I totally agree with the other reviewers: these are extremely comfortable and more flattering than jeans with a zipper or buttons. When you wear regular jeans with a T-shirt or sweater, the zipper sticks out and emphasizes your tummy. Just what I DON'T need! These help hold you in (a little... don't expect miracles), and they lie smoothly under tops. The length is great, plenty long, and even if they shrink a tiny bit (I haven't washed them yet), they are not going to become "high water" jeans, as  my kids used to say (meaning too short). I was suspicious of them being made of some other material than regular denim, but not to worry: they are as much regular denim as any other jeans with a 2% spandex content. The top part that goes around your waist is the same material, not like maternity pants that have a knit panel around your abdomen. The only drawback would be if you like to wear shirts tucked in or with a belt. There are no belt loops and they might look a little weird with the shirt tucked. Or maybe not. I rarely want to wear a shirt tucked in, and I have plenty of other jeans if I do. The waist does come all the way up to your natural waist, eliminating muffin top, thank goodness. Something that seems to be the new way to do back pockets is that they are placed very low, sort of low bottom to high back of leg. I don't care for this look, but I see it on other jeans and especially the jeans that teenagers wear. To me, it is not flattering, and I've actually returned jeans with very low back pockets. These back pockets aren't so low that I feel the need to return the the jeans, but I do wish the pockets were higher up. The stitching on the back pockets is the trademark Jag flourish, subtle, just plain thread (no rivets, rhinestones, or other bling). The front pockets are just like regular jeans' front pockets: same curve, same stitching, same rivets. As for fit, I know that Jag often recommends going down a size, but I'm way past wanting skin tight jeans, so I am happy with the fit of my regular size, which is 8. They're not baggy or loose in any way, but they are very comfortable. If you prefer a really tight look, order down. Otherwise, I think the sizing is pretty darn true. I would definitely recommend these jeans, for the look, the comfort, and the reasonable price. Down with $100+ jeans!!