These days, however, jeans come in a multitude of washes, rises, cuts and fits. Reading the labels on jeans can get confusing. What does it all mean?

      Wash

Wash refers to the color and finish of a pair of jeans.

--- Dark Wash

Dark washed jeans are the original denim; they are a deep indigo color and are often a bit stiff.

--- Stone Washed

These jeans are pre-washed and weathered to create a softer look and feel. The color is faded and the cotton in the jeans has a worn appearance.

--- Dirty Wash

Dirty washed jeans are like stone washed jeans in that they have been pre-washed to make them softer and to give them that worn-in look, but they have also been treated in a way that makes them appear dirty, or tinged beige, brown or khaki.

--- Distressed

Distressed jeans are highly faded and are finished off with holes, rips, tears and often fraying hems.

Rise

The rise on a pair of jeans determines how high or low the jeans will sit on the waist.

--- Classic Rise

This traditional denim look is quickly coming back in fashion. A classic rise comes right below or at the belly button.

--- High Waist

High waist jeans have a rise that comes above the belly button. For 2008-2009 we are seeing a few trouser style jeans with a high rise and wide pant leg.

--- Low Rise

Low rise jeans sit well below the belly button, above or just at the hip bones.

--- Ultra-Low Rise

These jeans sit even lower than low rise jeans, usually below the hip bones.

Cut

The cut of a pair of jeans refers to how the garment is shaped; this usually refers to the legs of the jeans.

--- Straight Leg

Straight leg jeans have a uniform fit from the top of the pant leg to the bottom. The bottom does not flare out, nor does it come in at the ankle.

--- Boot Cut

Boot cut jeans are slim in the thigh area and begin to angle out below the knee to make a moderately wide hem at the bottom.

--- Skinny

The skinny jean is tight throughout. These jeans usually have a higher percentage of elastic in the denim to keep them slim yet comfortable.

--- Flare Leg

Like boot cut jeans, flare leg jeans angle out below the knee, but much more so, creating a bell-like shape at the hem.

Length

The length of a jean determines where on the leg the hem will hit.

--- Classic Length

The hem on a classic length pair of jeans should come below the ankle and stop at the heel.

--- Ankle Length

Ankle length jeans should fit with the hem coming down to above the ankle bone.

--- Capri Length

Capris are short jeans, with the hem stopping at mid-calf level.

Fit

The fit of a pair of jeans refers to how the garment sits on the body; it especially refers to the seat and thigh area.

--- Slim Fit

Slim Fit jeans are tight in the seat and thigh area.

--- Regular Fit

Regular fit jeans are slim in the seat and thigh area, but are roomy enough to be comfortable.

--- Relaxed Fit

These jeans are roomy in the seat and thigh area, but not baggy.

--- Loose Fit

Loose fit jeans are very roomy and often baggy throughout.

Source: kids fashion