I invite you to dive into one of the most complex enigmas of fashion: denim that fits well. For some, finding the perfect pair of jeans can be a never-ending search. Meet your local denim experts: Cheryl Little (owner of Black & Blue), Paige McManus (owner of Denim Affair), and Christy Ward (manager of Black & Blue). After asking the experts, here are some answers that may help ease the denim dilemma:

Size 29 versus size 8: is there a difference?

“It’s basically the same,” says Ward. “Generally, an 8 equates to a 29,” and so on, says McManus, who adds that “if it’s a dark denim, some may go up a size because the treatment done to the denim can shrink the fibers.”

Boot cut, straight leg, flare, wide leg, or skinny: which style best suits which body type?

The experts agree: boot cut and straight leg jeans are universal, especially when styled well. “Straight leg with heels looks good with most body types,” says McManus. “If you have short legs, stay away from wide legs or flares because it makes you look shorter,” McManus advises. “Wear age-appropriate jeans,” says Little. “If you’re 51, you’re probably not going to pull off a skinny.” For those with curvy hips, McManus recommends to “avoid a skinny jean unless you’re going to tuck the jeans into boots and wear a long top.”

High rise, mid rise, low rise, or super low rise: how low should you go?

“Accentuate your good features” when selecting a rise," says Ward. “High rise jeans can highlight problem areas,” says Little. “There is only one body type that should wear a high rise: tall and lean,” says McManus, recommending that “most people look good in a mid rise.” For those with long torsos, “a low rise will look really low,” says McManus, who advises people with such body types to “stick with a mid rise.”

Ready to make that denimpulse purchase? Check out these denim boutiques and find your perfect fit:

Black & Blue

720 Governor Morrison Street Suite E-180

www.shopblackandblue.com

Denim Affair

9848 Rea Road

www.denimaffaironline.com

As a big girl myself, I’m quite familiar with the treasure hunt for fashionable clothing that actually fits more voluptuous figures. It doesn’t help my search when upon entering a fashion-forward store or boutique, I'm welcomed with stares, whispers, and even the occasional, brave, greeting of “What is she doing in here?” It’s like I’m Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, only I’m fat, not a prostitute. I appreciate fashion, just as a girl half my size does, so why should I be banished to the few shops that actually cater to the majority of female Americans? Why is it OK for the skinny girl to shop in plus size stores, yet a big girl in any store that isn’t just for plus sizes is apparently a crime. It’s the fat girl double standard.

What I wouldn’t give to be able to wear what my size-four counterparts wear, instead of being peddled moo moos and, ironically enough, stretch pants. But it seems as though hiding our figures is easier than coming up with any fashion that is figure-flattering. I can recall plenty of times when I searched high and low for that trendy menswear vest or cute knee-high boot, only to find that the vest wouldn’t fit over my larger bust, or the calf of the boots were made for Skeletor.

Department stores that actually carry plus-size lines push the section to the dreaded back corner of the store, with the dim lighting and strange absence of mirrors. And don’t count on any visual aides by the way of full-figured mannequins in stylish ensembles; the only mannequins are stick-thin and stand like a white picket fence blocking the view of the fat clothes.

But alas, even in this recession, when a lot of these plus-size lines are being cut from stores due to cost, retailers like Forever 21, Wet Seal, and Target are investing in their own junior plus lines. Finally, trendy, youthful fashions that come in bigger sizes than large, and are meant to fit the 56 percent of women in the world who wear a size 14 or more. The youth-oriented lines are great for finding the hottest styles, but with the junior sizing, the amount of plus-sized ladies these stores are actually helping is still a small percentage of the women who seek assistance in their shopping. For instance, Forever 21’s perception of plus size only covers up to a size 16, which excludes much of the plus-sized consumers that would potentially shop their Faith 21 line. Wet Seal is more realistic in their sizing, going up to a size 24, while Target’s new Pure Energy line goes all the way to a size 30.

Todd Albaum, creator and owner of Scarlett Plus Size Boutique, knows all about the plus size market. This tall, fit Jersey boy is quite the curvaceous connoisseur, and larger ladies flock to his store for high quality, gorgeous fashions and superb service. “I’m a guy in the psyche of a plus-size woman. I know what will work well with their features, and make them feel good on the inside because they look good on the outside,” he says. “The plus-size market is literally shrinking. The reason the market is drying up is that stores don’t know how to market their plus sizes. They don’t cater to the plus woman correctly.”