Help finding the right jeans?

Hey StyleForum. This is my first thread, and I come seeking guidance.

My hips seem to stay consistently at 33"--I've measured at various times of day. My inseam length is about 30", but I don't know a good way of getting an exact measurement of that. Granted, inseam length on jeans isn't something that needs to be exact, since jeans can be stacked and/or cuffed. I can provide other measurements if it would be helpful, but off hand I don't know what other measurements of myself would be useful.

I would just measure jeans that fit me and order more stylish jeans like them, but I currently haven't made it that far. I've been wearing relaxed/straight/boot cut jeans for a while now. I've been trying on lots of jeans and have been trying to figure out what works for me, but I'm getting pretty discouraged based on what stores have to offer. (I link to the reddit thread because Reddit Enhancement Suite makes looking at the pictures and albums easy, if you have it.) Yesterday I tried on the Gap 1969 Skinny 31*32's again and felt like they were a little too tight. The friend I was with then suggested I try on American Eagle jeans (I think because she wanted to shop there), and so I did. It turns out, their Slim fit jeans fit pretty much exactly how I'd like for jeans to fit me. They didn't have measuring tape, though, so I couldn't measure the pants.

I'm trying to get informed and "resounding" advice. I'm a layman, and reddit's MaleFashionAdvice hasn't given me the help I was hoping it would.

My intuition tells me to go with the American Eagle Slim's (31*32), but I've checked their website and I'm not very impressed by the washes they offer. The one person who commented on my most recent reddit thread suggested I go with the Gap Skinny jeans, claiming they will stretch. Doing my homework, it looks like 'the scientific community' agrees that jeans do stretch. I'm not doubtful of that, but wen wearing the Gap Skinny jeans, I'm fearful I'm going to rip them in the dressing room.

I'm not limited to purchasing jeans I can try on in person, but I'm trying to get a perspective on how jeans of different sorts fit me. It's difficult for me to nest images the way I would like to, but I have quite a few pictures of images I've taken and can share them if it would be helpful for anyone trying to help me. I've also linked to a reddit thread where I compiled links to images (some albums) of jeans I've tried on.

It seems like my ideal fit of jeans is somewhere between the typical Slim fit and Straight fit. In a lot of cases, it seems like even with slim fit jeans, I get strange "wings" around my knees. Can I do anything about that?

Thanks in advance, StyleForum.

Edit: I'm sorry, should I have posted this as a reply to this thread?