On trend denim to shop if you need adaptive clothing

I’m a denim devotee through and through—denim skirts, blue jeans, ripped jeans, destroyed jeans, denim shorts, you name it. I could go on like Bubba with shrimp.

But, I’m also a one-armed girl, which means buttoning denim isn’t something I’m remotely a fan of. It’s a denser material that isn’t inherently stretchy like your cotton sweats. However, it hits differently, and the cool versatility of jeans can’t be easily matched if that’s what you’re after.

Still, sometimes I pass on wearing some of my favorite pieces in my jean stash just because I know it’ll be a nightmare to close them, and that has zero to do with them being too snug. Granted, it is easier to button a pair with more room in the waistband but sometimes “boyfriend” jeans aren’t the vibe.

I like jeans too much to cross over to “other” pants, though, so I hunted down seven adaptive clothing options that don’t sacrifice that true denim appeal, because there’s no reason people with upper extremity limb differences and challenges should be caught wearing jeggings just because this cult classic wardrobe staple isn’t designed for easy dressing.

1. Free People Jayde Flare Jeans

Unlike many high-waisted styles that have an endless line of buttons for you to fuss with, these Free People Jayde Jeans have a zipper and two-button closure. What I love most about these is the stretch.

The Jayde Flare is the sneaky equivalent of your favorite flared legging (aka glorified yoga pants). Still, it looks like you’re wearing a true-form-fitting pair of jeans that are actually manageable in the button arena. Plus, they come in 16 color varieties, so you can get a pair to match every top in your closet.

The style did so well that Free People also released a short edit of it. I opted for the Lavender, and the denim texture you often don’t get with heavily stretched styles has me in a haze.

Jayde Flare Jeans

Jayde Flare Jeans bring stretch-fit comfort to a retro design and come in a variety of colors.

$98 at Free People

2. One Teaspoon Shabbies

For pull-on jeans, these are not too shabby. Many of the pull-on styles I’ve come across have often turned out to look like weird denim sweatpants. At that point I’d rather just grab my sweats, but One Teaspoon changed the denim accessibility game when the brand added the Shabbies to its list of styles.

These jeans are made of authentic rigid denim for those who like that classic feel. But, the elastic waistband eliminates the buttoning battle that usually comes with it. In case you’re worried about the drawstring, I went for the mega ripped Soft White Shabbies and found I can easily slip them on and off without worrying about untying and retying by leaving it tied slightly looser.

The elastic does an excellent job keeping the jeans up without needing a drawstring, especially if you size down for a somewhat more form-fitting result, which is what I did.

Shabbies

Shabbies jeans from One Teaspoon add a fun streetwear feel to your outfit due to the relaxed, boyfriend-jean fit.

$150 at One Teaspoon

3. Abercrombie Mixed Fabric Ultra High Rise 90s Straight Jean

I was super excited to come across this pair of jeans because it combines two pant styles that can typically be very challenging to secure if you struggle with your hands. An “accessible jeans X leather pants collab” is something I needed almost as much as Taylor Swift and Haim.

You may have seen that episode of Friends where Ross can’t button his leather pants while on a date. Well, that’s not a concern here because the leather portion goes from the mid-thigh down, and it’s made of Abercrombie’s always-sold-out soft and stretchy vegan leather. The top part is black denim with 1% elastane. That’s just enough flexibility to give the nudge you need to make it through the buttonhole without losing the pleasure of owning a good pair of authentic black denim.

Mixed Fabric Ultra High Rise 90s Straight Jean

These black ultra high rise denim jeans are seriously reminiscent of the ’90s.

$98 at Abercrombie

4. Free People Penny Pull-On Flare Jeans

A lovely inclusive design option if you’re a printed denim lover—these stretch babies eliminate all closures of any kind, as you simply need to pull them on (hence the apt name). The great thing about these jeans is that they are an easy, effortless option and, due to their high-stretch materials, are easy to get into despite their tight fit. What I love most about them is the wide assortment of colors and prints.

For example, if you want to stick to just pull-on denim, you get to choose from nearly a dozen designs and still have the option of adding variety to your denim drawer. I went with the Port Combo and dipped back in for a second pair in a different print because I liked them so much.

Penny Pull-On Flare Jeans

Suppose buttons and zippers aren’t your thing and you want vintage-inspired denim without them. The Penny Pull-On Flare Jeans are your solution.

$78 at Free People

5. Good American Always Fits Good Legs Skinny Jeans

Skinny jeans can be tough because they’re meant to be tight, often making them a challenge to close. I was very skeptical of these before giving them a shot. Good American devised a magical pair of jeans where each size fits up to four sizes (i.e., 00-4, 6-12, 14-18 Plus, etc.).

Since I’m on the smallest end of the 00-4, I was expecting some bagginess and a gap, but these really are magic Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants-type jeans. The four-way stretch enables that sizing range and makes them extremely easy to button. They come with a zip closure with just one button, and truthfully, I can button these in my sleep with one hand (and with the talon-length, 3-D, gemmed-out nail extensions I always have on).

Always Fits Good Legs Skinny Jeans

The name truly speaks for itself with these impressive ‘one-size-fits-four’ jeans from Good American.

$149 at Good American

6. Reformation Tazz Maxi Denim Skirt

In the summer of the denim maxi, it would’ve been a crime not to include an accessible skirt pick (ahem, two) on this list. However, on my hunt for an easy-close denim maxi, I discovered that, contrary to pants, when it came to a skirt, I found a rigid option to be more accessible. This is because, with the weight of the fabric, an unbuttoned one is more challenging to hold up while you get to the zipper since your legs aren’t holding anything in place.

Also, the softer fabrics were much more difficult to manage with just one arm, so I liked the stiffer material that makes up the Tazz. The fabric isn’t unbending to the point of discomfort either, though, so I felt that this skirt offered the perfect balance between sturdiness and style.

Tazz Maxi Denim Skirt

The Tazz Maxi Denim Skirt has a low-waisted fit with plenty of room due to the flirty, open-front slit.

$188 at Reformation

7. Amazon Women’s Casual Stretch Waist Denim Skirt

If you prefer to go the stretch route, I’d suggest a skirt with an elastic waist and stretch fabric throughout, such as this Amazon skirt. Of course, it still unbuttons and everything, but, due to the stretch fabric and stretch-waist combo, I found that I could pull it on even with it buttoned!

Casual Stretch Waist Washed Denim Ruffle Fishtail Skirts

Versatility is the name of the game with this denim skirt from Amazon that has over 20 different wash and style combinations.

$50 at Amazon

BONUS: Vivi Zipper Pull and Button Hook Pocket Dresser

At first glance the Vivi Pocket Dresser may suggest a Swiss army knife got lost on this roundup, but that’s not what this is.

To close out these recommendations, I felt it necessary to add a tool that could help make these pieces even more accessible. This thing came highly recommended to me by Reviewed Accessibility Editor Sarah Kovac, and it did not disappoint.

It’s a simple, lightweight multi-tool equipped with two different-sized hooks, a button pull loop, and a zipper pull. These carefully crafted aids have made it possible for me to close some of my toughest jeans.

Kovac warns, however, that traveling with the Pocket Dresser can be a pain, because, in an x-ray machine, it looks just like brass knuckles. If that’s a dealbreaker for you, consider a combo button hook and zipper pull that’s mostly plastic. Though Kovac gets stopped by security every time she flies despite making screeners aware of her Pocket Dresser, she still prefers it over the flimsier options.

$9 at Amazon

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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.