopping is often the worst of them all. You can try on two pairs of jeans from the same brand that are the same style and they fit totally differently.
If your jeans are even a centimeter too tight you’ll feel restricted all day long, but too loose and they’ll gape at the back and you’ll be yanking them up all day. Not ideal, particularly when jeans form the base of so many outfits.
But on the flip side, do I want to order multiple sizes and have the hassle and cost of returns? No. This isn’t sustainable for anyone, let alone the planet.
So whether you’re shopping for the best mom jeans or reworking your skinny jeans for 2022, Eliza is here to help you find flattering jeans for wearing all year-round.
Like lots of hacks, this viral TikTok idea won’t work on every body. Not to mention the funny looks you might want to avoid while wrapping a pair of jeans round your neck.
Nor will it help with online-only brands, such as our favourite throwback Topshop jeans.
However, if it means no more dirty, terribly lit, cramped changing rooms, it’s certainly worth a shot. Especially if – like team Eliza – you’re a fan of supermarket fashion, where changing rooms are few and far between.
I got lucky on this lunch time shopping spree and will definitely be trying it again in future. I’ve told my mum, nan, the Eliza office and anyone who’ll give it a go.
If I had a magic wand, I’d sort out high street sizing once and for all for everyone, but until then I’ll be trialing out every fashion hack I can for styling my autumn wardrobe and will report back.