Skinny Jeans--Opinions, Please - YouLookFab Forum

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Skinny Jeans--Opinions, Please

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Hi Everyone!

I went to Express and picked up two pairs of the Mia skinny jeans. I know several of you on here have and like them. They were on sale, and I had a coupon, so I was able to get both pairs for $70.00.

I want these primarily to tuck into boots, but it would be nice if they could also work with flats or small heels. I really want to know--do I look like a chicken drumstick in these? It's okay if I do, you guys can be honest. If you think they are good for tucking into boots but nothing else, that's okay too. Since they were relatively cheap, I can keep them just for those occasions.

Here are some photos--ignore the shirt, it's just leftover from what I was wearing earlier in the day. I wouldn't necessarily wear it with the Mias.

Okay, here are my black skinny jeans, that I love. They are my gold standard, so I'm posting them here for comparison:

http://i66.photobucket.com/alb.....1105-1.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/alb.....1106-1.jpg

Here are the lighter wash Mias. I would probably only wear these tucked into boots. I thought these would be good for my more casual tops, or my very structured tops, like my orange tweed blazer:

http://i66.photobucket.com/alb.....1113-1.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/alb.....1112-1.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/alb.....1114-1.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/alb.....1115-1.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/alb.....1116-1.jpg

Here are the darker wash Mias:

http://i66.photobucket.com/alb.....1122-1.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/alb.....1123-1.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/alb.....1125-1.jpg

I know these will stretch out (as Express denim usually does), so the tightness on the bum will lessen as I wear them. Any feedback or comments would be appreciated!

Thank you!

Dressing

27 replies

Latest reply was from Ana

Anonymous

I think they look great. I like the darker wash best.

Maya

Veteran

I really like the dark ones (of course I do, I own them). I'm not sure about the light ones though. It might just be my bias against lighter denim, but I'm just not sure about the whiskering and fading. I suppose that's just my personal opinion. They still fit well though, so if you like them, keep them.

And just so you know, I have not personally experienced any stretching with the Mias. It might just be me, but I was dismayed to find out they don't really stretch that much. I originally got them on the tight side, expecting them to stretch out a lot, but they never did so I bought a size bigger (which ended up being too big!). That might just be my own experience though, and frankly skinnies NEVER fit me well, or at least not comfortably.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Wow, that's really unusual for Express denim--all my other jeans always stretch out a lot. The Mias seem very tight though. I'm afraid if I went up a size, they would be too big as well. I don't get any muffin top from the waist band, so I was hoping just the bum and thighs would stretch out a tiny bit. I might have to wear them around the house before taking the tags off to see.

Maya

Veteran

I'm baffled by them honestly. I tried a 2 and a 4 the first time around. The 4's were absolutely perfect, but since I was afraid of stretching I got the 2's. So I expected the 4's to be perfect again next time, but they are too big! I constantly have to pull them up during the day, though they seem to fit well in the bum and thigh. I feel as though they might be made for straighter figures.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I like the darker wash as well.

marianne

I think the fit is great. I'd say it's very similar to to your black skinnies. I also prefer the dark wash - I am sure you can use the lighter ones, but will you really wear them as much as the dark ones? I think I am with Maya on this issue

Dani

Veteran

I like the look of the jeans on you and agree that the darker wash is the preferable wash. I think it's the whiskering on the lighter wash. I think they'll be great either tucked into boots or worn with flats. Btw...do you have boots you can tuck jeans into? I seem to recall that you have muscular calves and was wondering where you found boots that would accommodate your calves and jeans?

Anonymous

They look like they fit fine. I also much prefer the dark wash.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for the feedback!

Dani, you're right about my calves. Actually, they are even bigger now--before I started exercising they were 14" and now they are 15". I don't have boots yet, but I am planning on buying the black 20 eyelet Docs. Since they tie, I think they should be fine, because I can adjust them. Also, I am thinking a slouchy boot with a very wide calf would work. I might get these in cream:

http://www2.victoriassecret.co.....rfnbr=5311

Or maybe just some ankle boots that end before my calf (I'd have to experiment with this, but I liked the look in Angie's HK post):

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/p/7471601/c/2111.html

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/p/7479273/c/64189.html

Here are some that have a 15 1/2" circumference:

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/p/7458787/c/309.html

Dani

Veteran

Thanks, Ana. I appreciate the links...I wasn't intending to hijack your thread I'll probably have to special order my boots for that purpose as 15 1/2 circumference barely fits around my calves with tights. I may go with ankle boots as well but I'm still looking for my perfect pair.

Amanda

Ana - I like the Mias on you; they look like they fit well. I find that my Mias do stretch out -- they don't fall off me, but they do get bigger.

dee

The jeans look great on you, especially the darker wash. I also love the top you are wearing the photos. I hope the Docs work out for you - I think you could make some great outfits with them!

Laura

(website)

Veteran

I prefer the darker wash too - it's very flattering. The length looks perfect. $35 each for those jeans? Good buy!

Inge

(website)

You most certainly do NOT look like a chicken drumstick!-)

The jeans fit you very well, and although I too prefer the darker wash, there's absolutely nothing wrong with the lighter ones, and I like your idea of wearing them with your orange tweed blazer (you have such lovely pieces in your wardrobe Ana, and you can wear all the colours that look hideous on me, sigh;-)

I also like the top you are wearing in the pictures and can't wait to see your Docs outfits.

Tanya

Veteran

You look great in these skinnies Ana, definitively not like a chicken drumstick!

I also prefer the dark wash. I do not mind the light wash itself, it's the whiskering effect that is bothering me. And that ruffled top is beautiful!

Those cream suede boots are delicious, I hope you get them! I'd love to have boots like those but with m y weather they would be destroyed after the second wear. When are you getting your Docs? Mine are supposed to arrive at some point today.

Violet

Hi Ana, I think both jeans fit you well, but I also prefer the look of the darker denim. I love the cream suede boots as well. I think they would look fantastic with the dark wash skinnies!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

No chicken drumsticks on my screen! *chuckle*

Hands down the darker pair, Ana. They look great and are more flattering in every way. Hope the dye doesn’t rub off

BLB

(website)

I definitely prefer the dark pair on you. They look great! I love your top and necklace, too.

Nicole

Veteran

First of all, your favorite pair are black?? They look dark blue to me.

I think the lighter wash ones will look better with tunics and dresses because I don't care for the fading "whiskering" lines.

I love the dark wash pair--they are very flattering. I don't know if they will be long enough to wear w/shoes though--shouldn't there be more scrunching at the hems? I could be totally off--I prefer the look of skinnies with boots, so have not really studied wearing them any other way.

Patience

Veteran

I like them both. Like everyone else I like the darker pair better. I've been feeling lately that lighter washes have a purpose (well you saw that I bought a pair too). I think they look fine on you, but I'm guessing the whiskering is less popular because the horizontal lines are going to accent your hips. For $35 that might be fine for your or you could spend that money on the ivory 7FAM pair. (I want those too except I already have a pair of cream jeans. I think Tanya and I are kindred spirits in our denim addiction.)

Lucy

The dark jeans look great. It looks to me like they fit exactly like your black ones, only they are slightly shorter--which should, hopefully, make them easier to tuck into boots.

tarzy

Veteran

Ana - what kind of boots are you looking for? I have large calves too (a bit larger than yours) and I recently bought these tall flat black riding boots from Rockport to wear with jeans. They are rather plain, but they are super comfy and they fit my calves no problem:

http://www.endless.com/Rockpor.....mPage=cart

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for all the feedback everybody (and the compliments on my top)! This is very helpful.

The jeans are actually really long--they were out of the short length, so I had to buy regular. I just rolled them up for the photos, see:

http://i66.photobucket.com/alb.....1109-1.jpg

I definitely need to get both pairs hemmed to wear with boots. I think I will keep the lighter pair for now to strictly wear with longer tops and/or tucked into boots. I think that will balance out the thigh issue. I'm not ready to spend a lot of money on faded skinny jeans right now, but I do think there is a place for them in my wardrobe. I'm still planning on getting the ivory Roxanne jeans, though. I'm so excited to try them!

I hope the dark Mias don't rub off on any of my other stuff either, Angie. Does anyone who own them have this issue? Now that I think about it, I will probably keep both Mias strictly for tucking into boots. I'd really like to get the COH Elson straight leg jeans, to wear with regular tops and shoes. That's down the line, though.

Nicole, the jeans are definitely black--I think they just look blue because of the lighting in my apartment and the quality of the photo.

Tarzy, thanks for the link to the boots! I love the Brandy color! I'm adding them to my wishlist.

Thank you again everyone! It was very helpful to hear your opinions, so I could decide what to do.

anne

Veteran

Ana,
I'm curious; what type of exercising do you do that has been enlarging your calves? Mine are around 13" (and I am a short legged 5"4") and have muscular tendencies which I wouldn't mind _not_ enhancing.

As someone who also has thigh issues, I agree with your skinnies only with long tops and boots plan. I have found this worked very well

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Well, I've alternately been attending a cycling class and a weight lifting class M-F (some Saturdays too). I've only been going for about 5 weeks now, so my body and calves might change even more over the next few months (although, I don't think my legs will get any bigger). On my calves, that muscle that covers your shin has developed, which is really where the bulk of the extra inch has come from (it was just flat before). I'll tell you what though--the trade off for bigger calves (which I actually don't mind at all) is that my thighs and bum look way better than they did before I started exercising. Cycling is amazing if you really want to tone that area. Squats help, too. You can't target any body part for fat loss, but you can work the muscle in a certain area and make it look better. I still have some fat on my hips and thighs, so if I keep working out, that will probably lessen. I'm not really sure what will happen or what size I'll end up. I'm just working out because it feels good, and I have slightly elevated cholesterol already, and a family history of heart disease. Since my hair is short now and easy to style, I don't have any excuses left, so I just started going.

But you shouldn't worry about getting more muscly--I'm 5'4" and have short legs too (29" inseam). Women who are naturally more muscular (like us) just tend to look more toned and athletic when we work out, not bulky at all. You would have to modify your diet and do a LOT of lifting to get really muscly. Even with the weight lifting class, I'm a lot more toned and sleeker than I was, the opposite of bulky. Sure, it makes buying boots a little harder, but the trade off is really worth it. I hate exercising, but I feel so much better when I do it (more energy, don't get winded walking up a flight of stairs), which keeps me going back.

Oh--Angie is right though, body shape doesn't change. The few changes I've seen so far have definitely confirmed this. Pretty interesting!

Antje

Veteran

Ana, the dark wash Mias look super on you.

Did you know that they come in light grey as well? I have no idea whether that would be interesting to you, but I just duplicated my dark wash ones and bought a pair of grey ones while I was at it; it's the same fit. I ordered online, haven't actually seen the grey ones in the store. Just wanted to mention it, in case you were looking for more skinnies in other colors.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Oh, I haven't seen those, Antje, but I will definitely go check them out. Grey would be an interesting alternative to blue. Thank you!