Denim washes and preferences or dislikes - YouLookFab Forum

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Denim washes and preferences or dislikes

catgirl

Veteran

Shannon's Kut from the Kloth post is making me realize how influenced I am by denim wash when dealing with jeans. The differences can be so subtle, yet somehow I'm really picky about them. There are certain light washes that just look so off to me - yet I just picked up the SBF jeans in the most faded wash (citrine). Then certain really dark washes also don't seem right to me. I have a particularly strong aversion to a certain shade of mid-range wash that looks cheap at any price to my eye. And I prefer some variation to a uniform wash (more RATE, maybe). But I can't say from where all these reactions spring!

So on Shannon's post, I'm instantly attracted to the Gap jeans and not at all to the Kuts, even though they look great on Shannon.

Any insights or comments on your own take on denim wash?

Dressing

20 replies

Latest reply was from shiny

Anonymous

To me, it depends on the cut of the jean. On bootcuts. I like the more traditinal faded 501 levis from the 90s wash, but for skinnies, I don't like much fading. I'm a dark wash gal all the way on all cuts.

Lynne

Veteran

I can relate, Una......stay true to your style, girl!

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I think different washes have different connotations for style as well - I instantly consider darker washes dressier and lighter washes more casual. There's an automatic association. So for example, if a tailored trouser jean were in a faded wash, it would seem "off" to me.

Echo

Veteran

I absolutely agree. There is a relatively monotone (little distressing) mid-range wash that screams cheap to me, no matter what the brand, and there is a particular shade of light wash that makes me think of 80's hair band groupies. I am really, really particular about the washes on jeans, and light or dark or distressed or not can all work, but the devil is in the details. Anytime I try to convince myself that I can live with a wash that's outside of my comfort zone I end up NEVER wearing them.

Aida

Veteran

Most definitely! I'm FAR more particular about light washes than any other, and tend to dislike many many mid-washes. Actually, FOR MYSELF, I don't generally prefer blue denim for anything except for flared jeans, and you know skinnies are my preferred silhouette; I own zero blue skinnies, and wear only black or gray or colored skinnies instead. Though I may make an exception for a very slouchy blue pair. I don't know where my preferences come from, either!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Interesting, isn't it?

I also have an aversion to some light washes, but bought the citrine BFs.

I have no idea where my preferences on this come from, either.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I always go to my dark-wash over any other jeans hmm, maybe I need to post some pictures for the jean genies. Sorry.

RunningSue

I have gone form light washes with distressing and whiskering to completely dark wash skinny and straight leg jeans. At this moment, I am enamored with dark wash skinny jeans and colored skinny jeans. Every time I order a pair of light wash jeans they go back.

DonnaF

Veteran

I have an aversion to that wash that gives an overlay of light brown. Maybe it's supposed to look dirty, but that's why I don't like it and would never buy it.

Diana

Veteran

I dislike most extremely uniform washes, with the only exception being super inky black. They look really odd to me, like they've been printed or something. I don't necessarily want all my jeans to be distressed but even the solid dark ones should have some variation on a fairly small level, KWIM? I agree with you about that odd mid-tone blue and I think the reason is that it's SO UNIFORM it doesn't even look like denim. IMO the best medium washes come only after wearing and washing darker jeans enough times that they fade naturally.

I also rather dislike white or light seaming on dark jeans.

Some interesting washes that I like: the aforementioned inky black, that slightly streaky blue wash that was really popular several years ago (my favorite Lucky bootcuts are like this), that crosshatchy wash that you only seem to get on non-stretch denim, and a particular greenish-blue vintagey wash (like verdigris maybe?) that is almost impossible to find. Does anyone know what I mean by that last one?

ETA: IMO the lighter and more distressed washes are much more successful on premium denim for whatever reason.

rae

(website)

Veteran

For me, it's not really a matter of light or dark or distressed or pristine... the overall wash just has to look natural, as if it was faded through wear and washing and not out of the factory. This means the placement and intensity and type of fading, even the type of ripping vs. the weight of the denim can all go terribly wrong to my eye, especially once the jeans are on my bod.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Ooh, this is a topic that is near to my heart! I'm a big denim fan, but I have strong preferences and aversions.

I like a dark wash. I prefer it if it's uniform (no fading on the thighs), but not too smooth -- there needs to be some "graininess" to the texture. I like a certain mid-range wash, if it looks like it has faded naturally, in the places that jeans would fade from use. I like certain very light blue washes only if they look like surfer jeans -- like something you'd wear after the beach -- but I don't really wear them myself anymore, as I feel they look better on teenagers and young women. I like a pale gray wash on me, though, which is, value-wise, about the same as light blue. My favourite skinnies are light gray with subtle fading on the thighs.

I reeeeeally don't like dark wash jeans with bright white stitching. Big poison eye. I don't like jeans with obviously artificial fading patterns. I don't like anything that looks too "cowgirl", although I can't put my finger on what exactly that is. I don't like pointed flaps on back pockets. No rhinestones on jeans for females over the age of ten. I seem to be getting carried away, and I've moved off topic...

Back to denim wash. I like solid colour washes, but don't own any. If I were to spring for some, they would be not too in-your-face -- maybe burgundy. I like solid black, as long as the stitching is also black or perhaps red. No bright yellow or white stitching. Bleargh.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

There can be a lot of variation in 'denim' for jeans - sometimes it's not even denim at all when you look closely. It is hard to articulate, I agree - there are subtle differences that are hard to describe or even see in a picture. Today I'm wearing a fairly new pair of Old Navy skinnies that are a dark wash, but the warp threads show through in a stark white rather than the usual subtle jeansy-indigo way, which I'm afraid looks cheap. Paradoxically they'll probably look better once they've been worn a few times.

I don't like a flat light wash - it needs to have that denim variation to it, otherwise I think it looks too grandma-pants-ish. Elisabeth, I agree, can't stand the targeted fading (it's always on the thighs, like that's somewhere I want to exaggerate) or black jeans with contrast stitching.

christieanne

Veteran

I love a really old vintage-y light wash but not usually in new jeans, it only seems right when it happens over time. Thus, I really don't have any but my DH does and I love them. Wish they fit me.
Dark wash and no fake fading and very few whiskers is my preferred denim. More versatile and no worries on the highlighted areas being all wrong for my body. No whiskers in weird places please.
Black, grey and colored but I like all over tones on those.

It is hard to find a mid tone blue that is nicely even. I do have a pair of trouser jeans that used to be a nice all over mid tone blue and have now faded to a lighter shade. I like them for a retro vibe but they used to be a more professional, dressed up jean.

Deborah

Veteran

I prefer a dark wash always. I think it's because in my mind a darker wash is dressier a d more slimming?! I like the look of lighter, faded washes but not on me.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I really like dimension right now. I love fading (except when it comes to non black or gray colored skinnies). I tried a pair of faded purple skinnies (H&M), just couldn't do it. I love dark, mid and light wash with heavy fading and distressing. I also appreciate a good rinse wash without any treatments for its dressier and slimming aspects.

My TR Camerons have some of the best fading and distressing. It is like damage and decay become works of art.

When it comes to fading you get what you pay for, sort of like fit. I have some medium light Zara skinnies that I like but the fading around the pockets looks cheesy. So I'm thinking of purging them. (Also they slide down, terribly.) The fit around the calf and ankle is wonderful though.

Then I have some $17 jrs. "temporary" faded gray jeans. The fading is super cheesy. Plus, there are little diamonds on the right butt pocket. These were a stop-gap measure while I'm searching for the perfect gray jeans with fading. There is actually fading on the rear calves. It looks like you're wearing hocky shin protectors, backwards. The fact that I wear these, I think is a sign I don't always take myself too seriously.

Irene

Veteran

I have a problem with color -on denim and everything else.

I'm very picky with shades, which is something I inherited from my mother.

So, of course, I can't do about any denim wash. I don't like much distressing though, even on lighter shades.

krishnidoux

Veteran

I have a secret love for very dark, saturated washes. Also, I must admit, an even more secret attraction to higher waists. Blame it on Brooke's Calvin Kleins.
http://youtu.be/AXzR5b6HoIA
Or was it the "Jordache look"?
http://youtu.be/qAZP9i6MvSw

ElleH

Veteran

What Rae said. And I don't have any rules other than that with color. I just have to like it when I see it. Some colors I don't like, even if they look naturally faded.

shiny

Veteran

I don't mind fading or even whiskering and all that, I love it on others, but put it on me and inevitably the fading/whiskering is in all the wrong unfortunate placement places. So I prefer dark wash. But I have some denim that is more like medium wash, and I love that too. But I don't know if my opinion counts, since I don't wear jeans as much as others do here.

More than wash, I am particularly bugged, when trying on jeans for myself, by the stitching color. I don't know what it is, but yellow/orange/white stitching on denim seems to add pounds to me. I prefer the stitching to be blue or black, so it blends in.

And I will never ever ever EVER do acid wash again. I don't care if it comes back in style, and Angie posts a blog post with her looking smashing in it. Just have to draw a line somewhere! I have pics from way back when, of myself looking total fashion victim, in acid wash jeans....... heh.

I might do the right light wash, you never know. But NO to acid wash!