Everyday Style || Summer Jeans

July 31, 2018

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When I was younger, shopping for denim was always a challenge. Being on the shorter side, I found it painfully difficult to envision how a pair of jeans would look once I chopped off (well, got them hemmed, I wasn’t as scissor happy as I am now…) 3-4 inches of the leg… a bell bottom was now just an awkward straight leg jean, and a skinny jean wasn’t quite as skinny. As I got older, and my obsession with denim grew, I began to figure out which styles looked best on me, and, what I needed to look for in a pair of jeans. So today I thought I’d share my mental checklist I go through when looking for a new pair of jeans…..

Inseam: I know this isn’t as important to everyone, but for me it’s the first thing I look at. If the hem of a jean is already distressed, and it’s too long, no matter how skilled I am with a pair of scissors, it’s not going to look the same, and therefore, I know I’ll be disappointed. That being said, if you’re on the short side like myself, and find a great pair of jeans that has some distressing at the hem, be sure the inseam is no longer than 26”… that way you’ll preserve the original look of the jean. If it’s an inseam longer than 26” I ask myself what it will look like when I take my scissors to the hem. If I think it’ll look good, they’re a go…..
Brand: While there are so many different denim brands out there… and my preferences have changed over the years…. I typically start with my go-to’s on my initial search. Over the past several years, Levi’s has become one of my favorite brands. I’ve accumulated four pairs of jeans (this high waisted distressed pair, iconic lightwash skinny jean, and my boyfriend style distressed pair featured today) , a denim jacket, and my favorite pair of short overalls. The fit is almost always perfect. One of the best places to find a hot deal on Levi’s is from eBay. eBay is such a great place to find brand new (81% of merchandise sold on the site is brand new) Levi’s at a great price (annnnd, 88% of the items have a “Buy Now Option” so you don’t have to bid + wait for them….)… with varying washes, distressing, and fits… and you can often find those coveted “sold out everyone” styles (you know, the pair you keep looking for everywhere….).
Occasion: I always ask myself what “occasion” I am purchasing my jeans for…. since that will determine wash color + distressing. If it’s a dressier look I’m going for, I’ll opt for a darker wash, and possibly a flared fit to elongate my leg with a pair of heels… if it’s more casual, then a lighter wash and distressing is fair game.
4. Distressing: You all know it’s a rare occasion when I purchase a pair of denim jeans sans distressing. Yet, I have a limit. I ask myself if all necessary body parts are covered (trust me, I’ve seen some pretty crazy pairs out there) + will I need to add a few rips here and there (usually to the knee holes to make them a little bigger). Too much or too little rules a pair out… unless I’m going for a non-distressed pair of course.