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jeans boycott?

Anonymous

I am about ready to boycott jeans!

This is very sad, as I actually love denim and I love to wear jeans, but I am increasingly finding them so hard to fit. If the waist is right, then the legs are losing circulation, and if the legs are happy then the butt is saggy ... you get the idea! I currently have three pairs of jeans. One pair mother step fray crops, one pair citizens heavily distressed crops with wide leg openings, and one pair citizens denim cullotes. This is it. And now it is snowing!

Since we have had such a lovely long summerish fall, I have been in denial about the dearth of winter appropriate jeans/pants in my wardrobe. Until today when reality set in.

Just curious if anyone else feels the pain of trying on jeans? Also curious what others wear besides jeans when the snow flies?

General

22 replies

Latest reply was from cindysmith

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

Jeans are my life in winter. I am thinking you should probably consider the rise of your jeans more, because that will help you get a pair that fit you at their highest point. And then start thinking about whether your hips are wider, medium or narrow. And then the whole bum size thing.

Also consider what your feelings are on the fabric. Lately I am really liking Paige's Transcend fabric, which is very stretchy and soft and has a lot of rayon. Some people prefer the nearly all cotton feel. There is a wide range of possibilities,within the various shapes that are available. It's very personal.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Well, as someone who has worn dresses with her new tall ink blue boots all week - I say WHY NOT.

That said, I'm sure we can help you with fit, and alternation suggestions, zoe. You will need jeans to tuck into boots for snowy days. Don't give up yet.

Anonymous

Don't worry, I won't give up!

Alexandra

(website)

Veteran

When it snows, skirts or dresses with tights are better than jeans, in my experience. Warmer, and if your legs get wet, you towel off and the tights are dry almost instantly. Unlike jeans.

El Cee

Veteran

I empathize with you. It can be hard to find jeans that are comfy and just the right fit. I spent a lot of last winter in sweater dresses over leggings or fleece tights -- worn with tall boots. I was plenty warm. I also have denim culottes and intend to wear them through the upcoming cold weather with fleece tights and boots. You may want to try that.

Anonymous

Yes! Refocus on dresses and tights and see what you find. At the very least, you'll add Something different to your wardrobe that will work for fall.

It always seems like cold air is going to go up the skirt/dress, which is the main reason I've avoided them. But actually, I've never even tried a dress in the winter, so I actually don't know how cold/breezy it gets!

What about buying another pair of citizens?

Aziraphale

Veteran

You know, I don't find jeans to be all that warm, especially if they're tight. If they fit a bit baggy everywhere, it seems like they are better able to trap a layer of warm air between your legs and the fabric. Also, if it's really cold, you can fit long underwear underneath them (we never have to do that where I live, but those who live in the prairie provinces do).

Not everybody likes loose, boyfriend-style jeans, though. One thing I do sometimes, to get the right fit (and this applies to all garments, not just jeans) is to buy what fits my widest area, and then have the other bits tailored. Would you consider buying jeans that fit your legs, and then have the seat taken in?

Ledonna N.

Veteran

I can also empathize with you.

Long time ago i found a brand that fit me everywhere. When those wore out I went to purchase a couple of more pair. The brand discontinued it took me a fustratinf forever to find a replacement.

I decided if I found a pair that fit in the hip and thigh I would have the rest altered and purchase a few pair.

This will be the first winter wear I will went all.dreases and skirts. My job requirements are pants or jeans. Because of my little nugget (baby ) that's on the way. I'm am kind of glad about it. I look forward to just putting on a dress leggings and going.

When you have time go and shop for jeans never be in a rush.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

If you wear fleece lined thermal tights, dresses can work in arctic Winters. I don't wear them, nor do I live in a very snowy city.

BTW, I wear long thermal undies under my jeans, which helps A LOT.

Anonymous

What about a heavy ponte knit pant?

lisaflex

Veteran

i second fleece tights with skirt or dress and boots. its cold cold brrrrr here in ohio where i am at...and i am just fine with that. and i agree, jeans are not warm when its windchill of -10.....i have a pair of silk orvis long underwear that are thin and super warm and a pair of northface base layers that i sometimes wear under jeans....the brand HUE has fleece lined tights that last and fit and are not expensive.

jeans are tough for me too. i buy to fit thighs and then have waist and whatever else altered to fit....pricey, yes, worth it too!

Anonymous

These are all good suggestions, thanks!

I think I do need to force myself out of my casual comfort zone and try wearing skirts + tights + boots.

Also, I will be working on ways to winterize the jeans I have, for some reason I think they are for more temperate weather just because they are crops/culottes, but that is not the case I know. I need to experiment more!

I just tried duplicating my mother crop step frays, but for some reason the darker wash in the same size (!) was too tight, go figure. Instead of ordering online, with the seemingly endless returning, I will have to devote a day to jeans only shopping sometime soon.

Anonymous

Jeans are the absolute hardest to fit for me. I lost count of the number I have tried on in 2015 alone.

Anonymous

I just bought some new pairs of jeans due to weight loss. I still have the larger ones to possibly wear with Cuddl Duds underneath for warmth. I hate to get rid of them, as they are relatively new (purchased last year). I want to get some good out of them.

That said, I'd like to get some slim-legged ponte pants for work that can be tucked into tall boots.

cindysmith

Veteran

I love jeans, and yet I must agree that finding jeans (or even pants) that fit right off the rack is difficult. It takes patience, perseverance, dedication... some days there just isn't time for all that. If they fit in the waist, they squish my butt and thighs; if they fit my butt and thighs they're too big in the waist; if they actually fit then they're likely too short or too long. Or, if they fit in the dressing room, and I buy them, I get them home and they're stretched beyond hope within an hour of putting them on.

Once I find a pair of jeans (or even pants) that work off-the-rack or with some minimal alteration, I keep them for as long as they will last and I baby them through laundry cycles.

As for warmth when it comes to jeans? I don't have a lot of luck there unless they're flannel lined or accommodating enough for some thermals or leggings. I'm definitely glad to see so many suggestions here that I can start trying out!

Elle

Veteran

How totally frustrating for you. I actually have given up jeans for all the same maddening fit reasons. I wear dressy joggers with booties and dresses, warm tights, and boots. Not sure these ideas will work in your climate. Good luck

Gigi

Veteran

Argh, jeans fitting can be such a pain in the you-know-what. Last winter I had a really hard time finding petite-sized jeans that had enough room in the seat. Hardly anyone makes petite curvy jeans. I finally found a pair of petite jeans from Nordie's made of a really stretchy material that felt good. After that, I was exhausted from the search. So I know the hassle and the exasperation.

As for winter clothing, like Alexandra, I find that on the coldest days you can't beat either a maxi or a midi skirt with tights (I wear wool tights) or thick leggings, plus knee-high boots. I also have a pair of long underwear in black silk that I can pull on over the top of my leggings if I need to; they don't look like obvious underwear. When I get to my destination, I can easily take them off since they are an outer layer (I don't wear them as an inner layer because then I would get too hot indoors). If I do wear pants in frigid weather, I wear the silk underwear beneath them. For the skirts, I have two wool midi skirts in a stretchy knit, and a couple of maxi skirts that are form fitting and made of thick, stretchy material.

Anonymous

More great suggestions, thank you!

Gigi and cybthiawalkersmith - it is exactly this difficulty of fitting jeans that I am bemoaning! For an item touted as the great wardrobe staple, why oh why does it have to be so difficult?

krishnidoux

Veteran

I applaud your move. Exploring other options can be a refreshing way of considering your wardrobe.
This said, jeans are useful. I am with you regarding the increasingly difficult fit though. The solution: alterations. You need to find a good seamstress. Taking in the waist will make all the difference in the world, including at the thighs and butt, because a simple nip at the belt brings the whole garment up, bringing hips upwards, positioning thighs where they should (that its to say on your thighs and not bagging above your knees), etc.

cindysmith

Veteran

Oh, zoiechic, I get it. Its exhausting and I don't understand why on earth there can't be some sort of universal sizing system that makes an 8 an 8 no matter where I buy it. Or at least waist x inseam like man-pants, instead of this nonsense with a size 28 on women's jeans meaning that "generally, a person with a size 28 waist will fit in these jeans even though these jeans actually sit 7 inches below that 28 inch waist" or whatever nonsense a size 28 jeans really means. And even in, oh, say, Old Navy jeans, I can take 4 pairs of the exact same size 6 Jean in the exact same color way into the dressing room, and none of them will fit the same because the machines cut entire stacks of jeans pieces at once so the bottom piece is different from the top piece. It's exhausting, and most days I just don't have the emotional fortitude to deal with it. It sometimes makes me wonder "who says jeans are a staple?" because at a different time in my life, I had no occasion to wear jeans at all so they would have been a waste of money.

Anonymous

Exactly! At least I know now it's not just me

cindysmith

Veteran

Zoiechic, it is definitely not just us. It's not women that are the problem, it's not our bodies that are the problem--it's the clothes and the companies that make them