Extra Observation: Jeans Styles in HK

Angie

I mentioned in our street style report that far fewer ladies in Hong Kong wear jeans. Here's the report if you missed it:

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ith-photos

During a period of two weeks - being on the street all day and most of the evening - I only saw four ladies wear boyfriend jeans in very fashionable HK - It REALLY surprized me.

Straight leg jeans were THE order of the day. Skinnies too, but far less popular than straight legs. And quite a lot of bootcuts too.

Jeans were often faded, but never torn. I saw one lady with torn jeans, and there were patches behind the holes.

Very interesting.

9 years ago

Dressing

23 replies

Latest reply was from CocoLion

Carole

Veteran

That's so interesting, Angie. Selfishly I'm hoping that it's a trend that stays in Hong Kong...I would be in trouble if jeans (especially skinnies) were to become out of style here...would necessitate a complete wardrobe overhaul:(

9 years ago

Diana

Veteran

How interesting! Come to think of it, I didn't see very many BF jeans in Japan either. I think East Asian cultures place more emphasis on being "ladylike" and BF jeans don't really fit that mold.

9 years ago

Anonymous

It is interesting. Yesterday, this Facebook post from my favourite local boutique came up:

For the last few years, we've seen boyfriend denim take over collections + street style. Although, this look of your 'boyfriends jeans' has not been as sustainable + accommodating to our day to day lifestyle. So.. we've seen a turn of events that brands like Frame + Current/Elliott have focused on the woman + her lifestyle - giving us the 'girlfriend' jean. Especially seen in Frame Denim's 'Le Garcon', the leg is tapered + cropped but still a bit relaxed in the hip. You don't have to wear a sky high heel for these jeans to flatter. A luxe must-have.

The owner has just returned from doing her Fall buys in New York, and yes, this is a little awkwardly worded but I trust her observations and ideas implicitly. I'm glad too, as even though I have quite a few pair of BF jeans, I never wore them this winter and am really interested in trying on this new girlfriend silhouette (which sounds very much like what you were seeing in HK). I agree when she said that the BF jean has not been successful with a 4-season lifestyle.

9 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

HK weather isn't the reason for not wearing BF jeans. (Well, except the heat in summer, perhaps). But you're right, Lisa -- it's a good reason that BFs don't work in all seasons for us Northern climate women. I truly enjoy my BF jeans but they are primarily a spring/ fall item for me. In summer, it is typically too hot to wear them (though last summer was an exception); in winter, they don't work with the required footwear.

To be honest, I still don't see very many people wearing BF jeans around here! Mona and I are our own little club. They seem to offer them at GAP, but as far as I can see nobody buys, or if they do, they wear them so snug that they don't really qualify as BFs.

9 years ago

merwoman

Veteran

Very interesting! Although I only have 1 pair of BFs,I wear all my denim a little on the loose side. I'd like to know what kind of rise is popular - did you see a lot of high-waisted jeans Angie?

9 years ago

rute

Veteran

that's interesting because Straight leg jeans are the next big trend. The vintage type of jean like Levis 501 is now wanted for all bloggers and young fashionable ladies. Maybe they are ahead of the trend!

9 years ago

Marlene

Veteran

I like that there is so much variety in jeans styling now. Maybe BF jeans are not trending right now....but I still like them for some outfits in spring and fall (or SUMMER here in Seattle!). I just bought FLARE jeans for spring...hello? I never thought I would see the day. Today I am wearing my straight legs (dark wash, which is also new for me). I also have a nice variety of washes as well....super distressed all the way to dark wash. So fun. I am really enjoying the variety! I doubt BF jeans will ever go out of style in my own closet!

9 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

Wow. Love hearing about style in different parts of the world. Straight legs do not generally work on me. Long live variety!

9 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Carole, for many - straight legs ARE their skinnies (and vice versa). Straight legs can be tight - but not body con all the way to the ankle, which is the more important point. I have narrow calves so most skinnies look like straight legs on me.

Diana, you may have a point.

Lisap, a tailored pair of BFs are relaxed skinnies. A tailored pair of straight legs, rolled at the hem provide the same look. All not so tight, but not baggy either. Just like what merwoman is describing.

HK, like CA, has a very BF jeans friendly climate. Remember that it’s freezing inside with a/c when it’s hot as heck outside. It’s easy to wear jeans year round. Seattle has a friendly BF jeans climate too - especially throughout our milder Winter this year.

It’s good to set the stylish example, Suz.

Rute, exactly. 501’s are baggier straight legs.

Una, you are dead right about variety.

9 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Merwoman, I saw high-waisted jeans for sure. But not a lot of them.

9 years ago

Sal

Veteran

Jeans are huge in NZ but boyfriend styles have not taken off in a huge way even though we do have a suitable climate.

I found in Hong Kong that fashions were feminine, edgy, classic, bold, fun...but on the whole not scruffy. Boyfriend jeans are a wee bit scruffy sometimes.

9 years ago

Joy

Veteran

Very interesting observations. I still have my first pair of premium jeans which are straights from CofH. I've not worn them much this past year. I also wonder if my sized up skinny jeans would be "girlfriend" like. I am seeing mostly tight jeans on women of all ages and lots of leggings as pants.

9 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I agree with your assessment, Kiwigirl. That's probably why torn jeans are not popular in HK.

I am very influenced by HK street style, so I had an urge to try on some dirty light blue satin trousers at Massimo Dutti (see Find below). They are skinny. Greg LOVED them, and so did I. We bought them right away. They are very soft and quite pretty. I would never have bought them in denim - but the moleskin satin and light shade of blue makes a big difference. Also, I really want to add a more feminine integrity back into my style. So I'm into showcasing the few curves that I have just a wee bit more this year. I am not wearing my very baggy TR BF's at all any more. But still love my relaxed skinnies (and all my white KUTS because they are a lot less baggy - and white looks pretty). And I never stopped loving my straight legs.

Massimo Dutti

Satin Trousers

View Info

Top Pick

9 years ago

Lyn D.

Veteran

Interesting!
Slim/straight jeans are my all-time favourite, with my BF and bootlegs worn much less frequently.
I am going to purge my grey BFs this year and replace with straight-legs- the required belting has made them a little fussy for my simplistic taste these days.

9 years ago

K.M.

Veteran

I never really got into the BF thing (either now or about a decade ago or whenever it is that they were popular earlier!).

I like the idea of straight legs but I find them challenging in terms of the silhouette and especially of footwear. Angie, maybe you have a post on this already and I need to dig it up... if not, it would be great to get a primer! I find that the shoes that work with bootcuts often look too heavy for straight legs (and the jeans get caught in the shoes sometimes), whereas the shoes that work with skinnies are too dainty for straight legs (get "swallowed" and don't balance the silhouette, often stumpifying me).

But maybe I'm just not doing it right. I have a pair of Gap straight-leg cords which I find very hard to style.

I wish I had kept my 501s from the 90s (buttoned, not zippered). But they were so torn in the knee by the end! (Not intentionally distressed--I just used them that much!)

9 years ago

crutcher

Veteran

High 5 ing and clapping hands...Straight legs and skinny jeans are just so in for me...I didn't buy into the bf jeans...I have a pair of camos capri length however, I have to big belt them and pull themin to keep them up...Not my style really but the straight legs yes mam and the skinnies are just so fine...THX for the international share of fashion...

9 years ago

carter

Veteran

Oh, Angie! Those Mossimo Dutti pants are amazing.

9 years ago

Style Fan

Veteran

The straight leg jeans is good news. I love them. I would be sad to say good bye to my BF and relaxed skinnies. I do love hearing about trends in denim.

9 years ago

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Guess I should try styling my Acne straight leg jeans. But I'm trying to figure out the footwear, they're pretty long

9 years ago

Neel

Veteran

Thankfully (Not!), both my BFs
fit like relaxed skinnies now :D.

I have always liked slightly distressed jeans .... but never so much that too much skin shows through or bits of fabric is hanging out! I do not own a single straight leg jeans. How did that happen?! Hmm...

9 years ago

Anonymous

I'm glad my BF's aren't too baggy, I still love them and I could always take them in a tad. I do love variety though Thanks for all these style notes Angie, you're a gem.

9 years ago

Anonymous

I think I sense an updated jeans tutorial coming soon.......
The original, true bf look is great on the super slim straight-hipped body. I don't find them particularly cool looking once the idea of them has been lost on another body type (i.e. most of us) . Fitted bf's (what I like and wear) are a bit different, but still don't work all year long in a 4-season climate. I look at photos of myself in them taken as recently as last summer and am cringing a bit. The girlfriend look is my new friend.

9 years ago

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I have always preferred a slim boyfriend to a true boyfriend jean. I also love a cigarette leg (which might be the straight leg you refer to Angie) as well as a true skinny. I have one pair of Mom jeans, a pair of cropped straights, and shorts. Unlike in prior years, I am not embracing the latest denim silhouette which is a high rise flare. It is too high maintenance for me, and I am not getting excited about the 70s revival.

I found these photos of NY Fashion Week Off-Duty Models interesting. Lots of jeans especially skinny, if anyone wonders whether skinny jeans are still relevant.

9 years ago

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