Denim rut anyone? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

Denim rut anyone?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

How many of you feel that all you wear is jeans and would like to branch out? There is life and style beyond jeans if you're prepared to break a few habits and try something new.

Dressing

21 replies

Latest reply was from Sarah

Becky

Veteran

Yes, I want to branch out!! I have worn mostly jeans since becoming a SAHM 5 years ago. It seems jeans are most practical for most of my daily activities, but I do occasionally wear khakis or other non-denim pants. Skirts are usually reserved for church, special occasions, or professional/continuing education activities.

shannon

I am also a SAHM and jeans are just the easiest thing to throw on in the morning. I too would like to branch out and wear pants and skirts more often. When I do though all I hear all day is "Where are you going?" Why are you so dressed up?" What's the occasion?" The majority of people here in the Midwest just don't like to make an effort I suppose, especially in the winter. If I don't get my clothes ready the evening before jeans are all I have time for the next day. When I do have time to iron, accessorize and find a great pair of heels I get more help finding what I need at the grocery store. It's all worth it in the end!

Nicole

Veteran

I remember my SAHM days. I do think wearing jeans is a habit. Maybe start by wearing a dressy pair of jeans and a pretty blouse or sweater. Then, when the weather gets warmer, wear some non denim capris. By summer, you can add a few skirts to your wardrobe.

And if people ask you where you are going, say "To play group...where are YOU going??" (with a big smile on your face of course!)

If you feel like it's time to change your image, then go for it! No one has ever regretted trying to improve themselves. But if you stay in the same rut for fear of change, you could find yourself wearing momjeans some day. I think that being well dressed makes me care about my overall appearance--which makes me feel confident and capable. When momma's happy---EVERYONE is happy!

Dancingstar

I am a graduate student working in the lab whole day long so jeans are the most practical item to wear and what everybody else wears anyway. However, I do like do look more put together and tend to dress up more than anyone else around.

Unfortunately, in science/academia there is this perception that if a women wears a nice outfit than she's : a)probably a secretary passing by, b) not smart or c) not devoted to science enough since she obviously has too much free free time to think about such frivolous things Sorry about this little rant, I can not describe how much this annoys me.

So I am always trying to come up with outfits that balance my desire to look nice but are not standing out too much , which is really easy to do in the sea of pleated khakis, high-waisted tapered jeans, oversize flanneled shirts etc.

Since I'm in the lab at least six days a week, I have devised my own little rules: in winter I can wear cords once and a pair of trousers once per week. In the summer I can wear a casual skirt/dress once and pants/walking shorts once. The rest are jeans obviously.

Right now most of the people around me are used to me dressing up. But I should be hopefully getting my degree within this year and need to go through interviews
and such and am cringing at the idea of having to go through all of this again.

So i would love to be able to wear jeans less than I do and say, if you can, go for it!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Unfortunately, it’s a popular misconception that wearing a dress or skirt means that you are "dressing up". You CAN look too dressed up if you're wearing a dressy skirt or dress, but there are loads of casual skirts and dresses around to choose from.

The thing that gets to me most is when women, who look better in skirts then in pants, refuse to wear anything but pants. It's such a shame.

Also, think beyond blue jeans - there's black, white cream and pinstriped too. There's even grey ( but I'm not personally a fan). J Crew has just brought out citrus green, emerald green and navy blue jeans and they look fab.

It's easy to look dated in chinos and it’s a hard look to pull off stylishly unless you're a modern-classic, you get the colour just right and you match the look with a few funky layers on top (a fab pair of Converse sneakers also helps). Cargos are hard to wear and often not age appropriate. That leaves corduroys, and cotton-rich pants for casual wear. Other types of pants ( silk, rayon and wool-rich) tend to have a smarter element to them, which is great if you love that look, but not so great if you feel too dressed up in them.

I stand firmly behind my belief that getting out of a denim rut means branching out into skirts and dresses. Break the denim habit!

pinkcobra

I used to wear only jeans all the time. My best friend is super girly and finally got me into a cute skirt and I'm hooked! I love mixing an adorable skirt with some ballet flats and a few fun accessories. When I do wear jeans, I love to pair them with some sexy heals or boots...it just makes me feel great. Also, two of my favorite pairs of pants are a brown pair of cords and a creamy pair of linen pants. They're both super comfortable and are a nice alternative to jeans.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Hallelujah! This is what I’m talking about. Thank you pinkcobra.

Nicole

Veteran

Maybe a denim skirt can be a good option to help someone feel more comfortable with the transition from jeans to skirts? I also like cotton canvas type casual skirts. The fabric is a little bit summery, but if you can find the casual style in a cord or colored denim, you can pair it with knit tights in the winter.

Kit

(website)

I have no fewer than 26 skirts which I like to wear a bit. During the winter, I tend to wear more pants which are mostly jeans, though I have two pairs of cords and two pairs of my jeans are black. I'd like to branch out more into other colored denim and some more cords. I'd also like to try some trousers, but I don't like bothering with alterations. My inseams have to be no more than 26 inches for trousers, and I can never find any short enough in a size 12 or 14. I wear more cords and jeans because I can get away with the legs being longer than I could if they were trousers. Besides, most of the trousers that look best on me are slightly flared, and cutting off 2-6 inches from the bottom leaves them looking absolutely horrid. Straight legs make me look even shorter than I am and add probably 30-50 pounds to my look. Any ideas?

Nicole

Veteran

My friend is barely 5' tall...but I'm not sure about her inseam length. She has great luck with Ann Taylor Loft Petites. Even if you still have to alter (it's not that bad, once you find a tailor you like), shortening petites won't affect the flare of the leg the same way altering regular length pants.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Banana Republic Petites does the shortest inseam petite length at 28-29 inches. You'll still need to alter when you wear flats but it won’t make that much of a difference to the silhouette of the pants with the original shorter inseam length.

Kit

(website)

Thanks for the suggestions! I'll have to check out the sales of both stores.

mayapple

Yeah, this thread sounds like it was made for me. I guess as a student and a commuter I just want to maximize my comfort level as much as possible. It's hard to explain, but when I wake up in the morning to go to class, all I want to do is crawl back in bed and wear my pajamas...so even though a denim skirt didn't sound uncomfortable to me back when I functioned as a normal human being, it does now. Denim seems like the most practical choice for me. It's comfortable, casual, and CAN be stylish...but just not on me. The Sweet and Low jean is too low for me. And Lucky jeans conveniently come in lengths that are too short and too long for me, but none just right. I usually take a 30" or 31" inseam.

Right now I'm wrestling with whether or not I should return my Banana Republic trouser jeans. I got them in a short length but they're a bit too long and wide, and they don't shrink. They'd look phenomenal with heels but even if I had the money to buy new shoes, I can't wear heels, even small ones. If I get the petite length I can wear them with flats, but everyone seems to say not to wear wide or trouser leg jeans with anything but heels. It seems like my inability to wear heels is my biggest enemy as far as finding jeans goes.

Bridge

I identify with a lot of the postings. For me, on cold winter days when I'm getting dressed and it's dark and rainy in Seattle, I have a hard time convincing myself that a skirt can be just as warm as jeans. Jeans just seem like more coverage and a more cozy option. When I "make" myself put on a skirt I do find that a skirt and tights and boots and a sweater can keep me warm... but it's hard to make that leap sometimes.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I hear you Bridget and I love my jeans on those days too, especially tucked into riding boots so that I'm extra warm and dry!

charlotte

It's harder for me to break out of the jeans rut in the winter not because of the cold but because winter fabrics seem more formal somehow. There are plenty of days in Boston in the winter when I would be warm enough in a skirt and tights but my winter skirts (all two of them) are wool, A-line knee length and I can't figure out how to dress them down. If I were under forty, I'd shorten them but since I'm not...
Angie, I love youlookfab and am happy you started this forum. thanks!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I love my knee length and Prada length (mid calf) wool skirts in freezing, damp Seattle and dress them down in two ways:

1. With casual urban knee-high boots

http://youlookfab.com/2007/12/.....ual-boots/

2. pairing them with a streamlined turtleneck in a fine gauge knit and short funky jacket (like a black biker jacket)

charlotte

I tried a skirt with a pair of knee-high flat heel boots and a peacoat and you're right,it looked good. thanks! Now I'm craving a mid calf length skirt -you've created a monster.

Sarah

Right now I’m a college student and also a stay at home wife (no kids yet, so not a SAHM). I’m not really in a denim rut at school; I wear a variety of skirts, pants and jeans to school with various tops. But at home it’s a different story. I wear jeans and t-shirts all the time. My husband has even complained that I don’t dress nice for him like I did when we were dating. By the time he gets home I’m in my comfortable clothes.

My problem is that if I stay in my nice clothes at home while washing dishes, cleaning house, and working out I will completely mess them up. Any ideas? Should I change out of my nice clothes to do house work and work out and then take a second shower and change back? Should I get up even earlier and work out before I shower? Or perhaps I should get an apron to wear for housework and some workout clothes for doing aerobics and pilates.

shannon

I think we should all look like Bree does on Desperate Housewives to do all of our cleaning and cooking, don't you? Just kidding of course, but a toned down version wouldn't be all that bad. If you do sweat a lot when you workout getting up early and doing it would make sense or maybe right before bed, whenever you have the most energy. Unless I am going somewhere to work out I do it in the evening. I wouldn't suggest taking additional showers if you can help it. It's just a lot of work and your skin will dry out. If you dress cute for school can't you come home, throw on something comfortable but then change back right before your husband gets home? That is what I do most of the time. Freshen up your hair and face and you are gorgeous for the hubby! He would love that! Buying an apron is a good idea no matter what you are wearing.

Sarah

Thanks for the tips Shannon. I don't sweat a lot, but just enough that doing aerobics in my good clothes is not an option. I've tried working out before bed, but then I can't go to sleep. So it looks like in the morning would be my best option, except for the fact that we already aim for getting up at 5:30, and I don't think I can get up any earlier without being exhausted all day every day. Perhaps I can just take a "sink bath" after I work out, meaning cleaning up the sweaty spots (underarms, cleavage, etc.) over the sink with just a wash cloth and soap and leaving the rest of my body alone. Then I could just change back into my "cute clothes" after that. I do think I will either make or buy an apron. And freshening up before my husband gets home is a great idea too. Thanks again!