I tried 100 jeans – one made me look like I was on...

Deputy Fashion Editor Abby McHale takes on the ultimate denim challenge. Here, she tries on 100 pairs of jeans to find the perfect fit. “WHAT could possibly go wrong?” I asked myself when I decided to try 100 pairs of high-street jeans. Around six hours later, I had my answer.

Image Credit: The Sun [Woman in striped shirt modeling different jeans.]

It turns out that slipping into that many pairs is no mean feat. Not only did it take an eternity, but I came out with a bleeding finger, a cracked nail and the desire to immediately lie down in a darkened room. We all know how tricky it can be to find that perfect pair.

Image Credit: The Sun [Woman wearing pink and red striped shirt and dark jeans.]

It can seem like an impossible task, especially when – like me – you’re hovering between sizes 14 and 16. And despite all those tips and quizzes that promise to decipher exactly which sizes and styles will suit you, sometimes the best thing to do is take a deep breath and try on as many pairs as possible.

Image Credit: The Sun [Woman in striped shirt and light wash jeans.]

My experiment might have been exhausting, but it has left me feeling highly qualified to give a good overall view of what high street jeans are REALLY like. My research took in a fair few mishaps – broken zips, jeans that barely went past my thighs – and a lot of huffing and puffing.

Image Credit: The Sun [Woman smiling, wearing red and pink striped shirt and dark bell-bottom jeans.]

But I’m happy to say I’ve found ten top pairs, in a variety of shapes and prices. Take a look at how I got on when I tried and tested 100 pairs of size 14 jeans . . . I WAS excited to try on a pair of turn-up jeans, with them being one of the key styles of the season.

Image Credit: The Sun [Woman smiling, wearing a pink and red striped shirt, light blue jeans, and dark brown heels against a pink background.]

This pair from River Island came out on top – they fitted nicely around my waist and were a good length on my 5ft 4in frame. A dark-wash denim is one of the most flattering, too, as it doesn’t draw attention to areas you might not be as comfortable with.

Image Credit: The Sun [Woman in striped shirt and wide-leg pants.]

More brands such as River Island now offer different lengths in jeans, including petite, regular and long. I also tried their barrel-leg style and they nearly made my top ten, too. I HAD my doubts that these would do up – I opted for a 32-in waist, the equivalent to a size 14.

Image Credit: The Sun [Woman in striped shirt and jeans.]

This was the only pair I tried that had buttons instead of a zip. And if jeans don’t fit correctly, buttons can look wonky. Luckily these fastened fairly easily and were one of the tighter pairs out of the top ten. But remember that jeans “give” and they looked great on – especially for a lighter wash denim.

Image Credit: The Sun [Woman in pink and red striped shirt and black jeans.]

Levi’s are stocked on Amazon and this pair, which normally cost more than £90, are retailing on the site for just £50. Bargain. I’M a sucker for supermarket jeans and these didn’t disappoint. Both the quality and the price are great, so it was no surprise that this pair from Tu at Sainsbury’s made it into the top ten.

Flares are a really flattering style, skimming over your hips and bum before flaring at the bottom to give an hourglass shape. I also love the additional pocket details on the front and – added bonus – this pair comes with a matching waistcoat which, as a co-ord, is going viral and proving very in-demand.

Image Credit: The Sun [Woman in pink and red striped shirt and wide-leg jeans.]

For £24, you really can’t go wrong. M&S sells ten pairs of jeans every minute and its range has expanded over the years. It now offers a wide variety of styles. Having tried on a few pairs, including some of its very wide Palazzo trousers (which would have been a contender if they weren’t a little too tight), this carrot style came out on top.

Slightly similar to the popular barrel style, just not as wide, these are perfect for those who want to step on board a trend but in a more understated way. M&S is also a great example of a brand with a wide size range, going up to a 32 and coming in a variety of lengths.

Image Credit: The Sun [Woman in striped shirt sitting on a pile of jeans.]

NO one does cowboy-style jeans quite like the American denim brand Wrangler. The fabric on this pair was super-soft and I loved how they looked on, too. I also really like the panelling down the front of the jeans, which gives some extra detail. At £100, they are the most expensive of the bunch, but if you find a pair of jeans that you love, then they might just be worth the higher price point.

ONE of my favourites is F&F’s wide-leg, light wash jeans, so I was excited to see how much I liked this particular style. While skinny jeans may be trying to make a comeback and I was firmly on the train last time, I think a straight leg is about as far as I will go right now.

This is the perfect pair to throw on at the weekend, with a simple T-shirt and some trainers. And with the length of these being ankle-grazing, they are also great for those who are more petite. MARKETED as a wide-leg option, they looked more of a bootcut shape on me.

And that’s a style I wouldn’t ever opt for. However, when trying them on I found them to be super stretchy and very comfortable. In fact, I tried on three styles from the online retailer and all were really easy to wear, so I’m awarding top marks for consistency.

And while a bootcut isn’t my preferred style, actually trying them on has opened my eyes to the fact that this cut does suit my figure. It’s one I should be more open to trying in future. SOME of my best, longest-lasting jeans from over the years have come from Primark.