Hey, that could be a photo of me up above, (but it's not, and she's plus size).Remember about 4 or 5 years ago when "skinny" jeans first reared their ugly head? Most of us cringed, but then a brave or foolish few tried the trend. I remember seeing these stuffed looking women and feeling a bit sorry for them, like they were fashion victims, and why would they want to do that to their bodies? Myself, I bought one pair. They fit great but I never wore them in public. Fortunately, the trend seemed to fade. I packed up my one pair, and most of us returned to bootcut/full leg bliss and pretended it never happened; we never really considered wearing tapered, unflattering pants out in public.
But the fashion forward have pressed on. And now? Skinny jeans are everywhere. They are officially in style, widespread. At high schools everywhere, everyone is wearing them-regardless of their body type. The slender and plump alike wear jeans that are suctioned around their calves and ankles. What's more, I'm starting to like the way they look. I'm willing to over look their flaws. (Such as emphasizing thighs and hips or playing up the "tomato on stilts" look.) When I see bootcut jeans now I think they don't look as stylish and the bottom of the pants look excessive. (And don't even think about wearing flares.) One more way to know they're really over with? Think of all the frumpy, "I'm a mom" women you know.... even most of them have replaced their mom jeans with a dark wash bootcut. That's the last nail in your coffin bootcut.
I can hear you all protesting, a little sob in your voice, no, no it can't be. Skinny jeans are just so unflattering. Everyone will see my thick calves. Relax, we'll all get use to it. And in another 12 to 15 years flared jeans will start showing up again and we'll think they're ugly, but because we're older and wiser now, we'll smile and enjoy the ride.
In a related note, I was asked this:
Dear Alisha, What's the difference between "skinny" jeans and tight jeans?
Uncomfortable
I'm pretty sure my husband asked that question. But my answer is tight jeans are tight around the waist and skinny jeans aren't. Besides that, it's a matter of taste and judgement.
Oh, what finally won me over to skinny jeans was the shoes. There are so many (strange) styles this year that only look good with a narrow leg. I like the way jeans look tucked into tall boots and I think they might even be flattering if done right. I'll do a much-needed boot post another day.
See these ridiculous shoes? They just wouldn't look right with a fuller leg.
To build confidence in us all, the featured photos besides my own feet are plus sized models wearing skinny jeans.
Classy, huh? Just when you thought I was being sweet.
26 comments:
Alisha,
Welcome to the skinny jean club. It took you awhile, but we're happy to have you. And even more..... Welcome to the I-LOVE-FABULOUS-SHOES-CLUB! It's amazing. Not that you haven't loved shoes all along, but how high of a heel can you really wear with a flare? Not high. I wore 5 inch heels to dinner with a glorified tee shirt and skinny jeans Thursday. There are so many great shoes that can be slid on with a good skinny jean. Combine the whole outfit with a simple solid shirt and a scarf, and life (at least fashion life) is complete.
Put away the bootcut, and enjoy the tapered ride.
It's true. I just bought 4 pairs of super cute shoes (a BOGO sale) and only 1 pair looks okay with regular jeans. The rest need a pencil skirt and/or skinny jeans to shine.
...And so my search begins for the figure-defecting, yet outfit-perfecting, skinny jean.
(I really like the faded gray ones...)
I'm sorry, one more comment on the matter.
Fun Fact: Men HATE skinny jeans. I've heard it from 9 out of 10 men, and trust me I have surveyed. Which is just personally confusing.
What to do? Wear "normal" (man description) jeans, or follow the trend? Despite the fact that I've loved skinny jeans since first sight, I tried going back.
I felt like a cowboy. I felt like a man, or a tom-boy. I even felt like a social outcast, I honestly avoided eye contact.
Insert my trademark wink, and half-circle thumbs up "don't know why I'm single". Look who I'm choosing as my target audience.
Well, "the skinny", "the boot", "the flare", or whatever you want to call the pant cut—they all have problems with their sample model sizes and how to go down and up in size from that!
The "skinny" is still 3-4" longer on my size 0 pants, which makes me wonder what size do I REALLY wear? I'm only 5'2&1/2" (us shorty's have to account for as much height as possible) and I would think that someone 3-4 inches taller than me really should not be standing, let alone breathing, if they're in a size 0.
Maybe you can address this phenomenon? Whether in person or on here I'd like to hear your thoughts. . .
p.s. I deleted my previous comment (which this very same comment), since I misspelled a word, and I'm tire of typing too fast and sounding illiterate.
"which was this"—there I go again. . .
Dear Alisha,
I love my skinny jeans... until a day where I really need flat shoes. I just can't bring myself to pair the two together. Thankfully these days are few and far between but they do happen. I want (need?) an article on looking good in flat shoes.
I hate to break it to the world but, your style factor drops by 25%if your a mom, whether you're sporting mom jeans, skinny or bootleg. Just having 1-6 children trailing after you no matter how to the hilt you're dressed, boom, you've already lost points. Children, not boot legs, are the final nails on the coffin.
Speaking of, I just saw a girl at the temple tonight, a mom, walking around with 3 kids, decked out in a suede jacket and matching jaunty hat. Bootcut jeans. I thought of you.
I can see your point about getting used to and even liking the fashion we once mocked. I don't mind how they look, now that their all over. But I associate the look with teens - skater teens. "Emo's" if you will.
Would I wear them? I'd have to try them on. And since I rarely shop, unless Lindsay bustles hers over to me, I don't see it happening. What she might bustle over to me is all her old boot cuts. And I'll be like YAY! and you'll snicker from afar.
Bottom Line: Never say never
And that's one to grow on.
I have traded in my skinny jeans!
There are slim fit, and all sorts of hybrids. But the suck it in skinny jeans just make my hips look too big. There I said it.
Women with hips can not wear skinny jeans without looking plus sized. The only people who look somewhat normal are people with no butt and generally tall.
PLENTY of heels can be worn with slim or regular jeans. OR wear a skirt or tights with a long shirt/short dress. It will make short legs look pretty.
PS- I LOVE your heels. Love love love.
Ok ok I think skinny jeans hit big a few years ago. I love skinny jeans! There are so many great ways to wear them, and yes you can even wear them with flats. I don't always feel like wearing heels (which must come as a shock to all the Erhibgton girls that someone would think that way).
Don't hate me but I even like skinny jeans on guys. Of course my husband is only 25 so is still young enough to pull things off. My two year old boy rocks some skinny jeans. Yes, he gets made fun of by some people, but most of the time I get told how hip he looks
Oh also I just saw that Levi's makes a "curvy" skinny jean. It seems like an oxy-moron. I didn't try them on because I'm only 7 weeks post baby but I can't wait to once I'm skinny Jean material again
Jana-look for hand-me-down straight legs and make sure they're long enough.
Megan, yes, they hit years ago, but I thought they were a suggestion at the time. Other options could be explored. Now it's more of a requirement! I don't like the way my butt looks in Levi's usually, but I'll check out the curvy cut, thanks.
Taryn, boo-hoo, sniff, sniff, what ever are you going to do?? Buy Petities!! They make long size 0/1's because people buy them.
I love my Maternity pair of SKINNY jeans!!! I loved skinny jeans b/4 I was prego, but when I got prego I was in search for a maternity pair since I had all these tall winter boots to wear (obviously I don't live in AZ). The only ones I could find that I liked were at Matrnity GAP and they are the BEST! I wear them all the time, very comfy. Worth the monies. I would buy another pair if I could find in a lighter color, but the pair I have are great.
P/S I saw this post on jana's site so thought I'd comment.
So do you where skinny jeans? If you do then aren't you just wearing them to act col like the other people who wear them?
Dear Anonymous, the last comment, not the one before-that was good, since you are anonymous, I have permission to treat you as a hostile and not very smart commenter (you miss spelled 'cool' and even I picked up on that).
Did you not read the post? I said I'm starting to like the way they look, meaning skinny jeans. You know who says to themselves "I like the way I dress! I'm going to keep dressing this same way for the next decade or two. I don't change for anyone"? BIG UGLY FRUMPS!! That's who. I use to think acid wash jeans, scrunch socks, and peach beach T's looked good and I didn't need to change. Something tells me you are either a clueless man or you don't dress well yourself.
Alisha,
The "Petites" section is not my style and I know people are buying the "sniff, sniff, boohoo" size, but I promise you they're not much taller than me, which leads me again to wondering why they make the pattern so *darn* (I'm trying to avoid the cuss jar) long.
I guess I'll just have to either continue to deal with frayed jean bottoms on the heel or be forced to pay to hem them, but I think it's wrong—JUST WRONG! ;-)
Skinny jeans turn into mom jeans if you don't have the body for it. A nice straight leg (or boot cut)is more flattering for curvy women and classic. Get the skinny jean if you want to impress fashion forward women and teenage girls. Get whatever is flattering for your body type if you want to impress the men... If you have confidence you can wear whatever the crap you want and still turn heads!
-BOO-YAH
I agree with most of what your friend Janalee wrote, but I beg to differ on one major point. I DO NOT agree that your style factor drops by 25% if you're a mom.
Granted, you're probably 25% (or higher) more likely to LET your fashion sense drop and revert to t-shirts and your husband's basketball shorts (yes I'm wearing said "outfit" as I type), but, when you've got a great look put together, AND three kids in tow, to the rest of the moms out there it makes you look that much MORE stylish, because you are commended for your efforts at keeping your style (and losing that baby weight)while somehow managing snacks, diaper changes, and the inevitable runny noses. We all know it'd be easier for you to be out in a sweatshirt and (non-skinny) jeans.
I notice this especially at church--it's always a dreaded struggle to try and put together something that feels 'stylish'--including accessories--that will also hold up while I'm being used for two kids' personal jungle gyms.
And if that doesn't convince you, just ask Hollywood... kids are the ultimate accessory.
Alisha- I'm personally okay with the look, as long this one (from GAP) never takes hold:
http://www.tomjensenfam.blogspot.com/
Wow Alisha. Was your last comment just directed to "Anonymous" or did it apply to everyone who hasn't changed their style for at least a decade? Because my husband thinks I look hot in my vintage Donny and Marie t-shirt, bell bottom jeans and birkenstoks... Who else should I really be trying to impress? If we all focused more on trying to impress our husbands rather than each other we would realize that the one with the most kinky underwear wins.
-Don't be jealous
Looks like you've arrived Alisha. Once you start getting sarcastic hate mail, you know your blog's a hit.
Congrats!
...you're still taking me skinny jean shopping though, right??
I LOVE SKINNY JEANS! but the trick to look good in them is to wear your size - skinny not painted on. also you have to pair them with the right top and shoes to balance your figure. if you have a bangin figure then you can wear pretty much whatever and you will look awesome. but if you have some parts you don't like then you need to be conscious of proportions. but done right, almost anyone can wear them and look (and feel) great. heels will help you look taller, taller = longer and leaner. tall boots are cute but sometimes they have the effect of chopping your legs in half visually which negates the long and lean look, especially when the jeans and boots are very different colors. a loose fitting top can help hide problem areas, but make sure that the pants are your size so you don't have the dreaded muffin top - i've seen skinny people give themselves muffin tops bc they don't wear their right size! also, an empire waist or belted top can also give the illusion of a small waist and help with the hour glass shape. structure is always good to give you better shape. also, if you have large hips then don't wear a long top that will cover them, it only makes them look bigger, wear one that ends right above the hips, or tuck it in. don't wear jeans that are way low-rise if you have large hips bc the jeans will start at your largest part and thereby draw attention to it, a couple inches higher will make all the difference, plus then you can sit down without worrying about mooning everyone.
skinny jeans can be awesome if you know how to work with them.
also cigarette jeans rock, but can be more complicated to work with, specifically regarding what shoes to wear. but when you can pull them off - so hott.
sorry, didn't realize how long that post was.
but just one more thing - for example, the first photo in the post - see the cuff on the pant, if there was no cuff she would look thinner because it would be a continuous line - but the color contrast of the cuff breaks up the line of her leg.
and also, the second to last photo - her legs look long - even though she has boots on - the color is similar to the jean so it is all one line all the way to her toes. if only her top was minus the bottom ruffle then she would be perfect. by covering her hips it looks wider and also shortens her leg at the top.
i think it's great the women of all shapes and sizes feel comfy and (in my opinion)look great rocking their hot skinny jeans. if you still feel a bit uncomfortable in them try on one size larger. a slightly looser fit in the bum and thighs is much more comfy for me and it has a cute tomboy kind of look.
Alisha,
find me a pair of skinny jeans that flatter my post baby, post surgery, presently thyroid defect, overweight body and I will love you forever.
I think you mean "jeggings" , not skinny jeans.
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