Jeans Wardrobe
For many women, jeans are not just a wardrobe staple, they are are wardrobe subset. Owning a number of styles that are appropriate for a wide range of occasions is not uncommon. This is especially true now that we wear jeans beyond just running-around.
At coffee last week, a work day, my friend who is an editor-in-chief of a magazine was in jeans. We both were. To meetings I often wear straight-legged dark denim with a cashmere sweater and Gucci slides or black Jimmy Choo booties – wide-leg jeans with an interesting blouse to dinners – a lighter shade denim with an oversized sweater while running around – and white all year long. The hard and fast rules re. jeans have been blurred and they are now appropriate attire in more situations than ever before. This is great for modern women and it’s why many pairs cost up to $200 and beyond.
But, what about jeans for the weekend and just running around, do they have to be as expensive? I don’t think so. Vogue Paris editor-in-chief Emmanuelle Alt reportedly favors Topshop jeans, and my daughter looks amazing in Levi’s and H&M. Friends swear by J.Crew denim and Madewell and I saw loads of cute pairs on the Boden site. Hey, if they fit well, and a good tailor can make that happen, then there are a world of options out there at a fraction of the price.
A.P.C. striped sweatshirt, H&M jeans, Boden navy pumps.
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BOTTEGA VENETA
Intreciatto leather slides
BALMAIN
Double-breasted wool twill blazer
SAINT LAURENT
Theo raw-edge cowboy ankle boot
KENNETH JAY LANE
Gold-tone clip earrings
ALEXANDER MCQUEEN
Layered denim peplum jacket
MADEWELL
Courier cotton shirt
ANCIENT GREEK SANDALS
Thais oven raffia and leather skides
CÉLINE
Sunglasses
AGNES BADDOO
Two-Toned Sac 1
J.CREW
Robin silk-satin shirt
MANOLO BLAHNIK
Pascalare 70mm boot black suede
APIECE APART
Merida cropped cotton-blend twill wide-leg pants
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What a great post- I haven’t owned jeans in years but now want to!
I like the idea of not having to pay 00’s for them!
Good to know where to look!
I find that Madewell is always current with their denim styles and I love the fit and price!
I wear APC and Levis. Zara has great jeans for those who wear skinnies.
I was so happy to read this article. As a director of s preschool, I struggle with looking professional while also spending time with young children. Now, I will wear my jeans to work with confidence! And, btw, J Crew matchstick in dark wash have been my go to skinny for years!
I pretty much wear only jeans, different cuts, silhouettes, washes, etc. Different shades of blue, also white and black. I think I dress “jeans up”. I sort of decide which type of jean I want to wear, and that decides my top, shoes, etc. I wear J.Crew, Point Sur, Chimala, APC, right now. I love the look of Levi’s, but they don’t look good on me.
I have just purchased a pair of off-white jeans and I love them. I think they look fresh and chic after years of optic white.
I have many pairs of casual jeans, but want to find more polished pairs for meetings and dinner! Could you give sources for the straight leg and wide leg versions that you describe? Thanks!
Monica
Levi’s Made & Crafted do lovely jeans that can be smart or casual and aren’t too trendy in cut.
A good tailor is very important, eeeh
Yes to J Crew and Madewell. Try Uniqlo; some gems can be found there. As for white, I find a creamy white is nicer this time of year.
For inexpensive jeans, I second the Zara recommendation, though they’ve got a lot of stretch. I refer to them, only slightly disparagingly, as “pajama jeans.” I just bought Acne straight legs from Net-a-Porter as I’m a little tired of the skinny style. These are dark wash, with very minimal stretch. Will wear them with sneakers and loafers and look for some jazzy mules or slides to dress them up.
JCrew jeans fit me well and are stylish. They can also be found on sale, bringing the price point down even further. I am also planning on buying vintage denim and fitting it to myself. One of the best aspects of jeans at this moment is that no one style is prevailing. Wear what you like and what looks good on you!