July 29, 2019
I think it’s about time we found something to wear below the waist, don’t you think? For most of us, jeans or something similar seems the most logical place to start. When I was young, jeans were mostly for the young, and even up until about 5 years ago, when I traveled to Paris I seldom saw anybody over the age of 30 wearing jeans. But now? Jeans, in good condition – no holes, clean but not crispy pressed (no creases!) are seen on almost anybody…
Jeans – L.L.Bean
As always, I have some thoughts about what to look for…. And as always, these are GUIDELINES, not hard-and fast rules. Nobody is entitled to tell you what to wear unless you’re somewhere that requires a uniform. Otherwise, we’re all on our own! (which makes building a wardrobe challenging, but ultimately so rewarding!)
I admit that I’m a big fan of jeans from Lands’ End; they don’t cost a million dollars, they come in a range of fits and sizes (order a few and try them on at home!), and they print the style and size that you’re wearing inside the waistband, in nice big letters so that you can find the same fit in the future! When you find jeans that you like, make a note somewhere (like on your clothing shopping list?) of what size and “fit” they are, so you don’t have to go through the “fitting” process again…
If I needed a necklace, I’d be all over this one! And the sweater too, come to think of it….
Necklace – Narayani; sweater – L.L.Bean; jeans – Lands’ End; bag – Holly & Tanager; boots – Marc Fisher Ltd
Most of us can wear blue denim – it’s the new neutral!
Cardigan – BP.; flannel tunic – L.L.Bean; boots – Blondo; bracelet – Farra; jeans – Lands’ End
If grey is your neutral, grey jeans just seem logical, don’t they?
Earrings – Kohl’s; sweater – Lands’ End; plaid shirt – Lands’ End; shoes – Munro; jeans – Lands’ End
Olive just feels like autumn… Doesn’t this outfit feel like leaves changing color, and students playing sports?
Cardigan – Chelsea28 ; shirt – American Eagle; bracelet – Tissuville; boots – Koolaburra by UGG; jeans – L.L.Bean
Maybe your favorite “neutral” color is something off the beaten path, like berry… I’ve been told that this is getting to be a very visible color in downtown Chicago. Must keep my eye on that…
Cardigan – J.Crew; scarf – Missoni; denim shirt – Lands’ End; boots – TJ Maxx; jeans – L.L.Bean
If you prefer soft colors, that’s no reason that you can’t have a pair of jeans that are perfect for you! In a sea of darker colors, you will stand out like a flower in an outfit like this:
Earrings – Chan Luu; sweater – Halogen; shirt – Rails; boots – Sam Edelman; jeans – Lands’ End
The nice thing about jeans is that you don’t need 10 pairs of them; in fact, there’s a group of people who don’t wash their jeans, but rather store them in the freezer to kill odors! I’m not sure about that; I’d love to cut back on the amount of laundry that I do. How often do garments truly need to be laundered? Hmm….
love,
Janice
p.s. Back in 2016, I built a lovely black, red, and white cold-weather travel wardrobe. I’d love to toss is all into a suitcase right now and head someplace cool…
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Smart casual is the dress code at my work place and I’ve really appreciated finding slimcut, two way stretch jeans in black and charcoal grey that take into account my less than perfect body shape. They took a bit of finding but they are so versatile, especially on days that I cycle to work.
Elma–Would you share the brand of those jeans?
–Mary
Love that berry color.
I DO love all these ideas !
I thought I needed inspiration only to be smart and confortable…But I see, with this post, that I can inspired too by casual styles ideas too.
And I appreciate very much that your “casual style”, Janice, is always, always, a little bit smart (smile)…!
A special # to :
– the cotton first pull-over (great idea, this material)
– the first necklace
– the black shoes
– the grey and olive green association (I’ve never thought about it before)
Thank you very much, Janice.
Perfect! My standard trouser choice is jeans. Also appreciate the lack of scarves in most of the outfits as well, as a “non-scarf” type person. Great post!
Janice,
The American Eagle olive plaid shirt — already out of my size — sigh ! But I’ll continue to keep an eye out for offerings elsewhere ! I recently “ undergrew” my brown jeans, but shall look for replacements in both brown and olive . I love the berry color, but with my bottom half being proportionately larger than my upper half, I stick to more receding colors for jeans .
In my thinking, khaki is a grade “ dressier “ than jeans, though not by much , and it seems that more and more, jeans are accepted in places where they used to be considered too informal. On a cruise to Alaska some years ago, anyone wearing jeans after 6 PM was asked to leave the bar area and dress less casually !
Keep an eye on that shirt; sometimes things come back into stock when they get inventory from their stores, or they get additional shipments. Can’t hurt, right?
hugs,
Janice
Shall do, thank you !
Janice,
My postscript — I agree about distressed jeans — I cannot wait until they become “ yesterday’s news “ !
Oh I love that gray & black tote bag! I love that whole first look!
I purchased a pair of berry (almost velveteen) jeans a couple of years ago at NAS. It took me a while to figure out how to style them, but I love them. Finding a scarf to go with them has been hard. I keep relying on my ancient Liberty of London paisley. The Missoni is perfect but pricey!
Janice, tell me more about the Land’s End Jeans. {I bought some NYDJ -a little big this time around. I just ordered Wit & Wisdom from NAS. They seem too tight in my recommended size. I want jeans to be trim and not baggy in the legs. What more have you to say about the Land’s End?
They have both mid-rise and high-rise – I’m wearing mid-rise these days. They’re fairly roomy all the way down, which is how I prefer them. I suspect that if I bought a smaller size, I could get a slimmer fit!
hugs,
Janice
I don’t think I’d like a freezer that’s used for stinky jeans and food both.
However the same person who thought this up probably thinks stale freezer burnt smell is nicer than stinky denim.
And they forget that germs are not killed by the cold as much as put into hibernation only to wake up again when it warms up. Sweat, body oils, encrusted dirt do not magically disappear as the jeans are chilling.
I don’t wash my jeans and pants after I wear them once or twice but usually after 4-6 wearings & less if it’s hot sweaty humid weather. Sooner than that even if they don’t pass a sniff test.
But I am amused & appalled by this freezer idea. Can you imagine the off odours or flavours developing in the ice cream or cakes nearby?
I don’t know anyone who does that though. I heard about it. Maybe it’s just an urban legend???? Hopefully
Appalling indeed! How could anyone think that something worn in public spaces (i.e., bacteria laden) should be put with food stuffs? Possibly a trend or rumor started by a motherless teen somewhere? Regardless of temperature in a freezer, these things can threaten one’s health, which is far more costly that washing in the laundry. If the are so fragile, buy a second pair!
Truly do enjoy the many color-ways you provide Janice. Always something for everyone. The green selection and the deep berry are gorgeous. Make me look forward to fall already! Thank you!
For some reason, I have a harder time finding nicely fitting jeans than I do other trousers. Either they fit on my hips or on the waist, and it gets a bit discouraging… I have a pair of brown jeans that I spotted in a thrift shop and I’m pretty sure used to be equitation riding pants! The fabric is nice and sturdy and they fit well, and thankfully I made brown my second neutral after your capsule wardrobe series.
I pretty much live in jeans for 9 months of the year, and have found that Diane von Furstenburg’s “Amanda” style is a little fuller in the seat, fits to the waist, and has a long enough zipper for “women of a certain ago”. (Kohl’s and Costco in a variety of colors that change from year to year.) As a “grey girl” I have both dark and light grey and both heavy and medium weight so can shift as the weather – or my mood – demands. I pay the extra to dry clean them after 6 or so wearings – don’t trust them not to shrink in the washer. The dry cleaner things i am crazy, but happily takes my money!
Hi Janice,
Love your blogs, especially these new ones of adding one item in different colours. I ask can you make a page of everything, for each blog, like you did in your previous blogs.
I have been collecting since the beginning and have pinned so many that they are now devided up into sections, it would really help.
Thanks
I stiil think fondly of my first pair of jeans, bought with babysitting money. Those jeans wore like nothing else, and got better with time. I miss them.
While I love the ease of a jeans outfit one of the best parts of moving to the southern gulf coast in Florida was not wearing (translates to not having to shop for) jeans. I’ve transitioned to work at home and love the freedom of only having to manage a casual wardrobe that revolves around shorts, skirts and 3 dresses.
I am a jeans gal from way back (in the 60s and 70s!). I definitely have no problem owning 10 pairs of jeans, and I regularly wear them all. Blue denim (dark and medium wash), black, white, and gray, plus a few in accent colors (I love coral and deep pink jeans, it turns out). Some skinny jeans, some straight leg, some cropped. I guess this proves that a minimalist I am not. – nancyo