Happy Wednesday Style Nation. I've taken on such a slacker schedule- sleeping, working until late. I am not dying to get back to the semester schedule, but I do have a bit of guilt about sleeping like a college student on spring break. I tried to smart it up a bit yesterday, by wearing heels to the grocery store/running errands.
But today, I wanted to wear jeans. I don't wear 'em often, because the only jeans I own are lower rise. These aren't supposed to be the most flattering for my body type, but I still like them because they fit (plus layering helps break up the long line of my torso). I happen to have a longer rise (distance between natural waist and crotch point) and a significant difference between my waist to hip measurement,* so I can't find jeans that fit my waistline very easily, so I get them to fit my hips. But then once they stretch out just a little bit after more than one wear before washing, they get super saggy and a belt can't do much. (There's no spandex in these jeans, which means when they fit, they really fit, but this doesn't last long.) But since I don't want them to get all saggy, I rarely wear them. I was hoping that I could wear my jeans more often in No Repeats.
How do you get your jeans to fit more than once before rewashing? Or is this just a problem for me because I fit to my hips? Since buying new jeans is not an option for now, I'd like to hear your strategies for the future.
I also wanted to wear jeans today so I could wear this jacket I bought years ago but just found again yesterday. I dig the retro vibe, pockets with zippers, the turquoise trim, but especially the Statue of Liberty patch. What is going on here?
Outfit one:
Dress: H&M
Cardigan: Uniqlo
Scarf: Some pashmina street vendor, around 57th and 6th Ave. (last winter)
Tights: Target
Shoes: Naturalizer
Outfit two:
Shirt: H&M
Jeans: Uniqlo
Belt: Gap
Boots: Vasque (via Midwest Mountaineering)
Jacket: Nike via Marshall's
*I realize that I often look like I have a very straight body in pictures. If I did, I think pants would be so much easier.
It has taken me AGES to find a pair of jeans that don't make me want to crawl out of my skin, but my fit probs aren't the same as yours. For what it's worth, those jeans look STELLAR on ya.
ReplyDeleteHoly cow, these jeans look awesome on you. And that first outfit is fantastic. I love the magenta scarf.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I'm right there with you on the college student on spring break hours. Though without spring break style fun. You sound like you're getting far more work done than me -- I'm mostly just marathoning Angel episodes in Netflix.
"How do you get your jeans to fit more than once before rewashing?"
ReplyDeleteGirl. I don't. This is why I don't wear them more often.
Those look AMAZING on you from here. Really. So long and lean.
Those jeans look amazing on you.
ReplyDeleteI have a few pairs of jeans that don't stretch out, but that is because I was lucky enough to find a moving sale where a woman was selling dozens of designer jeans in my size at 3 for $5.
I think your jeans look great on you - in fact, I love the entirety of outfit #2, especially when the jacket is added! As for my jeans ... well, I'm riding the jeggings train for the moment, so...
ReplyDeleteWe have basically the same torso issue -- I always end up wearing jeans at my hips (although too low a rise is maddening) because if I didn't I'd be wearing 'em up around my ribcage. I actually wear belts with all my jeans and cords, even the first day. Usually I can get away with wearing them twice and then they need a wash to firm up.
ReplyDeleteYou look fab in them though (as well as in the first outfit). Do you have to go out of the house for laundry machines? I just wash mine frequently, with the Zumba clothes, because I need to do that every few days anyway it seems.
Ah the dreaded jean stretching. These look great on you, btw.
ReplyDeleteI've had good luck with designer jeans that I can get cheap. Costco had Rock & Republic jeans on for 1/3 the retail cost, so I picked up a pair and they hold their shape really well.
On jeans: buy them to fit your hips, then get the waist taken in. I've also sprayed jeans down with water and let them air-dry to tighten back up.
ReplyDeleteI love both of your stripes so much, and you look great in jeans!
ReplyDeleteall of mine have spandex, and I like to pretend that jeans are somehow special and don't need to be washed...
You look great in those jeans!
ReplyDeleteAs to the problem you have with hip/waist-ratio, I agree with K.Bean - buy the jeans to fit your hips, and take in the waistline at the back. I wish I knew the terminology in English, but there is a take-in technique where you take in a section of fabric right under the middle belt loop at the back of the jeans that looks like a triangle. Oh man, I have a bad feeling I am not being awfully helpful here! Where is my English when I need it? :)
@Sal: Good to hear that my long journey isn't a solo one.
ReplyDelete@E-Jo: I am giving a false impression. I also watched the first two seasons of the Tudoes!
@WWWYG: Thank yoU! I get what you're saying completely, but then how come so many other people seem to wear jeans as their default?
@Rebecca: I dream of a deal that great! What brand of jeans are they, if you don't mind sharing?
@C&B: I'm on the jeggings train too, but sometimes I want to wear a shorter top.
@Cynthia: I have to drag my laundry down 4 flights and then down the street, around the corner. It's not too bad but it does eat up my whole morning.
@Allsion: I'll keep the Rock and Republic in mind!
@K-Bean: The water is a clever trick. I'll think about getting the waists tailored.
@LyddieGal: Thanks, I am clearly a stripes fanatic!
@Waves: I think I know what you're talking about. I have thought if doing it myself but the waistband itself is complicated. To the tailor! (for future pairs).
I am lucky enough to have a washer and dryer in my walk-in closet so I tend to whip the jeans in the dryer with a damp handtowel for a few minutes before I put them on so they tighten up. By the end of the day though, they are usually a bit saggy but I just don't care THAT much.
ReplyDeleteYour jeans are super cute and I love all the tiny stripes!
The tailoring word for that triangle is a dart. I wouldn't do it myself either.
ReplyDeleteLoving the stripes and I agree with all that you are rocking those jeans. I've never had too much trouble with jeans stretching out too much until I bought a pair of gap jeans last summer and those are ridiculous. I can get maybe one wear out of them before they are too baggy and not the shape I paid for. I have a pair of Old Navy jeans that do not do this and a few pairs of "premium denim" (Joe Jeans) that also hold their shape, so I can't say that paying more means better jeans. But I won't buy jeans from the Gap again.
ReplyDeleteAnd that purple scarf is beautiful on you. What a gorgeous colour all up in your grill (that's what "grill" means, right?)!
You should wear jeans more often. These look hot!
ReplyDeleteI buy all my jeans with 1% or 2% spandex. When I try them on in the store, because you have to, I grab the slightly tighter version to account for the stretch out that always happens after the first wearing.
Rad--you are rocking this pair of jeans. Personally, I buy my jeans in the men's department and look for true denim. They don't bag!
ReplyDeleteWhat everyone else said about the jeans. I definitely have the same problem. The wonderful Gap jeans that fit me so well also stretch out pretty quickly because they have some spandex in them. Also, I really like outfit #1! The details of the scarf and shoes are great.
ReplyDeletePsst. Rad. Drop me a note at sally@alreadypretty.com. I'll be in town in a few weeks and want to see you, if possible!
ReplyDeleteI agree with the other comments - those jeans look great on you.
ReplyDeleteI have a long torso, so same problem with the rise as you. I don't have a big delta between hip and waist, but enough to cause the dreaded waistline gap. I have approached this two different ways: buy women's jeans and have the waist altered (I'm lucky to have found a fabulous and reasonable local tailor), or buy men's jeans.
I agree with the other comments - those jeans look great on you.
ReplyDeleteI have a long torso, so same problem with the rise as you. I don't have a big delta between hip and waist, but enough to cause the dreaded waistline gap. I have approached this two different ways: buy women's jeans and have the waist altered (I'm lucky to have found a fabulous and reasonable local tailor), or buy men's jeans.
What everyone else said about the jeans. I definitely have the same problem. The wonderful Gap jeans that fit me so well also stretch out pretty quickly because they have some spandex in them. Also, I really like outfit #1! The details of the scarf and shoes are great.
ReplyDeleteLoving the stripes and I agree with all that you are rocking those jeans. I've never had too much trouble with jeans stretching out too much until I bought a pair of gap jeans last summer and those are ridiculous. I can get maybe one wear out of them before they are too baggy and not the shape I paid for. I have a pair of Old Navy jeans that do not do this and a few pairs of "premium denim" (Joe Jeans) that also hold their shape, so I can't say that paying more means better jeans. But I won't buy jeans from the Gap again.
ReplyDeleteAnd that purple scarf is beautiful on you. What a gorgeous colour all up in your grill (that's what "grill" means, right?)!