Skinny jeans/jeggings...I only just got the memo!

[Sebsaloysius]

So apparently they're more yesterday than Hallowe'en. I'm not happy about this as I find them a) incredibly comfortable and b) easy. I'm mid-fifties and a size 20-22, good legs and not a bad bum, but I do boast a hateful tummy. I don't want to look like an ageing rhino dressed as a spring turnip, but equally, I do like to look like I've made half an effort.

What jeans can I wear to suit my age and all the above lumps and bumps? I do have some wide legged ones, but I can't bear the thick, rigid denim that so often seems to come with this style. The same seems to apply to 'Mom' styles. I will carry on with my beloved, stretchy skinnies for pootling around the house and supermarket days, but I'd like something a little more adventurous for casual days and evenings out. I know which tops I feel work with skinny jeans, but I seem to struggle with tops for other styles - I prefer a longer length top to cover my tum, but feel they look vaguely daft with wide legged jeans.

As an aside, it's been the most horrendous of years for me. I've spent the last 2 years caring for live-in elderly parents whilst juggling full time work, and sadly my Mum passed away earlier this year, closely followed by Dad only a few weeks later. A matter of weeks after Dad's death and I was in hospital undergoing major by-pass surgery for blocked arteries. Recovery from this whilst grieving for my lovely parents was long and hard. Only now am I starting to find my feet again, and I'm dismayed at how much social confidence I've lost over the year. I have gained weight due to being far more inactive than usual, I feel older than I've ever felt and I know I look it. I'm trying to embrace going out and socialising to rediscover some 'me' time, but I feel so self-conscious just lately.

I would be really grateful for any advice on how to put a look together, particularly with regards to jeans or trousers as that's what I'm most at ease in.

TIA for any hints or tips!

They are back now 😁

I have always loved skinny jeans. Last year tried to move away from them and tried out Mum Jeans. Then in photos realised they are so bulky and unflattering (for me). And I struggle with footwear for mum jeans. I love DM Chelsea boots for winter and this look didn’t work. I felt very frumpy. Back to skinny jeans for me!

Out of interest what winter shoes/boots even work with mum jeans?? Trainers and pumps in summer are fine but I could never solve the shoe problem!

Woohoo!
https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/skinny-jeans-trend-aw24

Just ride the wave of being an tad unfashionable for another little while OP, I guarantee you they are actually on the way back already!

They’ll have to pry my skinny jeans off of my outdated corpse before I give them up.

Wear what you want. I'm an apple ,size 14/16, good legs, small bum and a round tummy. Skinnies are my best friend and my most comfy. Wide leg or mom make me look 3 times my size...generally need a shorter top or a top tucked in ,to give any sort of shape...which just accentuates my big tummy. I don't want to wear massive long overflowing tops or tunics but neither really do I want stuff tucked it. I've seen pictures of it side on and I just look huge.

I've also stopped buying marks, new look, asos jeans etc and I stick to levis. Tbh I'm picking them up on amazon for £30/40, just as much or even cheaper than those other shops. I buy the skinny and slim plus the shaping ones and I feel great in them!

I struggle all round with the wide legs and mom's on every level...what shies to wear, tops, coats all if it and I feel uncomfortable in them all day. Just not doing it!

Same!!!!!

When skinny suits stick with it.

I find it ironic that two people have posted that link as definitive evidence that skinny jeans are back, when the accompanying picture appears to show a model teaming them with what looks like a furry goblet.
if that's fashion I don't want it!

But seriously, OP, wear what you like. I think skinny jeans for most people apart from the very very stylish have just become a staple. Neither in nor out, just a basic item. Maybe try some of the other styles if you like, I personally find the mom fit jeans a million times comfier than skinnies, but I wouldn't stress about it.

Not even too fussed if it suits as long as it's comfortable!

Preach! 🙌🙌🙌

Having been Jean shopping recently I can confirm skinnies are everywhere! I think enough people are refusing to change that “fashion” has little chance but to bring them back.

Wear what makes you happy and comfortable.

Im a similar size. I’ve branched as far as straight leg jeans - M&S Sienna are comfy and cheap. They’re good for when I don’t feel like wearing skinnies. I’ve never found wide leg ones that suit me, they just don’t balance right on my body shape.

This.

I still wear skinny jeans - because I like them and they are flattering on me.

I still see others wearing them too.

Thankful that I'm no longer 15 and wearing stuff that doesn't suit me for the sake of fitting in.

Sorry to hear things have been difficult for you.

re the jeans, I read somewhere that skinny jeans are kind of a ‘classic’ now so they are always ‘in’ as a basic item but sometimes they become more fashionable. That’s what I’m sticking to anyway. I love skinny jeans or occasionally the M&S slim Ivy (they stretch like skinnies do). Particularly like dark blue indigo, sometimes black for work as I then add a shirt or something a bit smarter on top.
live in ankle boots all year with them, converse or sandals in July/August!

I have a few suggestions on these threads. One is to not wear tight tight pale blue denim skinnies. I don't care what Vogue says, no young person is wearing these and you might not care what they are wearing, but you are dating yourself by wearing them. I was very upset when they went 'out' and tried to resist, but my observations are that they aren't working for a lot of slightly older women as much as they think they are.

Tips I've tried are- wear black skinnies with a bit of give in them, great for winter with slouchy tops, great boots (think Claudia Winkleman on The Traitors). Blue denim boot-cut/flares look fab, I have some M and S ones and they work well. If you are going to wear skinnies, try making them not too skinny, so slim fit or just baggier skinnies can work as well.

If you do wear them, try mixing up the types of tops you wear- how about a longer line tweed jacket? Then a black cami type top underneath (or thermal vest in winter). Also, try chunky boots, not trainers with skinnies, longer than in the past- so long boots, calf length boots. Long scarf.

I wore nylon long tops and skinnies for a very long time so I am not coming at you, and if you feel great in that, just keep going, but I'm not sure you do feel so great. I'm sorry you have had such a hard time and I agree that going out, seeing friends and engaging in life is the right way to go, be kind to yourself.

Well apparently they are meant to be back, although where I live they never left apart from among the very young who are all in much wider and baggier styles. I still wear skinnies happily but also wear wide legged, bootcut and flared, depending on mood/occasion. I'm early 50s, 5'9", fairly slim although with a bit of a "mum tum" and find most styles work okay on me as long as I balance out with the right top. It's nice to be at an age where I wear what I like rather than worrying about what others think tbh.

Big thanks to all of you, some really helpful advice and a big morale boost to read everyone's comments and kind words too.

I’m sticking with mine, I’m 55, size 14, short, I love my bum and hips and I think they suit me.
I am not mad on the middle aged women in the baggier jeans look, I like them on the youngsters though who look
like they’ve just thrown them on and oh happen to look fab.

Jeggings and skinny jeans here too! I'm 54 and luv the mns ones... I'll be wearing them till I'm getting my pension and beyond!

Have never stopped wearing skinnies, they look so much better than the horrible wide leg trousers that are supposed to be so much more flattering.

Even the models wearing the wider leg monstrosities look awful in them imho.

FUCK THE MEMO!!!!

If you have nice legs then stick with skinnies. i’m a pear shape and my legs are like a horror show so I prefer straight legged jeans eithe high rise or mid rise - but they’ll probably be uncomfortable if they cut into your tummy

I do have some other styles but I can’t find anything as flattering as black skinnies, I still wear them and like them. I also quite like magic trousers as an alternative, they’re perhaps not quite as skinny but are still comfy.

I stick with Asda wonderfit skinny, got several pairs, nice bit of stretch to feel comfy. I'm 20/22 too and about 5'4. A nice top and necklace and I'll do.
I can't bare the bottoms of my trousers getting wet when they touch the ground when it's raining that's what stops me going for other fits.

@Pinksmyfavoritecolour i was wearing wide legged jeans and caught in unexpected downpour (well, as unexpected in England as you can get!) and the bottoms of my trousers! Soaked up all the water, looked awful, felt awful and got flash backs to 2003 in my super baggy trousers, at least this time around I’m in high rise!