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Jeans for Spring/Summer - what is "current" UPDATE: at end.

Sal

Veteran

Hi All

I am looking for some new denim jeans.

My current collection is very small
- Straight leg blue Superdry (worn cuffed, too low a rise but a good fit otherwise)
- Blue skinny high waisted ankle jeans (Just Jeans brand) - a good basic (I have two identical pairs)
- Old Levis, loose fit, with holes rips from wear

I have just discarded some black skinnies that after four years I was frustrated with - going white, the shaping was wrong, the zip was failing

I had a look in David Jones, tried on several pairs of Paige Jeans (high waisted straights, mid rise ankle skinnies), and worked out my size. The fit was good but in NZ, not on sale, it is over $300 and I decided to hold off. I also tried some AG and some Country Road jeans, but they did not work as well on me.

Here, and in Sydney there seem to be skinnies, slim and straight leg jeans. Some of the skinnies are cropped.

Here is my wish list (do's and don'ts)

I don't want skinnies
I don't want white jeans or distressing
I do want high or mid rise
I want them to be current, but I expect 3 years wear from them
I rarely tuck into jeans as I am short waisted.
Flattery is important to me in jeans but so is comfort.

I have a bulky calf and this is often the point where jeans can be too tight. I am 5 foot 8 and a muscular hourglass. I want to wear them with sandals, sneakers, mostly flat but some low heels.

If you were me what would you buy? Am I expecting too much from the one pair of jeans - I do this sometimes I know....

Thanks
Sally

Shopping

36 replies

Latest reply was from Sal

Anonymous

No idea whatsoever. But it is really nice to see you. Have you been busy?

Sal

Veteran

I have been busy and in Sydney for work:) I got to meet Brooklyn...

Anonymous

Oh how nice! I saw the post, but I didn't realize you were "Sally." I'll go catch up right now.

WOW. I missed a lot!!

Style Fan

Veteran

I am always searching for the perfect pair of jeans. I have had a few pairs in my 60 plus years but I would like more.
Paige jeans are close to $300.00 Canadian. That is about equal to Australian dollars. I have a mix of premium denim and regular denim in my wardrobe. I notice a big difference in how premium denim fits.
Did you like the Paige straight leg jeans?

Anonymous

I wish I could help you, Sally, but the brand I like is Canadian.

I think Paige is a brand that has more room in the seat, if I'm not mistaken. So if that's the case, I would seek out NZ or AU brands that are for curvy types and see how that goes.

Sal

Veteran

Thanks Stylefan. Yes the Paige were about $290 Australian which is over $300 NZD. A significant purchase!! I did like the straight leg high waisted ones, the fit was great, but were they amazing....I was not sure at the time.

Smittie - yes I do need room in the thighs and am smaller in the waist (not as much as in the past as I age sadly). NZ does not make a lot of denim - there are some retailers that have their own brands (Max, Country Road, Glassons etc) but most of the denim is Australian or American with smatterings from other places...

Some of the premium brands are just so expensive there - $350 or even higher.....On the other hand you can find cheap denim for $30-$60....

I wonder if the truth is that I need one pair of great classic jeans and one pair of more fun statement jeans (maybe a flare for example). I tend to like to have five pairs of jeans and while I have four already, two are a duplicate so it feels like only three (there was a buy one pair for $90, two for $99 deal). It is hard to find the flares though - the range is very small at the moment and the bootcuts available are straight from 1998!!

3style

Veteran

How about more information about what other items you do want the jeans to go wear together in terms of style? For general versatility, perhaps gray jeans would add something?

Sal

Veteran

3Style - yes I have considered a coloured pair or a coated pair. For summer I think coated won't be so good but grey could work. I wear skinnies in winter but not as much over the summer period.

I have a couple of tops that are a bit cropped for my lower rise jeans but I don't want to wear skinny jeans. I look best with a bit of ease in my jeans. I will wear them for smart casual with white sneakers, with loafers, with sandals....maybe with a leather jacket.

In terms of colours I wear a large range from coral to red to black to whites and creams to green and a lot of pattern..

3style

Veteran

My first instinct based upon what you said and for the US market is that I checked out the Gap "Jean's for tall women" section. [Sorry I am not quite competent in the hyperlink department of ylf and I will need to experiment with this later.] Anyway, I quite like the front view of the "high rise denim trouser jeans." In this instance, I like the pleats in the front and I don't think they are enough to add bulk. It says that they are skinny towards the bottom of the opening, but they don't look like that on the model so you would need to check calf circumference. But I have had bad experiences with such big flaps as are shown on the back pockets, so I would either remove them or sew them shut.

Anyway, this might not be the exact pair for you, but I think that the cut is quite different from the eighties pleated jeans and maybe it will give you a direction to ponder.

Personally, I am trying to transition more into navy (non-denominational) trousers because I am not crazy about the look of denim jacket with jeans, but only in terms of my own style. And I really want to wear my tried and true (but slightly underutilized) denim jacket more this year; it is actually more flattering now that I have more developed shoulder and arm muscles.

Anyway, Angie is a wizard at what I call "double denim" but I do think that the short hair she wears helps with making her style look intentional and fresh and not too much an imitation of a country western style.

rose

Sal, I have had good wear out of Verge jeans, priced around $170 NZ, via Hartley's Stores.They are a good classic straight leg. They fit my aging pear shape and I get good compliments- always a bonus. Not sure where in NZ you are. Hope that's some use to you.

Sal

Veteran

Thanks Rose, always good to have a recommendation.

Style Fan

Veteran

The Paige jeans sound like a great fit. The price is about the same as it would be in Canada or the US. I like your idea of one classic pair and one trendy pair.

Do you have The Gap near by? Some Fabbers have had great success with Gap jeans. Not me though.

Sal

Veteran

There is no Gap here Stylefan. I could buy online but jeans are so tricky that I am reluctant to do so...I certainly don't fit or suit every pair of jeans I try on sadly...

Bijou

Veteran

Sal for a hot Australian summer I like cropped flare jeans, because they are almost as cool to wear as shorts (the exposed ankle is much more cooling than a full length jean). I bought AG's and JBrand jeans last summer and will wear them again this year. I was very lucky because Myer had the AG's reduced to half price when I bought them. I wear these jeans year round. With an ankle boot they work in winter for me as well.

Goodluck with the search. Finding jeans that work can be tricky.

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Jenni NZ

Veteran

Hi Sal do you have any options of outlet stores around? I bought my NYDJ straight legs at one in Albany for $159 which is much less than NYDJ usually cost here. I also bought my Macjays there which is a good brand worth checking. And I agree with Rose that Verge makes good stuff, I don't have their jeans but have had tops. Also I think there might be a Magazine outlet store in Hamilton now. They have nice brands and while you may think they are plus size they actually are size 10-22 or something. My new black cropped jeans are from K and K and are very comfy and seem flattering!

Karenb

I live in Sydney and have bought high waisted skinny jeans in grey and mid blue from COS ... they were under $100 Australian dollars. They hold their shape and wash well. Happy with them.

Brooklyn

Veteran

Sally, as you know, I recently got high waist step hem skinny jeans from Country Road. They are not tight on my calves, almost a straight leg. I wish there were more straight leg available because that's the cut that works best for me.
Thanks for the COS recommendation Karenb, I will check that out.

3style

Veteran

Just reread my post this morning. Autocorrect turned "non-denim" into "non-denominational" and I didn't notice until just now. I hate that the Apple iPhone default is to just substitute a more common word for the word one types and you have to be watching the word suggestions and not the sentence you are writing in order to catch this substituting for more common words. End of rant.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Sally, I can't recommend specific brands because I'm not sure what is available to you, but I can say that two ideas here strike me as sensible:

1. The notion of one "classic" jean (perhaps at a higher price point) and one fun trend jean.

2. The idea of crops for an Australian summer. Either that, or jeans that easily roll into a BF type look.

Our body types are not the same but I, too, struggle with calves that seem bigger than the norm. (As a matter of fact they are not wider than norm -- but are wider in a different place than the norm due to my height -- same fitting problem I have with some tall boots.) Anyway...my point is that for me, the best, most comfortable silhouettes so far have been the slim boyfriend (it has more calf room and room in thighs and on me looks like a looser skinny) or the cigarette shape, which has more width on the calf than the skinny.

I am also experimenting with higher rises. I've learned that my ideal is probably a high-ish mid-rise, but I like to have a pair or two higher in my closet now as they work with certain tops and feel more current, just as I liked having a few slightly lower versions in the past when lower rise were the standard.

If I were going with an inexpensive trend jean for the NZ summer, I'd aim for a wide leg or flare in a light weight or even maybe chambray - or perhaps forget "jean" and go for a linen easy pant for this item. Depending on summer plans and weather, you might enjoy that even more.

As for the other, I'd go with a slim cigarette or straight and probably a premium jean if I could afford. I have to say that I truly hesitated on the premium thing at first due to price...but it has been so worth it to me. Admittedly, with my lifestyle, jeans are pretty much all I wear. (They are my work wear as well as casual wear, except in hot summer). That means the best pairs get upwards of 200 wears before I pass them on. When an item gets that many wears, it makes sense to pay significantly for it. When an item will only get 20 to 30 wears, perhaps not so much.

ETA: just added a few illustrations, though I know you can't get the exact items.

Citizens of Humanity Cara Ankle Cigarette Jeans

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Rayner trouser jean in dark wash

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Chelsea28 Denim Culottes (Blue Mode Medium Vintage)

Sale

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Cropped chambray pant with tie

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Linen drapey drawstring pant

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Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I vote straight leg, full length, with a tailored fit in black or dark blue. OR bootcuts that you can wear with heels.

Joy

Veteran

I would look for wide leg crops. I really enjoyed mine this summer as cool and non- binding in the calf. I also felt current in released hems. What I thought would be current but did not get worn much were a pair of cropped blue jeans with denim patches ( in Finds below).
Maybe utility pants or khakis would be a good summer choice instead of jeans.

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Sal

Veteran

Thanks all - I am off to work soon so will reply in more detail later today... but I have a plan in my head!!

karen13

Veteran

I have a very large and low calf. I like these Levis 314 Slimming Straight jeans in the Find below. I'm not sure if you can source them in Oz. They seem true to size.

Levi's Womens 314 Shaping Straight

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3style

Veteran

On account of this post I was surveying the jeans around our local mall today as I went to help my husband find some pants for work. The four interesting jeans type trends that I saw were:
(1) Chambray dressy lightweight trousers sold with a matching blazer new at Banana Republic. I haven't seen anyone wearing them, and since we are rapidly heading into autumn weather I don't think they will catch on until next year here.
(2) Jeans with a bit of a vertical striation pattern which looks almost like subtle pinstripes and I tiny bit of flare at the bottom hem.
(3) Jeans that are cuffed to be 7/8 length, where the cuff is about 4 inches wide and folded over only one time and crisply ironed or just sewn tight with a one-turn-cuff like that. This seems to be the most popular.
(4) Lots of skinnies ending at mid calf. The ones with a bit of a released hem looked better in this length.

No cropped flares in sight.

Sal

Veteran

Thanks all for your good advice and tips. I realised that I make the same mistake with jeans and with boots - I like to update one pair a year for each item. But every now and then I feel like I need two of an item - but I do not want to buy two so I try and find one pair that will meet every need..which is impossible. I try and keep a pretty lean wardrobe and in many ways (to me) one pair of jeans looks much like another.

I know Angie and Ummila and Suz have all commented (on other threads in the past) about keeping denim current....but when I look around I see many many skinnies or slim fit that are just not that different to what I own. Rises are higher, and there is some ankle interest, but less different shapes than I thought there might be. Of course it is hard in retail and perhaps stores are playing it safe.

3Style - thank you for your research!! I like the sound of 1 and 3 on your list very much. I would love some denim trousers or something like that. And I do like cuffed jeans - I have long legs and they often seem to work well on me.

Karen - I am in NZ but we usually have a good range of Levis here. Slimming jeans always sound good to me!!

Joy - thank you. I think a pair of loose fit cropped pants would be super useful - maybe denim or maybe olive....

Thanks Angie - a dark pair would be a nice mix up. I mostly own mid blue denim so a dressier fabrication could work well. Bootcuts are hard to find at the moment...

Suz - thanks, my plan is to get one pair of premium or quality high rise jeans and another pair of culottes or flares or denim crops - and maybe not denim. I do have a summer clothing budget and pants are the main need as this year I am sorted for shorts, a bikini, and I do not need a lot of occasion wear. I have not yet pulled out my pieces that I stored away as I am a couple of months away from true summer gear but I might get a chance to have a look and remind myself later this week. You look terrific in denim and I like all your finds.

Brooklyn - I actually tried the step hem straights on in Country Road - and they were okay, but not as good as the Paige Jeans (but cheaper!!) They were certainly better than the olive skinny jeans I tried that lasted about five seconds on. I did like the jeans but the fit was not quite right on me - I bet they look good on you!

Karen - thanks - we don't have Cos here in NZ but I had a quick look through their Sydney store last week.

Jenni- there is an outlet mall here - I rarely visit but maybe should pop in. I am such an impatient shopper......I could try NYDJ - for a good classic pair they might be a really good option.

Bijou - thanks!! Great scores on the sales....Yes cropped would work for me well - I tend not to wear jeans on hot days but they are perfect for spring and autumn and some cooler summer nights.

My plan is that when we visit Christchurch next month, there is a jeans whisperer down there. A friend told me about him - and then a second friend today. The online reviews are fantastic!! He has a great range of labels and I can easily wait a month - he even makes videos and has the art of providing the best jeans in one or two attempts...perfect for a lazy shopper like me. In the meantime I am going to look at a few mid range retailers, thrift shops and online for some fun statement pants or jeans (Culottes/flares etc)

If all fails I can buy the Paige straight leg high rise ones on line....

I will let you all know how I get on.

Kiwimom

The jeans whisperer sounds amazing!

I'm also pear shaped and tend to buy the Curve or Tummy Trimmer ranges from JeansWest - good prices and a range of styles. Tend to be mostly skinnies but they do have other leg options.

Was lucky enough to win a pair of NYD jeans recently - super comfy but Already starting to show signs of rubbing on the inner thighs (none of my other jeans have done this). Nice, but wouldn't go out and drop $200+ on them.

Good luck!

Anonymous

Yes, I like the suggestion of a flares --not necessarily in a jean fabric, but maybe something lighter weight.

So I think I would create a jeans capsule with specimens with different silhouettes. So i would do:

1. Very dark wash cropped straight jeans (slight flare at the bottom). These would be your practical and trendy jeans.

2. Medium wash cropped straights with a nice whiskering. These would be your rugby jeans.

3. Iightweight chambray-ish blue flares to be worn with heels. These would be your cocktails jeans.

4. Black or olive cargo/utility cropped skinnies. These would be your fun jeans.

5. Dark wash straight leg long denim (that is Angie's suggestion upthread). You could wear these with heels and flats. These would be your serious jeans.

Anonymous

Smittie - could you please come over to my house and figure out my jeans for me ? Jeans confuse me . I have too many pair and don't know what I'm doing .

Krestin Andrews

Member

Why don't you try any skinny jeans that sits just below the curve of your waist and is cut slim through the hip and thigh for a flattering, versatile fit.

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