Jeans may gap in the back if the waistband is too large for your body shape, often due to differences in proportions between the waist and hips. This issue is more common for individuals with a smaller waist and fuller hips or buttocks. To minimize gaping, consider jeans with a contoured waistband or a higher rise, which can better accommodate varying proportions, or use a belt to secure the waistband. Alternatively, you may opt for tailored alterations for a perfect fit.
It is a fact that most jeans have a gap in the back… Some people love it….. others hate it… There are many different reasons why a gap appears in the back of your jeans… It could be because you have a different body type….. or it could be because the jeans you’re wearing are not the right size for you.
The reason for the gap is to allow freedom of movement while walking and sitting… If you are wearing slim-fit jeans then they will be tight on your body and the fabric needs some extra space to move… That is why there is an intentional gap in the back of your jeans to allow free movement of your legs while walking and sitting down.
Compare this with modern men’s straight-leg jeans which have little or no extra room in the thigh area….. yet have no gaps… So if you are having problems with gaps in your back….. do not buy slim-fit jeans instead buy men’s straight-leg fit jeans which will fit perfectly around your legs without any gaps in the back area.
While some women chose to ignore this gap….. others would choose to ignore the fact that they are wearing the wrong-sized jeans.
Let’s take a look at them:
A Lack of Elasticity
Most denim jeans are made from cotton….. and cotton has very little ability to stretch. Typically….. if you buy jeans from a high-end store….. you should notice that they have a stretchy fabric in the waist area.
The reason for this is so that when you move around and bend over….. your pants won’t bunch up and come down… If the fabric is not elastic enough….. however….. it can cause a gap in your pants.
When you wear them….. they should move with your body as you bend and move around… This way….. they won’t be as likely to create a gap in the back area when moving around.
Your Hips and Waist Size Don’t Match Up
One obvious reason why there would be a gap in your trousers at the back is due to an imbalance in your hip and waist size… If your hips are bigger than your waist then this will mean that when you put on a pair of pants they will hang off you
Buy jeans with a longer rise… In other words….. buy jeans where the waist sits higher on your body. Having jeans that sit high on your waist will help prevent gapping in the back because there’s more fabric that covers your rear end and stretches out behind you.
Wear and Tear
If you have been wearing the same pair of jeans for months then the chances of a gap forming increases because wear and tear will deteriorate the shape of the jeans and make them loose-fitting.
The washing process… Jeans that have been washed too many times will feel stiffer and won’t conform as well to your body shape.
The same thing goes for jeans that haven’t been washed properly (i.e…… using hot water and drying them on high heat)… The wear and tear from everyday use also increase with each wash cycle.
Fashion
Fashion dictates that some styles of jeans should have some space in between themselves and the body to give an appealing look… The space between your body and the jeans gives a stylish look to the jeans that would otherwise not look good.
It’s not only about the shape but also about the fashion statement we make by wearing them… You can wear your jeans that way or you can wear them the other way depending on how you want to present yourself.
It’s usually seen in people who want to look hip and modern….. especially when they’re riding their bikes or walking around with their friends… Your style and personality are reflected if you have big gaps in the back of your jeans.
Fitting
If you are buying jeans from a shop then you might want to check how well it fits on you before buying them… If it’s too tight or too loose….. then there might be a problem with your purchase… If the shopkeeper says that they can alter it according to your size….. then you might want to see if they do this free or charge any extra
You might be thinking that fit has nothing to do with the gap in your jeans… Well….. you are wrong because the fit is the first reason why jeans always have a gap in the back.
Jeans that do not fit you right will never sit right on your body and this means there will always be a gap somewhere.
Jeans that are too tight will have a gap where they dig into your skin and those that are too loose will have a gap where they hang down from your waistband to make you look bigger than you actually are.
If you have an apple-shaped body and chose to wear skinny jeans that are too tight around your waist area….. the extra pressure will be concentrated on your hips and thighs causing a big gap in between these parts of your legs.
Tightness
A big reason for a gap is the width of your backside… If you are quite narrow in the hips and have a small backside….. then there is less material to hold onto on your backside….. making it easier for your jeans to come undone in the back… This is one of the reasons men’s jeans generally have more fabric in the back compared to women’s jeans.
Jeans are made to be tight around your butt and abdomen but not around your thighs… The reason is that they want to make your legs look skinnier by “sucking in” that area… So every time you wear them….. they will always gap at the top because the bottom is too tight and the top is too loose.
The tightness of jeans can cause this problem… Jeans are meant to fit snugly….. but not too tight as they can be uncomfortable… However….. if your jeans are very tight….. then there is less chance for them to fit you well than if you were wearing a pair that is just a little bit tighter than usual.
Style
Jeans come in many different styles and every style has its own way of fitting on your body… For example….. if you want to wear boot-cut jeans….. these will always have a wider gap in the back because they are wider than your average pair of jeans.
Have you ever wondered why your jeans gap in the back? It’s not just a coincidence….. it’s a design feature.
Different styles of jeans are designed to fit in different ways… For example….. boot-cut jeans are designed to be wider at the bottom and therefore need more room at the back… A narrow pair of jeans might be constricting if they were to fit you in the same way.
Jeans that have been made using skinny denim or stretch denim will also make your legs appear slimmer….. which is great for fashion but can be uncomfortable if the waistband is too tight.
Also….. if you’re looking for a pair of dark wash skinny jeans….. it’s best to look for one that has been pre-shrunk because this means the fabric will shrink to fit your body shape more effectively when you first wear them.
The Rise Of Your Jeans
Your jeans should fit well when you wear them with a pair of shoes that you normally wear… That way….. you can tell if there is a problem with the rise or length of your jeans… If they still gap in the back even when wearing shoes….. then they are too long for you… It’s best to try on your jeans with a pair of heels since high heels will make your legs look longer.
In summary….. every woman has experienced it at least once in her life….. the never-ending struggle to get a pair of jeans to look stylish and fit perfectly.
The usual problem areas are always the same – the waist….. hips….. and butt… Jeans can be particularly challenging to find that perfect fit….. whether you’re shopping online or at a store.
The good news is that there is a solution to all those problems: you can make your own jeans!
You may also be interested in… Which Jeans Are Right for You? and 6 Clothing Brands With Crown Logo
Louise Wilson is an accomplished author, passionate textile historian, and renowned fashion enthusiast with a rich background in the world of apparel.
Graduating with honors in Fashion Design, Louise further expanded her skills and knowledge by completing a master’s degree in Textile History. Her academic pursuits have led her to explore the fashion capitals of the world, including Milan, Paris, and New York, enriching her insights into the global world of fashion.
As an author, Louise’s passion for fashion has found its way into her writings, where she intricately weaves narratives of style, design, and fashion history.