Let’s face it—there’s nothing more frustrating than going shopping for a pair of jeans, only to find yourself in a fitting room a couple hours later drowning in a sea full of denim.

In order to save some time, money, and possibly even hair, it helps to have a vision of what exactly you’re looking for before you hit the stores.

Start out by embracing your unique curves, and buy something that flatters the body instead of distorting it. Choose the shape that closest describes your body. Is it slim, curvy, athletic or full-figured?  

Once you have chosen which type of body shape you fit into, the next step is to decide on what kind of style you are looking for. Styles vary between low, ultra-low, mid, and high rises as well as boot cut, flare leg, straight leg, skinny and those loose, comfy boyfriend jeans.

The third step would be to think about what kind of wash you would like to see in the denim. Light washes look great on casual outfits as do any kind of distressing. Eighties acid wash, and dirty or stone washes are a great way to add a piquancy touch.

Personally, I like dark washes as they can transition easily from a daytime casual look to an elegant night out in the town.

For women who are curvy all over, opt for mid-rise styles, as anything below that will create the unflattering illusion of the dreaded muffin top. Denim that includes a small percentage of lycra or spandex also aids in comfort. Some jeans like those from Secretly Slender and St. John’s Bay include stomach-slimming panels that help with tummy control. Straight leg jeans flatter any voluptuous women.

Athletically-built shapes can add curves by using boot cut or flared jeans to even out bodily proportions. Lucky Brand’s Charlie Flare and 7 For All Mankind’s The Trouser are perfect choices as they create a rather straight line that skims, not hugs, the thighs.

High-rise waistlines look great on slender figures. Add volume with a slouchy and roomy boyfriend jean as well as with skinny jeans, which accentuate long legs.

Keep in mind that height also holds importance as to what will flatter your body. Petite women should keep the hemline shorter, or else it can look sloppy.

High placed pockets with decorative embellishments or stitching on low-rise jeans create the illusion that there are curves on a flat derriere. Some good choices are GAP’s 1969 Long & Lean jeans and Miss Me Embellished boot cut denim.

Finding the right style of jeans is so difficult that some department stores provide body scanners in the store that create a three-dimensional image of your body, and tell you which fit of denim is best for you. However, these scanners are found in high-end department stores such as Bloomingdale’s and Selfridges, in London.

In the end, it’s all about comfort and what you feel looks best on your body. Don’t lose hope.