Everlane cropped cashmere sweater | size small (purchased with credits from Everlane)
Everlane high-low belt
6397 Shorty Jean (on sale at Nordstrom)| size 29 (also on sale at The Dreslyn, selvedge denim at La Garconne)
Robert Clergerie Nalo loafers | on sale at Totokaelo – highly recommend these
Kara small dry bag
(so you can get a good look at the massive rise – yes, they’re meant to be loose and slouchy)
I have mentioned before my obsession with denim, haven’t I? And my inability to find jeans that fit my legs/calves? ICYMI, let me sum up: It is impossible for me to find jeans that fit my calves & my waist; and I’ve come to terms with the fact that jeans will NEVER look on me like they look on models – my legs are too substantial/athletic/thick, whatever you want to call them. And I think it’s exacerbated by the fact that I’m not plus-sized and am short; when I wore size 32-34 jeans and larger, I didn’t have such a huge problem fitting my calves because the assumption is that the thickness of your legs increase/decrease proportionately with your overall size. Which is not true.
I have several pairs of jeans. Enough now, definitely, but again, I have been searching for “THE PERFECT” pair, even though I know there is no such thing. I can’t help it. So now, with these jeans, I have finally found a pair that fits me like I WANT them to in the legs – the 6397 Shorty Jean. They do not cling AT ALL to my calves, they skim nicely over my hips, and have a great straight leg (on me), all while being too “big” in the waist.
As I said though, that is the situation with me and denim now. I think my “normal” denim size is 28, but I have IRO jeans in size 30 that I took in at the waist so they’ll fit me in the legs, and now these are firmly two sizes too big in the waist, but fit like I want them to in the legs. I’m wearing a belt here, and that works for now, but I will take them to my tailor to have them taken in a bit because right now there’s a bit of a paper bag effect at the waist/back that’s not ideal.
When I took these photos I actually wasn’t sure I was going to keep these jeans, but then as I was getting dressed yesterday I put them on and didn’t want to take them off. I wore them for real with my very old Isabel Marant Etoile sweatshirt and Vince shoes (see Instagram below) and was incredibly comfortable and happy I decided to keep them.
I know there are more of you out there, she of the larger legs, because you chime in here periodically on my posts to share your denim-shopping woes, and I get a few hits every day from google searches on some variation of “best boyfriend jeans for large thighs/legs.” So here is my final contribution to the cause, because I don’t think you can get much better than these, and I’m finished trying. I have to credit commenter Julie for letting me know about these jeans on a recent post or else I may not have tried them/stalked them until they went on sale. They are worth it.
(via Instagram)
So, anyone else with larger legs/calves out there?? What denim brands/styles do you wear to fit your legs? What have you tried?
Off topic, but I have an Everlane postcard with a coupon code for $10 off $50, wanted to share it, as I’m up to date (until they have more arrivals, that is). Code is DC4JY3. Probably just a one-time use.
I love the color of these jeans! And they look great on you. I love this outfit.
ha! thanks for sharing, if anyone uses it please comment here
thanks lori! i’m very happy with them 🙂
Hi Grechen! I just wanted to say something about your site (which I am crazy about, by the way). I miss the next & previous links under each post. I mean, I have become only recently a reader, and I often enjoy browsing around, clicking on the You might also like links, but sometimes I like to look at posts from the same season/time period and I can’t go from one post to the next, chronologically, as I’d like, you know what I mean? Maybe keep that in mind whenever you update the site, if it’s something other readers are missing too. Otherwise I love you style and the way you look at things, and I am looking forward to your posts every day.
thank you so much for your feedback lori! i designed the site the way it is mostly because i have SO MUCH content on a few different “subjects” i wanted readers to be able to see the different categories on the front page, instead of presenting it in a traditional “blog” style. if you want to read it blog style (chronologically) when you first arrive to the site, you can just click on the BLOG link at the top – or bookmark this link: http://grechenscloset.com/blog/ and you’ll always see it chronologically. does that help?
i’d love to hear more feedback if anyone has it – i’m always open to making changes that will make it easier to navigate content if that’s necessary…
These look great on you! My personal demon/dilemma is this: isn’t it just ME? I need to lose 10-15 pounds and when I do my clothes will look and feel better… So I look but don’t buy.
that’s what i thought too, but i lose weight and my legs don’t slim down much because i work them so hard at the barre, and walking, etc. which i won’t change. so instead of just having “thick” legs now, i have muscular (and also a little fat..) calves and thighs. anyway, i carry my weight in my lower half, that’s just the way it is…
for me, i also had to accept that this is my body, and i’m crazy happy with it, so whatever i have to do to find jeans i love and that fit, i will do. but now i have, so i’m done for a while 😉
oh, and now that i’m re-reading your comment i understand what you’re saying better. i don’t know where my brain is this AM…
i will try and see how to get a previous/next link under every single post. i don’t know why those aren’t there anyway…i’m not sure i noticed that.
Yes, I meant the links on the individual post page. In several instances I would have found those links helpful while exploring your site into more depth. And I’ve needed them exactly because there is so much content and any navigation help is welcome. It would be great to have it, but you know, it’s not a big deal–it didn’t take much away from my enjoyment of your site.
I think this is the key–accepting your body type and working with it. I have lost enough weight in the past to realize that I’m always just going to have to deal with certain things–I’m an hour glass with a short torso and wide shoulders and that’s just how it is. No matter how much/little I weigh. I am always going to have a hard time with certain types of clothing, specifically dresses, coats, and jackets, because of this. I am going to need to experiment with getting things tailored and there are some “looks” that are just not ever going to suit me.
But I must say, Grechen, you look fantastic! I am filled with admiration for your flat tummy! And I think getting jeans tailored to fit you in the waist is probably the way to go.
joannawnyc´s last blog post ..BEING BEAUTIFUL
My thighs are a much bigger problem than my calves, but those aren’t toothpicks either. These are working really nicely for me right now: the DL1961 Riley boyfriend (Nassau wash) and Paige Skyline Skinny one of the Transcend fabrics – super stretchy but they don’t lose their shape the way most denim does on me. (I have the Mona wash – nice and dark and dressy). In no way are either of these styles high rise – anything high rise won’t work on me because my torso is so short – but they’re not ultra-low either and I can breathe in them – yay! Paige Skyline Boot and Skyline Straight aren’t bad either 🙂
my thighs are no joke either, but somehow they seem easier to fit than my calves. i keep trying paige and they just never wow me. they also don’t tend to fit my calves…
thank you joanna 🙂 i feel great, finally, in my body. and i’m so happy to have finally learned that it’s the clothes that must fit ME, not the other way around.
Joanna, you speak the truth! Self-acceptance of our body typology. I’m tall, and even when I’m thin, I still have a poochy tummy. But, honestly, I haven’t been thin in awhile, and I was just trying to get fit when another health crisis hit, dammit!
And Grechen, you’re so right…the clothes must fit ME! It’s not, or shouldn’t be about the numbers!
Cute outfit! I’m trying to convince my youngest daughter to try cropped sweaters with a lengthening tank underneath, since she doesn’t like baring her middle. I think she’d really like this look! Another generation of readers???
They’re my HG’s in jeans. Different body types….Different strokes…;-)
Jeans can be so difficult, I’m glad they worked and they look great!