I’m not wearing boyfriend jeans, nor am I advocating the look because, for the most part, I don’t think it’s flattering. Occasionally I see someone pull it off to perfection, but they are few and far between. I’m still hyper sensitive to pant lengths that end somewhere below the calf and above the ankle bone because it’s leg shortening style suicide. The horizontal rolled-up cuff at this odd length on your lower leg cuts your long lean line.

I’ll admit that boyfriend jeans look better when the jeans are tapered and rolled to just below the knee. And further, matching the look with a super-high heels is a must. But other than that, I’m still not sold. Are you?

The boyfriend jeans on the far left work because they look like clamdiggers. But I have a hard time with the two boyfriend jeans styles in the middle because they shorten the leg line, even on these super tall and whippet thin models with heels! By way of comparison, the scrunched, un-rolled skinny jeans on the far right look infinitely more flattering to my eye.

As much as I encourage the look of tucking skinnies into knee-high or mid-calf boots, I realize that it’s not equally comfortable for all. There’s often unwanted fabric bunching, or not enough room in the boots to accommodate the excess fabric of the jeans. Enter denim leggings, which are made of thinner and more supple denim. They offer an extra tight fit without cutting off your circulation. No more bunching or excess fabric. Woohoo!

Because denim leggings fit a little tighter around the crotch and thigh area, match up the look with longer tunic tops and knitwear. Once you’ve added tall boots to the mix, you should feel adequately covered. You might find that you reserve denim leggings solely for the purpose of tucking into boots.

Denim leggings or leggings jeans are available in most department stores and online sites. The ones that you see here (from the Nordstrom Junior department) are my top pick at the moment ($39). They have worked for both curvy and straight body types and all sorts of heights and ages as long as the rest of the ensemble components are right. Tucking skinnies into boots has never been so easy.

This season, my curvier clients have had great luck with the styles listed below. It doesn’t mean that these jeans will automatically fit, but they are a good starting point if you’re after a higher rise to combat muffin top, a contoured waistband for extra structure, a longer leg length and a slightly fuller cut on the thigh.

• David Kahn stretch boot cuts
• Paige Premium “Hidden Hills” boot cuts
• Citizens of Humanity “Amber” boot cuts
• Citizens of Humanity “ Elson” straight legs
• Joe’s “Honey” bootcuts
• Banana Republic classic skinny jean
• Gap Curvy fit boot cuts
• Anne Taylor modern denim trousers

The premium denim suggestions offer superior denim quality and won’t stretch or bag out after several wears. But the non-premium options haven’t stretched out that badly either. Remember that you can also have the waistband adjusted to fit if the styles gape at the back of the waist.

Interestingly, some of these styles work just as well for straighter body types. For example, I have a pair of COH Ambers and David Kahn boot cuts. I don’t own Paige Premium “Hidden Hills” and COH “Elsons” but they fit well too. So don’t rule out the styles if you’re not that curvy on the lower half of your body. You might be pleasantly surprised.

We all know how stressful jeans shopping can be, so I was hoping that you could add to this list. Curvy gals, let’s hear about your favourite brands of denim jeans.

Perhaps these styles could work on a dramatic teen aching to express a sense of individual style. But I can’t get my head around these looks for anyone else. Can you? Mums, what would you do if your daughter came home with a pair jeans like these?

I was enamored with the idea of sporting zippered skinnies again because of my weakness for zipper detailing. I also fell in love with how the hems cascade over the foot and expose the ankle bone when unzipped, adding an unexpected and interesting detail to the outfit. So I recently added a premium pair to my denim collection and they’ve become a fast favourite. I’ve worn them three times in the last week.

These particular skinnies are tighter than my other pairs, but surprisingly more comfortable because they’re softer with more stretch. And you can’t even feel the zippers. Because they’re tighter, they’ve added a bit of curve to my legs which is a welcome change. It’s nice to have a variety of skinny jeans, each with a slightly different look and fit.

Zipper detailing is quite masculine and severe, so I like these jeans best when contrasted with feminine touches. Above on the left I’ve matched them with girly items: a ruffle blouse, oversized pearl beads and low yellow pumps. But I couldn’t resist throwing in the androgynous boyfriend blazer for some 80’s fun. A huge blast from the past, but much improved and I’m enjoying every second of it.

I’ve added similar feminine accents in the outfit on the right: a waterfall draped top, Chanel-esque jacket and chunky pearls. The buckled black booties are edgier, but I like how they contrast with the prim and proper top half of the ensemble.

The zippered skinny is also great zipped-up, where it essentially becomes a normal pair of skinnies. Above you can see a close-up of my new pair zipped and scrunched with flats. I wasn’t sure about unzipped with flats because of the length, but I wore this look yesterday and it worked fine. Lots of possibilities.

If you don’t like skinny jeans, this item is not for you. But if you’re all over the silhouette like I am, give the zippered version a try. They are available at Banana Republic, Martin & Osa, Nordstrom, Guess, Armani Exchange, Bebe and Shopbop at the moment and they’ll turn up in more stores as the season progresses.

I’ve had a similar change of heart about harem pants and it took a trip Israel to help me get the look. When I saw women wearing harem pants with sass in Tel Aviv, I felt silly and narrow-minded that I’d boxed the trend as a no-no. Shame on me. But I know better now. While I’m still not a fan of the styles with very low hanging crotches, the others look great. The harem and harem-esque style pants in jersey knit and denim that you see pictured here get my vote.  If I could find a woven silk pair, I’d definitely give them a try. The cropped versions remind me of pedal pushers and knickerbockers, which I loved wearing 25 years ago. I guess I got a little nostalgic on this one.

But the harem pants below don’t make it through my filter. They look like nappies gone wrong no matter how you wear them. I wonder if the trend will stick around? My guess is that the more wearable styles with regular fitting rises will become more mainstream while the others will fall away. Time will tell.

Strangely, I am more drawn to this look now than I was 25 years ago. I see it sported successfully in two distinctly different ways:

• On a teeny bopper, worn casually with graphic T and Converse
• On an adult, as part of an edgy and sophisticated ensemble (Fergie’s look in this post by the Budget Babe is a good example)

Once you’ve toned down the punk aspect of these crazy jeans with the necessary sophisticated elements, you could end up with a fabulously alternative little look. Think sleek lines, tailoring, gorgeous shoes and dressy handbag. At the end of the day, style and sass is all about HOW you wear an item.

Anyone can wear leggings and look smashingly appropriate once the details are right. This is why they made my must have list for Spring and Summer 2009, and they’ll work perfectly as we head into Autumn. I’ve written several posts on how to wear leggings, including this recent synopsis.

In case you need to refresh your memory, here are 5 easy steps:

1. Leggings are not a substitute for pants and jeans: Think of them as an accessory and not an item of clothing. In the 80’s some of us wore normal length tops that exposed our thighs and more when we wore this look. Not this time round. Think of leggings as bloomers that peek out from under an outfit. Note that even as an accessory, they still look best when they’re thick and substantial so go up a size if you need to.
2. Consider the length of the leggings: wear them cropped, on the calf or at the ankle. Somewhere between the bottom of your knee and the widest part of your calf seems to work for most people.
3. Consider the length of the top: A certain amount of coverage is necessary because leggings aren’t pants. This makes tunics and frocks the way to go. Generally, tops and frocks that finish between mid thigh and right above the knee cap are most flattering.
4. Consider the height of the heel: There are no hard and fast rules regarding the height of the heel and the length of the leggings. It’s a question proportion and preferences. You’re after a look that gives you a longer leg line. In some instances you might prefer a heel and in others flats will be fine.
5. Keep the look a little more sophisticated once you’re over the age of 40: You don’t want to look child-like in leggings unless you’re a child. Check out this discussion for thoughts on how to keep leggings age appropriate.

In most cases you’ll need to experiment with the length of the leggings, the length of the top and the height of the heels. There are many combinations that will work. In some instances you might prefer a tunic with cropped leggings for flats. In other instances you might prefer a dress with ankle length leggings and heels. I tend to prefer the aesthetic of a longer tunic or dress with leggings, but that’s not a rule.

The actions of our forum members speak louder than my words so feast your eyes on 35 of them in over 120 leggings outfits. Our models cover ALL heights, body types, sizes, ages, fashion personas, budgets and dress codes. A lot more compelling than catalogue models. Brilliant.

It was terribly hard to select only a subset, but here are 14 of our fabulous forum gals that illustrate an assortment of very wearable leggings ensembles (click the pictures to see the original photo). From super casual to chic deluxe and everything in-between. But that’s not all. Be sure to check out the rest of the looks in the forum.

This style is hard to pull off and for that reason I have my doubts as to whether it will ever become mainstream. Pleats on pants are often voluminous in the wrong way, making us look bloated and poufy, especially when the style demands a tucked-in top. Pant lengths that end around the ankle, or a few inches above the ankle, are leg shortening style suicide, unless they’re super tapered like skinnies or leggings.

But having fun with fringe trends is one of the nicest parts about being a fashion stylist. I have a trendy aspect to my style so I enjoy giving new trends a whirl if I can make them work in an effortless and flattering way. So, believe it or not, I’m attracted to the longer length trouser versions that are ruched at the ankle (you couldn’t pay me to wear anything leg shortening because I’d feel awful and that wouldn’t be worth it). The new LONG slouchy trouser look is interesting and different, which means I’m going to give it a bash.

When I do try the longer length style, I’m thinking of matching it up with a tucked in button down shirt or soft blouse, glorious belt and ankle booties or pumps. Could be fab, or disappointingly hideous. I’ll keep you posted.

The cropped styles on the left do not make it through my style filter, but the longer length styles on the right have a little more potential.

Their look is uber relaxed when offered in fabrications like crinkle cottons, terry cloth and twills. This makes them work with casual flats and sandals. But sometimes the vibe of the cargo clamdigger is a little smarter when offered in fabrications like silk and linen-rayon blends, making them work well with a dressier sandal or heel. Both are good looks on the right body type.

Unfortunately, this animal is hard to wear. It’s best on inverted triangles, racy rectangles and some adorable apples because straight-ish upper legs are a prerequisite. Stay away from the look if you don’t want to draw attention to your thighs, which means “no” for pretty pears and “be careful” for hourglasses. This does not mean that you have to be super slim to wear the style. It’s a question of having thighs that aren’t curvy at any size. I hope that makes sense.

The cargo clamdiggers worn with flats are casual. The style on the left from Banana Republic is dressy, which is why it’s shown with dressy heeled sandals (but they would work with cute flat sandals too). I like the vibe of the dressier cargo clamdigger best and I’ll stick to basic clamdiggers for casual and smart casual dressing until I find a suitable pair. If not this season, then next year will do.