Light grey is back for denim jeans

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Angie is co-founder of YLF and its resident fashion stylist.

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Light grey is back for denim jeans

— by Angie

on October 3, 2007

Do you remember those light grey jeans you wore back in the 80’s? I do and it’s not a fashion trend that I wish to repeat. You may have noticed grey denim making it’s comeback this season both in gents and ladies casual wear. While I like the look for men, I don’t find it particularly appealing for women. I can’t boil it down to anything other than a personal preference. I love the adaptability and flattering aspect of dark blue denim. While light grey jeans can look nice, dark blue jeans look better. I’ll be bypassing the grey jeans trend this season – will you?

Fashion forward light grey jeans from Levi’s and Nordstrom.

Autumn 2007 · Casual Wear

15 comments · Add a comment

Jorunn

Oh, I LOVE light-grey skinnies! It might have something to say that I didn’t live in the 80’s and are therefore quite young, but I think it’s THE colour for me. (As long as it’s skinny. It looks horrible f it isn’t.)

October 3, 2007 at 8:13 am

Marianna

(website)

I agree, I will be bypassing the light grey jeans as well. They look old, faded and dirty to me.

October 3, 2007 at 8:18 am

Marlene

I have been oddly attracted to grey jeans this year! I am visualizing them with my usual plain palate of black and white. And it will be a nice change from black or blue denim. I have a pair of dove gray chinos that I wear in spring and find the color quite versatile. But like you said, it’s a personal preference.

October 3, 2007 at 8:21 am

Angie

(website)

I am with you when matching grey jeans with black both for on the top and for shoes. That looks quite striking and I love the impact of a strong contrast. Enjoy your grey jeans if you get them engine mom.

October 3, 2007 at 8:29 am

Stephanie

I’d go with Marianna. Unless they’re worn with something especially clever, it’s just too casual of a look for me. They might work better for a college student who can get away with dressing down that much. (On another note, the model above seems to be stepping on her hems. Strange.)

October 3, 2007 at 8:53 am

Lynn

Well I like the gray jeans. Actually I have a pair of Levi’s 501’s. They go great with DK gray and other blues that clash with denim. Count me in.

October 3, 2007 at 9:16 am

Antje

I actually like grey denim, and think it’s a great way to wear the color. Grey doesn’t look good on me for tops (makes me look pale) so I like finding grey bottoms. Have to say, though, that I prefer darker greys. Grey with black is fab, and I like it with fuchsia as well.

October 3, 2007 at 9:20 am

Christie

I have to agree that I like the gray jeans. I saw someone wearing straight leg grays with a nice blue, frilly blouse, and the combo was beautiful. They ARE very casual, so I suppose for someone like me that tends to fall into Angie’s “Frugal Style” category (i.e. buying the minimum) dark jeans are a better and more versatile investment, but I think they are fun.

October 3, 2007 at 11:32 am

Nicole

Are those jeans grey? Or acid washed? They look more like acid washed to me.

Back in the 80’s (I was in highschool), it was quite common to see colored jeans–but they weren’t really denim. More like a cotton canvas material. They came in a rainbow of colors, including grey. I also remember the style was to wear them with scrunchy socks that were the same exact color of the pants. Or (I’m cringing now) two pair of socks in contrasting colors so both colors would show. Of course to get the full effect, you’d tuck the bottom of your pants into the socks. I sure hope THAT style does not make a comeback.

October 3, 2007 at 3:17 pm

Angie

(website)

Bitter sweet memories Nicole. We did a very similar thing when I was a teenager (cringe).

I’d expect this fad to be new and nice for those of us that weren’t around in the ’80’s!

Antje, I absolutely agree with you about preferring darker grey. I adore anthracite and smoky rich dark grey shades…it’s the light grey denim that I can’t get my head around. Dark grey is particularly fab with good old ’80’s shocking pink and I’m excited to were that combination this season.

October 3, 2007 at 3:45 pm

Maya

You know, it’s so ironic: When I was rail thin, the trends were all about big baggy jeans and flared pants. Now when I’m curvier, the trends are all better suited to not-so-curvy girls. I don’t mind sticking to classics, but I’m young and I want to have some fun with my clothes while I still can.

Anyway, the gray jeans look great on the model on the right. She has very narrow hips and thighs and mile long legs, so she can pull it off. The model on the right doesn’t look bad in them, but she would look even better in a pair of dark jeans. Then again, fashion is all about illusions, and it could just be that the second model is wearing a higher rise pant and heels. I guess I like them on the right body type, but i don’t think most women would really benefit from wearing this particular color.

October 3, 2007 at 5:34 pm

Budget Babe

(website)

i like them, but what colors would you suggest pairing them with beside black and white? that’s the tricky part for me with these jeans.

October 4, 2007 at 7:36 am

Angie

(website)

I hear you budget babe. I fancy the idea of cobalt and fuchsia to liven the lot up!

October 4, 2007 at 7:41 am

Jorunn

Nicole, about that sock-trend you mentioned, it has been quite popular here in Norway at least to tuck your trousers into your socks, but the socks have to be white and the jeans must be a little bit baggy… And I adore it.:)

October 4, 2007 at 12:43 pm

Véronique

Normally I am quite conservative, I like dark blue jeans but last month I could not resist to a pair of grey skinnies from Zara. Maybe I will finally get to wear those ankle boots I bought last year!

October 8, 2007 at 5:46 am

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