What’s happening with jeans???

[ru53]

I’m trying to rebuild a capsule wardrobe following the pandemic & pregnancy. Can fit in jeans comfortably again but am so confused about what is stylish at the moment. I don’t want to look like a teenager but also not completely out of touch. Can I wear high waisted straight leg mid blue jeans? I just think they will last longer as a wardrobe staple than if I go for a wide leg (how long will they be popular?). Something I could wear to work with a blazer but also at the weekend. I already have a pair of cropped black barrel leg jeans I still fit in & love but they’re far too casual for work. I’m trying to go for ‘classic /French chic’ kind of style for a capsule wardrobe so that hopefully I can invest in a few good pieces & wear for years. I’m buying most things second hand but I always think jeans are worth buying new.

I was thinking these:
https://www.sezane.com/en/product/brut-sexy/denim-blue#size-4

They are ‘ coming back’ & this is exactly how they are being worn :)

Straight leg high or mid waisted jeans are a classic and I think you'd get years of wear out of them. But we warned: those Sézane jeans fit small. You will probably need to size up. I'd get a couple of sizes as they do free returns. And imo the cut is almost identical to Levi 501 cropped which can be a lot cheaper

Straight or skinny jeans are my preferred go to.

Put it this way, when I find something I like I wear it. I do also like a flared jean I got last year, nothing special just from a local boutique.

The Tori mom jeans look good, but I've already got 2 mom jeans from Top Shop and H&M. In fact one of my nicer skinny jeans is an old pair from H&M, just a nice wash, finish and cut.

No, they don't!

Yes the blues ones are, but I like them that way. I've just ordered the same pair in black though and they are much longer and not as flattering (on me IMO)

Wear what you know you look good in.

Maybe it depends on the individual person...my friend {about 5'4'' looks good in shorter ankle showing trousers- but me {5'8''} I look like they've shrunk in the wash!

I have just done the same thing, after the pandemic and two pregnancies I'm finally back in jeans! I couldn't find anything I liked anywhere as I can't stand high rise and I won't go back to boot cut as it makes me feel like a teenager. In the end, I got about 5 pairs of low and midrise skinny jeans with stretch at next. They're not expensive - about £25 a pair - so it doesn't matter if the kids trash them and they wash well and can tumble dry. They come in all the different styles and rises (skinny, straight, "mum" etc) so if you're looking for a specific combination it's worth a look.

@oakleaffy yes maybe, I'm the same height as your friend

While I do agree with this sentiment in principle, (I try to avoid real trends, I like my clothes to last years and buy mostly second hand), for me looking dated and out of touch doesn’t make me feel great. Especially now I’m a new mum and trying to adjust to that new part of my identity while holding on to my sense of self etc. The clothes you choose to wear do say a lot about you and are a means of personal expression. I know it’s trivial in the grand scheme of things, but it’s hard to shake a lifetime of social conditioning.

What’s been interesting on this thread is how clear it is that different things suit different people. But it’s been great to get ideas about how to find something that will suit me and make me feel good.

I also had a baby 6 months ago and was looking at those jeans yesterday! Second baby so I feel like I've spent so much time pregnant and my pre pregnancy clothes are not right now for my lifestyle. I'm trying to get rid of loads of my clothes as I just don't need that much smart stuff anymore and buy good t shirts/jeans/shirts/knitwear and use the 25 blazers I already have.... Ive got my eye on a few bits from Sezanne. I liked the look of those jeans but as PP said was put off a bit by the buttons and would want to try them on. My absolute favourite jeans are some high waisted straight ones from & other stories which they no longer sell.... The only pair I've got which are not knackered are a 26 which I feel is optimistic! I've got several pairs of whistles barrel legs which I like for winter but they look odd with trainers I think. I don't want to wear boyfriend or wide leg styles as I was a teenager in the noughties and they just remind me of my youth! Like flares but again I think they look odd with trainers.

And oh yes high waisted stuff suits me best as I've got a small waist vs legs and with a lower waist I've got a builders bum! and I'm fairly straight up and down without massive boobs so some of the issues listed above just don't apply to me. So yes I I guess that high waisted crop or straight as you've listed are the best ones which are sort of vaguely in fashion but will suit me.

I also think jeans trends change quite slowly and jeans really don't last forever, so by the time you've worn them out it's time for something else if that makes sense!

I have just bought these and they look really great on! Even my DS said my bum looked nice in them 😂
https://www.marksandspencer.com/magic-shaping-straight-leg-jeans/p/clp60458227

@Boppertini how tall are you? I love the look of these jeans but worry the tall might not be tall enough…

@Clettercletterthatsbetter I’m almost 5’10. It’s been a while since I wore the jeans but I feel like they were a good fit and probably could’ve been even if I was an inch taller.

I loved that skinny jeans with tall boots look. All my boots had block heels though and now I wear flats.

My barrel legs are Whistles too! But I wear mine with trainers all the time 😬 what do you wear yours with? Agree they’re not great for summer though. I’ve just ordered some wide leg jeans but they’re more 70s vibes than 00s - also can’t get over the memories of soggy hems from my teens.

I tend to wear mine with boots in winter but I've got cords and black ones. I've also got some white ones which are frayed at the bottom and perfect for this time of year but they don't currently fit.... Yeah it's the baggy wide legged ones that I don't like - they are really fashionable with the kids I think but not for me. They are also super low rise normally which fills me with dread these days.

I've just brought m&s high waisted magic flare jeans at 29 inch leg short i can ware them with flats/ trainers I'm 5ft2

That’s brilliant, thanks! I’m not quite as tall as you (though my legs are fairly long) so it sounds like they’ll be perfect!

I wouldn’t have described those Sezane jeans as straight leg myself… they’re skinnier than skinny jeans were when they first came out. Given the discussion of French dressing I was expecting something with a bit more….fabric. I think if they do free returns then there’s nothing lost in trying them.

All Sezane jeans are lovely but are narrow in the hips (made for the slender French figure) so as long as you don't have wide hips (like me - gah!) they will look great.

I'm 5 4 and quite wide with hefty calves so skinny jeans are awful on me. I'm 55 so know what suits me despite changes in fashion. I have a pair of flares but I look so short in them
I love cropped wide leg because they even me out and make me look less short. I bought 2 pairs about 5 years ago and wore them to death. I ended up getting a couple of pairs of the same jeans on Vinted.
They are now everywhere and I'm buying enough to last me another 10 years because they will no doubt be out of fashion soon. Fat face have nice ones at the moment in short and regular length and the legs aren't too flared.

With jeans you have to find the cut and brand that suits you. There's no point blindly following what people are trying to make fashionable. Skinny suits me best so I'll wear them. 'Mom jeans' suit nobody imho!