The right jeans come down to three things: the cut of the leg, the rise at the waist and a size that matches your waist and hip measurements. This guide explains what bootcut and mid rise mean, how women’s jeans sizes 27 to 34 convert to inches, how to choose denim shorts and how to wash jeans, with the best women’s denim under $40.
What are bootcut jeans?
Bootcut jeans are fitted through the hip and thigh and widen slightly from the knee to the hem, leaving room to wear them over boots. The gentle flare balances the hips and makes legs look longer. NY Threads women’s bootcut jeans are mid rise stretch denim with a 32-inch inseam and five pockets.
The women’s mid rise bootcut jeans are 84% cotton, 14% polyester and 2% spandex, in dark blue, with a zip fly, button closure and belt loops. They come in sizes 27 to 34. Browse all women’s denim.
What are the main types of jeans?
The main types of jeans are named for the shape of the leg. Skinny jeans hug the whole leg, straight jeans fall in one line from hip to hem, bootcut jeans flare slightly below the knee, and wide leg, baggy and barrel jeans are loose through the leg. The rise, low, mid or high, is chosen separately.
| Cut | Shape | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Skinny | Close-fitting from hip to ankle | Usually needs the most stretch |
| Straight | Same width from knee to hem | A classic everyday cut |
| Bootcut | Fitted thigh, slight flare from the knee | Made to sit over boots and heels |
| Flare | Fitted thigh, wide flare from the knee | A stronger version of bootcut |
| Wide leg | Loose from hip to hem | Best with a fitted top |
| Baggy | Loose and relaxed all over | Often worn low on the hip |
| Barrel | Curves out at the thigh and knee, narrows at the ankle | Usually cropped at the ankle |
NY Threads currently offers the bootcut in this guide.
What does mid rise mean in jeans?
Rise is the distance from the crotch seam to the top of the waistband, and it decides where jeans sit on your body. Mid rise jeans sit just below the navel, between low rise jeans on the hips and high rise jeans at the natural waist. Mid rise is the easiest to wear with most tops.
| Rise | Where it sits | Works well with |
|---|---|---|
| Low rise | On the hips, well below the navel | Longer tops |
| Mid rise | Just below the navel | Tucked or untucked tops |
| High rise | At or above the natural waist | Cropped and tucked-in tops |
NY Threads bootcut jeans and both styles of denim shorts are mid rise.
What size is a 28 in women’s jeans?
In women’s jeans, the size number roughly follows the waist of the jeans in inches, so it is not the same as a dress size. In NY Threads bootcut jeans, a size 28 fits a 29.5–30 inch waist and a 36.5–37 inch hip, and a size 30 fits a 31.5–32 inch waist. Always check the brand’s chart.
| Size | Waist | Hip | Inseam |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 28.5–29 | 35.5–36 | 32 |
| 28 | 29.5–30 | 36.5–37 | 32 |
| 29 | 30.5–31 | 37.5–38.5 | 32 |
| 30 | 31.5–32 | 39–40 | 32 |
| 31 | 32.5–34 | 41–42 | 32 |
| 32 | 34.5–35 | 42.5–43 | 32 |
| 33 | 35.5–36 | 43.5–44 | 32 |
| 34 | 36.5–37 | 44.5–45 | 32 |
Measure your natural waist and the fullest part of your hip with a soft tape. If you are between sizes, go by your hip measurement. More charts and measuring steps are in the size guide.
What are the best women’s jeans and denim shorts under $40?
Good jeans under $40 should have some stretch, a rise that stays in place and a clear size chart. Every women’s denim piece in this guide costs under $40: NY Threads mid rise bootcut jeans are $37.99, and the frayed hem and folded hem denim shorts are $31.99 each.
| Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Women’s denim shorts, frayed hem | Casual summer days | $31.99 |
| Women’s denim shorts, folded hem | A neater, cuffed look | $31.99 |
| Women’s mid rise bootcut jeans | Everyday jeans, 32-inch inseam | $37.99 |
Standard shipping is free on every order with no minimum, and unused, unworn items with tags can be returned within 60 days of delivery. Some shorts sizes are sold out.
How do you choose denim shorts?
Choose denim shorts by rise, inseam and hem. A mid rise sits comfortably without digging in, a 4 to 5 inch inseam gives everyday coverage, and the hem sets the mood: frayed looks relaxed, folded looks neater. NY Threads women’s denim shorts are mid rise with a 4.3-inch inseam and five pockets.
| Shorts | Fabric | Hem | Sizes | Colors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frayed hem denim shorts | 99% cotton, 1% spandex | Raw, frayed | 27 to 31 and 33 | Mid blue, light blue |
| Folded hem denim shorts | 84% cotton, 14% polyester, 2% spandex | Folded cuff | 27 to 34 | Dark blue, mid blue |
Both styles share one chart: a size 28 fits a 30–30.5 inch waist and a 36.5–37 inch hip. Browse all denim shorts.
What is denim?
Denim is a strong cotton twill fabric woven with dyed warp threads, usually indigo blue, and white filling threads, which is why jeans are blue outside and paler inside. Stretch denim adds a little spandex so it gives as you move. NY Threads women’s jeans and shorts use cotton-rich stretch denim with 1% to 2% spandex.
“Denim, durable twill-woven fabric with coloured (usually blue) warp and white filling threads.”
Cotton Incorporated’s CottonWorks denim basics describes denim as warp yarns dyed with blue indigo and filling yarn kept white, normally in a 2×1 or 3×1 twill weave. Britannica adds that the name is said to come from the French serge de Nîmes.
What shoes do you wear with bootcut jeans?
Bootcut jeans are cut to sit over a shoe with some height, so ankle boots, heeled boots, block heels, wedges and platform sneakers all work. The hem should cover most of the shoe and stop just above the floor. With flat shoes, a long inseam may need hemming so the fabric does not drag.
NY Threads bootcut jeans have a 32-inch inseam in every size. Try them on with the shoes you plan to wear most before deciding whether to hem them.
How do you wash jeans?
Wash jeans inside out in cold water with similar colors, on a gentle cycle, and skip chlorine bleach. Turning them inside out protects the color. Tumble dry low or air dry, because high heat fades denim and wears out stretch fibers. Jeans do not need washing after every wear; Levi’s suggests about every 10 wears.
“We recommend washing denim after approximately every 10 wears to help maintain its shape and fit.”
| Item | Wash | Dry | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bootcut jeans | Inside out, machine wash cold with like colors | Tumble dry low, warm iron if needed | Chlorine bleach, dry cleaning |
| Frayed hem denim shorts | Machine wash cold with like colors | Tumble dry medium, warm iron if needed | Bleach, dry cleaning |
| Folded hem denim shorts | Machine wash cold with similar colors | Tumble dry medium, warm iron if needed | Bleach |
Women’s jeans FAQs
Where can I buy women’s bootcut jeans?
You can buy women’s bootcut jeans at department stores, denim brands and online. NY Threads sells online at nythreads.com, the NY Threads store for the United States, and through the NY Threads brand store on Amazon. NY Threads women’s mid rise bootcut jeans cost $37.99 in sizes 27 to 34, with free standard shipping on every order.
What size is a 30 in women’s jeans?
In NY Threads women’s bootcut jeans, a size 30 fits a 31.5–32 inch waist and a 39–40 inch hip, with a 32-inch inseam. Sizes vary between brands, so compare your own waist and hip measurements with the size chart before you order.
What is the difference between bootcut and flare jeans?
Both are fitted through the thigh and widen below the knee. Bootcut jeans open only slightly, enough to fit over a boot, while flare jeans open much wider for a more dramatic shape. Bootcut is the subtler, everyday version.
How much do NY Threads women’s jeans cost?
NY Threads women’s mid rise bootcut jeans cost $37.99, and women’s denim shorts cost $31.99 with a frayed or folded hem. These are regular prices on November 12, 2026, before any sale. Standard shipping is free on every order.
Do stretch jeans stretch out?
Stretch denim gives a little as you wear it and usually tightens again after washing. Jeans with a small amount of spandex, around 1% to 2%, keep their shape better than rigid cotton that has been stretched. Washing cold and drying on low heat helps the stretch fibers last.
Does NY Threads make denim for men?
Yes. NY Threads makes men’s denim bib overalls in 100% cotton denim with adjustable straps, in stone wash and indigo, for $47.99. They are covered in the workwear guide.
Are NY Threads jeans OEKO-TEX certified?
Yes. NY Threads women’s bootcut jeans and both styles of denim shorts are OEKO-TEX® certified, so their materials are tested for harmful substances.
Our methodology
Every fabric, inseam, size and care instruction below comes from the NY Threads product specification for that item. The definition of denim comes from Encyclopaedia Britannica and Cotton Incorporated’s CottonWorks, and washing advice from Levi’s customer service. We checked 3 NY Threads product specifications on November 12, 2026 for this guide, and we update it when a product, size chart or care label changes.
Sources
Shop women’s jeans and denim shorts, see the layering guide for tops and layers to wear with jeans, or read about NY Threads. Standard shipping is free on every order with no minimum, and unused, unworn items with tags can be returned within 60 days of delivery. Questions? Contact us.
More buying, fit and care advice: browse all NY Threads product guides.