Do you hate shopping for jeans? Personality and style principles can transform how you approach that dreaded chore. Instead of getting overwhelmed by all the different silhouettes in stores right now – from wide legs to barrel legs to skinny jeans that aren’t going anywhere – you can use your cognitive functions and body design to make confident choices. Today we’re diving into how your Myers-Briggs type and artistic principles work together to reveal your most authentic jean styles.
August might feel like a dead time for shopping, but it’s actually perfect for thinking about jeans. There’s something so effortlessly cool about wearing your new fall jeans with sandals and a tank top as the evenings start getting longer. But here’s what I don’t want you to miss – that effortless feeling doesn’t have to come from buying whatever’s trending. It can come from choosing jeans that work with your personality and your body’s design principles.
Why Your Personality Matters More Than Trends
Using personality and style principles together is the most effective way to find jeans that make you feel confident and authentically yourself.
I saw this proven just last week when I spotted a friend walking down the sidewalk in frayed hem skinny ankle-length jeans and a cute top. Now, I’ll be honest – I’ve felt a little self-conscious about skinny jeans being “out” for the last few years. But she looked absolutely amazing, and I would challenge anyone to say otherwise. She looked incredible not because skinny jeans are the latest style – they’re definitely not – but because that silhouette worked with her personality type and body design principles.
This is exactly what happens when you stop following trends and start understanding yourself. Your cognitive functions reveal which jean styles will feel most natural and authentic, while artistic principles ensure they work with your body’s proportions.
Understanding Your Body’s Design First
Your body has its own design language, and jeans need to work within that framework. My Body Design Basics Guide reveals three key principles that impact how jeans will look on you.
Those three principles are:
• Waist shape: Paperbag waist jeans work beautifully if you have a cinch waist body type
• Hip shape: If you have a low hip, you’ll usually want to avoid cargo jeans
• Length proportions: This determines how long your jackets and tops should be when wearing jeans
Understanding these principles helps you make confident decisions about which styles will work with your natural proportions.
How Your Cognitive Functions Choose Your Jeans
Your Myers-Briggs cognitive functions influence what feels authentic in your wardrobe.
Introverted Sensing, used as a strength by all SJ types:
• Gravitates toward straight leg, bootcut, and classic silhouettes
• You can try overalls for their nostalgic, comfortable, and fun appeal
Extraverted Sensing, used as a strength by all SP types:
• Loves wide leg, flare, and visually striking current trends, like embellished jeans
• Alternatively, could get stuck just being comfortable and might benefit from experimentation
Introverted Intuition, used as a strength by all NJ types:
• Prefers forward-looking styles
• Chooses classic styles with a signature twist
Extraverted Intuition, used as a strength by all NP types:
• Focuses on creative styling more than specific silhouettes
• Enjoys mixing unexpected elements and versatile pieces
Introverted Feeling, used as a strength by all FP types:
• Drawn to boyfriend/girlfriend jeans for authentic expression
• Appreciates distressed styles for their imperfect beauty
Extraverted Feeling, used as a strength by all FJ types:
• Chooses styles that are popular within their social circles
• May tire of distressed looks really fast
Introverted Thinking, used as a strength by all TP types:
• Develops personal logic for jean choices (like “I wear nothing but Levis 501s”)
• Styles any type unconventionally based on internal reasoning
Extraverted Thinking, used as a strength by all TJ types:
• Probably doesn’t prefer ripped styles or frayed styles, or anything sloppy
• Treats clothes as tools that vary by context and goals
Your Personality and Style Approach to Jean Trends
I’m applying the technology adoption curve, originally used for innovations, to fashion trends here. Understanding where you fall helps you engage with jean trends strategically.
Innovators are creating unnamed styles or modifying existing ones in completely new ways.
Early adopters were wearing barrel legs last year and are now experimenting with vertical seaming or embellishment details.
Early majority should consider barrel legs this year – they work for almost any body type and offer modern appeal without extremes.
Late majority can explore bootcut as a comfortable alternative to skinnies.
Laggards should focus on their best silhouette regardless of trends.
If you’re ready to dive deeper into understanding your body’s design principles, I invite you to explore my Essential Signature Style Guide. This comprehensive analysis reveals your unique aesthetic themes, your ideal silhouettes, and how to create outfits that truly feel like you. It also has a page which gives you the exact pant shapes for your body’s silhouette.
Using personality and style principles together is the most effective way to find jeans that make you feel confident and authentically yourself.
Here’s something simple you can do this week to integrate these principles into your wardrobe: Think about what’s the next type of jeans you feel drawn to try, then go out and actually try some on. While I was researching this episode, I found some really cool embellished jeans that I want to experiment with. What style is calling to you?