WIW: Distressed flares (w/ review) - YouLookFab Forum

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WIW: Distressed flares (w/ review)

Roxanna

Veteran

I bought these distressed flares recently after seeing and loving a pair on Una. Trendy jeans are a bit out of my comfort zone, but I actually am loving the way they make me feel and refresh my look!

I'm not into spending a ton of money on jeans, so i tried out this look from The Gap. I researched carefully and finally decided on these ones because of the great reviews...and let me say, they were 100% right (and less than $30 CDN on sale! Wow!) The cotton/spandex ratio is bang-on - you feel hugged in but they don't have too much give. The colour is perfect for me and I like the light distressing so i can wear them to work. The rise hits my belly button, and the pocket placement on the rear is good. For reference, I am 5'3" pear shape and i bought the petites; I tried the regular ones too (short length) and though I found the rise the same, the leg was a little too short for me.

Jeans: Gap
Blazer: Ancient, Banana Republic - has narrowly survived many purges, but I think the colour, studs and the light weight may make it a go-to for me this summer
Linen tee: BR
Shoes: Also old (4 years?) From Winners. i love the hardware and ribbon laces on these, as well as the soft taupe nubuck. They seem to add a modern edge to everything I own.

As always, comments and constructive suggestions welcome. Do these make my pear-shaped figure look to hippy with the distressing and lighter wash? Feel free to be honest. Usually I stay with dark wash skinnies, so this is quite the departure.

What else would you wear these with to keep them urban and modern looking (don't like to stray too much into 70's territory...)

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1969 resolution vintage destructed skinny flare jeans

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24 replies

Latest reply was from Roxanna

marianna

Veteran

Nice! They look fantastic on you.

DJP

Those jeans are wonderful on you.......the entire outfit is terrific. I looked at the pictures first and thought to myself "Of course she looks fantastic, she's probably 5ft 9" Imagine my delight when I read that you are 5 ft 3! Just perfection Roxanna and thank you for the detailed review of the jeans.

Tanya

Veteran

What an amazing outfit! I especially like the shoes and the jeans fit you so well. You could also try a moto as a topper or a soft blouse instead of the tee.

Anonymous

The jeans are great on you! Perfect fit, and very flattering. They certainly are leg lengthening, and with those cool shoes.......very nice

I'm always interested in how to keep a flared jean urban and modern looking too - which is probably why I never wear the one pair I have. I'd go with a leather moto and a soft blouse - as Tanya suggested. I wonder what a fitted blazer and striped t would look like too....

cjh

(website)

Veteran

The jeans are fab. Great fit and color, and very nice with the plain top, and neutral-related jacket and cool shoes. This outfit can't be beat, though the other suggested combos above sound like good options.

Your hair and makeup are SOOOO pretty.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

Excellent jeans on you -- you look so tall!

Joy

Veteran

What a wonderful look! The shoes and jacket look great together and the jeans are fab.

Anonymous

What a great look! The jeans are really good on you. Awesome shoes too!

rachylou

Veteran

These jeans love you. Love you!

shedev

Veteran

I like the whole outfit.

BrieN

Veteran

You look wonderful and those jeans are 10 out of 10

catgirl

Veteran

These are perfect on you. I love when other people do all the research - now I need to check these out.

RobinF

Veteran

I think they look great, I also would have thought you much taller. I like the grey hair too, wish I was brave enough to stop coloring.

Anonymous

Agreeing with others: these jeans make your legs look so long! Love the high waist and your pairing with the jacket and shoes. Thanks for doing the research and sharing your results! YLF!

Aida

Veteran

Jeans look excellent on you! Styled nicely here too, kind of a 70s light sort of thing. No good advice on how to de-70s though, because that's my favorite way to wear mine You could take it out of the decade fairly easily by paring with something that has a more decidedly 80s slant.

Mac

Veteran

Jeans look great and my heavens - you have the prettiest smile!!!!

Anonymous

I think you look great.
You don't look "hippy".
My high waist jeans actually have a bit of a hip *slimming * effect on me. The long rise seems to smush in some of the little extra weight.
I think a 3/4 length coat without lapels, or any cocoon shape would urbanize these.

Momo

Veteran

They look really good on you. Particularly like the whole look with th jacket too. Nice!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

The jeans look amazing on you! The way you've styled them is great. I usually keep it simple with flares like you've done here.

Roxanna

Veteran

Thanks so much ladies for all the sweet words and the wisdom! It's so surprising to me that you say my legs look long and that they are keepers - given that I think I am relatively short-waisted, pear-shaped petite, I wouldn't have touched these jeans with a ten foot pole before. But you ladies have inspired me to take risks with my fashion and go outside my comfort zone in terms of what I think is conventionally figure flattering, which is really exciting to me.

That's why I like to see threads even on things I wouldn't consider (like cropped flares) - they open my mind to fashion possibilities and inspire me to be more daring.

@smittie - I totally agree - these jeans had the surprising effect of holding it all in! And I adore the idea of a cocoon coat. I will try that next time.

@Tanya - I like the idea of a moto and soft blouse - that's how I've worn my other flares, come to think of it. Will have to try that,

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Love the jeans on you!

Column

Veteran

Hi Roxanna,
I'll join the chorus and sing these jeans' praises; they are truly spectacular on you! Like others, I would never have guessed you are petite--and this, from a petite pear, herself, albeit 5'4" to your 5'3". We share similar fashion challenges. although (as I say too much on this forum), I am decidedly short-legged. But discovering my VERTICAL body type has changed EVERYTHING for me; conventional advice for petite pears doesn't work iif the long torso/short leg ratio isn't taken into account (like full skirts with fitted waists, which make me look like either a bell or upside down cupcake).
What this means for you: You say you are short-waisted, which may be true (my eye isn't that trained), and if so, is opposite me. In that case, you could try matching your belts to the color of your tops rather than your jeans. Do experiment, as you will discover why you have preferred one way or another over the years.
As for tops: Conventional pear advice still works here, especially with the higher-rise jeans (the trick to elongating the leg line, as well as the flare bottom that balances the hips, and of course, heels). I love the advice to put the emphasis on "I": lighter, whiter, brighter, wider on top. Boat necks are great, as are horizontal stripes. The standard preppy J Crew look (for lack of a better visual) that Kate Middleton recently wore is an easy pick for you in any color combo you like. There should be inexpensive "replikates" at Gap, Old Navy, etc. I also LOVE what I will call the "Aida slouch," or oversized Tees with slight v-necks (drawing the eye downward) half- tucked. Banded bottom sweaters (cowl necks to add bulk on top come to mind) with or without faux-tucking work, as do adding scarves to just about anything (you have to play with scarf shape--I like infinities and Vs with tassels that don't go beyond my waistline). Also, keep the arm-length at 3/4 or elbow at longest to create a horizontal above the hip.
Finally, notice that none of the above suggestions are particularly 70s. Since skinnies are anathema to me, I find I can wear flares that hug my thighs with anything others typically pair with skinnies, including tunic tops that aren't too long or are faux-, partial-, or diagonally tucked. Of course, bell sleeves and peasant blouses take you back to the decade you wish to avoid--so eliminate those if you wish. And on color: choosing the same or neighboring colors (grays, greens, and blues of the same intensity as the distressed denim ) will elongate the entire body in a column of color (my handle, my first fashion trick)! That's all I got! Hope it helps!!

MsGreer

The jeans look awesome and the fading is just right with the top. Very nice look

Roxanna

Veteran

@Column - wow! thank you so much for the time and the compendium and information! I will come back to it again and again. i do find that knowing I am short/normal waisted vs. long torso has helped me in choosing styles that flatter me, and that was interesting learning for me, too. I am quite well versed in the J Crew preppy look - it's one of my main style personas - but I never thought of it having to do with body shape; interesting take. So much to learn and reflect onf rom your comment!