We all remember the painful fashion moment when Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears went out in matching bedazzled denim on denim outfits complete with cowboy hats. So it may come as a surprise that one of this year’s trends is, well, pairing denim on denim. Just not like this:
Designers this year have been influenced by the economic news, many of them are taking their cues from classic American staples, such a denim jeans and button up shirts. So the long time fashion don’t of denim on denim is getting a boost.
Photos courtesy of style.com (L to R , Diesel Black Gold Fall 2010, Helmut Lang Resort 2011, William Rast Fall 2010)
I do want to give Justin Timberlake some credit here, the look on the far right is from his clothing line (William Rast), so he obviously learned something from his earlier denim on denim debacle. Of course, as with any trend, denim on denim can be worn a variety of ways. Celebrities, stylists, and bloggers have all embraced the denim on denim trend and have their own opinions on how it should be worn. But really there are just a few general rules to keep in mind to give the denim on denim a modern twist.
In order to pull off denim on denim:
1. The top and bottom should be two distinct pieces - you don’t want to match the color exactly (refer to the picture of Britney above to see why). For example, wear a light colored top over dark jeans or vice versa.
2. Mix up the textures - wear a soft chambray button up over stiff, dark wash denim with neutral accessories.
3. Break it up by wearing a belt that clearly separates one piece from another.
4. And finally - keep it simple! Choose solid or slightly distressed denim and leave it at that, no need for acid wash or tie dye when pairing denim on denim.
Denim on denim is a neat trend that easily updates your wardrobe without having to go too far out of your comfort zone. Have an opinion on denim on denim? Vote in our poll from our last denim on denim entry here!
posted by: Bonnie on August 26, 2010 at 8:19 am
filed under:Trend AlertDenim 101
TAGS:
denim on denim
Did you know that your mini-me could have a skinny jean? That’s right—now babies can join in the latest denim trend! Lack of potty training is no obstacle to wearing this snug style, because the baby skinny is designed to fit over diapers. In fact, diaper coverage takes up half the fabric needed to make an infant sized skinny jean. Made from super comfy, super-stretch denims, these jeans are guaranteed to keep your ‘chip off the old block’ chipper.
For those that think it’s bizarre to dress children like little adults, consider that children’s clothing has long been inspired by their elders. For most of western history, our little angels were dressed to look like mini-adults in clothing that must have lead to some devilish temper tantrums. It wasn’t until the 18th century that children were allowed to have their own—more comfortable—clothing styles.
But why should youngsters be allowed to dress comfortably while we make ourselves fashion victims to the latest trends? The baby skinny proves that with the right fabrics and constructions, skinny jeans can be not only stylish, but also practical and comfortable. The fashion forecast indicates that moms may take up this style after seeing it on their tots. Hey, it wouldn’t hurt to take a little fashion advice from a toddler now and then.
posted by: danielle on August 20, 2010 at 12:42 pm
filed under:Trend Alert
TAGS:
skinny jeans
High waist jeans. A fashion do or don’t? This year, according to fashion designers and celebrities like Katie Holmes and Jennifer Lopez, high waist jeans are continuing their comeback. However do high waist jeans work for every body type? And if you do decide to wear the high waist look, how do you style them without looking like you’re from 1974?
The key with high waist jeans is proportion. If you’re curvier on top or have broad shoulders, go with a flared or boot cut leg to balance your body out. If you’ve got a less curvy figure, head towards a straight or skinny leg.
To avoid going too retro when you wear high waist jeans, opt for modern styling and accessories. Pair the jeans with a simple button down (maybe plaid or a pattern if you’re feeling really funky) and tie it at the hem to emphasize the high waist of the jeans. However, a simple fitted t shirt, tucked in with a fabulous belt or statement necklace would also be a good combination.
High waist jeans are a good trend, especially if you’re bored with your denim collection. As long as you keep in mind your body shape, anyone can wear them.
If you are taking off on vacation this summer, jeans would probably be the last thing you want to wear in flight. Even the best jeans can be constricting and less breathable than other pants, making traveling extremely uncomfortable. When picking jeans for travel, it comes down to three important factors: content, color and weight.
In our humble opinion, the best jeans for travel are lightweight, medium to dark wash, soft to the touch (jeans with polyester are wonderfully soft) and contain some amount of stretch for ease of movement and comfort. To give you a little in-flight inspiration, here’s what we consider the best jeans for travel (including what we think you should wear with them):
1. Best Skinny Jeans: Wear a pair of skinny jeans that are not too snug. Don’t wear them if they are cutting out your circulation. This is especially important when you travel; you don’t want to add to the lack of comfort and space that you already have to deal with while in the air. We can appreciate the weight and color of Selena’s attire, light enough for travel and black, a color universally stylish in almost any part of the world. She keeps it casual and comfortable with her converses.
2. Best Bootcut Jeans: Pair a classic with a classic. Bootcut jeans never go out of style, so pair them with a piece that does that reflects classic good taste like a leather jacket for instance). Another top from Hilary: layers, layers, layers. When traveling, it’s important to dress for a multitude of climates, as it’s hard to predict how the temperature will change from that cold air conditioned airplane to a possibly warm destination.
3. Best Dark Jeans: If you want to maintain that fresh look, keep your outfit clean and minimal. When you are traveling for hours upon hours, it’s best to wear jeans that are easy on the eye and the body, allowing you to easily blend into any environment. Also, dark jeans are more forgiving in case of any spills or stains, unlike lighter washes, so that in case of an accidental spill you won’t arrive at your destination with an embarrassing stain.
For example, a simple, crisp lightweight shirt paired with dark skinny/straight leg jeans instantly make you look like a jet-setter without any fuss. Camilla’s trench also is a travel must, equally useful on rainy and windy days, perfectly lightweight enough to carry in hand. We’re also loving her red flats, adding style and comfort.
Summer is upon us (technically June 21st in the Northern Hemisphere), and brighter colors are, per usual during the spring/summer months, dominant. While dark washes are still as sleek as ever, light wash jeans and white jeans are ever chic and ubiquitous.
We all know that light wash jeans can be much less flattering than their dark wash counterpart, especially as we are faced with the popularity of boyfriend/slouchy cigarette styles. Many of us shudder at the thought of blaring white denim, accentuating our lower bodies in all the wrong places. Well listen up fashionista/os: here are our essential tips on pairing your light wash denim.
1. Light Wash Jeans with an Airy Top
Ashlee Simpson in Light Wash Jeans
Match the lightness of your denim with an airy, floral print top or a light and loose garment to match. Watch Ashlee Simpson balance the light airiness of her top with slim fit light wash jeans and summery sandals. Effortlessly whimsical, Ashlee is the epitome of summer style.
2. Light Wash Jeans with a dark blazer and heels
Gwyneth Paltrow pictured with Stella Mccartney in Light Wash Jeans
Lo Bosworth in Light Wash Jeans
As an instant way to chic, heels and a blazer with denim is simply a failsafe look. With light denim, a blazer and heels balances out the casual nature of the denim and helps it pop in contrast to the darker colors of the blazer.
3. Cuffed Light Wash Jeans
Eva Longoria in Light Wash Jeans
For an every day look, roll up your light wash jeans into a 2” cuff and pair with a pair of cute flats or sneakers, especially for petite women like Eva. Cuffing jeans helps elongate the legs and draws attention to your feet, so make sure to wear a cute pair of flats, sandals, or heels! Even if you’re not quite ready for boyfriend jeans and heels, you can still benefit from the better functionality and lighter look of cuffed jeans.
What NOT To Do:
1. Make Daisy Dukes an Oopsie Daisy. While we would never discount any use of denim (well, ALMOST), Daisy Dukes are not meant for every girl (despite their newest advocate, Katy Perry). If you’re going to wear them, make sure they have enough coverage in front and back, aren’t ripped in embarrassing places, and that you balance them out with a more conservative top.
2. White Out. What is the point of wearing ALL white? Overkill much? Balance in fashion is key, so try to keep it to one or two white pieces with more subtle colors to match (especially if your skin tone is lighter!).
3. Wear 1/4 of a jean. Ripped jeans, destroyed jeans. What’s next? Jean scraps? If you’re going to wear ripped light wash jeans there is a fine line between radically ripped and getting a denim peepshow. Know the difference and you’ll be golden!
posted by: Evan on June 18, 2010 at 11:50 am
filed under:Trend Alert
TAGS:
jeans,
light wash jeans
There are some common contradictions we use almost everyday. For instance, how can someone act natural? Isn’t acting pretending to be someone else? Or how about when you buy a product that claims to be new and improved? If the product is really new then there should never be anything like it before, yet if it’s improved then there has to have been one before it to improve on. So how can it be both?
Well if you happen to have some time to think about our daily contradictions, you will quickly realize how little sense they actually make.
In the denim world, there’s another contradiction that’s been puzzling us lately… one that if thought about on a fundamental level makes little to no sense, yet one that is a trend not to be trifled with. It’s called skinny boyfriend jeans or boyfriend skinny jeans (or even slouchy cigarette jeans for some).
Skinny boyfriend jeans interplay masculine and feminine looks by combining two distinctly opposite styles in one: skinny and baggy.
So how can a jean be both skinny and baggy at the same time you may ask? Well, the boyfriend skinny jean has all the makings of a regular boyfriend jean except that it has a snugger fit. The jean is generally roomy through the thigh and slim through the leg.
Kourtney Kardashian is seen wearing her skinny boyfriend jeans
At indi, we are still trying to make sense out of this denim reinvention (or should we say denim contradiction), but we do know that many a celebrity has pulled this ying-yang trend off with effortless style. Whether you go for a skinny jean, a boyfriend jean or both, all we have to say is that this trend is definitely worth thinking about.
It goes without saying that spring or any season for that matter has a big impact not only on how you dress but what you wear. Every spring, there is an influx of bright and flowery fashion sprucing up everywhere…on celebrities, boutiques, and in clothing stores. That’s because floral pieces (just like the season) add a romantic, charming, and fresh element to any outfit imaginable.
And while I don’t have anything against wearing them, I do realize that the only connection I have with anything floral in my wardrobe, unfortunately, is the empty closet space that I often stare at where there would hang floral prints if I had any. I guess after all these spring seasons I’ve been too afraid to try florals thinking that I would resemble spring way too much. For example, every time I consider wearing a floral top, I oddly happen to hear Miranda Priestly’s voice in my head from The Devil Wears Prada telling me “Florals? For spring? Groundbreaking…”
Lately though, I decided that I need to be adventurous with my fashion choices, starting with changing my outlook on floral prints. I realized that they’re not so bad since all I really need to do is to pair them with something basic yet classic. Case in point: Skinny jeans. The versatility and basic element of a skinny jean can balance almost anything, even say a flowery top. In addition, the contrast of the bright and whimsical feeling of the top and the formfitting, darker bottom works perfectly. Whatever jean you choose, make sure to maintain this contrast.
Of course, the surest way to achieve this in my opinion, is by creating your own pair of custom skinny jeans (which indiDenim of course just released), but what do I know? Once you have your perfect jeans, whatever slim style you choose, you can dress forward without thinking twice about florals.
Vanessa Hudgens pairing her floral top with skinny jeans
posted by: eunice on April 26, 2010 at 11:24 am
filed under:Trend Alert
TAGS:
skinny jeans,
spring trends
