Playing with Skinnies - YouLookFab Forum

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Playing with Skinnies

LaPed

Veteran

A whole decade has gone by and I *still* don't understand skinny jeans. I never really jumped on the skinny train, because most of the ones I've tried have been unflattering and/or uncomfortable. I picked these up at Athleta over the weekend because I really like the colour and they actually fit (very stretchy with a high rise), and they have a clever pocket design that mitigates the pocket-bunching that often happens with tight pants. The idea of light grey jeans appeals -- always looking for light neutrals.

Here they are with tall boots, which I think looks okay, and short boots, which I think looks awful. Is it just me or do the tall boots balance out the proportions so much better? (I realize longer, looser tops are most people's solution to the proportion issue, but that's not a look I'm particularly interested in.)

Also, when wearing full-length skinnies with ankle boots, do you tuck or cuff? I think these look better cuffed, but again, I don't think I'd actually wear skinny jeans with short boots, so it's a bit of a moot point.

This isn't really a K/R; I'm leaning toward R since I don't love them, but thought it would be fun to find out what other people's eyes see.

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Dressing

19 replies

Latest reply was from Stagiaire Fash

rachylou

Veteran

That's interesting. I think they look nice, but not exciting... and I agree, they don't look quite right with the short boots. I think these are more jeggings than skinnies. It's funny because while they're my style, I don't think they're quite yours. I wear long sweaters and lots of skirts over bottoms, so there's that long thing...

Sara L.

Veteran

I love skinny jeans in the winter with tall boots. I don't usually wear mine with short boots but when I do, I prefer the cuffed look. I roll them a couple times and wear them with flats like ballet slippers if it's not quite cool enough for tall boots. I think they look good and I like the sweater length on you.

skylurker

Veteran

Like Rachy, I see jeggings, because they’re bodycon + the fabric looks thin&stretchy.
Wearing with boots give them a classic equestrian vibe, while booties look like : Kate Moss, 20 years ago.
I really want to add a blazer to #1.

LaPed

Veteran

Hmm, see, I clearly don't know the proper terminology -- I thought skinnies were by definition bodycon? And I thought jeggings were knit fabric and pull-on with a fake fly, like leggings but with a denim print. I can never manage to get skinnies to fit in a "relaxed" way because to get looseness in the legs I have to go up many sizes from my waist. These are already one size up because otherwise my calves wouldn't fit.

The fabric is pretty substantial -- more so than many of the skinnies I've looked at at department stores and TJ Maxx and such. They feel basically the same as these Prana Jeans (http://www.prana.com/kara-jean.html) which I had a few years ago, and which fit me really well during the postpartum phase, but then I tried a smaller pair when I'd lost the baby weight and didn't like them nearly as much. I think as my waist went back to being smaller than my hips and thighs, the skinny fit looked less and less appealing. The Prana jeans were a little bit looser at the ankle, but almost as fitted as these everywhere else (at least on me when I bought them).

I like the idea of having a pair of jeans to wear under dresses, because my usual pants are way too bulky for that. These actually look good in that application -- I tried them under a couple of merino knit dresses that hit above the knee -- maybe I'll grab some more photos later. I'm also trying to decide whether I ought to, or can justify, adding more tall boots. Right now I just have the one pair shown above and I wear them exclusively with dresses and skirts, because I don't have any pants that can be tucked into them. I may just abandon the idea of adding tall boots and skinny pants altogether. It seems complicated.

ETA Find.

Gap Sculptek Skinny Jean Grey Wash

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rachylou

Veteran

Try the dresses! I actually really like these and think they could be very useful. A good base. Esp with a jacket, like skylurker said. If you ever do a bootie with a bit of heel, that would also be effective.

Sara L.

Veteran

I must not know the correct terminology either. I thought the same as you in regards to jeggings vs. skinny jeans. I never went off the high-boot trend so most of my jeans are skinny jeans because I like to wear them in the winter with boots.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

La Ped, there look like jeggings. Very soft, stretchy, thin denim that fits like a glove.

Skinnies don't need to be body con, thin and stretchy. They can be tailored and have very little stretch. And not fit as tightly all the way down the leg.

That said. These look great tucked into tall boots especially.

Sal

Veteran

I think these work, but I have seen you in jeans/pants that I prefer. But it is all in the styling - under dresses they will be brilliant.

While I am larger than you my calves are often my sticking point and I find straight or slim jeans easier than skinnies for this reason.

I have a pair of skinnies and I do like having them for wearing with rainboots, with long casual sweaters and scarves on a casual day. I spend a lot of time in rainboots in the winter and the less bulk in the fabric in the calf area the better!!

ClaraT

Veteran

I actually like them with the booties, especially because they are low contrast. (And I like both folded under and rolled; the first is sleeker, the second a bit more street.)
Skinny jeans with booties is a staple look in San Francisco (a city of walkers), so maybe this is a what-you're-used-to-seeing thing. The equestrian look (skinnies with high boots) has been in style for several years now around here and still looks good.
I'm not a big Pinterest person, but I do find it helpful when I have something I like (fits/comfortable) but I'm not sure how to style it. Maybe that could give you some ideas.

Greenjeans

Veteran

"A whole decade has gone by and I *still* don't understand skinny jeans."

Ha! You and me both.

Anonymous

These look like jeggings.
I think they look good and show off your figure. I like them with the tall boots and maybe an even larger cuff than what you're showing in the photos.

You can get skinnies that are not so soft and stretchy.

Gigi

Veteran

I like them. They go well with both the knee-high boots and the booties, IMO. I like the cuffed look better than uncuffed.

Joy

Veteran

They look like jeggings and I can see them worn like leggings under a tunic or dress, but, while they look good, they do not look like your style. Still, I can see you making them work if you want to move in that direction.

approprio

(website)

Veteran

I'd call myself a skinnies agnostic. I don't hate them but they're not my best trouser shape either. I keep few pairs to wear under tunics or oversized knits in winter, but I don't have much use for them otherwise.

I agree with Joy: keep them if you see yourself moving in that direction. Otherwise I'd say pass.

delurked

Veteran

I'm with Gigi in that I like the cuff better than the non cuff with the booties.

Style Fan

Veteran

I don`t wear skinnies but I can see the appeal on others. I laughed when I read your comment about a whole decade had passed by. I keep hoping skinnies will go away. I now realize they are here to stay.
I prefer the cuffed look but to be honest I prefer other jeans you have worn. Sausage jeans have never appealed to me.

Lisa

Veteran

I like both boot options here with the current top, no need to go longer just because you're wearing skinny jeans. For the shorter boot, when it is flush to the leg like this, I cuff the jean. If the bootie was a little wider at the top, I leave the jean tucked in. But that's just me.

Greyscale

Veteran

I think the term jeggings shifted over the last 10 years. You're right, it used to refer to things that were actually knit and looked like jeans but with fake pockets and fly. Or at least that's how I first encountered it. But now I see it used for what I'd originally have call skinny jeans. The jeans I wear these days that I consider skinnies are a bit more relaxed, for the most part.

I've never worn any pants I'd call jeggings. I don't know if that's style preference or linguistic preference though.

Though then to confuse things, the Gap just had some ad about "sculpting" jeans that you have to pull on like nylons (bunch up and work up each leg) which just sounds like hell to me, to be honest.

Anyway, these particular fitted denim trousers, whatever their name, don't look good with the short boots. But they look great with the top and the tall boots.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Whatever you call them, I think they look good with the tall boots. But if the point of getting them is to have that box checked off, then you're better off returning.