WIW: Blue + Denim, Skimming distressed skinnies - YouLookFab Forum

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WIW: Blue + Denim, Skimming distressed skinnies

Suz

(website)

Veteran

This post is a bit of a follow up to a few of yesterday's threads: Janet's, on the frustrations of calf and thigh sucking skinnies; Anna's, on a question of privilege; and Elizabeth's, in which she and several others mentioned that they don't care to wear blue with denim.

Quite by coincidence as I threw my outfit together this morning I found myself reaching for my distressed skinnies along with a blue sweater!

But these skinnies are not like today's skinnies. They are what BR called a "slouchy skinny" about five seasons ago...and I love them! Instead of sucking, they skim. They are not as loose as a boyfriend jean, but nowhere near as tight as a skinny. Whenever I wear them I feel both comfortable and effortlessly cool. It's the fluid fit, with tons of looseness in all the right places, yet an overall slender silhouette. Plus, they are full length! If anyone knows anything similar to these -- in ANY colour or wash -- please let me know so I can buy them.

As for the distressing, I tend to agree with what Denise and Rae said -- fashion takes its inspirations everywhere. I hope I don't appear to be insulting anyone who could only afford someone else's ripped up jeans. Rather, I hope these look well lived in and well loved -- which, in truth, they are!

The sweater is a new navy cashmere from Lord and Taylor. The fit is pretty classic fluid. The quality is not bad.

And you see...I LIKE this blue with denim. Is my eye deluded? I have been thinking that I want to move towards more monochromatic looks in general this year, and for me, that will have to include blue with denim. Can I get away with that?

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45 replies

Latest reply was from Jaime

Susie

Veteran

Suz, I love navy with denim; there is enough contrast that , to me, makes them work perfectly together. YLF in those jeans!

ramya

Veteran

OMG Suz this is how I want to look.
How do you it?
I would look super frumpy with something like this.

qfbrenda

Veteran

That outfit looks great to me! Well done.

viva

Veteran

Love this outfit. And navy with worn denim is a great duo to me. Nicely done!!

Anonymous

Personally I see absolutely nothing wrong with blue and denim. Whichever shades they are, it's all fine with me. I think your monochromatic look works beautifully Suz and you look great!

Joy

Veteran

I didn't comment on the blue with denim thread, but I really like navy with denim, especially light to medium washes or distressed versions. There are lots of different shades of blue and of denim. You look fabulous in this outfit!

Anonymous

Super, and I wear navy and denim a lot, as you know.

BR has some distressed ankle jeans, which doesn't help you, I know. Regular inseam is 29". http://bananarepublic.gapcanad.....=950196003

Sarah A

Veteran

Yes! this is perfection. In the last year i have come to regard denim as my main nuetral and have been wearing lots of blue shades together. It was a liberating move. Im excited to see your 2014 direction unfold!

Anonymous

Whaaa??? I love blue and denim. Love.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Thank you! It is good to hear I am not alone on that the navy with denim love.

Afterwards, I realized that I tend to wear my lighter blues with dark rinse denim. So it is great to have some options in denim washes. Because Sarah, I am with you -- denim is one of my main neutrals.

And off to check that link, Ceit.

Ramya, I was very touched by your comment. Although I cannot believe you would look frumpy, ever. You are far too cute for that.

You know...before YLF I used to wear outfits like this frequently and I would ALWAYS feel frumpy. So your question is a good one. What makes the difference? I think it has to do with UPDATED classics (so ... right now, we are wearing fluid fits vs. a very snug fit.) It also has to do with getting details just right. Here -- it's the pointy toed booties, the leopard belt, the precise intensity of the navy, and the wash/ cut of the denim that take it away from frumptastic and make it look as easy as it feels. And that takes it (I hope!) into more stylish territory.

Aquamarine

Veteran

The blue on my monitor looks very dark, which I prefer with denim bottoms. Great jeans...I can see why you would like to duplicate. I hope you take this as a compliment, but you look like a beatnik...you just need a beret

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Killer Suz

I love blue with denim, actually. From cobalt, to baby blue and ink. And your jeans are gently distressed. This is an outfit combination I wear a lot - with bfs too.

It's REALLY hard to find faded denim that is not ripped. Fashion is very extreme at the moment - denim is either dark blue or overly distressed. Nothing in-between.

And I love my old skinnies too so high five. They fit just a little tighter than your slouchy skinnies. More like tailored straight legs really. They don't make skinnies like that anymore. Heck. Straight legs are hard to find at the moment too - hence I am so elated with the BR cream jeans.

I bought baggy stone chinos, and another pair of bfs in the casual pants dept. And a pair of silky ink slouchies in Vegas for dressy. I am done with tight, tight, tight.

Debra

Veteran

I love this look, the perfect shade of denim and the navy jumper looks wonderful.

Thistle

Veteran

You look spectacular!

Those are the perfect fit in skinny jeans, and I love it paired with the navy. I feel like the belt and the distressing on the jeans adds visual interest.

Anonymous

Looks awesome! You can never have too much blue in my book!

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Fab outfit, Suz! You are the picture of "effortless cool." I'm looking at the dictionary right now, and there you are. (Okay, I fib, but you could be!)

I like all shades of blue with denim. But I didn't always feel that way. Somewhere along the line, my eye adjusted to see denim as a neutral rather than a color.

Alassë

Veteran

Oh, yes, plenty of contrast. That makes it work to my eye. I'm looking forward to seeing more monochromatic looks from you!

MuseumGal

Veteran

Love this look, very sleek.
I'm surprised to learn that some people think blue with blue denim is a nono! I often wear blue with blue denim (sometimes even with blue shoes and
blue accessories, sometimes with some contrast), and when I post them, I always get positive comments
about my tonal look. I think it's an easy and much more flattering alternative to an all black fallback look.

Lisa

Veteran

I must've missed the thread, but I am a fan of blue paired with blue. I do notice I tend to pair my navy blazer (when it's not in the boutique, with light wash blue versus dark wash. I like the higher contrast. So I'm a fan of your outfit here. I've been sporting a heavy skinny jeans wardrobe for the past 2 months and while I adore the boots and skinnies look, I am starting to eye my BF jeans on the other side of my closet in the spring section for a change. And I want to wear my bootcuts more often but until I don't see salt or snow or ice on the ground I won't sport them. I guess I'm already itching to change it up.

JAileen

Veteran

Well, if blue with denim is wrong, I don't want to be right! You look great!

Sara L.

Veteran

Great outfit! I missed the blue with denim thread but I will admit that I don't generally like blue and denim together. I think your navy sweater is dark enough that there is a lot of contrast with the blue of your jeans and that's why this look works for me.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I must have missed something I LOVE blue with denim.
This is a great outfit Suz - I agree that for these looks the devil really is in the detail (& fit).

Ariadne

Veteran

This is such a great look. You're right--it's all in the fit and the details. Is the leopard belt a recent purchase? I'm searching for one just like it (and will probably have to save up and wait when I find it--see my SYC thread).

K. Period.

Veteran

Suz, you look beautiful! I love the combo and I love the fit. I also love blue with denim.

Here's the thing: the blue with denim thing is just a personal poison eye! It isn't that there is a fashion don't built up around it. It's a personal foible. Like my (working hard to get over it) thing about not wanting to mix cool and warm toned neutrals. It isn't rational. You see lots of lovely examples of it around everywhere. It's just a personal thing so that person avoids it.

I think Elizabeth was super up-front about the fact that the blue plus jeans thing was a personal preference, not a fashion rule. I've notice before that she's super aware of where something is personal preference and where it is more of a strong, independent guideline. That's one reason I particularly love her posts. She's a smart (and nuanced) cookie!

You look great in this combo and you should definitely wear it a lot and with great joy!

pil

Veteran

This is my idea of the perfect outfit!

LACeleste

Veteran

Stylish perfection Suz! You look great!

Raisin

Veteran

I love monochromatic looks Suz, so this gets a big "yay" from me. I like the fit of your jeans and I agree, a slightly looser skinny Jean can be very comfy.

Sharon

Veteran

I think this is a great outfit. I like the blue with denim look, and I think the leopard belt and your hair colour injuect just the right amount of lightness into the mix.

Anonymous

I agree this looks great- I view denim as a neutral so would pair almost anything with it, esp blue.

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