Skinny jeans

[RillHunner]

I have begun to feel frumpy and outdated wearing skinny jeans. Can’t really afford to refresh my wardrobe atm. I lived in them for years either with knee high boots or Chelsea type boots.

Is there a way to make them feel modern? I am middle aged, petite, size 10 in case that’s relevant.

to make matters worse, in the last few weeks before I started feeling they were outdated, I bought several bargain pairs on Vinted.. so my wardrobe is now full of a garment which doesn’t make me feel great 🙈

Capri length is the worst on me. I don't wear cropped as I have shortish legs but the capri length is at the widest part of my calves. Bootcut is good with a heel IMO.

I’m short and petite 5’4 like you OP. I wear skinny bell bottoms which are skinny on bum and legs then kick flares from the knee. See photo.

They’re particularly flattering with heels as you look taller and the flares cover your shoes.

Not M and S

And Levis

Ivy Supersoft High Waisted Skinny Jeans | M&S | M&S

These are the style I wear as an alternative to full skinnies, I like the tightness through to the thigh, which means there is a lot more choice on style of top, it doesn’t have to be cropped to look good and again same with shoes, heels, flats, trainers anything goes with this style, all these other styles, mom, barrel etc take up to much time and headspace for me to work out if a shoe or a top works with them.

Meanwhile men just get "jeans". Pisses me off. Why do we women have to have so many options...... I mean lovely to have options, but why so much angst over the multiple types, and whats currently in? Who cares? Really??

I like having options. It was why I got so pissed off with skinnies. They squeezed out every other style for years.

OP, the fact that you have picked up that everyone is wearing barrel is a sure sign that fashion is poised to move on very soon. Same with wide leg, saturation has happened. If you hold your nerve skinnies will be back, and it sounds like they suit you. Long boots over the top is the way that fashion forward folk will be wearing them.

They actually don't.

There are plenty of different jeans styles for men.
Even MandS stock several different fits. Men’s Jeans at M&S

I have straight (women's) jeans as my staple pairs and wear skinny jeans with knee or calf boots. Straight jeans tend not to be fashionable or old fashioned.
I also hang on to pairs that fit well that I love regardless of fashion.

Op it’s completely up to you but you sounded like you wanted to try something different from skinnies. If that’s the case then you’ll quite possibly never have as good an opportunity as now. The range of jeans shapes that have been available on the high street over these last few years is highly unusual. You can walk into a high street store like H&M, M&S, Uniqlo and try out as many as you like. Up to you as I said but personally I’m making the most of it.

Just balancing out the barrel jeans saga, not all of them look overly large. I'm a similar height to you OP and size 8, I get mine from pretty little thing. Their jeans are wonderful and I think these were only £14 in the sale! Barrel jeans tend to be quite tough denim material so they won't have much give but they are really trendy with a leather jacket and some cowboy type boots :)