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talk to me about black denim

kkards

Veteran

my office switch to a casual business --ie jeans and sneakers are now work approprate, over the summer....and now as fall/winter rolls around, i'm evaluating my current denim situation.....and wondering why i don't own any "everyday" black jeans. and wondering if i need some...some background, black pants were a fashion essential....and yet....

the finds are the 2 pairs of black denim that i do own --IMO both pairs read more "pant" IRL than jeans....,but then maybe you disagree....and i'd be interested in hearing about that...

....so do i need basic black jeans? interested in hearing what other fabbers think...are black jeans necessary to you, why? or if not, why not...

Joie 'Bardot' Crop Flare Leg Pants

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Modern Coated Super Skinny Jeans

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36 replies

Latest reply was from Greyscale

Bijou

Veteran

I recently bought my first pair of black skinny jeans and I do love them. The reason that I bought them was that I bought some knee high black boots (similar in style to a riding boot) and found that the black jeans were more flattering in giving a longer leg line, than lighter coloured denim. I wear mine to work on casual dress Friday, with a soft blouse and blazer and if not boots with heels.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I find black jeans very useful. Only real downside is that the dye tends to fade very quickly, and nicely black jeans read differently than faded almost-gray jeans; both are nice in their own way but have a different vibe.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I am also interested in getting a pair of black jeans but don't currently own any.

gryffin

Veteran

I actually love black jeans. Both faded, true midnight, coated. I have a hard time find really nice ones. I think they read dressier, which is what I prefer, and wear them smart casual. I have worn black jeans to work with a nice top, booties and blazer. But I think sometimes the danger of YLF is you see what others love and wonder if you need it. The question is do you like the look of black jeans, do the ones you have make you look and feel fab. I always try and ask is this right for me? Or a fab look on someone else?

Deb

Veteran

Like Gryffin, I love true black and faded black jeans. I have Paige skinnies, J Brand crop flares and Agolde straight legs. I bought two pairs of the crops and straight legs to keep them nice for longer. They are slimming, flattering and work with many colours as well as all manner of tops, knitwear and outerwear. They look dressier than blue denim imo. I wash mine in side out, by hand and then spin in the machine before line drying inside to reduce fading.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I love black jeans -- I'm always looking to visually slim my bottom half, and great fitting black pants or jeans do that better than almost anything else. I have a pair of black skinnies (Lucky Lolita cut), black full-length flares (Pilcro from Anthro), and an old black pair of Kut skinny/straight leg that fit well but are kind of heavy so I save them for winter.

Oh, and I just remembered I also have black skinnies that I guess qualify as jeans -- they're faux leather front and ponte back.

My most-worn black pants are not denim -- they are Lululemon moto pants. I fear the day they wear out. I love them that much. I love the look of moto jeans, but they usually do not fit my thighs, or the moto detailing is unflattering on my legs. The Lululemon pants have subtle enough detailing that they work.

I find black pants/jeans absolutely indispensable because 1) flattery as I mentioned before, 2) they play with my wardrobe well because I wear lots of black, and 3) they work well for my active casual life -- they don't show dirt and stains so quickly.

I do think that black jeans dress up easier than blue, unless the blue is a uniform very dark wash. That makes black jeans especially versatile.

Runcarla

Veteran

Interesting to read Laura's post about black dye being fugitive. My one pair of black jeans are really faded to grey. I hardly wore them as long straights, but hacked them summer 2016 when the released hems trend inspired a do-it-yourself crop job. Now they are my favourite Jeans. I think it is fit, more than colour that makes them so.

DS#1 had a pair of waxed black jeans that were fabulous. He was meticulous with care and they looked good (and dark/black) for a long time (3 years?)

Do you have black trousers that you love and wear a lot? If you feel they are too formal for your office, black jeans might be the thing. I do like the 2 pants you posted, especially the cropped flares. More 'style' to them then basic black jeans.

Anonymous

I prefer washed or faded black denim over pure black for a couple of reasons: the dye gets on everything from my car seat, to my purse, and me; and then because pure black denim is a major lint collector. I never feel put together because of that. I find they can also look a bit "cheap" too - which is weird I know, but that's what my eye sees That all said, I do like having black denim in my jeans collection and always do - but never pure black. Waxed denim is a whole different animal - those are cool on other people, but I can't do it myself. They might be a perfect office-wear solution.......

lisaflex

Veteran

i had an absolutely fab pair from whbm - but that was many years ago. they were dated so went to salvation army.

but, they wore super super well. i had zero dye issues. i didnt wash them super often. and, when they were in need of a wash, they got washed alone with just a bit of vinegar and hung to dry. or dry cleaned occassionally. i think i work them for at least 5 years and they nlooked brand new. not sure if whbm still carries black jeans?

Anonymous

I agree with what Laura posted. Black jeans are great. The dye in the pair I bought from J Jill faded very fast resulting in a faded black color. I could wear the black to work. I didn't feel comfortable wearing the faded black to work. They went from somewhat dressy to casual almost overnight.

Sal

Veteran

I owned one pair til recently when they were discarded (lasted four years). They were becoming very greyed and the zip was failing which is never a good thing....

I have replaced with blue rather than black - I may look at black again next winter. I like black jeans in the evening, and they are good for wearing a blue denim jacket.

kkards

Veteran

Once again the wisdom of YLF has come thru for me....its the fade....that's why I don't own any real black jeans......when they fade I just don't know what to do with them....wearing black with them feels off.....and anything else i could/would just wear "regular" blue denim or white...I think I'll stop looking, think about casualizing my 5 pocket black ponte knit pants.....

Gigi

Veteran

I don't have any regular black jeans because when I have purchased them in the past, they fade, and I like a true black look. I do have a pair of coated black jeans that has kept its color, however, and I love them.

Greyscale

Veteran

A lot of labels are starting to offer black denim that they call "Stayblack" or "Ever Black" or similar things. At least one of those is the trademark of some company that developed a new technology for black dye, and I assume the others are either similar technologies or just trying to capitalize on it.

I find that the dye quality varies hugely and it's hard to predict from price. I dislike overdyed denim and find it fades too much. Rag & Bone is a particular culprit - theirs fades very blue.

Half of my black jeans are traditional denim with white warp and black weft (or is it vice versa?) and only the black fibers showing. That tends to fade to a classic broken in look (some were bought pre-faded). I find it easy to wear all my solid black tops with these.

The other half of my jeans are totally black but I don't think they're overdyed, I think they are woven with black. For my own style, despite wearing all black (or maybe because of it?) I sometimes find it tricky to work solid black denim into my wardrobe. Solid black skinnies work very well, for a sort of legging look. For boyfriend or straight leg jeans, I find solid black is sometimes too monolithic for my taste. And it can look too colorblocky with solid tops that aren't black (just not my look).

But, that said, I love the solid black boyfriend jeans I bought this season and I usually wear them with the cuffs rolled so that my ankles break up the column of black.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I have a pair of black R13 jeans which might be my most worn pair. The color has lasted pretty well. I also have a newer pair of Mother step hem jeans (second hand). I find black jeans work really well since I wear a lot of black and white patterns.

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

My one pair, 3x1 black skinny jeans, has held up in terms of wear and colour, but gets less love than my blue jeans. That has more to do with a preference for looser denim, though.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I really like black skinny high waisted jeans. In fact I need a new pair.

karen13

Veteran

you can overdye black jeans if they fade. I bought a pair of 7 for all Mankind jeans at a consignment store and had them hemmed. I noticed the fading on the thigh ran down too far with the shorter length, so I bought some black dye for cotton fromDharma Trading and dyed them on the stove in a large non-food pot. They now are deep black all over. So if you have a favorite pair that you wish was black again, nothing to lose!

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I've never owned a pair of black jeans. Last year I thought of getting a pair but then realized that the dye would likely be a problem as many pointed out. Of course now that I've learned more about my own color contrast I'm not sure black is a great option for me. I may look for one more pair of jeans this year in a color but not necessarily black.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

My biggest issue with black jeans is the smell of the dye that is present in many of them. It lingers in my Lucky ones as well as the Pilcro ones. I bought some of that Sport Wash that was recommended on the forum, to see if that will help eliminate the odor once and for all!

Marilyn

Veteran

Add me to the list of those who prefer a slightly faded black jean over a pure black. I just got a pair of Mother Lookers in Black Bird and I quite like them.

I wear a lot of black but something about a solid black jean has never felt quite right for me. They feel a bit heavy looking, if that makes sense. And yes, they are lint magnets. I think it all just comes down to personal preference and what sort of vibe you're going for.

rachylou

Veteran

Hmm. All my jeans come from Target... ok not all but... anyways, never had a problem with fading but a) I don't wear jeans much and b) I don't think fading is something I'd even notice when it comes to jeans... I sort of think they're meant to fade.

I do prefer black to 'regular blue' jeans, which I find too 'casual.' Casual isn't the right word, since jeans are inherently casual... but I find that standard blue more than rough around the edges and downright rough... like going camping and I don't care rough... On the other hand, I realise Angie can wear that blue and look sophisticated... but I don't think I can...

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I love a good greyed black jean for casual - blame my inner 90s goth - but agree that a blacker black is better as a trouser substitute for a business casual workplace. I wash all my black and dark denim inside out which helps somewhat. If you want black that doesn't fade, look for a twill rather than a proper denim weave with the marled threads. I've seen NYDJ have this sort of fabrication in the past.

LaPed

Veteran

Most black denim I've tried has been a miss for me. Something about the manufacturing process seems to make it scratchier than blue denims, and many black jeans are crazy lint magnets. And yes, some of them have a strong chemical smell.

My only somewhat black jeans right now are a pair of very faded 501s -- they're at the point where they look practically grey, and definitely skew RATE/casual.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Kkards, it's a very personal preference, and the comments here confirm that. The jeans you have qualify as black jeans to my eye.

I prefer the crispness of blue or white denim - although I just branched out to dark olive denim. I prefer to wear black pants over black jeans because it's dressier. Hence I don't have black jeans. Greg though, loves black jeans and has several pairs.

My clients run the gamut. Some have several pairs, and some none at all. Those who have black hair or like to wear dark colours, usually wear black jeans.

Black jeans also come in all shades of faded, which makes them more grey. Nice with salt and pepper hair.

old chic

There is also Woolite for black. Helps a little, I think.

Joy

Veteran

I wear jeans almost daily so having black is like an essential. Cotton will fade more than a black jean with some polyester. I like both, but faded black is quite casual. I treat faded ones like grey. I wear black pants more than really black jeans.

Brooklyn

Veteran

The fading thing hadn't occurred to me as an issue, but it would bother me too. I have 4 pairs of black jeans, but 3 of them are coated, so no fading (apparently the coating does wear off eventually but that hasn't happened yet). My other pair have a velvet finish. I think they are a cotton/modal blend. So they don't fade either. I treat my black jeans as dressy jeans, for casual Fridays etc, so I want them to stay black.

Lucy

Veteran

I adore black jeans, they are a real essential for me. Despite my warm climate, which means that jeans are really only worn for three or four months a year....

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