Dum, Dum, Dum.... Denim
Contrary to popular belief and all the dresses and skirts I own, I wear and looove jeans, but like most women, they scare me. There are so many different styles and shapes to choose from, and not all shapes are created equal when it comes to flattering the female form (especially the super skinny tapered variety.....YIKES!). Your jeans should be that special item in your closet that you can always go to when you feel like you look good in nothing else. They should be something you can dress up (dark straight leg or trouser jeans) or wear out to the supermarket with sneakers (a slight flare jean is best with flats). A good pair should last AT LEAST 2 years without any serious fading or wear, and yes, this type of high quality denim will cost you, but hey, aren't all good friends worth it in the end?
So, for this basic there a few guiding factors to find the best jean for you...
- Invest! No, this is not a trend. Top quality denim=long lasting. I know, I know, it's a hard pill to swallow, but the cost works out in the end. I have been a huge fan of old navy and gap denim in the past, they have a wide selection, inseams, and colours... at a super reasonable price, but after 1-2 washes and wears, the low quality cotton looses its elasticity and dye. So, what do we do? We keep them long after they stop fitting our bodies properly and start looking like we freelance in our faded denim as construction workers. You can look classy in a tee shirt and jeans, every day, but this is not the way.
- Tailor! Ummm, I'm so guilty of not doing this, but it is a way of protecting your investment. The denim you buy in the store were created for the alien race of stilt-legged women with 6ft long inseams, and we take them home thinking we are supposed to have superhuman long legs and either roll them up (loosing the nice drape and shape of the leg) or walk all over the back of the pant leg (messy).
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| A Denim No-No! |
Most tailors charge $5-15 to take up the pant leg, but there are a few budget and busy schedule friendly
ways to fix this too. Iron-on Hem Web is the best option, but a simple safety pin to pin only the back part of
the jean can work when you need an even quicker/and less permanent fix. There are new No-iron/no-sew
tape options, but I have yet to try these out.
ways to fix this too. Iron-on Hem Web is the best option, but a simple safety pin to pin only the back part of
the jean can work when you need an even quicker/and less permanent fix. There are new No-iron/no-sew
tape options, but I have yet to try these out.
Iron-on Hem Tape $1.79, Jo-Ann Double Stick Fashion Tape $12.00, Amazon
- Shape! I think the trouser or straight leg are the most universally flattering. They should fall long enough to look good with a heel. They should fit close the the hip and thigh (not tight, you want to avoid the "sausage-leg"), and fall straight from the knee to the ankle. This shape creates a straight leg from the hip down, and can make the hip/thigh problem areas invisible. As for where the waist should sit, I think right under to 2 inches below the bellybutton (your natural waist) is best for your classic go to pair.
- Colour! Dark denim is a great option for any cut or style. The indigo shade lighter than ink is the best. You should start by investing in jeans that are solid in colour, with minimal detailing, fashion fade, whiskering, or wear spots. Lighter denim is a great option for a more casual option, but be mindful of the shape. For daily out and about wear with flats or sneakers, a flare or boot cut shape looks best. Beware of a tapered leg with sneakers to avoid the dreaded carrot body shape. If you prefer a more fitted option with your flats, try jeans that stop about an inch above the ankle, just high enough to be out of "high-water" territory.
