Wide-leg, skinnies, floral—oh my! A tFS writer shrugs off her denim blues, styling three different pairs of Macy’s Impulse denim, each with three unique looks. From dressed down to ready to paint the town, here are nine looks that prove that style is all in the jeans.
The Denim Diaries
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Skinny Look #1: Back to Basics
For my first denim look, I started off very simple with a pair of super-soft and stretchy skinnies from J Brand, a very wearable wardrobe essential. The jeans’ classic true blue wash looks great with black, so I paired them with a basic black sleeveless tunic. My favorite navy blue belt with gold shell buckles (a thrift store find!) added interest to the look and defined the waist. I always feel like Sandy at the end of Grease in cigarette jeans, and my black wedge sandals added to that effect even more.
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Skinny Look #2: Equestrian
Equestrian-inspired fashion has been forecasted for fall, but all of the talk of dressage at the Olympics must have given me horses on the brain. Jegging-style jeans like the pair of J Brands I styled are perfect for equestrian fashion not only because they bring to mind the look of riding pants but also because they’re perfect for tucking into a tall boot. I wore them with my lace-up leather boots and tucked in a chambray shirt—a preppy must-have. I cuffed the sleeves on my oversized tan blazer—I love the strong shoulders that it gives the look.
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Skinny Look #3: Passport to Paris
Skinny jeans bring to mind the silhouettes of Paris in the 1960s, which inspired this look. These J Brand jeans lend themselves to vintage looks because they’re already so soft and lightly distressed that they feel well-worn and well-loved. I wore them with a bright blue short-sleeved sweater and patent leather loafers, tying a red vintage scarf around my neck to complete the Parisian look.
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Wide-Leg Look #1: Dressed Down
I have to admit I don’t usually wear wide-leg denim but these dark wash 7 for all Mankind jeans made me feel sophisticated and feminine. The shape is universally flattering and elongates the leg, plus they have just enough stretch to make them that comfy pair you want to pull on with everything. That’s just what I did, creating an easy ensemble with a heather gray sweater and ponytail—the perfect outfit for a laid-back Sunday of brunch and window shopping.
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Wide-leg Look #2: Stylish Slacks
I love how easy it is to dress up dark denim. For this look I treated the 7 for all Mankind jeans like they were slacks, pairing them with a cream-colored scoop neck tee and a vintage blazer that I got at a flea market in Cairo. The fact that they’re jeans and not, say, black dress pants makes the look just a little bit younger and fresher but still appropriate for the office or a more formal meeting.
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Wide-Leg Look #3: Take Your Jeans Out
Who says you can’t wear jeans out? A dark wash like this 7 for all Mankind pair is imminently dress-up-able—just add heels and a statement necklace. I wore a loose black silk chemise, black platform Messeca pumps, and a gold and enamel choker that I stole from a friend (shh!). This is an evening look that’s understand but will still get you noticed while getting drinks.
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Floral Look #1: Denim-on-denim
Ah, the dreaded denim-on-denim—it’s more than OK when your jeans are printed, like this Citizens of Humanity floral pair. I’ve been dying to try floral denim since I saw Jessica Alba wearing them in a pastel look. I combined two trends with these blooming blue jeans and a denim collared tank top, buttoned all the way up. My favorite saltwater sandals finished this summery look that seems made to star in Instagrams taken at a picnic in the park.
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Floral Look #2: Romantic
There’s nothing more romantic than roses—unless you add pink silk and pearls. I wore my flowery Citizens of Humanity denim with a salmon-colored silk top that has pretty pearl appliqués. The embellishment on the shirt combined with the rose-patterned jeans is the closest thing to pattern-mixing I’ve dared to try, with happy results. This totally date-ready outfit made me wish my boyfriend wasn’t out of town.
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Floral Look #3: Summer Whites
Summer is in full bloom, and so are these Citizens of Humanity jeans. The pattern puts a twist on the monochrome white looks I’ve seen celebs rocking lately. I wore a white crochet top that my best friend’s genius mom made, and I love how ladylike the lace and flowers made me feel. I cuffed the jeans to show off my strappy white sandals and tied my hair into a trendy top-knot.
