Posts tagged jeans

Upgrade Your Denim For 2012

I spent the last week of 2011 cleaning out my closet for the new year. I sold a couple of pieces to Crossroads, then donated the rest.  I’m a sucker for denim, so I usually hold on to many pairs of jeans, even if I only wear them 4 times a year. But this year, I decided to grow up, and move on from these older jeans to make room for newer styles, and better quality basics.

For 2012, I’ve decided to keep only the basic denim silhouettes and styles already in my closet. This includes a couple solid pairs of skinnies and many flare legged pants (I love this look). I’m also going to stop buying cheap, trendy jeans that I’m not totally in love with and start saving up for more practical, well-fitting designer jeans. With all the January sales going on now, it’s actually a sensible time to buy new replacement jeans; ones I will look forward to wearing non-stop.

Below is a short “Upgrade Your Denim For 2012 Guide.”

Upgrade your denim in 2012From left to right:

  • Upgrade your everyday skinny denim to the perfect shade of dark denim for 2012.
  • Switch from colored jeans, and khaki color jeans to the hot 2012 color “smokey quartz.”
  • Find the prefect high-waisted flare leg pants. These will dress up any otherwise casual looking outfit and make it perfect for evening.
  • Swap out your black jeans for blacked waxed denim for a bit of pizzazz.
  • Many sources, including MTV Fora indicate that printed pants are here to stay. Upgrade your printed denim to a print that is timeless, like animal print.

 

Blue Jean Baby

Lately I’ve been drawn to gorgeous lightweight fabrics and whimsical prints, but when it comes to actually buying clothes, I tend to stick to the basics.  Maybe it’s the Midwest in me, but I’m definitely a jeans and t-shirt type of gal.  There’s nothing better than finding the perfect jeans and wearing them to pieces!

It’s no secret that this Spring the 70’s are re-introducing themselves.  We’re seeing fragments of the bohemian era almost everywhere in fashion, from full skirts and this seasons most sought-after trend: bell bottom jeans.

Hopefully with the new styles and silhouettes, denim shopping will get a little more exciting.

photo: Mr. Newton

Nasty Gal

One Teaspoon

Nasty Gal

Nasty Gal

Like I said, I love my jeans, so I thought I’d give the bell bottom trend a try.  I’ve found a couple brands that I absolutely love.  GAP Vintage Flare denim (kinda a classic and very affordable), GAP also carries flare leg denim in darker washes.  And my absolute favorite pair of bell bottom-y jeans are the Earnest Sewn Lau denim.  These are a little more expensive, a little dressier and make your legs look long and lean (especially if you wear these jeans with heels).

Will Skinnies Become Obsolete?

Skinny jeans have become a denim phenomenon to hit the fashion industry.  Skinny or tapered jeans were popularized by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, and more.  Five decades later, the style has become the standard of denim, with people of all shapes, sizes, and preferences sporting these jeans.  They’ve been a favorite hit among hipsters, indie rockers, women and men of all ages, children, etc.  In addition to the range of fans, the particular style has proven to be incredibly versatile.  Whether one is tucking them into boots, wearing them under dresses or with long blouses, or indulging in jeggings, one cannot possibly refute the power of these jeans.  In fact, nearly every well-known denim designer has designed an array of skinnies: black, white, leopard, zippered, lace, you name it!  And nearly every retail establishment that carries denim has at least one style of the skinny jean.

image of Sienna Miller in Jean Leggings

Sienna Miller in Current Elliot Jeggings

image of closed denim

Close Denim Spring/Summer 2010

Kate Moss in Topshop denim

Kate Moss Topshop jeans

While this particular style remains hot, there’s some undeniable competition with other denim styles: wide leg, boyfriend, straight leg, etc.  In speaking with several fashionistas, including a hip designer for a renowned denim line, they’ve all agreed–“We’re bored with skinnies!”  Just as trends come and go, one definitely wonders, “Will skinnies last?  If so, for how long?” While I have been a fairly strong advocate for the dissemination of the skinny jean–I did work for a denim designer after all–I have always questioned this particular style, like many trends.  I, too, have wondered if the novelty will wear off.

In all honesty, there’s something refreshing about seeing someone sport a pair of comfortable, worn-in, unglamorous jeans.

Baby Gap Makes Skinny Jeans

I was watching the Colbert Report the other night, and Steven had a little segment about skinny jeans…mainly that Baby Gap has introduced a line of skinny jeans for toddler girls. At first I was thinking this is crazy stupid, and what next, a line of thong undies at Baby Gap Body? Back to the skinny jeans, I mean toddlers don’t have nice enough legs to be wearing tight jeans (no offense toddlers). Secondly, skinny jeans would really restrict toddlers movement, right? Then I thought about the alternatives in kids fashion, and though I’ve covered a few attractive children’s collections on Style Bust, but good kids fashion is like finding a needle in a haystack – and it really shouldn’t be this way.

So I fully support baby Gaps decision to produce skinny jeans for girl toddlers. I would just recommend that the mommy’s out there buy the jeans one size too large, that way the girls first get to rock the hip-hop look (also get them some Dunks to pair with the jeans to complete this hip-hop look), then, once the pants get a little tighter you can pair the pants with wedges (not! I’m totally against girl toddlers wearing any type of heels, ew! and baby high heels…don’t even go there).

image of Baby Gap Skinny Jeans Fall 2010

Go to Top