My jeans are making me think (ETA new BF pics added at bottom) - YouLookFab Forum

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My jeans are making me think (ETA new BF pics added at bottom)

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

My casual outfit today made a lightbulb go off for me. As you know, I've been struggling to make the boyfriend jeans work and my faded, flared jeans made me realize why. The jeans I'm wearing today FIT - they fit my waist, they hug my backside and they caress my thighs.

I don't have a lot of physical attributes but I certainly want to show off the few I have and flatter my figure as much as possible. The BF jeans don't do that and clearly that mattered more to me than I realized. The BF jeans make me look bigger than I am and who the heck wants that???

I'm moving "figure flattery" to the top of my list of what I want out of a clothing item.

(Pic 1 are BF jeans and pic 2 shows today's jeans - just a visual comparison)

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46 replies

Latest reply was from crutcher

sarah

Veteran

Man oh man, you and that BF sure have a complicated relationship - it's worse than my 6 year old and the two boys in her class that both want to marry her. Yep, BF jeans are NOT about figure flattery, and if you want to have your figure flattered, then ditch that dude.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I agree for me also fit comes before trend. My own BFs are pretty regular fit to me. Just slightly comfier, and more faded, but not baggy. It's usually pretty clear to me if something is working I FEEL good wearing it, if not then it's not working for me.

Anonymous

I agree completely. I want my jeans and slacks to fit me.

jumpingfrog

I have to admit, I returned the pair of BF jeans I bought for the same reason. They were very comfortable, but the back was not flattering. At all.
I could probably look around and find a better pair, but I'm now thinking with winter coming I might want something longer and warmer instead.

Anonymous

I get it, but please don't throw them out! If you're anything like me, there are days that you will still want to wear them, maybe after being in tight pants all week? Maybe they'll morph into more of a weekend look for you. They are still a super cool and stylish look even if they don't flatter in the same way that your flares do. But you're allowed to have figure flattery at the top of your list. No crime in that!

Brain of Jen

(website)

Totally agree! My BF jeans are nice & comfy for wearing around the house, but I got another better fitting pair for going out. The BF jeans just make me feel frumpy.

I think your 2nd pair look great on you, very flattering

Echo

Veteran

I still love the BF jeans on you, and I think that with a tailored top (like the white shirt you just bought) it can properly offset the baggier fit and still be flattering. I think you look great in BOTH outfits!

Anonymous

I know exactly what you mean. The one pair of BF jeans I have are super fun, I think fit me OK, but yes, I look bigger and that is not my style goal. I think is OK to make one exception from time to time. However. That's why I don't see myself moving forward to more relaxed fits on pants or trousers. Nope, my bum needs restraint.

I'm team figure flattery all the way, come join:)

Jules

Veteran

Yup - this is the reason I haven't tried BF jeans. On me they won't look fashionable. More like "dad jeans" or "the plumber's jeans" maybe.

Anonymous

I'm with ya on this one. My figure doesn't do any type of exaggerated style well, whether it be body hugging (read: skin tight) or baggy. I have to have the proper fit. Otherwise, I look dreadful. I appreciate the BF jeans on those who can pull the look off. It just doesn't work for me.

Mona

Veteran

Shannon, I know what u mean. The second pair is definitely more figure flattering. But I agree with Claire, don't throw them out yet. You can use them on weekends etc. it is still a cool look.

Reneeb

Veteran

I am with you on this. I sent my BF back to Gap. I am too short and old. But I do like the BF jean on others. You look cute in you BF but the 2nd pair does look better.

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

I'm still laughing at Sarah's comments about your "complicated" relationship, but I have to agree with Claire and Mona in that YOU were one of my first inspirations to go grab a BF and now I have two!!

I think you look amazing in BOTH and, yes, they are completely different looks, and while I will always go with "figure flattery" first, to me there's just something that lends a bit of attitude with the BFs. In fact, it was with your Doc Marcies (which I now also have), that made me fall in love and know that I needed a BF. Have I kept the relationship alive with this counseling session?

I do think you could be "friends" with many types and still look like spectacular Shannon.

Gaylene

Veteran

Well, Shannon, I've followed your trials with those boyfriends and, the entire time, I kept wondering why you were ditching that perfectly nice fellow who fit and flattered your curves for some trendy guy who was giving you nothing but grief.

I have to admit I did try on a pair of BFs earlier in the season but quickly came to the conclusion that, if comfort was my thing, a pair of sweatpants looked just as good on me as those jeans. After seeing others model their BFs on the forum, I think that the BF is one of those styles that can really look good on some shapes while doing absolutely nothing for others.

So, here's to those of us who are ditching those boyfriends who don't love us back and staying with those guys who love to flatter our curves and who make us feel like a million dollars. Boyfriends--who needs them!!

catgirl

Veteran

Too funny, Shannon. I think you look great in your ex-BF, but you need to feel great. This is what I felt like in that red dress. Just not happy. But I will NEVER be parted from the boyfriends!

This raises the question to me of whether you think the BFs are flattering on others, or whether you are willing to go with the sacrifice of flattery for the overall look, as long as it's not you wearing it?

Marley

Veteran

You look so cute in both of these styles - I certainly wouldn't ditch the BFs! Would you mind posting pics of both pairs with you standing in the same pose and with the same top and shoes, so that we can really *get* what you're talking about? IMO, just looking at the 2 pics above - you look better in the BFs! Am I crazy?

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Claire & Vicki - you are both so sweet and you certainly make a good case for keeping my BF around. I might try them with the new white shirt I just got and the Marcies and see what I think. Maybe I'm just having "one of those days".

Una - I DO find the BF's flattering on many others, yourself included - just not on me. I feel like I have too much "pooch" in the front for them to sit right and the legs just are too much fabric for me and my short limbs. Maybe a different style of BF would work better (Kut for Kloth Catherines come to mind) that has slimmer legs, I don't know.

If I do look fine in the BF's, why don't I see that???

Just saw your post Marley - really??? I'm not digging for compliments or anything, but would you mind explaining why you see that? I'm very curious.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I think I've worn my BF's what, once this summer. I guess I'm getting conservative in my dowdage because all I seem to wear are skinnies.

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

Anna, you could never be dowdy or conservative.

Shannon, I hope my comparison to the BFs on the other thread didn't cause angst. I really do love this look on you and think the more streamlined hip and thigh area on the non-BF jeans is extremely flattering on you. They also seem to be less work.

How did you feel when you wore both pairs? Did you feel fab? Did you have a bounce in your step? If you said yes to both, they are keepers. Life is too short to waste any of it on anything less than fab.

catgirl

Veteran

Our eyes are tricky - all I see when I wear the Bailey 44 dress is a brick shaped block. But everyone else looks fabuliciously slim and curvy.

Echo

Veteran

In my eyes, Marley is right. I actually like the BFs on you better. It could be because I've never been that fond of boot-cuts, but boot cut jeans have a tendency to make many people look largish all the way down to the floor, which is a less-than-flattering look, IMO. I've always felt straight legs are a more flattering alternative to boot-cuts. But this may simply be due to my poisoned eye for boot cut jeans.

Without a profile of the BFs, I don't think anyone can guage how flattering they are. I like they way they taper and then expose the ankles, though, as it creates a better silhouette to my eye. But with the number of people completely against BFs, I understand that I might be in the minority!

catgirl

Veteran

Echo, honestly I feel the same way about bootcuts and always feel frumpy and stumpy in them.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I love reading all the various opinions - it's always fascinating and a learning experience.

Ok...so if you're not sick to death of me and my BF problems yet, I've got another couple of pics for you to look at. I quickly decided to try the new white shirt I just bought (pardon the straight from the package wrinkles) with my other BF (ssshhhhh...I have two...naughty me). These BF's are actually the one size up and seem to be a slightly darker wash. For the life of me I can't figure out why I like them better. I've paired with my Doc Marcies for some heel height and a simple black belt. Can you please critique this for me and let me know if it works and why or why not? Hopefully I can learn from your wisdom.

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Anonymous

I always loved boot cuts but haven't worn then in a couple years. I just ordered some bootcut cords and they are going right back. I hated how tight they felt on the back of my thigh and knee and felt comparatively huge at the ankles!

It's really funny how we can become calibrated to particular styles. I really like you in the BF jeans, I think they are really flattering, especially as you wlk because they hint at the shape beneath. But, the most important person to listen to is you, and if your body says it likes bootcuts, then make it happy

Anonymous

I like the larger of my two BF because they are bigger, the style looks intentionally oversized. It is as much of a statement as a tighter fitting jean. I think you like it better because it isn't making you think that they just look ill-fitting as opposed to intentionally oversized. I like them with the crisp shirt too!

catgirl

Veteran

Shannon, I actually find the BFs more flattering than the bootcuts as well. I don't think it's just my issue with bootcuts. Lisa rocks her bootcuts and is the reason I bought a couple of pairs that I do like on me.

On you, I think the boyfriends are saucy and the shape at the bottom (tapered without being skinny) is not so different from your slouchy Anne Kleins. It's not just that they are not unflattering (which is enough for me anyway!), they are actively flattering IMHO!

Gaylene

Veteran

Of all your BF pics, I like the ones with the darker wash and Docs by far the best. I think it's because of the longer leg line that this variation creates. With this outfit, you've created a outfit that fits that 1/3 top to 2/3 bottom proportion that is much more flattering. Wearing a white shirt with an open neck also works because of the vertical lines created by the V-neck and the front placket. The white also draws the eye to your face and your amazing smile.

Some of your other variations seem to create a number of horizontal lines that bisect your body into 3 or more sections-- that, to my eye, creates a proportion that is not nearly as flattering.

Anyway, for what it's worth, that's my take on why this outfit works. I think it's more about proportion than it is about the slouchy fit of the boyfriend jean.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Interesting...do I just need to adjust my eyes?

rae

(website)

Veteran

I guess I must have a blind spot for BF jeans, because I honestly don't think they make you or anyone look bigger. I still think that sagging those puppies a couple more inches, to get some sag in the waist, would make a big difference. But hey, if you don't feel fab, you don't feel fab, but you were so excited about them initially that I'd hate to see them gone so soon.

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