Are Skinny Jeans Still In? And more thoughts on jeans...
There’s been a big discussion going around, with both my clients and around social media in general, “Are skinny jeans still IN? And before I answer this question, I will preface by saying, I’m putting on my stylist hat for this one with a little jeans Q + A at the end. So…are skinny jeans still in?
Feeling Good In yOur Jeans
The answer to that question is pretty simple, in text, but much harder on our psyches to adopt when we’ve been seeing so many new jean trends out there. The most important message that I can relay to you is that you have to feel good in the jeans you’re in. And for you, if that continues to be skinny jeans, than continue to wear them. Confidence is the most important ingredient to any great outfit. When you have the confidence in what you’re wearing, it shows. And that’s the impetus of true style. If you’re trying to pull off the latest trend and finding that you no longer feel like you, go back to what feels confident to you. That will always be IN style. It’s about navigating the old with the new to continue to make your wardrobe feel fresh/current.
We’ve ridden the wave of skinny jeans for going on 10 years now, and as with the height of any fashion trend, it’s hit its peak and is starting to fall towards its demise. That’s not to say that it’s out, out, out. Oh no, it’s just that new trends are taking hold and therefore, you’ll see less of the skinny jean trend out there in the stores, denim bars, and online, and more of the straight leg, wide leg, and ankle crop.
how to navigate the changing trends
As with anything that changes, it can make you start to feel nervous about your style. So what do you do? It’s about staying true to what feels good to you. What makes you comfortable and what makes you want to put on a full outfit every day. If you’re in that uncertain phase of your life where you’re wading the waters of leggings and athleisure all day and don’t know what to do, these changing trends might be a great time to step out of your comfort zone to start experimenting. This is uncomfortable, yes, but this is where the work begins with your style. This is where you might start to try something new (I’m navigating wide leg jeans myself right now) and realize that you like a new style you didn’t think you might have liked! This is the fun of being a stylist. I love trying new things, helping my clients try new trends, pieces, or styles, and letting them go if they don’t work and adding them to the mix if they do. How do you know? Read your energy when you have something on! Period. If the energy is exciting, you’ll know. You’ll feel it. If you don’t, move on.
Experimenting leads to learning
When it comes to trying new jean trends, you have to experiment with them. You’ll say way more “no’s” than “yes’s” and you know what? That’s okay! Actually, that’s the point. It’s like science. You’re trying to prove yourself wrong with alllll the jeans to finally hit the nail on the head with the yes pair of jeans. It know it can be tiring, but it’s worth it and it’s education. In the end, finding a great pair of jeans is about learning about which rises (low, medium, high) work best for you (quick tip: usually if you have a short torso, a low to medium rise is great, if you have a long torso, high rise is wonderful), having a firm understanding of your body shape, and having alterations done. The ultimate rule? Wear what you love.
Jeans Q + A
On instagram stories, I asked for you to submit your jeans questions and here are a few of the highlights
What to look for/ask for when altering
When you’re trying on a pair of jeans, it’s most important they fit through the hips/thigh area first (there’s no pulling). Also, that they feel comfortable for you. Most jeans with a high cotton count (97% or higher) will stretch slightly after a few wears. If you love the comfort and fit around the hips/thigh, you can have the waist brought in (if there is a gap in the back, yes this is a common/easy fix). You also want to ensure there is no “break” in the leg. The break is when the fabric bends and creases down towards the bottom of the pant by the calf, ankle area. To avoid the break, the hem of the jeans at the bottom should be brought up. Normally, I take a pair of shoes I would wear everyday and try them on with the jeans. The jeans should either sit at your foot bone (floor length/wide leg), just slightly above your ankle bone (ankle length), or slightly below your calf muscle (cropped).
Can you wear flat shoes with wide leg jeans?
Yes. But you have to commit to altering them for flats only. Same for heels with wide leg jeans. You have to commit to a shoe and length of jean. I normally have two wide leg pants. One that is altered to wear with flats that sits just above my foot bone and one for heels, that is slightly longer.
Should you try on more than one pair of jeans in the same style/size/brand
Absolutely, yes. The frustrating thing about the fashion industry is that most of the time one thing never fits the same way twice. Especially in jeans. For some reason when jeans are cut, they’re done in large fabric bundles and therefore, the stitching can often be off a half an inch or so. Therefore, it is so important that when you try on a pair of jeans from a brand, that you try on various pairs in the same size and style and multiple sizes too.
Can Petite women pull off wide leg crop jeans?
Yes, yes!! It’s a matter of alterations, 100%. Sometimes, yes, a petite woman can find a pair of cropped petite wide leg pants/jeans without altering and that’s great. But I would say again, make sure the jeans fit through the hip/thigh and then alter them to fit just below your calf muscle (I usually gauge how the length fits the model, if ordering online). Also, I would opt for a mid rise, possibly a little lower, if you have a shorter torso and are petite too.
What jeans are best for super long torsos?
I would start with a jean that is a higher rise. This is also where knowing your jean rise is very important. I cover that in my class Style 101. If you know what jean rise is most comfortable for you, then you can use that as a starting point for try-on’s/ordering online. A longer torso usually means you may have to work with higher rise jeans (11-12”+) or even ordering a “tall”.
Good Mid-rise jean options
Mid-rise jeans are making more of a comeback these days and I have to say that many of my petite clients who have shorter torsos are finding great success with both Levi’s Wedgie Straight Leg ankle jeans and Re-Done brand jeans.
how to account for stretch and take correct measurements
Your true measurements and industry measurements are not one and the same, so it is confusing and overwhelming. Then take into account that there is such a thing as vanity sizing, which always downsizes your true measurements (which is why you might measure 40” around the waist but be a size 8 or 33 or…). There is power in knowing this and knowing your true measurements. It is important to know your rise, your inseam, as a starting point. Then understand your hip and waist measurements too. (I have a worksheet for all of these in my Style 101 Mini Class).
As for stretch, if denim has multiple “ingredients” (more than 3 fabrics), chances are the price point is lower and may not hold up as well. If the fabric is high in cotton content (97-98%+) it will give and stretch. If the jeans have fabrics such as lycra, spandex, or elastane, they will stretch and possibly have “bounce back” but will also over time potentially lose their stretch.