Skinny jeans suit everybody?

[juneau]

Yesterday, for the first time in about two years, I had a day shopping in London. Top of my list of things I needed to buy was a pair of jeans. I knew exactly what I wanted and went to the two shops where I have always found boot cut jeans in the past that are the right length and style (plain, no chunky pockets, etc).

The only thing I could find was bloody skinny jeans and I lost count of the number of times I was told 'skinny jeans suit everybody'. I beg to differ. I look crap in them. I'm not huge (size 10), but I'm an hourglass shape and skinny jeans just accentuate my arse and thighs, while boot cut or flared jeans balance it out. I've tried them on, but I hate the way I look in them. I also hate the narrow ankles on skinny jeans that make getting them such a pain. I'm clearly too old and unfashionable to go shopping any more

Completely agree with you. It sounds like we have a very similar shape and I bought a couple of pairs of really nice skinny jeans but sold them on eBay in the end because they did nothing for me.

You don't say which shops you tried, but Gap usually has a good range of cuts and colours. Their Really Straight cut works well for me, not tight on the calf so balances my thighs but still does the leg lengthening thing that skinnies are so good for.

The two shops were Banana Republic and Abercrombie & Fitch. They both used to do flared or boot cut jeans in 30in length and they fitted me perfectly. Admittedly, this is going back at least three years, but I bought that style for about six years before that.

I've tried Gap and I do have a pair of their jeans, but I find when they fit on the thigh they don't fit on the waist as I have a big difference between my waist and hip measurements.

I was recommended to try Levi's and I've just been looking online - they do have a wide range of styles and they do 30in leg length. I'm clearly going to have to go back and have another day shopping.

Jeans shopping is a night mare! You have my sympathies.

I second Levis, I am a similar size to you, I tried on lots there and they do have a range of shapes and cuts, so that might be a good place to experiment?

I'd forgotten what a nightmare it is, because having found shops and styles that suited me I'd become complacent.

I suppose I can see why A&F only stock skinnies as who are their target audience? 16-24-year-olds. And when was the last time you saw anyone of that age range wearing anything but skinny jeans or leggings with vile Ugg boots?

Right, Levi's it is.

Good luck!

No, skinny jeans are awful on me. Big thighs, fat knees... Just no! Best I've found are straight ones in Wallis, and even they look a bit too sausagey on my legs

I'm another big of thigh, and can't even get any to fit, am not big either, size 8.
I find straight cut fit me as if they were skinnies, without making my thighs look worse.
I have bootcuts and boyfriends that I love too though.

Oh me too. And I'm not big- I think I have wide knees

I love uniqlo straight jeans - try them :)

I feel your pain. I am also size 10, hourglass shape, and I think I look horrendous in skinny jeans. They make my arse look enormous. I also feel like they are strangling my legs, they are SO uncomfortable!

I've always stuck with bootcut, but after seeing them so often used as examples of 'mumsy' or 'frumpy' clothing on here, I like them less. Maybe straight leg is the way to go?

I don't get on with skinny jeans either due to my saddlebags curvy figure.

I am eternally grateful to the person on here who introduced me to Top Shop's Martha straight jeans. Size up though!

Uniqlo straight leg are great - not mumsy at all but without the horrible tight calves and ankles of skinnies.

It's not true that skinnies suit everyone. I am slim (well, when not pregnant!) but hourglass and they do nothing for me - make my legs look stumpy. I can just about get away with them with a longish top but why bother when I can wear something that actually flatters?

I think they only really look good on people with long slim legs. Hate the sausage-y look.

I'm afraid I only go to Next or Debenhams (Red Herring) for jeans. Al the bootcuts you can eat in a variety of lengths.

Thanks for the tips on alternatives. I was in Uniqlo on Saturday and their jeans are so cheap! I'll try Top Shop too.

juneau, I'm 24 & an hourglass, I can't get into Skinny Jeans (muscular legs), I never wear Jeggings/Leggings or Uggs & never will.

I just have to trapse around TKMaxx as it's impossible for me to find bootcuts in my size & leg length.

It's the same with mens though, went into Urban Outfitters with DH & every bloody pair of jeans were skinny.

I loathe skinny jeans! I am a size 8 (usually, 35 weeks pg right now!) and totally pear shaped. Skinny jeans crush my knees so they can't bend, make my thighs look like sausages and then somehow leave a massive gap around my waist. They don't seem to land in the right place either. I can either wear low rise or proper, high waisted, why are skinnies always somewhere in the middle so you get a baggy bit?!

I like really wide leg jeans but you can't get them anywhere now. Even when I have found ones labelled 'wide leg', they weren't. Wouldn't it be nice if there was some choice?

I am not curvy but they still look hideous on me. My legs are short and they emphasise the shortness. I don't actually think they look nice on many people really.

Well, the good news is that (according to the Guardian anyway, that incredibly edgy fashion rag)

Skinnies are on their last legs.

Shops will be filled with wide legs and flares and bootcuts soon apparently.

Great news, I was very glad for pallazzo pants when they came round last year.

some skinnys are too skinny if that makes sense!

Dorothy Perkins do some nice one that are a little more forgiving - more like very narrow straight leg jeans. They also have a bit of give without looking like leggings.

Plus, THEY ARE CHEAP!!

Yep, bootcuts are back.. woop!

Now.. new DMs or not

Bootcuts and DMs over skinnies and ballet flats any day ;)

Now just hoping this bloody peplum trend dies a quick death.

Wtf is a peplum?

Yay! I hope you're right that skinnies are on the way out. They've been in fashion since about 2006, by my reckoning, so after six years I think they're ripe for the axe!

It's so nice to hear some other people who hate them. My sister, who's a similar shape to me, but two inches taller, looks nice in them and wouldn't believe me when I said they just make me look short and fat. But they do.

These are peplum tops. They're everywhere at the moment. Some bright spark thought to give a weird skirty thing to tops and dresses which are meant to 'cover a multitude of sins', but actually just shorten your waist and make you look odd.

Urgh.. horrible. Presumably only look good on tall skinny 18yo's :)