Frame Le Garcon jeans
Karen Kane top | gift from Karen Kane, several years old, newer top styles
Everlane street loafers | gift from Everlane
Admonish curved leather bag
Lipstick Queen in Medieval (obsessed! not a fan of how it makes my lips look in photos though LOL)
Ugh, ugh, ugh. I received my Shopbop friends & family order yesterday (late, of course, thanks UPS) and nearly everything is going back. Again, here’s what I ordered: Goldsign Virtual high-rise jeans in black, Goldsign Brigitte jeans in gray, 3×1 The Principle high-rise cropped jeans, James Perse dolman dress, James Perse skinny crew dress.
[show_shopthepost_widget id=”1120494″]
First, the James Perse long skinny crew dress is AMAZING. Truly. The color is beautiful, yes, it’s more purple than burgundy, but a nice rich, deep purple that I really liked. The fit is perfect, as usual, BUT it’s long on me, and hard to walk in. As Cola said in a comment recently, it felt like I was wearing exercise bands around my calves. I wore it around for quite some time, to see if I could get used to walking in it, and I tried to hitch it up a little at the waist and see if it would stay up just a couple of inches to make it easier to walk. Nope. I also considered keeping it and getting it hemmed, but with these double-lined James Perse dresses, it’s too complicated. And the fact is, I can get the shorter version, that I also like, and not have to worry about any of that. Honestly, I’m still thinking about keeping it, although it’s all packed up and ready to go back. The dress is stunning on. Would be perfect for my 25th high school reunion…But, I’m tired of keeping and having things in my closet that aren’t just right. I keep telling myself I will regret keeping it, and will wish I had the shorter version instead.
The other JP dress is also amazing, but I knew that because I’d tried it on. Definitely keeping that one. And probably also keeping the black Goldsign jeans, because they’re a nice uniform dark high-rise jean and they fit well. But I loved the other Goldsign jeans more. The brigitte style is a high-rise, but with more “room” up top, and WAY too tight around my calves, I mean, they were STUCK there. All jeans are snug in my calves, even the Virtual jeans, including the ones I already have, but these were extreme. The wash is insane (in a good way) and fit is perfectly ever-so-slightly slouchy, yet slim at the same time. That is, if you have smaller legs than I do. I have large legs, I know that, which is frustrating, but it is what it is. If you have “normal” sized legs, then I highly highly highly recommend the Goldsign brigitte jeans if you’re into gray, high-rise skinny jeans. I wanted to keep them and make them work even though I know they are just too tight (and look it) at my calves.
This is my woe for so long now, since I lost weight, ironically, that I seem to have a harder time fitting into jeans now than I did before. Of course, it’s not me, it’s that jeans are cut very slim in the legs lately, even “boyfriend” jeans don’t fit me so well in the legs. These Frame Le Garcon jeans are a few years old and are now slightly big on me, so they have stretched out enough that they’re not so tight, but they’re still snugger on my legs than that would be on most. Ugh. I know this, yet I keep trying.
Anyway, now with the black Goldsign jeans, and the 3×1 jeans I’ll be good on jeans. I’m returning the size 29 in the 3×1 jeans and ordering the 28 instead – I really really liked the fit of the jeans (not too tight in the calves, interestingly), but they were just a teeny bit big. The rise is SO HIGH, it’s wonderful, and I loved the slight flare at the hem. I’d have to get them shortened about an inch because they’re too long on me, even though they’re “cropped,” but they were pretty much exactly what I was looking for. I am trying to replace the AG tomboy crop jeans I’ve had for a few years because I just can’t deal with the low rise anymore. The 3×1 will do nicely.
I can’t help it, I love jeans, and I know I need a few different pairs, but I’m happy generally with one of each “style”: boyfriend, skinny, cropped. For next spring/summer I’ll replace my older Goldsign virtual jeans in the dark wash, because they’re a bit big on me now as well; they are saggy in the back, and don’t hold me in like I like, but for now the jeans I have will do. I still love these Le Garcon jeans for a nice loose boyfriend jean, and hopefully the size 28 in the 3×1 jeans will work for my cropped pair to replace the AG tomboys. So, no more denim woes I guess. I can be satisfied, and probably happy with what I have. It is enough.
How many pairs of jeans do you have? Do you stick to one pair of each “style”? or do you prefer to have multiples of one style?
I LOVE jeans and wear them daily. I have large thighs, they make it so hard to fit jeans, even boyfriend jeans. My waist is smaller so if I get them to fit my thighs they are too big in the waist. Right now I’m wearing my Kut from the Kloth Catherine jeans, they fit me well but a little snug in the calves! I also wear Gap sexy boyfriend jeans, they are loose everywhere which is a nice change of pace. I want to buy more jeans but I’m trying to lose 10 pounds and to be honest, I flip flop from being excited about jeans and so frustrated I stop trying!
Feeling your pain…
I have a really hard time finding jeans that fit. I have a couple that fit well that I’ve had for a long time and they need to be replaced. I tried the same brand and style but now they are cut differently and do not work for me at all. I am in the process of finding new jeans. I have tried many made for “curvy” figures because I have a huge difference between my waist and thigh measurements but they still don’t really fit that well. I have lived with hemming the length and wearing longer shirts to cover the waist gap.
back when flares and bootcut styles were popular, i didn’t have much of a problem finding jeans that fit, my goldsign and james jeans were perfect for me. but with the more modern styles, the leg is cut so much slimmer, even on flares! i find goldsign still fits my waist/hips/butt better than any other brand, but the slim legs leave a little to be desired. jeans made for curvy figures never worked on me either – i kept trying to love the joe’s “honey” style, but i didn’t…
have you tried high-waisted styles? that has made the waist gap vanish completely for me. as you can see i’m transitioning all my jeans to high-waist now because of how comfortable they are…
those jeans are cute, but the rise is so low!! 😉 i tried to love the gap sexy boyfriend jeans but they didn’t fit me well AT ALL. way too slim in my legs if they fit in my waist/hips and if i sized up to fit my legs, the waist was literally falling off me…ugh.
the jeans i’m wearing in this picture are good for a boyfriend style on me, if a little low. they stick to my calves, but are not uncomfortable. and i love how soft and worn in the denim is.
How many jeans do I have? I’m not gonna count .. lol. I have .. hmm, lots! Mostly boot cut and in different lengths for flats and heels. I’ve branched out into boyfriend cropped jeans and skinny although .. skinny is hard to come by for the pear shape – stretch, needs lots o’ stretch 😉
Monica.
MonicaP´s last blog post ..Blissmo Box No. 2 – Snack Attack!
I have the same problem. Modern jeans rarely suit me. Small waist, big muscular calves and thighs. I returned 3 pairs of jeans this week (2 levis, 1 imogene & willie)–all falling down in the waist but just right in the hips/thighs. So frustrating. I have tried high waist styles but I get an even worse waist gap than with mid- to low-rise styles. My husband suggested I just wear a belt! Men…
To confound matters I really dislike pants with spandex because it just reduces their longevity too much. I kept trying, and just ended up with $$$ pants that were stretched out and getting holes after <1 year of wear.
I have a few older styles I like, mostly straight leg, boyfriend, or slightly bootcut — and 501s are a mainstay for me — so I mostly shop eBay when I need to replace jeans.
lol at your husband. i would give my husband the side-eye for sure if he said that !!
which imogene & willie did you try? they ‘re on my list to try, the elizabeth style (https://imogeneandwillie.com/elizabeth-black) – i actually chatted with someone there and mentioned my larger legs/calves and she said those should work. but i’m finding that when i say larger calves, people really don’t understand what that means.
i hear you on spandex – i think that is the problem i’m having with my original goldsign virtual jeans – they’re just stretched out too much. and i don’t dry them at all (i hardly EVER wash them even) so it’s not that. they’re also a size too big on me now, so there’s that. but yes, i think spandex has something to do with it. my new black pair doesn’t have spandex, so we’ll see…
I have gone through so many brands trying to find the perfect fit. The AG tomboy used to be my boyfriend jean but the rise was just too low, then I tried the current/elliott fling which I still occasionally wear.
I have found two brands/styles that work really well for me. The r13 slouch skinny is perfectly slouchy and the rise is just right, for a true skinny I’m thinking of trying their high rise skinny but I have very athletic calves so I’ve been hesitating on those.. The shorty jean by 6397 is the most comfortable baggy/boyfriend jean I have ever worn – I would wear them every day if I could.
Unfortunately both brands are a bit on the pricy side, but I decided I’d rather do fewer/better than deal with jeans that just miss the mark.
oh! i have wanted to try both r13 and 6397 denim, but i seem to have set an arbitrary limit at $300 for denim. i don’t know why, because i will PAY for amazing jeans. but i’ve also balked because they seem very “fashion-y” and to me that usually means very slim leg styles. the shorty jean by 6397 is EXACTLY the style i’ve been looking for, and have tried to find, to no avail. i tried these by AYR (https://ayr.com/products/the-slouchy-jean?color=monolithic) and they will big in the waist and snug in the calves, not the look i was going for!
hopefully i’ll be able to snag them when they go on sale again. and i do love the r13 slouch skinny (seems very similar to the goldsign brigitte i just sent back, but a little more slouchy) but i worry about the calves. LOVE the black/gray version though. if you don’t mind sharing, do you know your calf measurements? mine are 16 inches at their widest. sadly, i blame pure barre for my muscular calves, but i wouldn’t trade them for the world. i just wish i could find jeans that fit better 😉
My calves are about 14 inches at their widest, I still have plenty of room in the lower leg of the slouch skinny jeans without having them look too loose – and of course that’s not an issue at all with the shorty jeans as they are quite baggy but don’t overwhelm me at only 5’4″ like some wider legged jeans can.
thanks julie!! i ended up sending all the jeans back i ordered from shopbop, so I think i’ll try a pair of those – although i really like the black pair, and shopbop is sold out of my size 🙁
i really appreciate your feedback and suggestions. i never would have considered trying r13 otherwise.
i’m straight up OBSEsSED with jeans. before i started downsizing to my capsule wardrobe and shopping ethically, I had like 60-70 pairs of jeans. no joke. even now, its the hardest thing for me to turn down. thrifting could easily turn me into a denim junkie again (SO MANY LEVI’S) so i have to be picky. but being picky also leaves me without that one perfect pair, so I’m still on the hunt. the 3×1’s sound pretty intriguing!
jaana – the 3×1’s were so good, i’m waiting for my returns to process so i can order the 28.
what are your favorite levis? i’ve never actually bought/worn a pair, but am intrigued.. what should i look for secondhand??
I love my jeans! I’m not a big spender on jeans, though. Although, I’m a big fan of the fit of PAIGE denim on my body, so I’ve been known to spend more on those. I know I’ll get grief for this (or maybe not since I’m so late to the party!) but I really LOVE my Old Navy Distressed skinny jeans and my ON boyfriend jeans. I can specify length, plus, I like the stretch for comfort. And they’ve lasted as long as my PAIGE! A bonus: I can wear a smaller size. Complete vanity, I know, but I don’t care! 😉
I’m curious, too. I’ve never found the right fit (other than when I was 125lbs in college and wore 501 shrink to fit).
You look really good in them! Very “boyfriendy”!
Perfectly sound logic, Monica. 🙂