Mode Analytics

Here’s a number that surprises most shoppers: the average American woman wears a size 16–18, yet most denim brands still design their patterns from a size 6 block and just scale up. That scaling is exactly why plus-size jeans gap at the waist, bag at the knees, and blow out at the inner thighs after eight months. Universal Standard and Torrid both claim to solve this. They approach it from completely different directions.

One brand builds denim from a size 18 fit model and scales down. The other designs for a size 12 and scales up. That single decision changes everything about how the jeans sit on a curvy body — and it’s the reason you’ll hear loyalists swear one brand is perfect while the other is unwearable. Both are right, for their own body type.

This comparison breaks down what actually matters: fabric weight, rise measurement, stretch recovery, and sizing consistency. No affiliate links. No sponsored placement. Just the details that determine whether a $98 pair of jeans outlasts a $79 pair by two years.

The Core Difference: Fit Models and Pattern Grading

Universal Standard started in 2015 with a specific frustration: founder Alexandra Waldman couldn’t find minimalist, well-made clothing above a size 12 that didn’t look like an afterthought. The brand’s denim line uses a size 18 fit model. The pattern is drafted for a body with a defined waist, fuller hip, and fuller thigh, then graded up and down from there.

Torrid, founded in 2001, designs exclusively for sizes 10–30. Their fit model sits around a size 14–16. The brand’s denim is engineered for an hourglass or pear shape with a higher hip-to-waist ratio than straight-size brands. Torrid’s proprietary stretch denim typically contains 2–4% elastane blended with cotton and polyester.

Why does this matter? Because pattern grading is not linear. When a brand drafts for a size 6 and grades to a size 22, the proportions distort. The waist-to-hip ratio flattens. The rise doesn’t increase enough. The result is the classic plus-size denim problem: jeans that fit in the hip but gap four inches at the back waist. Universal Standard avoids this by starting at the larger end. Torrid avoids it by never designing for straight sizes at all.

Verdict: If you carry weight in your lower belly or have a straighter torso, Universal Standard’s size 18 grading usually fits better. If you have a dramatic hourglass with a 12+ inch waist-to-hip difference, Torrid’s curve-specific cuts win.

Fabric Weight, Stretch Recovery, and What Survives the Thigh Rub Test

Denim quality for curvy bodies comes down to one thing: does the fabric recover after being stretched all day? Cheap stretch denim bags out at the knees and waist by 3 p.m. Good stretch denim snaps back.

Universal Standard uses a heavier denim across most of its line. The Seine High Rise Skinny Jean is 10.5 oz cotton with 2% elastane. That’s a mid-to-heavy weight for stretch denim. The heavier cotton content means the jeans hold their shape longer, but they also require a break-in period. The first two wears feel stiff. By wear five, they mold to your body.

Torrid’s Bombshell Skinny Jean uses a lighter 8.5 oz denim with 3% spandex. The higher spandex content gives immediate comfort — no break-in period — but the lighter weight means faster pilling at the inner thigh and less structure around the stomach. Torrid’s Luxe Slim Boot Jean is closer to 9 oz with a brushed interior for softness.

Here’s the tradeoff in plain terms:

Failure mode to avoid: Don’t buy Torrid Bombshell jeans for a job where you walk 8,000+ steps a day. The lighter fabric will pill at the inner thigh within six months. Buy them for desk jobs, weekends, and low-friction days. Universal Standard’s heavier denim handles daily walking better but feels restrictive if you sit for 10 hours.

Rise Measurements: The Number Nobody Checks

Front rise is the single most important measurement for curvy denim. Too low, and the jeans slide down when you bend. Too high, and they dig into your ribs when you sit. Most plus-size shoppers need a front rise between 10.5 and 12.5 inches, depending on torso length.

Universal Standard’s Seine High Rise measures 11.5 inches in the front for a size 18. That’s a true high rise that hits at the natural waist. The brand’s Mid Rise Seine sits at 9.75 inches. For someone with a long torso, the high rise is the better choice — it prevents the jeans from sliding down throughout the day.

Torrid’s High Rise Bombshell Skinny measures 11 inches in front for a size 18. The brand’s Mid Rise Sky High Slim Boot is 10 inches. Torrid also offers an Extra High Rise option at 12 inches, which is rare in plus-size denim and works well for very long torsos or anyone who wants full stomach coverage.

Verdict: If you have a short-to-average torso, Universal Standard’s 11.5-inch rise will feel too tall — it’ll hit your ribs. Go with Torrid’s mid-rise. If you have a long torso or want maximum stomach control, Torrid’s Extra High Rise at 12 inches is the best option in either brand’s lineup.

Sizing Consistency: The Silent Killer of Online Denim Shopping

Both brands have a sizing problem, but they fail in different ways.

Universal Standard’s sizing is unusually consistent across washes. A size 18 in black Seine denim fits the same as a size 18 in medium wash. The brand also runs large compared to standard plus-size brands. A Universal Standard 18 fits more like a Torrid 20 or an Old Navy 22. The brand publishes a “See It In Your Size” feature showing the same jean on models from size 00 to 40, which helps but doesn’t replace measuring yourself.

Torrid’s sizing is less consistent. The Bombshell Skinny in black runs a full size smaller than the same jean in medium wash. The Luxe Slim Boot runs larger than the Bombshell line. Torrid’s size 18 varies by as much as 1.5 inches in the waist depending on the wash and style. This inconsistency is the brand’s biggest weakness — and the reason Torrid jeans have a higher return rate than Universal Standard’s.

Practical fix: For Universal Standard, order your usual size or one size down. For Torrid, order two sizes of the same jean and return one. Never buy Torrid denim final sale online unless you’ve tried that exact wash and style in-store.

When to Skip Both Brands

Universal Standard and Torrid are not the only options, and for some bodies, neither works.

If you have a very straight figure with minimal waist definition, skip both. Try Good American — their Always Fits jeans use a gap-proof waistband and accommodate a 0–4 size range per pair. The Good American Good Waist Crop Jean ($169) has a 12-inch rise and a waistband that doesn’t gap, but the price is significantly higher than either brand here.

If you want raw, non-stretch denim that breaks in like vintage Levi’s, skip both. Universal Standard and Torrid both rely on stretch fabric. Try Warp + Weft, which makes plus-size rigid denim up to size 24. The Warp + Weft CDG Straight ($98) has zero elastane and will take 10+ wears to break in. That’s a commitment most shoppers don’t want — but the fade pattern after a year is unbeatable.

If you’re under $50, skip both. Old Navy’s Extra High-Waisted Wow Skinny Jeans ($45, sizes 0–30) are the budget pick. The fabric is thinner and the stretch recovery is mediocre after six months, but for occasional wear, they’re fine.

And if you need denim for a physically demanding job — bending, lifting, walking 10,000+ steps — skip stretch denim entirely. Look at Dovetail Workwear or Duluth Trading, which make plus-size denim with reinforced thighs and no-spandex cotton twill. They’re not fashionable. They’re functional.

The denim market for curvy bodies is finally moving past the assumption that plus-size shoppers want thin, stretchy fabric and cheap construction. Universal Standard proved that heavier denim and careful grading matter. Torrid proved that curve-specific design at accessible prices has a massive audience. The next five years will bring more raw denim, more size-inclusive rigid fabrics, and hopefully more brands willing to publish actual rise measurements instead of vague “high rise” labels.

Until then, measure your front rise, know your waist-to-hip ratio, and stop buying jeans that only fit when you’re standing up.