Jeans Edit 2021

My love for jeans started back in elementary school with Gloria Vanderbilt. I’ll never forget seeing the new girl named Stephanie walk into my 5th grade class with her very own new pair. Right then and there I was hooked and began my campaign to get a pair myself. Then middle school started, and we all wore the Guess jeans with the zipper down the ankle that we bought at T. Edwards in the mall. (Thanks to my high school friends for remembering the name of the store!) And of course who can forget Levi’s? A classic that has come back and my girls now embrace. Me … well, sadly I’ve outgrown that brand after trying really hard not to. There’s no forgiveness in a Levi’s!

I still love jeans. I could wear them every single day now that it’s finally getting cooler outside. But now we don’t have a handful of choices in jean brands and styles; there are literally hundreds. Stretch or no stretch. Wide leg, jeggings, cropped, cropped flare, bootcut, slim cut, boyfriend, girlfriend, mom jeans, bootie cut, cigarette, high rise, low rise, mid rise, skinny, cheeky, straight, wedgie and every combination of all these descriptions! If you reread these, they sound tortuous rather than comfortable. And after having tried on over 20 pairs, I can assure you, it was tortuous especially in the Nordstrom dressing rooms with the bad lighting and unflattering mirrors!

A couple of things I realized after trying the multitude of jeans:

1. I will always buy jeans with stretch. They are extremely flattering. Spandex allows for movement and tucks in all the bits that may want to poke out, flop over or sag. Read the little white labels and make sure there is at least some spandex/polyester/elasthane. For me, about 6% felt heavenly and I could stay within my same size and not have to size up. Additionally, don’t size up just because you think you should or normally do. Then you will end up with too much fabric in your crotch and will be pulling your jeans up all day! You might even consider trying the size down from your normal size if you have more than 6% stretch. How great would that feel?
2. If you must buy Levis or even AGolde, then know that you will have to go up at least two sizes and you have to be ok with that. I have done it with a pair of Mother jeans this season and the important thing to remind ourselves is that we want these pants to fit and be comfortable. A number is just a number. They also will not provide you with a lot of “give.” They can be a little stiff, which, on the bright side, can encourage good posture!
3. If you are tall, then cropped jeans will be very cropped. If you are 5’4” or shorter like me, then cropped will hit you right above your ankle bone and may shrink to a bit shorter after a few washes. Additionally, if you are on the shorter side, the Gap offers petite sizes, which is the perfect length for me when I want a full-length jean, like a bootcut. Otherwise, I have come to realize that most straight jeans, slim cuts and jeggings will need hemming. 
4. When you find a pair of jeans that fit your bootie but are too wide in the waistband, please get them to alterations or always tuck in your shirt because when you bend down, well, you’ll be showing more than that white tag. Some brands like NYDJ and Good American have fixed this problem by providing a gap-proof waistband.
5. Bootcut jeans elongate the leg and are the most flattering in general. The flare at the bottom seems to balance out the top of the pant and the slimming fit on the thighs helps you look like you’ve been killing it at the gym. Pair the bootcut style with a wedge, heel or platform shoe and you have legs for days! Slim or straight leg jeans are also good choices with no flare. Thankfully the jeggings are going out of style, but there’s still a place for them with people who want to wear a tunic or other oversized top. 
6. There are a zillion color washes for jeans as well. Dark is still the most slimming. Acid wash is making a comeback, but I find them hard to match a lot with unless it’s black or white. Try a colored pair of jeans – cream, olive and black are great neutrals. 
7. Beware of some distressing on the jeans. I find the “wrinkle” distressing at the hips on some jeans to be unflattering. I also don’t mind a few rips but not high on the thigh unless you have teeny tiny legs. I don’t need to see your underwear or the pockets of the jeans through the rips. Some jeans will also have more fading at the thighs. Depending on the style of jeans, this can draw attention to your thighs and I don’t need any more attention to my thighs!
8. Also popular right now is the blown-out hem. You’ll see the hem cut out, and you’ll see a high-low effect which I really like because you can wear your sneakers and show a little ankle all the while having that elongated look from the back. You’ll see a fringed hem which draws the eye down but look great with a bootcut or bell-bottom style. It’s all personal preference when choosing a hem style, just don’t think it’s a look only for the young. I think it adds interest to your overall look and shows you are paying attention to detail.

Oh By the Way, below I’ve listed some of my favorite picks and brands. I was pleasantly surprised that the less expensive brand Wit and Wisdom at Nordstrom fit well. Additionally, the Gap still delivers a great bootcut jean at a good price point too. The brand Mother is expensive but popular right now. They fit well, and most styles are extremely flattering! Frame is still a favorite of mine, and I have to admit that I also really like Chloe Kardashian’s brand Good American.