What to wear with straight leg jeans?

[treaclesoda]

A few months ago I was taken in by all the talk of 'skinny jeans are so dated, straight legs are more modern looking' etc and as I was feeling dowdy I bought a pair.

But I never wear them. They're a good shape, flattering. But what do I wear them with? I have no idea, nothing looks right. Everything I try with them makes me look like I'm in 2001. I can't make them look modern.

Me neither. I watch with interest

Any advice for us this Sunday morning?

I wear straights a lot as they are most flattering on me, but no idea how I'm meant to style them, so watching with interest.
My usual would be ankle boots (worker type lace ups), a long vest and a plaid shirt over the top.

I have this problem too, I wear mine a lot but only ever with my converse, which is tricky when it's wet or cold. I have tried various ankle boots, all but the most spiky heel look mumsy to my eyes, and I tried for ages to find some loafers that I could bring myself to buy, but just could not get past my memories of secondary school in the late eighties (Bros anyone?!)

I only wear straight jeans that are cut off and frayed at the bottom. Otherwise, yes they remind me of Bros

Well at the moment I'd be wearing them with a pair of tights, two jumpers and warmest boots ❄️😝

What have you tried so far?

Bitter I think we might be the same age. Did you pair your late 80s jeans and brogues with a waistcoat? I did...

Straight legs suit me far more than skinnies. I wear mine with supaga trainers (metallic) and warm jumpers at the moment.

I’ve got a pair I wear rolled up with biker type boots for yucky weather but otherwise it’s converse trainers, nothing else really goes!
I really need new jeans but tbh I’ve no idea what style to get. Bah.

What I've tried so far...

Flat ankle boots. They didn't look right. Too mumsy. Like I might be going to wear a fleece with it...

Trainers. They didn't look quite right either.

Brogues. See previous post re Bros.

I'm in my early 40s and not a fashionista but I do like clothes and I like to look at least a little bit like I have my eye on the modern styles.

Actually, maybe a pair of chunky warm boots might be good?

Have you tried giving them a wee turn up? A flash of ankle with the ankle boots would be nice?

I wear mine turned up with trainers mostly as I think you need the flash of flesh to keep it trendy.

Hmm, those are all the things I would wear with them too... I bet you actually look great and it's just taking you some time to adjust after years of skinnies. I got some 501s a year or so back and did feel a bit odd in them at first after so long but not very rarely put skinnies on at all.

I think they look best with a converse / canvas type trainer and either a cute little shirt / top with a more fitted cardigan or a shorter length jumper. I think the key is to make the top more fitted, so it balances them out.

Treaclesoda I had quite a collection of waistcoats, several nice white shirts too!

I just cannot do the rolling them up thing, they look weird on me, maybe because I am tall and struggle with 'too short' trousers anyway. But in summer I am happy to roll up my skinnies, what's that about? I suspect I'm just going to have to stick to converse, and maybe ballet flats or flip flops in summer, if they look okay, haven't tried yet.

I second the roll up or unfinished hem. Makes a massive difference, winter biker boots and summer converse or flat sandals (I like a bit of metallic in both) but always an unfinished hem or a roll up.
Tops I go for shirts or baggier teeshirts but dropped to just below the waist. Tight or long tees look awful on me.
Favourite in summer is off shoulder linen or cotton tops, jeans (with one roll up) and sandals. In winter ankle biker boots, jeans (one roll up so kinda slouched on top of the boot) and a v neck slightly baggy jumper

This is good thank you. You're probably right, the things I have tried probably do look ok I've just convinced myself they look wrong!

I'll try rolling them up a touch and see how I get on