Skinnies Terminology - How are "true skinnies", "slouchy skinnies" ..

How are "true skinnies" different from "slouchy skinnies" or "tailored skinnies"?

I am late to skinny pants ..... since I didn't think I could wear them. However I have seen so many of these out there and fewer of the bootcuts that I love that I am beginning to want to try them.

How are "true skinnies" different from "slouchy skinnies" or "tailored skinnies"? Is it in the way that they are cut or the way we wear them?

For example is a slouchy skinny a size up from a true skinny? Or is the slouchy skinny a totally different cut from the true skinny, and therefore I have to look for one that actually says "slouchy skinny" on the label, or something?

How are slouchy skinnies supposed to look from the back? Are they supposed to droop in an attractive way? Should someone with a flat behind wear them slouchy or not?

And what are "tailored skinnies"? How are they different from the other 2?

Any pictures would also be most helpful.

If Angie or anyone else could explain them to me, it would be most appreciated. Or if this topic has already been discussed here on YLF where I could find it ... Thank you ! Happy Sunday!

13 years ago

JulieJohn

Veteran

I am confused about this too - and I would like to add, what shoes go with each type?

Here's my dilemma - Should I plan to wear them tucked in to calf-high boots, in which case they should be truly skinny so they fit inside the boot? Or should I plan to wear them with flats or low-heeled booties, in which case they should slouch a little so they drape around the ankle?

Thank you, Andie, for starting this thread. I know there is great "skinny wisdom" on this forum so we should get some very helpful answers.

amiable

As a beginner here, don't trust my word - especially if others disagree. But I've thought about this a good bit, so I'm going to give it a stab.

- I think that slouchy skinnies are skinnies that are sized up a size or two, so they're not super tight.

- Body-con are the skinnies that are actually tight. (In my mind, it's kind of the way way you see teenagers wearing skinnies).

- Tailored and slouchy skinnies give you more moving room and leave a bit more to the imagination. They're both roomier than "skinnies".

- I'm less clear on the distinction between tailored and slouchy skinnies. I think of the tailored as ones that were designed to not be skin tight, (narrow-cut instead of super-skinnies) and slouchy as ones that were designed to be skin tight, but that you've sized up on to make not so tight (so the fit in the crotch is looser than designed also).

Suz

(website)

It's confusing, isn't it? Don't worry - you are not alone in your ponderings!

Here are some threads where we discuss this, and they include visuals:

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....in-slouchy

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ousers-fit

Those posts are mostly about trousers but do include some jeans pictures and the principles are similar.

Here is Angie's blog post on boyfriend jeans, with visuals. http://youlookfab.com/2012/07/.....end-jeans/

You'll see that there is a wide variation possible in the fit.

With jeans, some people do "size up" for a slouchy skinny look. Others find it does not work well for them and then need to buy jeans that are deliberately cut for slouch.

I have a pair of "slouchy skinnies" (called such) by Banana Republic from few seasons ago. They are in fact a size large on me. So the crotch point is dropped, I pretty much have to wear a belt to keep them on. They're looser in the seat and upper thigh, but still very narrow at the bottom. (Pic 1)

Pic 2 shows my even slouchier Gap Sexy Boyfriend jeans. They are two sizes up, and much baggier as well as having a dropped crotch point.

Pic 3 shows what I think of as a "traditional" pair of skinnies. They are quite form-fitting, as you see. These actually border on slouchy, however...they tend to stretch out and slouch a bit as the day goes on.

Pic 4 shows "jeggings" -- ultra skinny legging jeans. These are the kind that are great to tuck into knee high boots. You see that they are tighter to the ankle than the white ones, which offer a bit more "scrunch" at the bottom.

Pic 5 is another pair of skinny jeans - these are really snug fitting all the way but have a bit of scrunch at the bottom. They're high waisted so good for tucking into boots (they don't crawl down, as lower waisted ones can do when tucked into boots.)

Pic 6 is a pair of Gap Really Skinny pants.

Pic 7 is a pair of what might be called "tailored skinny trousers" except I sized up one size for a bit more ease.

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JulieJohn - another point of clarification.

There's "slouch." That is the crotch point and where it falls.

There's "baggy" -- trousers can be baggy without being slouchy. They can be slouchy without being baggy. Or they can be both.

And then there is "scrunch." Scrunch is the fabric that pools at the bottom of skinnies. Or not, depending on your personal preference and the width of the bottom of the jean.

Suz, you are the bomb! Great explanations, and even better were the pictures. Now I can really see what you're saying, and I will be better equipped when I go shopping.

Thanks to your help I find I am looking for a pair of skinny or ultra skinny jeans that have a bit of scrunch! Then I can tuck them into tall boots, or wear them scrunched over booties. Yay, I sound like I understand, ha ha!

Thank you so much!

Aziraphale

Wow, Suz seems to have handled this one thoroughly all on her own. Not much I can add except to tell you how I wear my own "true skinnies" and "slouchy skinnies".

I have several pairs of true skinnies. They are quite form fitting, hugging my bum and legs all the way down. I wear them full length with either ankle boots, low-top Converse or, occasionally, high-heeled pumps. There is always a bit of scrunch at the bottom.

I have two pair of jeggings, which look like skinnies but are even tighter. I wear these with tall boots sometimes, or ankle boots. I usually wear a drapey jersey top or loose button-front shirt with them, otherwise it looks unbalanced. These type of skinnies show EVERY CURVE and, to my eye, require a looser top.

I have one pair of slouchy skinnies that I hemmed to ankle length. They are J. Crew toothpick jeans, which are true skinnies, but I sized up for a looser fit. They don't cling to my butt like normal skinnies do, and they look good rolled up a bit and worn with flat ankle boots or t-strap pumps.

Andie

Active Member

Thanks for that lesson all! Now it makes a lot more sense to me! Will be trying on skinnies at the store after this ...

Adelfa

I've wondered too! Andie, thanks for asking this! Suz and Elisabeth, you are amazing! I have a pair of H&M "slim" jeans that I've worn for a year straight. I think they are skinny when they come out of the wash, but slouchy a few hours later!

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