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TRUST ME…YOU’LL LOVE THIS: jeanious
I was never really a denim girl growing up – even when “designer blue jeans” became de riguer in the 70s during my teens. I am 5’3” and long-waisted, and the popular hip-huggers of that decade were “not my friend” as spoken by a stylish acquaintance of mine at the time!…..and especially if your goal was to look a few inches taller. I decided fuller highwaisted pants were more my style – and paired with platform wedges, I found the few extra inches I was wishing for! What a decade for mishmashed style!
I don’t know of another industry that took the fashion world by storm quite like that of the jean and denim explosion. As lifestyles became more relaxed and dress codes were revisited giving denim the “all clear” in places it was once considered “inappropriate,” this niche business took flight and left our Levi 501s in the dust. Although it has taken me a few decades, I have become a serious jeans girl, and as I look at the space they now occupy in my closet (especially white), I wonder how I ever lived without them! Selecting a pair of jeans can be one of the most personal and subjective shopping decisions you will make, so deciding what to bring into the shop is always a daunting challenge for me but in the end, I think we are all after the same thing….a jean that fits, flatters, stands up to an active lifestyle, launders well and doesn’t break the bank. Every year, it seems the technology INSIDE the jean is getting smarter, resulting in superior fit and performance. They are built to lift, smooth and tuck and even make you look a size smaller – and taller! I thought I would take you through what I am looking for in a perfect jean and point out a few of my favorite picks for this season.
Color
I wear white denim year round, but because ankle-length options are more abundant in our spring deliveries, this is when I personally restock the white denim in my closet for the year. (Too many times I have searched for white ankle jeans in July, only to find my size was not to be found!) You can pair them with just about anything and instantly look fabulous and put-together – a cashmere sweater, one of the season’s new ruffled tops, an embroidered organza topper, a trendy printed blouse, a great rain jacket, or a simple tee….you really can’t go wrong. If you think denim is too casual for your lifestyle, think again. Take a dressier ensemble and bring it down a nonchalant rung or two with a great pair of white jeans. You will look younger and more modern without sacrificing polish.
Length
We carry an assortment of “ankle” length jeans in the shop as this has proven to be the most wearable length for the majority of our customers. I am 5’3” and a 27” length “ankle” pant fits me more like a full length pant requiring no hemming. Our “ankle” length pants range from 25-27” inseams depending on the style, and this length works for most without alteration of any kind.
Style
I have three jean styles in my closet at all times: a perfect pull on, a perfect zip front, and a fashion forward silhouette that is trending. My picks for this season…..
1)Pull-On Jeans
My favorite basic pull-on jean continues to be from NYDJ. Think “pull-on mid-rise denim Audrey Hepburn pants with a slit at the ankle” and you’ve got the picture. When it comes to exceptional fit, a smooth flat waistband that sits right at the waist, easy laundering, and enough spandex to keep everything in place without sacrificing comfort, this is your girl. We offer this style in a white and a blue denim – Petite and Missy sizing – ingenious construction with lift and fit technology. Just a great jean – season after season.
(2) Flat Front Zip
The new surprise sleeper that checked all of my boxes this Spring is the Ruby Straight Crop from JAG. I must admit I was prepared not to love these jeans (who is JAG, anyway?), but our rep encouraged me to try them and guess what – they really know what they are doing. This is the flattest front zip I have ever worn (how do they do this?!) so no added bulk in profile, and they’ve cleverly added a piece of elastic in the back waistband that hugs that “gap” and provides the nicest fit. The leg is straight without being too skinny, and they are higher-waisted so right on trend! They call this a “crop” but the length hits more like an ankle length on my 5’3” frame. We have these in white and in a denim with a cool relaxed hem for something a little trendier. This silhouette is perfect for all of the new shorter tops – and it looks great with a tucked shirttail for a bit of retro-glamour. My new go-to zip front jean.
(3) Wide Leg
For our fashion forward customers, this is the year to embrace the fuller leg. We have seen it coming for the past few years from our European designers, but starting this Fall this silhouette is going to be everywhere! We LOVE the wide leg denim pant from our Italian vendor Seventy – a great place to explore this trend! They key is proportion: wider legs need paired down tops….and a sneaker of some kind to really keep it on trend.
Trust me….when it comes to flattering fit, you are going to love the jeanious of technology this season!