With Autumn creeping up on the heels of our flip-flops, I find myself looking to my jeans more and more. We may think jeans are just what we wear when the nice stuff isn’t clean or we’re feeling lazy, but they are classic, flattering (if the right fit), and versatile. Toss them on with sneakers for efficiency and extreme comfort. Sport them with ballet flats for everyday elegance (my faves are hot pink). Pair them with strappy sandals instead of flip-flops to dress them up slightly (I swear by the pair in this set since they are amazingly comfortable to wear). Top them with something tailored to show off your shape. Wear them with kitten heels to feel like you should be an extra on Sex and the City.
My favorite jeans are ones that don’t have too much hip fabric because I’d rather it be snug than have the jeans make me look like there’s more to my body than there actually is. J.Crew has perfected that as well as managed to make their non-low-rise waistlines perfect for flattery and comfort. I opt for their bootcut line usually or Next’s skinny line, with the occasional foray into trouser style. I got help from Natasha on finding the right jeans that fit my shape.
Favorites are nice, but variety is the spice of life. I also enjoy wearing Gap, Old Navy, and Lands End jeans. An alternative is that I will often just take the jeans in with a needle and thread so they fit me perfectly. I tend to do that with nearly all my Gap denim and most of my Old Navy summer-weight jeans. For the Old Navy Flirt jeans, I take in about an inch or a half-inch in the back behind the belt-loop to avoid the annoying plumber’s waistband slide. I started wearing that line a few years ago when I found them on sale, but it seems now there are many different styles within the Flirt line.
I’ve fallen in love with the thick durability of Lands End denim. Their sale/overstock jeans are a fabulous way to see if they’re for you – that’s what I did! I ordered two pair of the Women’s Comfort Waist Stretch Boot-cut Jeans ($14.99). The best part is that by ordering the 8×34 size, I end up with a pair of jeans on the loose side but the perfect length. Loose is nice for comfort and I’ll probably take the hips in a little since the high-heat drying hasn’t resolved it as I’d hoped (that always works with my Gap jeans, sometimes TOO well). So, the thing about the Comfort Waist Stretch jeans is that they are normal jeans with a bit of stretch EXCEPT the waist has an elastic band hidden behind each of the front pockets. This means that you get the feel of elastic-waist jeans without the appearance (no bunching or gathering so far). I’ve never worn maternity pants, but I suspect that if you want that kind of comfort this may be the next-best thing for non-pregnant figures.
Once you find one or two pairs of great fitting jeans, buy a second pair to keep handy because the day they fall apart or get lost on a trip, you will need the back-up pair to comfort you.
Now, jeans are just the cake and the icing is all the tops that go with them. It’s about your style so whether it’s a vintage rock band tee or a sateen blouse and velvet blazer, work your jeans and make them work for you.