What to do with colored denim? - YouLookFab Forum

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What to do with colored denim?

christieanne

Veteran

Cleaning my closet today and realized I have 6 pairs of colored denim that I have not worn for awhile. I still like the fit/shape of the jeans themselves but the color look seems over.
Would I be too hasty to donate? I have been needing a pair of denim shorts for a trip and maybe one of the colored denim cutoff at knee level would do the trick.
I have bright pink, red, dark raisin (keeping - I still like those), dark teal, cobalt blue and emerald green.
Two other pairs - olive and ink blue - still get tons of wear and have become neutrals in my closet.

I know I bought in too heavily to this trend. We had a denim dress code at work so I did wear all of them and craved the variety at the time.

How do you know when you are over a trend?

Dressing

14 replies

Latest reply was from Mo

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Mine are all gone, except two pairs of very dark waxed skinnies. Between fit issues and the fact that I wasn't reaching for them anymore, they needed to go.

I do still have -- and look forward to wearing -- a couple of pairs of patterned jeans. Those somehow hold more appeal to me now than the colored ones did. One pair is houndstooth, one is a damask pattern, both black and grey so very low contrast. And I got dark green/blue/black tartan skinnies at NAS.

I know I'm over a trend when I'm not excited to wear it anymore. Conversely, I'll hang on to a trend past it's time if I adore it -- like mint green!

Sal

Veteran

I would say cut one into shorts, keep one other, and donate the rest.

Or even two into shorts at different lengths.

I only have waxed straight legs, mine rotation have been downgraded them to gardening jeans!!

Deborah

Veteran

I think you just know when you are over a trend. I ended up with red and cobalt skinny jeans and to be honest the love affair faded very quickly. I got a bit of wear out of the cobalt pair, and like the red with black and white but I found the look began to bore me and really wasn't that reflective of my style. I moved mine on ages ago. I would say keep the ones you want to, and find anew home for the ones that are not getting the wear:)

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Without knowing what else you have in your closet, I vote cut the cobalt ones into shorts. Cobalt bottoms look amazing with white, black, or black & white tops. It's a super crisp summer look. And because they're denim, you can toss them in the wash.

I'd probably let the rest go, unless you know that you love coloured shorts!

Like Janet, I know I'm over a trend when I'm not eager to wear it any more. So, for instance, I noticed myself passing along all my fitted summer tops this year. Most of them were three years old or more and not in good shape anyway. But even if they had not been worn out, I still wouldn't have been excited to wear them.

Aida

Veteran

I have three pairs: muted olive, red, and emerald. The olive still get lots of use as a neutral, the red is quite fitted so I think I'll pass on, and the emerald I'm going to cut into long shorts since replacing with a plaid pair in a similar color (probably the same pair Janet got, from the NAS). For myself, if they were trousers I'd still be wearing them, but I'm not feeling them as jeans any more. I'd also like to mention that if you have a long/cold/wet winter that requires a lot of skinnies tucked into boots, it may be worth holding onto two pairs since that extra boost of color in the deepest of winter can be a great pick-me-up.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Aida said what I was thinking - I seem to wear colored bottoms a lot more in winter, for some reason. Maybe because we want the punch of color mixing, or because they're fun with boots? I have a red pair and a floral print pair and wore both a lot last winter. Maybe you should keep some around until the weather turns cooler to see if you wear them then?

deb

Veteran

I just went through my closet and purged two pair that are too worn but I am keeping three others to wear with tunics. I wear them in the winter so do not want to purge too early.

Lyn D.

Veteran

Mine are gone now too, except for an aqua short I want to wear for one more season.

Adelfa

Veteran

I still wear a cobalt blue pair, a burgundy pair, and a sage green pair. Keeping the dark raisin is a great idea. I would keep at least one other and cut into shorts if you want. I love Suz's idea of cutting off the cobalt ones.

christieanne

Veteran

You all confirmed what I already knew. I seem to have a hard time moving on in my closet lately.
I am going to cut a pair of Kut Catherines into shorts and also the teal. I will save the cobalt for Fall along with the raisin. I have tons of cobalt and black and white so it seems more practical. The pink and red and emerald can go to donate pile!

Anonymous

I have red jeans in my wardrobe. Although colored, I kept these because they are a signature piece, and considered a neutral in my wardrobe. I got rid of the cobalt pair some time ago. I got rid of the cobalt not so much because I felt they were dated, but more because they didn't fit my color palette. They were a major departure at the time and proved to be too difficult for me to work into a regular rotation.

Marlene1

Here's an "everything old is new again" post featuring Kate Moss in red jeans:
http://thatsnotmyage.blogspot......again.html

viva

Veteran

Christieanne, I think your plan sounds great. I had one pair -- teal -- and they went out just recently. I realized I was completely over them, no desire at all to even try them on. That was the true sign for me.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Sounds like most of us would ditch or cut the bright colored pairs into shorts, and hold on the the more subdued colors. Raisin would be great for fall. I have bright red and burgundy pairs. Keeping both. The red are moto, with zippers galore, and predated the trend. They are kind of their own animal. My wine ones are cords, perfect fall item. Fuzzy sweater, boots, a scarf, and off I go into the brisk air!