Six pairs of jeans will be disregarded on every shopping trip, shows survey of 2,000 women

You’re certainly among good company if you struggle to find a pair of jeans that fit perfectly – no matter how many shops you traipse round or pairs you try on.

Either too baggy, long in the leg, short, tight or loose at the waist, it seems jeans – the staple of many a wardrobe – are the hardest piece of clothing to shop for.

And it seems almost half of women in a poll agree – with 46 per cent saying denim is the most difficult item to buy. 

A survey of 2,000 women revealed how six pairs of jeans will be disregarded on every shopping trip.

A survey of 2,000 women revealed six pairs of jeans will be disregarded on every shopping trip. And 46 per cent of women said denim is the most difficult item to buy (stock image)

It’s little wonder that once found, a trusty pair are kept and reworn for six and a half years on average, despite many of us having wardrobes full of ill-fitting trousers.

In fact, the average woman owns up to three pairs of hardly-worn and badly-fitting jeans languishing at the bottom of a drawer.

Almost three quarters of those asked said shopping for jeans was frustrating. With so many styles and colours on offer, finding the perfect fit is even trickier. 

And when a pair finally fit well, there are still problems to look out for – including wide bottoms on skinny jeans, unflattering pockets and an itchy waistband that gapes.

But two thirds believe jeans are the most important item of clothing to get right, meaning all the hassle is ultimately worth it. 

Good quality fabric, the ability to stay up without a belt and a pair that accentuate the figure are top of the list of things women look for.

Almost three quarters of those asked said shopping for jeans was frustrating. With so many styles and colours on offer, finding the perfect fit is even trickier (stock image)

And eight in ten polled would be happy to shell out more money for a pair they know will fit well and last.

The One Poll research revealed that on average, women spend only four minutes deciding what to wear each day. 

This means jeans – considered a wardrobe staple by 85 per cent – are even more important to get right.

A spokesman for fashion brand ME + EM said: ‘Finding the perfect pair of jeans can feel like an almost impossible task.

‘The length of time it takes to scour rails or web pages of different cuts, washes and fabrics can be overwhelming, not to mention actually trying on multiple pairs in the hope of striking gold.’