1 Golden Goose boyfriend jeans | $525 at La Garconne
2 Chimala faded ankle jeans | $285 at Madewell
3 Current/Elliot cropped straight leg jeans | $228 at Shopbop
4 MiH jeans | $270 at Net-a-Porter
5 Zara straight jeans | $79
6 Isabel Marant grey bootcut cord jeans | $96 at the Outnet
Remember when I shared my personal list of “what not to buy” with you? Guess what number three was? Yep: Denim. I definitely do not need any new jeans; I have four really good pairs of jeans that I also really like. BUT. I’ve been craving a pair of straighter, cropped jeans for the longest time. I have a great boyfriend jean, I don’t want another pair of boyfriend jeans. I want a pair of straight, ankle-length, just-a-little-bit-loose jeans that are slightly distressed and perfectly lived-in. Grey would be nice.
I do always think I “need” a pair of grey jeans every fall, and never end up getting a pair. Oh, I did get a pair of grey jeans last year from Target, but they’re long gone…not very good, not very comfortable, and a waste of $20 generally. (see what happens when you settle?) And then, the more I think about it, I wonder about grey jeans: are they only for fall/winter? how would I wear them?
Of course, since my wardrobe only consists of black, white & grey, I would not have any trouble incorporating grey jeans, I don’t think. I can see myself wearing them with loafers, and a black sweater or cardigan. With sneakers and a sweatshirt. With a white shirt & blazer. See what I’m doing there? trying to talk myself into them…
If I were to get a pair of grey jeans, the Current/Elliot pair are the ones I’m most leaning towards. They were what started me on this quest in the first place. But still. I’m trying to stay minimal, and I do already have a great pair of grey pants (James Perse) that I should wear more often. And a pair of AG Tomboy jeans that are a similar cut to the C/E, just not grey.
But perhaps you’re looking for grey jeans?
I do think grey denim is a great way to modernize your look. I’d steer clear of the lighter grey that borders on white, but I see it as interchangeable with regular denim, really. And if you do wear color, wouldn’t grey be gorgeous with a burgundy or cream chunky sweater? Or even baby blue. Or pink! Remember pink is big for fall.
And yes, I realize the extreme range in prices of jeans I’ve featured above. The Golden Goose jeans in particular are mind-blowing both in terms of how amazing they are (NOT perfect, but damn close!), and the price. I mean…I’ll spend more than $200 on jeans (but usually wait until I can get them with a code or on sale), but more than $500? I don’t think so.
A final note on denim: I personally always default to denim made in the US, because I think we do a pretty good job with premium denim (which is why I don’t own any Madewell denim, even though I do like the way it seems to fit), and it’s important to me to buy close to home, but I’ve featured below denim that is NOT made in the US, because unless it’s made in Italy or Japan, it’s generally at or around $100.
[show_boutique_widget id=”168032″]
Do you own grey jeans? How do you wear them? are you looking for a pair this year? what’s your favorite pair?
Yes, I am looking for gray jeans .. or color jeans for the pear shape. It’s a shame that jeans designers are still stuck on the skinny leg. NYDJ and Jag have some color options so will probably purchase online.
Monica.
No jeans on my fall shopping list, and no grey clothing either. I own almost no grey clothing – I have maybe two pair of charcoal pants and one grey t-shirt. It’s not a good color (or, lack of color) on me. I’m definitely enjoying a little variety in the leg style of the denim you’ve featured, though! The Off Fifth friends & family sale had some interesting skinny boot styles that tempted me, but I declined….
HI Grechen – I was browsing saks.com looking for jeans myself and I stumbled across these
http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/ProductDetail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524446700280&R=840141105178&P_name=FRAME&sid=148C639AB92D&Ntt=frame+le+garcon&N=0&bmUID=kz8bz_R
and theres a 28 left…. which would fit you more like a straight jean than a BF jean 🙂
They look really cute, I want someone to buy them so I dont !
i have those already! just in the regular denim color…they still fit me like a boyfriend jean because of my HUMONGOUS calves. seriously. they’re not straight at all…which is the problem for me with finding “straight” jeans.
i love my le garcon jeans very much…but i wouldn’t want a gray pair just like them. i think YOU should get them 🙂 for that price, they’re a STEAL.
i hope you find a pair…i’d love to see how you style them!
no grey?? how is that possible?? 😉
my husband makes fun of all my gray. even around the house. my cashmere blanket, dagny’s blanket, her beds LOL
Same calf problem my friend. I don’t even think it’s our calves. It’s the pants! We are people with normal calves who work out 🙂 !!!!
Maybe I’ll get them 😉
I have bought grey jeans over the years and have constantly been consigning them as fast as they come in. But then I see a girl in them, or a Pin, and then they get back on the “want” list. And so after iving up, I spotted the “Chelsea” ultra slimfit grey skinnies at a Nordstrom Rack during Labor Day weekend and they wre comfy and stretchy as hell (fit note: size down in their jeans, they seem to run big). I’ve been wearing them with a white tee and black with my Vans skater slip-ons that look like your Vince’s. I also just wore them yesterday with a navy sweater and chocolate brown ankle boots. Also seem to go with leopard too. They’re actually a pretty great neutral and a nice blue/black denim alternative.
Of course I looked at them, and they have a pair in my size. I do have gray jeans already–a skinny moto style by J Brand from last year. But I have plenty of pants that I like, and the only pair kind of on my list is a pair of leather (or more likely leather-like) leggings / skinny pants.
oh! those sound good…what brand are they?
i know i don’t have or wear much navy, but i do like the idea of navy and gray – it’s such an interesting and unexpected combination. much more ‘fresh’ than black & gray. (says the woman who lives in black & gray).
I love, love, love grey jeans! It is hard to find a good pair. The James Jeans “twiggy” style in Slate was my go to for a couple of years…unfortunately they seem to run lower rise these days than I like…and are a bit too much “jegging”. I have dark grey (almost like a washed black) jeans by Madewell and Pilcro (Anthropologie) that I wear a lot. I love all that you posted and am sorry I missed the Frame ones on sale at Off Saks. I’d love to find another pair for fall…
I bought a pair of grey jeans from ThredUp last spring, and wore them for a little while. I like the style and color, but this pair didn’t fit me that well, so I’m donating them. I just ordered a pair of boyfriend jeans from Paige Denim. It’s my second pair and their jeans really fit me well, since I’m curvy through my hips and thighs. I checked their site, but didn’t see any grey jeans. 🙁
Grey jeans are my go-to. I actually don’t own any denim that’s a normal denim color… I have a great pair of grey J Brand skinnies (very stretchy, thinner, just a step up from jeggings) that I wear at almost every opportunity, a pair of medium grey Pilcro (anthro) skinnie (not too stretchy, thicker denim) with ankle zips, and another Pilcro pair that are a black-grey in a slim straight fit that are nice thick but soft denim that I love so much I bought a second pair to hide away… ??
I mostly wear grey, black, and neutrals, so grey jeans just make more sense for me than indigo denim. And with three cats, black pants just don’t cut it!
yeah, i don’t think paige had many grey jeans…maybe a moto style…i tried some paige jeans on a week or so ago at nordstrom and wasn’t very impressed. again…it’s my calves…no matter what, jeans always get hung up there and then nothing else fits, or i can’t even get them UP OVER my calves!! so annoying. i guess it used to be my hips. if it’s not one thing, it’s another 🙂
oh..i have this david lerner pair of cropped, coated, seamed leggings on my list…i really love them, and think they’d look great with loafers or sneakers, but i can’t quite convince myself i’d wear them often enough. and of course, they need to go on sale…or shopbop needs to do their F&F already…but i’d really love a pair of coated leggings/pants
get them!!!
well, i do have enormously large calves. it’s my body type, i know that, but they do get quite a work out at the barre. my thighs too. i’m VERY muscular now. but it’s even becoming harder to find jeans now, i think, than it was when my butt/hips were much bigger. ugh!
ugh…you guys are really tempting me now!!
haha! i love that you bought a second pair to hide away 🙂
i’m going to try and find a pair now, you guys have convinced me! i just wish there were more i could try on in person, but the last time i was at “the mall” i didn’t see many gray jeans.
I just recently bought a lovely Seven Dojo jeans. They are flared, which is something I’m looking for, as I have too many skinny jeans. Love the fit of them.
I do own a pair of subtle “faded” leopard print jeans from NYDJ. But I just never wear them. I like them and have plenty of stuff that goes with them, I guess I’m just not sure that they’re really me, if that makes sense. And I love leopard, but there’s something about gray jeans that just doesn’t do it for me.
sure, that makes sense 😉 i feel it all the time!
i’ve never really given grey jeans a fair shake, so i’m not sure. which is why i’m all over the place right now!