April 18 - Wide Leg Jeans in These Foolish Things
- April 18, 2024, 11:50 a.m.
- |
- Public
Over the last few years, the trend in womens denim has gone from super duper skinny legs - we’re talking skin-tight, legging silhouettes to the widest of the wide-leg jean. It’s probably the largest swing on the fashion pendulum I’ve ever seen!
Maybe it was the pandemic that did it? People wanting more comfortable clothing to wear at home? Much, much higher waistbands to pack all of that comfort food under?
Regardless, the transformation to wider-leg bottoms has been happening for a couple of years now, and I finally had to cave because skinny jeans are starting to look really out of style now. The fashion eye has changed and the general public has accepted this shift.
I remember being part of shaping the skinny jean. Back in 2002 I started working for a denim company and worked with some of the biggest (and THE biggest) jeansmakers in the world. I could go on and on and on about the evolution of the low waist and the tiniest fly-front zippers and the silhouettes making huge shifts to accommodate the skinny low-rise styles.
So 20+ years later, it only makes sense. Fashion cycles and big shifts take about that long.
When I started my new job last year I bought a couple of pairs of “mom jeans” with straighter legs and wider silhouettes, but I never could get into those and they only make me look dumpy, frumpy and sad.
Now that I’ve lost some significant weight, I decided to start watching some influencers to see how they are wearing the wide legs and how they style them…and trying to figure out how I could afford to change my whole casual wardrobe - because remember, when you have a shift like this on the bottom, you also have to shift the top for balance! Some people don’t realize this, but yes! Any big shift in proportions of a focal point is going to cause a ripple effect. You adjust the weight on the bottom…you gotta change the top!
Ugh. I’m out of time. I’ll continue this later!
GS
Skeletor ⋅ April 18, 2024
That’s absolutely right! When I lost weight it took me forever to adjust my clothing style and sometimes I still see who I used to be every time I pick outfits. It wasn’t until the day I went to a tailor to get fitted for a suit that I saw my measurements for myself and realized my ratios were completely off.
I am still top heavy and chubby; but I’m also 6’4”. I’m in the mid 200’s. I have long legs and a long torso, but my waist shrunk from a 42 to a 34. I buy 36’s now because they shrink. Shirts I can fit in XLT and 2XLT; the T is the important part. I normally stick to 2 due to shrinkage but I also buy some 3’s.
Women’s clothing though 😵💫 man. I’m sure you can say it much better than I can but just thinking about how it’s been when my ex or the women in my life went shopping for regular tops and jeans. WILD. Sizing and pricing is just out of control 😆 and they absolutely do not want y’all to have pockets!
You will definitely find a good ‘you’ style in all of this, I can feel it 😌
Firebabe ⋅ April 18, 2024 (edited April 18, 2024)
Edited
Several years ago I was always on the prowl for wide leg jeans because I even though I'm very tall, I carry a little extra weight, and when I would watch "What Not To Wear" Stacy and Clinton would ALWAYS dress heavier women with a dark, wide leg jean. That and the fact that skinny jeans make me look like 10 lbs. of sausage in a 5 lbs. bag. LOL. I love the fact that wide legs are making a comeback!
DE_KentuckyGirl ⋅ April 18, 2024
Funny how fashion cycles. Wide legs were super popular in the 70s and again in the 90s and now coming back. Probably more evidence we should save our clothes when they go out of style for future generations. 🙂
I wore high waist as a teen in the 80s and early 90s. My daughter (now 21) laughed when she saw pics. Now she is wearing the EXACT same types of jeans.
Sleepy-Eyed John ⋅ April 18, 2024
Interesting notes on this
WhatDreamsMayCome ⋅ April 18, 2024
Cliffhanger!
Ginger Snap WhatDreamsMayCome ⋅ April 18, 2024
hah!
Lux Lunae ⋅ April 18, 2024
There is no way for me as a fat person, to wear a wide leg jean and not look fatter. I think if one was medium weight they could achieve that slimmer silhouette, but a fat person is a fat person and any changes in the top will only accent her gut that much more, especially if the top is tucked in. Most design trends are for the slim though so it makes sense that they'd design it to make the slim look even slimmer.
Ginger Snap Lux Lunae ⋅ April 18, 2024
Did you see the note I left for [Ms Aussie_G]? You absolutely CAN wear flattering wide leg jeans! I can promise you that they look better on bigger women than the skinny jeans.
In fact, I found this article for you if you don't believe me: https://dimplesonmywhat.com/plus-size-wide-leg-jeans/ 😊
Complicated Disaster ⋅ April 19, 2024
I refuse to do fashion! The current assume for men's shorts here is very very short and I won't have it. I like my shorts three quarters length. So I just have to shop around until I find some I like.
Xx
Fred ⋅ April 19, 2024
I have so much trouble finding clothes that are comfortable and fit that my jeggings will continue to be my go to indefinitely even if they are very out of style
World of Bre ⋅ April 20, 2024
I will admit I m not a fan of wide lag jeans. I am already 5'10" so I don't wantt to look taller. Of course now I am kinda stuck in the maternity wear so I can't really say much. But as soon as I lose all the baby wt I will go back to my skinny jeans and yoga pants look.
sudare ⋅ April 20, 2024 (edited April 20, 2024)
Edited
Twenty years ago, the smaller the cloth area was, the higher the price was. On the other hand, in the last few years, the area has increased and the price (or prices in general) has risen. It sounds rational to me now.
Gangleri ⋅ April 22, 2024
JNCOs?
Ginger Snap Gangleri ⋅ April 23, 2024
Hahaha! Kinda?