Sunday, May 1, 2011

Skinny vs wide leg

When it comes to denim, I only wear skinny jeans and the occational slouchy skinny version. I'm not really conservative when it comes to pants in general, even if prefer them skinny too. During summer I wear slouchy linen pants, and printed slouchy pants, pyjama-style. Lately I've been inspired by Mommy style, again, and how great she looks in her Acne Tubes. I digged out an old pair of AG wide leg jeans of my closet and tried them on with an A.P.C top, an A.P.C belt and vintage sandals with a 2" heel. I tried the same clothes with my skinny J Brand jeans. I actually thought that the wide leg look was more interesting. As I've mentioned before, I love the look of wide leg jeans, but I never feel completely comfortable wearing them. I don't know if that's because they're not for me, or if I'm too used to my regular skinny jeans "uniform". Maybe it's just a matter of wearing them a couple of times, and then I'd feel like they're a part of my style? I used to feel that way about dresses, just never quite myself. I started wearing them on a regular basis, and after a while I really liked it. I'm afraid I might be heading in the "a bit uncomfortable direction" with dresses again..Anyways - here's a shot of the skinny and the wide leg jeans.

 
The bleached/worn spot on my right knee is a mystery, this happens to all my jeans.


Even though this topic has been thoroughly dicussed before, here by Les anti-modernes, I'm curious to hear your opinions. Have you felt the same way about a certain style, that you like it and they way it looks on you, but still don't want to/never end up wearing it? I bought the AG's four years ago, and I think that I've used them five times, and I'm not sure if I'll wear them now either.

20 comments:

  1. You look great in both! The slight flare is good for a more pulled together look, whereas the skinnies to me represent more of an everyday paired down look.
    I have a high wasited Twenty8Twelve pair for my every day skinny fit and Acne for the wide leg style which fit me perfectly. I'm thinking of investing in some Acne Hex's for a straight leg every day style. Personally my jean's must is a high waist, it lengthens my legs and suits me much better than low slung styles.

    http://herribbonsandherbows.blogspot.com/

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  2. I agree, I think you look great in both! This might be a personal bias, but skinny jeans evoke a sense of youth to me. So when paired with your tshirt and sandals, which have sort of cutesy, vintagey vibes, I feel the whole look is youthful, whereas with the wide leg jeans, you look more adult. Whether looking young is seen as a compliment or not is entirely dependant on the person and the context!

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  3. Oh and to actually answer your question, I definitely dress within a certain comfort zone, and for me, that usually means some kind of pants. Skirts and dresses often feel dressy to me, even if they can be dressed down and look good on me. I think any change in silhouette can mean stepping out of your comfort zone, which isn't a bad thing. But you should always strive to feel like yourself.

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  4. you look great in both styles! you should play around with the jeans and see if you end up wearing the widelegs gradually. i personally find that if i don't wear high heels or platforms of some sort, widelegs lack that elongating effect on me. i'm looking forward to breaking out my c/e slouchy skinnies for warmer weather though. i think skinny jeans, depending on the wash and what shoes you pair with them, can look just as pulled together as straight or wideleg /trouser/ styles. i'll be wearing a lot of cropped skinny/slouchy jeans and pants into spring and summer as well :)

    curious about your linen pants - what's the style/designer?

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  5. Alexandra - thanks! I don't have any Acne jeans, very uncommon here in Acne-country, but they just don't fit my body, too tight in the hip area. I prefer a mid-high waist, some of my J Brand skinnies have a waist that's a little too low, but I love everything else about them:).

    S - thanks! I understand what you mean. I don't associate skinny jeans with youth, maybe because I wear them all the time and they're such an essential part of my wardrobe:). But I can see that the wide leg style looks more adult. In this case, I think that I'll try stepping out of my comfort zone!

    miss sophie - thanks! I agree about the heels - I think that they have an elongating effect on me with the sandals. I've also worn them with CdG All Stars, and then they didn't. Slouchy skinnies are perfect for warmer weather! I have two linen pants, the Etoile ones in the Mini-me post, and an Isabel Marant mainline pair that I also posted on, I wasn't sure I'd keep them. I'm so glad I did, I love them. I have a few printed lightweight cotton pants that I use for summer too.

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  6. I agree with that everyone's said so far. You really do look great in both! Even though you bought those AGs several years ago, that outfit still looks really fresh and current. I think you could definitely work the wide-legged jeans look slowly into your regular rotation.

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  7. I definitely have pieces that I love, look great on me but yet I don't wear them. For me, it's important to be flexible with my personal style and not too rigid on wearing every single piece of clothing I own on a regular basis. I go through phases of liking a certain group of clothing. Last year was all about dresses and skirts. This year is my trousers phase. I switch back and forth depending on what I'm into from season to season. I keep each type to a reasonable amount so I won't feel like I'm wasting any of clothes if I haven't worn something in a year. But after two, maybe three years and still barely wearing certain pieces, I usually end up selling or donating and I never look back.

    As far as your AG widelegs, I think after 4 years of barely wearing them, you can justify to say bye bye. They look great on you but if you are more comfortable in skinny jeans, maybe you're just a skinny jean girl. Personally, I prefer the skinny on you as well.

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  8. I agree that you look great in both cuts of jeans. I agree with you about feeling a little uncomfortable in wide legged jeans. I feel like I have less to worry about when I wear skinny jeans when it rains/what kind of shoe I want to wear/etc. On the other hand, you have to be careful with wide legged jeans and length: too long or too short and a bunch of shoes are immediately out of the question--not to mention, the bottoms always get wet in rain/snow/etc. I have a pair of Old Navy boot cuts that look great on, but I can only wear heels with them because of the length. I keep them around in case I have a casual professional event where I need to look a bit more put together, but I don't reach for them when I get dressed for my day-to-day life!

    0000 @ http://0000.codexed.com

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  9. i live in my skinny jeans but often fall in love with a wide-legged look on someone else. so then i drag out my wide-legs and stare at myself in the mirror before taking them off and putting my skinnies back on. haha. i just don't think it works on me, though it looks very nice on you. i guess i've just conditioned myself to expect a certain silhouette when i look in the mirror.

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  11. jennifer- Thanks! I think that the outfit looks current too. I think that I'll do just what you suggested, very slowly working them into regular rotation.

    Wendy Wong - I agree, I want to be flexible too and be able to let some things "rest" for a while. I feel like I might be heading into a trouser phase too, I've finally found a pair of black pants that I love.

    Danielle - thanks! I agree about the shoe issue, it's so much easier with skinny jeans. I like wide legged jeans with sandals/wedges, but not as much with boots. So if I wear them it'll be during summer!

    La Fille mal Gardée - Thanks, that sounds just like me too! I've also conditioned myself to the skinny silhouette, but I'll give the wide leg jeans one more chance. Maybe:).

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  12. Hi, sorry this is totally off the subject but where did you get your IM Yuli scarf? I've just bought the multi coloured stripe but I was really after the pastel x

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  13. How do you feel about the whole wedges + socks thing as an alternative to boots in the fall? I think it looks cute but am unsure if I would feel really weird if I tried it.

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  14. emilybliszczak - I got it in a store here! I think that both of them are lovely!

    s - I think that's really cute, but I think I would feel weird too! Maybe I should try it and really step out of my comfort zone:)It requires some nice socks. I think it'd be really cute with the A.P.C wedges!

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  15. Thanks, what's the name of the store? I was hoping I could e mail them and try to get that one instead x

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  16. I like both of these on you- you can certainly pull off the wider leg. I'm with you though, I struggle to feel comfortable in anything but a skinny leg- I also wear most voluminous tops/shirts so the skinny leg is far more suitable. I'm always had a longing to find a pair of gorgeous tailored straight-legged pants, but I just go back to skinnies every time.

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  17. emilybliszczak -the store is called Miloii!

    asha - thanks! I'm getting more comfortable with pants, I'm so glad I kept the IM linen blend pants I did a post on. The wider leg seems more difficult to get used to.

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  18. I'd like to send you an invitation but can't find your address, can you send me an e-mail? anna@annaosterlund.com

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  19. No,I've never experienced that.What looks good on me I try and wear often.The opposite happens quite often though.I like skinny jeans and I wear them but honestly they don't fit me!

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  20. angie - I think that I just have to get used to a very different silhouette!

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