For Angie: wide leg jeans question

shiny

On the plane back I read the UK version of Glamour and it had a long feature on wide-leg jeans - the type with higher waist and either with or without flare to them. The article said that these are THE style now and went so far as to imply that all fashionable young women should let go of your skinnies and straight legs or risk being terribly out of style this coming fall.

I'm curious about this, Angie... is it that the UK is a year behind the US? Or is Glamour UK simply got it all wrong?

In Paris I did see an equal number of wide leg to skinnies, but I kept assuming those in the wide leg jeans were all tourists.

17 years ago

General

5 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

Anonymous

I hope both wide leg and skinnies are in style. I like both.
Sorry, I know you asked Angie, and I'm not Angie.

17 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Shiny, what does a wide-legged pant “without flare to them” look like?

Remember when skinnies came back 2 years ago and every magazine tried to convince us they would be a one-hit-wonder? They were wrong. I just read an article that clutches were outdated. I then read another article in another American magazine that says they’re hot. The proof is in the pudding. What do you see in stores, AND what do you see on the streets. That’s the real test. The two are usually different.

Skinnies and straight legs have become a basic with boot cuts. Wide legs are actually a basic too. Wide legged pants have always been available. Most seasons for years and years in fact. Retailers have just decided to punt them this year. Couture shows and fashion week are still FULL of skinny leg jeans and pants. They are not out of style. They are mainstream fashion.

Hope that answers your question

17 years ago

shiny

Veteran

Yes, that makes sense. Maybe all the unsold high-waisted wide leg jeans from the US are going to be sent to the UK and Glamour was just trying to pawn them off... hee hee.

The article said "with or without flare" (if I'm recalling correctly). The photos were mostly pics of the high waisted (i.e., at natural waist) jeans that are wide in the leg, shown with PPL (which, my DH, looking over my shoulder, remarked "that length looks so weird... like they have no feet at all - like their feet have been chopped off at the ankle!." )

The "without flare" I think meant the type of pants that fall straight down from the widest part of the hip. This is the style that WNTW folks are always saying looks great - but not for jeans, for slacks.

While "with flare" part I think they meant fits snugly in the thigh but then flares out below the knee - example being my Citizens Hutton jeans - the flare is more dramatic and wider than a bootcut.

I'm happy to wear all, and I like having options depending on mood and not what's in or out.

17 years ago

Nicole

Veteran

Isn't it expected of "the industry" to push a certain style to encourage sales? If skinnies have been all the rage for 2+ years, then retailers need to get people to buy jeans--and if skinnies are still in style, and you already own a few pairs, then why buy another pair?

Personally, I think it's great that there are multiple options in jeans. It can be difficult to find the combination of things that you are looking for (mid rise, dark rinse, straight leg, plain pocket for instance). But at least there are choices. It wasn't very long ago that all you could find were straight legs mid rise. Now you can find all different kinds of rises, colors, legs, pockets.... It gives women more opportunity to find the style that flatters them best.

17 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You might prefer a particular silhouette Nicole, which is why the industry has to offer its customers choice every season.

Remember this blog post? I'm thrilled there is something for everyone:
http://youlookfab.com/2008/01/.....m-in-2008/

17 years ago

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