Denim Fit Guide
We carry three denim brands — Judy Blue, KanCan and Risen — and they don't size the same. Here's how they compare, straight from the brands' own charts, so you can order the right pair the first time.
Judy Blue runs big. Its size 0 is cut to a 25½" waist. KanCan's and Risen's size 0 are cut to a 24" waist — a full size smaller. If you're a 9 in KanCan or Risen, start with a 7 in Judy Blue. Plus sizes (14W and up) are closer to true.
KanCan and Risen fit about the same. Both true to size in stretch styles. Size up one in anything rigid or 100% cotton. Wide-leg Risen: size down if you're between sizes.
Nobody sizes up in stretch. All three recover — a snug first try relaxes within an hour of wear. If it zips, it fits.
How to measure
Waist: snug tape around the narrowest part of your torso, usually just above the belly button. Hip: around the fullest part of your seat, feet together. Compare to the chart below, not to the size in your closet — every brand in there is cut differently too.
Regular sizes
Waist / hip in inches
| Tag size | Judy Blue | KanCan | Risen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 / 24 | 25½ / 36 | 24 / 34 | 24 / 34 |
| 1 / 25 | 26½ / 37 | 25 / 35 | 25 / 35 |
| 3 / 26 | 27½ / 38 | 26 / 36 | 26 / 36 |
| 5 / 27 | 28½ / 39 | 27 / 37 | 27 / 37 |
| 7 / 28 | 29½ / 40 | 28 / 38 | 28 / 38 |
| 9 / 29 | 30½ / 41 | 29 / 39 | 29 / 39 |
| 11 / 30 | 31½ / 42 | 30 / 40 | 30 / 40 |
| 13 / 31 | 33 / 43½ | 31½ / 41½ | 31 / 41 |
| 15 / 32 | 34 / 45 | 33 / 43 | 32 / 42 |
Letter equivalents, all three brands: XS = 0–1 · S = 3–5 · M = 7–9 · L = 11–13 · XL = 15
Plus sizes
Waist / hip in inches
| Tag size | Judy Blue | KanCan | Risen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14W | 37 / 47 | — | — |
| 16W / 1X | 38 / 48 | 33–34 / 44–45 | 33–34 / 44–45 |
| 18W / 2X | 40 / 50 | 35–36 / 46–47 | 35–36 / 46–47 |
| 20W / 3X | 42 / 52 | 37–38 / 48–49 | 37–38 / 48–49 |
| 22W | 44½ / 54½ | 39–41 / 50–52 | — |
| 24W | 47 / 57 | — | — |
KanCan and Risen label plus sizes 1X / 2X / 3X (1X = 16W, 2X = 18W, 3X = 20W — same size, different tag). Judy Blue uses W sizes and cuts them roomier: a Judy Blue 16W is about a KanCan or Risen 2X in the waist.
Brand by brand
Judy Blue
Soft, super-stretchy 4-way fabric that fits bigger than the tag says. Take your usual even size and go down one (a 12 elsewhere = Judy Blue 11). Down two for a snug, lifted fit in the stretchiest washes. Plus sizes 14W–24W: stay at your usual size, or down one in stretch. Rigid or low-stretch styles: true to size. The most forgiving of the three across body types.
KanCan
True to size in stretch styles. A little stretch, good recovery, trimmer through the hip than Judy Blue. Like it snug? Go down one. Rigid or 100% cotton: size up. Plus 1X–3X are cut with a mid-to-high rise and extra room in the hip.
Risen
True to size. Between sizes: size up for a relaxed fit — except wide-leg styles, where you size down. Rigid or 100% cotton: size up. Tummy-control styles have extra stretch and a firm waistband. Plus 1X–3X are cut with extra stretch and room through the hips.
Rise and inseam
| Rise | Front rise | Length | Inseam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid rise | 9–10" | Ankle | 26–27" |
| High rise | 10–11" | Cropped | 27–28" |
| Super high | 11"+ | Standard | 28–30" |
| Full length | 30–33½" |
Still not sure? Message us with your waist and hip measurement and the pair you're looking at, and we'll tell you the size. We do it every day. And if it's not right, exchanges are easy.
Measurements from each brand's published size charts, September 2026. Fit notes reflect the brands' guidance and what we see in our own fitting rooms. — Jessica & The JQ Team