Hello readers! Your Indiana Image Consultant is here to discuss a subject near and dear to her heart: Finding the perfect jeans. I have worn jeans all my life, but times have changed for the better! Now there are so many choices for us; cuts, denim types, washes, stretch, etc. While this is a positive market change, it can sometimes be overwhelming.
Here are some tips from your Indiana Wardrobe Stylist
1 – When you shop, give yourself adequate time for the hunt!! Expect to try on many pairs of jeans and even visit more than one store. If you are over 30, do not think you will find your perfect jeans in stores that cater to teenagers and early 20s women. You won’t. Also, don’t spend time at stores that give you are headache, are extremely busy, or have bad customer service (Kohls; Abercrombie, Forever 21 (too young for you); some Macy’s. Our Macy’s is extremely busy and has very few checkout associates. It’s not worth your time.
Some more middle to high-priced jeans include Mother, Paige, Kut from the Kloth, Democracy, Rag and Bone, and Theory. Evereve has many brands in the store; Lilly Pulitzer has great jeans for a more hourglass shape as does Vineyard and Vine and even Tommy Bahama.
2 – Don’t be frustrated if you don’t find the perfect jeans on your first try.
3 – Figure out your perfect size. This is more than your waist size…are you petite, long-waisted, short-waisted, extremely curvy?
4 – Wear the shoes (or bring them) that you will be wearing with the jeans. It’s smart to have jeans that pair well with flats, ankle boots, Western boots (still popular), and even leggings that you wear with tall boots.
5 – It’s smart to have jeans hemmed for different shoes such as ankle jeans; longer boot-cut or straight jeans to wear with a heeled boot or shoe; jeans that pair well with sneakers and are not too long.
6 – Perfect-fitting jeans may be the wrong length when you try them on. Do not pass them by!! Just just get them shortened. Even as an Indiana Image Consultant, it’s rare to find any item of clothing that fits perfectly. This is a small investment to make in a pair of jeans that fit you.
7- Think about your style and personal likes/dislikes. For instance, a classic style is most likely not going to like distressed jeans, patchwork jeans, or funky jeans. So find stores that have those types of jeans — Talbots (yes, they have amazing jeans in petite, missy and plus); JCrew.
8 – Madewell has a good middle-of-the-road jean that is priced moderately with many choices.
9 – Make sure you try on the jeans and sit down in them. Are they riding too high, giving you a “snuggie” or just too tight to even tolerate? Don’t buy them.
10 – Styles of jeans matter as do fashion trends. You are not going to find large numbers of skinny styles out there because they are out of style. As an Indiana Image Consultant, I am happy because the average woman out there — including me — does not have a shape that is flattering in skinny jeans. A close cousin is the slim straight or simply straight jeans. These will fit most women.
11 – Angle jeans can be flattering but be honest with yourself. Do you want to show your ankles? If not, just get a longer pair of jeans that all of us have and need.
In the next blog, we will talk about styling jeans and shoes/boots for the fall transition.
Keep it sassy, Indy.
Beth Divine, MA, AICI-CIC
Certified Image Stylist and Indiana Image Consultant
