What I learned - no jeans challenge

Hi everyone,
Day 5 of no jeans, and I've made it a full work-week! My agenda today consists of cleaning and vaccuuming, trying to work while the kids have a PA day that I forgot about (mother of the year here!), and trying to hit the gym later. Oh yes, and it's currently -18C outside, and that's not including the wind. So today's outfit didn't even warrant a selfie - my warmest chunky sweater and loungiest leggings will suffice! (although going out with DH later, so I'll wear something nicer for that).

This was a worthwhile challenge for me - here are some practical things I've learned, some directly and some indirectly related to the:

I can revise my essential skinny jeans to skinnies in general - by maintaining my tried and true silhouette, it was actually pretty easy to swap in something non-denim. In particular, the olive moto skinnies will be put to good use.
That said, I do love my dark-wash skinnies, and they are easy, practical and polished for my lifestyle, so they will remain central to my wardrobe.
I had plenty of clothes to choose from, but my essentials need some attention, so that will be my shopping focus this year. Next step on this is a good closet edit a la Angie's method.
I will re-focus on ink blue/dark navy for my essentials - several times this week, I was regretting the dearth of ink and over-abundance of gray in my closet. Sort of a side-learning - I love gray with white, but not as much with black. Angie pointed out navy/ink is much nicer on me, which I agree with and my husband echoed unprompted about an hour later .. sold (again!).
Some variety in winter gear would not be a bad thing - I was stuck with my one pair of boots all week, which got boring! My current pair is in good shape, so I may keep an eye out for another pair as the season comes to an end, or I may just put this on the fall/winter list. A slightly dressier but still proper winter pair might be a smart addition. Same idea for my winter puffer.

Happy Friday everyone!

6 years ago

karen13

Veteran

Excellent analysis. These challenges seem so useful to all tha partipants. I have moved towards navy and away from grey over the past year too. And the point about more winter gear is a good one - this a good time to get good deals.

Liesbeth

I checked the outfits on your blog, you look so sleek and polished and that in such cold weather! I would need such thick sweaters (even indoors), scarves and tall boots. Anyway, like the sort-of uniform you have going.

Lynn

Great learnings. I have enjoyed seeing all your non jean outfits. Your olive skinnies are real workhorses.

Stay warm, I feel cold just reading the temperature!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Nice conclusions. There is life after blue jeans for sure. I loved the olive and striped look - my fave.

I’m road tripping with my boys to Portland OR today for a wedding - so I have to wear blue jeans in the car. Very wet here, and Sam will have wet little feet. That said, I’m back in dresses and trousers for the weekend.

Cardiff girl

Well done you for managing a week without denim.It seems to have been well worth while for what you learned from it.

krishnidoux

So interesting! No-jeans week lead you to realize you need more basics, because in order to wear our other non-denim bottoms and dresses, we need stuff that goes with them! That's why they are harder to wear. How many times I have reached for dressy pants and found no top or tops, but no cami (when it's -18!) or no suitable topper, or, again, a good cami that layered well under a cute blouse, an acceptable topper but... no footwear? Somehow I don't have these problems with jeans.
Can I give you a good trick? Start at Nordstrom in the loungewear/underwear section, they have good deals for basic basics.

Christina F.

My conclusion is that for winter, my non-jean pants need to be stretchy or a fluid fit. One of my barriers to wearing them has been the temperature, so I've been layering fleece leggings underneath the ones that allow for that. Fluid or stretchy also helps with my other barrier, which is when pants are too tight around the middle when I sit. Pants that seem to fit perfectly when I stand will often be too uncomfortable when I sit, so I need things that are a tad bit loose.

I did wear non-jeans today, but the crotch seam has split a little. I didn't notice until after I put them on. It's not a complete split, but since I've had these a few months and washed them once, I'm rather annoyed that I have to have them fixed!

Your learnings are giving me some food for thought as well. Thanks for starting this!

Nordstrom

Halogen Kick Flare Knit Ankle Pants

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LaPed

I've really enjoyed watching this challenge unfold. I know exactly what you mean about needing a whole different set of basics for trousers vs jeans. For me, it has to do with the fact that I have a lot of textured/patterned bottoms that need low-key tops. With jeans, the bottom is usually the support act and I feel I can wear a bolder or busier top.

I like Angie's sweatshirt/pencil skirt formula today -- and the general concept of a dressier, tailored bottom paired with a very casual top.

La Pedestrienne, you are spot on about the tops for jeans vs trousers. In my case, I tend to favor patterned tops, which means jeans are often a slam dunk. I feel like I need to maintain two different tops wardrobes, as I do have some patterned bottoms, too.

Aurore

Constructive conclusions! You definitely had a great idea with this challenge - both for you and for others!

Joy

Your thoughts are so helpful. I'd never considered special tops for non-jeans and now need to go back and consider tops more carefully. If the jeans and non-jean pants are roughly the same silhouette and rise, I had thought they could use the same tops.
I have very few non-jean pants because jeans in general just fit me better. I need to try harder to find a good fitting trouser. However, the higher waists have made it harder. It they fit my hips, they are too tight in the waist (Apple/rectangle figure)

Jenni NZ

Joy I reckon you can wear the same tops in that case? Any plain bottoms of the same silhouette to the jeans could work the same?

Lisa

I adore a wardrobe challenge, and this one had some lovely insights, great job!

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