Ask Angie and Everyone: Slouchy Skinny Fab vs Slouchy Skinny Frump

Marley

So - how should they fit and be styled in order to avoid looking as though you're wearing the wrong size of skinny jeans? I just can't seem to get it right. It might be that I'm taking the wrong approach. Should I be looking at skinny jeans and just sizing up a couple of sizes and voilla - I've got my slouchy skinnies? Or, is there more to it than that? Today I was at the Express and I tried on some of what they call their skinny legging jeans - I sized up 2 sizes - and since I don't have any hips, they were sliding right off of me without a belt. They were also a fairly low rise - which I don't mind, if they look like they are supposed to look. Are they supposed to be baggy/saggy in the butt (these were) and a little looser in the legs than a regular skinny or . . . ? Also, what do you wear with them? I'd really like to get a pair of slouchy skinnies because the idea appeals to me - but, I need to make sure that I've got things in my current wardrobe which I could wear with them. I appreciate your help!

13 years ago

Dressing

13 replies

Latest reply was from cciele

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Marley - hi! We have been debating and debating this question! Here is one great thread with some basic explanations from Angie: http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....in-slouchy

And then here is a follow up thread with some more visuals and my question about the backside, and other people's thoughts. http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....in-slouchy

Speaking for myself, I have not been able to get a slouchy look to work merely by sizing up a few sizes. I do own the GAP boyfriend jeans and I did size up in those (as you did, right?) but those were ALREADY cut with looseness in the top and a very tapered bottom. If I try a regular skinny jean and size up a few sizes, so far (with the ones I have tried) on ME it simply looks like an all-over too-big jean. Not flattering at all.

But it seems to work brilliantly for others. Here is Angie in hers: http://youlookfab.com/2012/09/.....low-style/

Shannon followed up by ordering the same jeans and they also worked great on her different body type. So I'm not sure what is going on with me. Maybe I just haven't tried the *right* skinnies to size up in.

My absolute favourite slouchy skinnies are LESS baggy overall than my Gaps, yet still slouchy on me. They are the Banana Republic Heriitage slouchy skinny from several seasons back. http://www.shefinds.com/2010/b.....nny-jeans/

I sized up on those ONE size and so they hang lower on me (and I pretty much do need a belt to keep them on after I've been wearing an hour or so.) So there is some crotch drop. But not so much that it looks leg-shortening to any great extent.

In terms of what to wear with slouchy skinny jeans - well - anything! I like tucking and belting with mine, but a half tuck or pseudo tuck is also great. I even wear regular sweaters with my BR ones (with my Gaps I don't because I really only wear those in the summer....mine are quite lightweight).

ETA: I almost forgot: the FABRIC composition is going to be key. I tried on a pair of legging jeans yesterday, sizing way up, in the hope that they might work as slouchy skinnies. (Actually, I was hoping they would work any which way; I have another pair in my actual size and love them; these were on sale and were silver, so I was hopeful I could wear them one way or another.) Alas, no go. The elasticity of the fabric meant they still clung...sort of...but with huge wrinkles like elephant skin where the fabric was supposed to be stretching out. They just looked DUMB, not slouchy. So I had to pass.

ETA 2: My other thought - with your slim, straight shape, it might be worthy trying on jeans intended for curvier figures, as Angie has done. These might give a slouchier look. I know that my Kut from the Kloth Diana skinnies actually fit me much more like slouchy skinnies than regular skinnies. They are quite baggy in the bum (after about 10 minutes wear) and very loose in the thigh. These are in my regular size, and in fact, when I first modelled them, some on the forum worried they might be on the small side for me. But that is absolutely not the case. I quite like them at their current looseness.

13 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Hi Marley!

Slouchy skinnies slide off me too because I don't have the real estate to keep them up. Belt is in order big time.

I've found that low rise works best - I like lower rises in general actually. Your baggy-slouchy-quotient is up to you. I have clients who size up one size, and clients who size up three sizes. I like to size up two, and occasionally one.

I do not mind the saggy fabric on my bottom. I like these to be roomy EVERYWHERE - not just my legs. The more you size up the saggier your backview, although the slouchier they look in front. It's a trade off.

My suggestion is to size up one size if you're worried about a saggy bottom.

Styling them can mean tucking and belting, or just wearing them with a top/topper like you would normal skinnies - but no tunics.

13 years ago

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Marley - I do have the same skinny slouchies as Angie and ordered two sizes larger than my usual size. They fall off if I don't have a belt on and are definitely saggy all over. I loved these jeans so much I immediately ordered a second pair but only one size larger than my regular size. This gives me a bit of a different vibe depending on what I'm pairing with the jeans and where I am wearing them - i.e. at work on casual Fridays I will be sticking with the one size up but running around and hanging with my girlfriends, I will be wearing both. Here's my K/R thread on the largest pair of the skinnies for reference http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....alt-jacket. Note that not everyone liked these on me but I loved them.

I think the whole slouchy look is completely personal and you need to go with what you're comfortable in - both physically and psychologically.

13 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

Marley, I have a straight figure without a lot of hip action either, and I just bought a pair of J. Crew toothpick jeans and sized up one size to get the "slouchy skinny" look. I think it works because the jeans are very narrow and taper toward the ankles, and the denim is heavy. I only went one size up to get a little looseness in the thighs and bum, and I really like the look. But yes, absolutely, I require a belt -- the rise is quite low and I could probably yank them off my hips without a belt. But I don't find the looseness is unflattering, and it's what makes them very comfortable.

As for what to wear with slouchy skinnies: I find either a loose, untucked, woven top works well, or a more fitted stretchy knit top. The one thing that I feel DOESN'T work is to tuck the jeans into tight boots or socks. I'm not a fan of the army fatigues look.

13 years ago

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Sizing up on skinny jeans or pants hasn't worked as well for me, although I did it with my plaid pants.

I buy purposely slouchy bf jeans or the R13 X-over jeans and actually size down.

Although sometimes I will buy my regular size, it all depends on the fit. But the key for me is buying pants that are meant to be slouchy to begin with. However others, and Angie have been able to successfully go the skinny pants then sized up approach.

13 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

Honestly, in addition to fit, I think so much of this is in the attitude! See my no doubt unacceptable outfit today, which I love anyway. I am not sure why this is so, but there is flattering slouch and then there is "dash it all" slouch, somehow, in my mind.

13 years ago

Marley

Veteran

Hey Everyone - thanks so much for your help. Suz, I can't believe that I missed all of those threads about this topic! Thanks for directing me to them - you too Shannon.
Just to be clear - I don't mind sagginess in the butt area at all. I was more concerned about the "bagginess" of the legs. The ones I tried on *felt* like the legs were big (in the thigh area) - but, I was concerned that instead of them looking like slouchy skinnies that they just looked like I was wearing skinnies that were one size too big. I've got skinny legs, so that might be the problem. The dressing rooms were all full, along with a waiting line, so I didn't bother to try a size bigger - which I am thinking, maybe would alleviate the "look" of frumpy skinny and make them look more like intentional slouchy skinny. I am going past the Mall tomorrow, so I if I have time I will stop and run in and try them on and post some 'Real Time' pics. Also, Denise - thagt is an interesting concept - to buy jeans that are a size smaller but have a slouchy cut. Think I'll try that too!

13 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I do love a slouchy fit, but I don't think there are any set rules that work in all cases - you really have to try different things and see what seems to work and what you like. Also I think we are all sensitive about different things. Slouchy bottom doesn't concern me nearly as much as my side view, although people who look at me probably see things quite differently.

13 years ago

Anonymous

Hi Marley! I can't believe you were at Express trying on slouchy skinnies; I was too on Friday. I came away with the Stella cut skinny jeans in a size 6. For reference, I could get the size 2's on, but they were uncomfortably tight in the waistband--which cut right across my hip bones (story of my life). The size 4's looked fine, but I was going for real comfort. The size 6's don't even look that baggy on me, they just don't look like "tight jeans". The cut keeps them from looking like frumpy Mom jeans IMO. There was a huge difference between the different washes. I found the dark wash too stiff and they looked and felt so much different than the faded washes. I found a faded wash (no holes) with whiskering and faded thigh areas that were so soft. And the distressing actually adds some dimension to my toothpick legs, so for me it's a good thing. They actually look like straight legs on me, even though the label says Low Rise Skinny. I don't have pictures because they are wrapped up and under the tree (from Santa of course). Maybe you can find some of these to try on when you go back by the mall. They have them in short lengths too if you need a petite. Good luck!

ETA: Mine do not come off looking slouchy per se, the crotch point does not drop (that's probably because I have a longer rise, and I didn't size up enough for that to happen). But you could size up more for a true slouchy look.

13 years ago

rae

(website)

Veteran

As Angie said, I think it's a matter of opinion. I personally like extreme bagginess because I do want to avoid looking like I've got the wrong size on.

13 years ago

rae

(website)

Veteran

Also, I kind of prefer the sized-up thing on a heftier weight denim.

13 years ago

Lisa

Veteran

Thanks for asking, this is a great thread.

13 years ago

cciele

Veteran

I totally sympathize with you Marley! It's hard to get the right look.

I tried sizing up many pairs of skinnies, but they never looked right. When I sized up, they would remain tight on my thighs but be loose elsewhere. Eventually, like Denise, I found that I need to go with pants that are intentionally supposed to be slouchy.

I would style them as you would skinnies or straight leg jeans.

Good luck with your search!

13 years ago

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