I have been on a search for jeans that fit my naturally curvaceous bottom and hips on my 5'7", upper 40's mother-of-4-youngsters, generally size 12 Long/Tall body. I tried on Riders by Lee Indigo Women's Relaxed Fit Straight Leg, Lee Women's Relaxed Fit Sraight Leg, Levi's Women's 505 Straight Leg, and Levi's Women's 525 Perfect Waist Straight Jean through Amazon's Prime Wardrobe program. None were free or discounted, I am purchasing my favorites at full price. These are my insights on these jeans: Riders by Lee Indigo Women's Relaxed Fit Straight Leg, Patriot Blue, size 12 Long - my favorite; my new number one jeans. They are true to size; a 12 fits comfortably. These are mid waist jeans, sitting at my belly button in the front. It fits well over my curvy bottom and hips without gaping at the waist in the back, although the mid back comes up nearer to my actual waist so that it covers my bottom without showing anything if I bend over. These are also a truly relaxed fit, they drape nicely but don't cling to any part of me below mid hip. In the past I have regretted purchasing regular length as they generally become highwaters after a wash or two. I ordered the Long, which are REALLY long - almost two inches too long. They are also a nice heavy, traditional denim (99% cotton, 1% spandex), which is a bit scrachy and stiff at first, but softens up very nicely after washing. The heavy denim feels so much better in the long run, as they don't stretch out throughout the day and start sagging. And, I like that they don't have the weird whiskering at the hips which just make my hips look even bigger, nor do they have the sanded thighs that make my thighs look bigger. For those who care, these do have real, hand depth pockets in front. Wonderful jeans for 40+! I love these! Lee Women's Relaxed Fit Sraight Leg, Authentic Nile, size 12 Tall - these are not a good fit for curvy with a bottom. They are true to size and very soft. They fit fine over my curvy bottom and hips, but left a three finger gap in the back waistband. The front waistband is higher than on the Lee Riders, I would consider these close to standard high rise which sits up at my waist. I do like that they don't have the whiskering and sanding, but the Authentic Nile are an odd aqua blue, not a true indigo blue. And, again, I ordered the tall, which is long, but only 1/2 to 1 inch too long (prior to washing), so I would definitely keep tall in these if I were keeping them. These are 92% cotton, 7% polyester, and 1% spandex, which feel a lot more like I would expect pajama jeans to feel than traditional jeans. And, along with the gap, I am concerned they will sag as the day progressed, eventually hanging off my hips, so these are not for me. Levi's Women's 505 Straight Leg, Sleek Blue, size 12 Long - not a good fit for curvy with a bottom. These are true to size, but are not relaxed (they fit much closer to my thighs). The waist is a bit stretchy, but still has a 2 to 3 finger gap in back. And, unfortunately these have whiskering which make my hips look wider and sanded thighs which I don't like. They are 99% cotton, like the Lee Riders, but are slightly thinner and softer before washing. I ordered the 12 Long, which is comfortably long, leaving an extra 1/2 to 1 inch (prior to washing). Theses have a mid waist, sitting right at mid belly button in front. Unfortunately these are also the lowest cut in the back, and with the gap, creates a plumber crack look when bending over. Definitely not for me. Levi's Women's 525 Perfect Waist Straight Jean, Bear Creek, size 14 regular - okay fit, but not my favorite. These were the only jeans I had to try on the 14s, so these run a bit small, particularly in the hips and thighs (according to other reviews it may have to do with the color, the 12s were very dark (Darkest Ace), which many said run smaller). They sit well in the back, high enough, but without a gap, and sit at low mid waist in front, coming to the middle of my belly button. These also have the whiskering, but it is less visible on this faded color of denim. The Bear Creek is 99% cotton, 1% spandex, and very comfortable. These are my second favorite of all the jeans I tried. I am torn as to whether to buy them or not - I do like the fit and feel, but at almost twice the price of the Lee Riders and requiring a larger size, I'm not sure whether I will keep these or not. Update: I ordered the Levi's 525 in Bear Creek size 31 (size 12) after returning the Prime Wardrobe selections, and they are honestly my favorite jeans after having worn them and the Lee Riders for over 2 months now. The Levi's seem to vary depending on where they are made and the color of the wash with darker colors, including black, running smaller/tighter than the lighter washes. The Bear Creek are true to size, have a tiny bit of give, a very smooth hand, sit slightly below my belly button, and gently hug all my curves. The gentle elastic binding in the waistband gives and returns to position, leaving my tummy flat, with no rolls, which is amazing! They are now my favorite although the cloth is much thinner and I do wonder if they will last as long as the Lee Riders. Only time will tell.
