We love Alexander Wang and everything he sends down the runway (which is why I wound up with a few too many t-shirts ripped at the waist) but something in his Spring 08 show gave us pause. It wasn’t the ripped jean shorts, or even the midriff baring tops (obviously) – the thing that really got us were the boyfriend jeans.
We weren’t really sure what to do with them. Are they cool? Are they ugly? Are they wearable?
We thought we could tuck them away in the Spring 08 archives but it turns out that the same slouchy, man-ish pants are all over the Fall runways, though with more of a Katherine Hepburn silhouette that jeans just can’t muster.
In theory, we like the boyfriend jean. We think they have a certain carefree, casual cool to them, and they’re probably insanely comfortable. We have to say, it might be nice to wear pants that you don’t have to hop, shimmy or inhale deeply to get into.
And yet, we could imagine them transforming us into a squat, messy-looking faux-pas. (And do we even have to get into the saggy ass factor?) Then there’s the issue of what to wear on top – a loose shirt fits the mood but threatens to make you look a good few sizes larger than you are, while a tight top doesn’t quite fit the look. Basically, we’re afraid they could make us look like our third-grade lunch lady.
Fashionista’s really quite divided on the issue – Britt and Audrey are yay; Natalie, Kyle and I say nay. So we want to know – would you wear boyfriend jeans? And if so, how?
–HAYLEY PHELAN
Tags: Alexander Wang, Boyfriend Jeans, Fall 08, Jeans, Spring 08
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YES! wear them sitting quite low on the hips. there must be enough baggyness to avoid that weird “pointy ass” thing where the denim sticks outwards between the back pockets. that looks ridic
I don’t know- it’s not really a trend i can get into- jeans or otherwise. I think it errs on the unkept side versus at least somewhat pulled together- and i tend to lean towards the latter. (lecheapcestchic.com)
Check out Karlascloset on Chictopia, she does it really well:
http://www.chictopia.com/user/blog/karlascloset
I think you can have a slight slouchy jean that still has some structure to it. As Number 1 said, avoid sizes too large. There was a photo on the third page of Sunday’s NY Times Style section of a girl wearing a pintstipe denim. It was fabulous looking. But I’m not getting rid of my fitted slim fit jeans any time soon. I won’t have this ass forever!
i love it when they are actually my boyfriend’s jeans. i wouldn’t buy a pair made for me to look like it though. i lived through that mess in college in the early 90′s…ugh…
I love them on girls with long legs (which i, sadly, was not blessed with). On http://www.Kalrascloset.com she wears them with an american apparel zip up lotard thing and some super high shoes and looks effortless and adorable.
i give boyfriend jeans a big yes. at least on other people. I think the “shorts” (about knee length) are even better.
i’ve never tried the look out on myself but I imagine for inspiration i’d scroll through alexander wangs entire spring show, which was pretty much my favorite last season!
I have a pair of men’s denim from years ago that I absolutely love. I think every girl needs a pair of slouchy comfy jeans. Good for work (manual labor), good for play, good for any any day. . .
if you’ve got the boyish body, it works- maybe with a bodysuit or slim button-up… always tucked in!
http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/victoria-beckham-in-flats-disneyland.jpg
ehh cute in theory…but idk if even tiny victoria beckham can pull them off…so weird that she’s in flip flops
people.com has a photo of Katie holmes sporting a pair of loose-fit jeans: belted, with a tight cuff at the ankle with a snug tee. http://www.people.com/people/gallery/0,,20215834_5,00.html
looks chic and relaxed
YES! I love my boyfriend jeans that I own from rag and bone. They’re actually their men’s jeans and i wear them with a very snug tube top which is a great look in the summer.
Uh, no.
I think they only way you could wear boyfriend yeans was if you are really thin. I personally love boyfriend pants/jeans. They are on my fall wishlist for sure.
ALL OF YOU NEED TO TAKE RISKS.
plain and simple. what is life worth living
if fashion is one major obstacle you’re always questioning.
just do it and put you back into it
I like the shirt they are wearing in that picture with the jeans or a tight white top might work too.
No. I will never be prised out of my skinny jeans, never!!!
I wear mine, and have for years, with a swingy, low scoop neck tee tucked in. Lately I’ve been adding a bunch of delicate gold jewelry.
I have a few different pairs, my favorite being some slightly distressed men’s Armani jeans. Sometimes a belt, sometimes not. I think it helps that I am 5’10″. If the fit is right the look can really work on anyone.
I used to wear a pair of baggy 501s all the time in high school, and when I look back, I realize that they weren’t very flattering at all and did weird things to my ass and thighs. I think it’s a cool look in theory, but difficult to pull off if you aren’t built like a boy.
i was the first post on this, but after reading more comments i want to clarify my position. i stand by this belief, and it goes for any trend. ever.
only wear it if you feel completely comfortable – esp. with boyfriend jeans, the carefree masculinity will look sexy for real
if you know you don’t have the confidence in the garment and how it looks and feels ON YOU, don’t wear it!
simple
only super skinny girls w. no hips look good in bf jeans…aka models.
I have about 6 pairs of vintage (read from the 50s to the ’70s) Levis 501s, which is what all of the new incarnations are based on. I just LOVE the way they fit on me- there is that bunchy thing in the crotch area and how they fit looser down the leg, that only happens when a girl wears a guy’s jeans. And they have to sit on the hip bone JUST SO. And because we have hips, the waist line sits naturally below the belly button. That was where the low rider look for womens jeans originally came from. They took the mens 501 and made it to fit a woman. And the hem has to dip below the feet, so the whole look becomes slouchy/sexy. It’s really a rebirth of the look that we wore in the ’90s, before the boot cut became the look, then dark denim, then skinny. There’s a picture of Cher wearing a pair of tight 501s in a book called Cheap Chic, and if you can dig it up, shows that this classic style never really goes out of style. Whenever I wear mine, I feel so effortlessly cool in such a timeless style. And there is something sexy about a woman wearing a guy’s clothes.The vintage store What Goes Around Comes Around (or is it the reverse?) has them but they cost hundreds of $$$ now. FYI, there is a new denim line, Current Elliott that is doing a take on this iconic look and Barneys will have them. (If they’re not sold out before they hit the floor!)
I used to wear them in high school in the mid-nineties in that Brenda from 90210 body suit way. I would be very afraid to look like that now, although back then I wore them with Doc Mary Janes. Maybe with a wifebeater and really really cute sandals, but I’m not totally convinced.
See also: “stepdad jeans”/”standup comedian jeans”:
http://www.hipsterrunoff.com/2008/06/editors-correction.html
I totally agree that it depends what size your boyfriend is. Seriously, if they’re too baggy, you’re doing yourself no favors.
And same goes for if you’re not tall/slim enough to pull them off… you will look the wrrrong kind of androgynous.
I would totally wear this. I’m 6 ft. Also, Katie Holmes has been wearing this trend constantly….
If Katie Holmes is wearing it, then I don’t want to be anywhere near it. hahaha!
i tried them on at nordstroms and thye werent for me. First, you have to be tall to where them and have a long legs. They looked decent on me but they were so slouchy in the croch area that it looked like i had something to hide. Maybe they are worth trying on again with a more open mind.
I bought some boy jeans to wear as a part of my costume last year. Sadly, my boyfriend has stolen them. He hated that I walked around campus in them, but they were SO comfortable!!
i think that the same kind of controversy comes up everytime there´s a major shift on fashion. they´re deffinetely an interesting look, but like everything else fashionable, not for everyone. find what best suits you. if you want some inspiration on the whole 90´s look check winona ryder out in Realiy Bites.
p.s. the look guest 24 posted should be a “how not to wear them”…
I’m 5’2″ and have a pair of men’s jeans in waist size 28–the smallest available!–and they look pretty sick on me, so you DO NOT have to be model-tall to wear them, or even model-skinny. Like poster #20 said, all it takes is confidence.
nay, unless you’re really tall.
I’m not sure if I like them yet but I kind of like the way this blogger wear her . I might have to go in my brother closet to steal some .
http://fashioncloset911.blogspot.com/
i would wear them with a black leotard, suspenders, rolled up, with low-top red cons.
posted by sarajane
Honestly i think she pulls off this look,its refreshing to see that on her.I also saw SJP (equally tiny)wearing them.
But to roll them up?Hell no!
Nay all the way!
xoxo,
Krom
kromstyle.com
Victoria Beckham is wearing a pair of Prps boyfriend jeans and I think they look great on her. This look isn’t new. It was around in the mid-90′s if anyone remembers.
http://denimhunt.typepad.com/denimhunt/trend_forecast/index.html
i love mine that i’ve had for quite sometime, and believe me i’m not tall or skinny, at all. I get compliments on them often and they’re super comfy. Don’t be so hesitant, they’re great=)
I love bf jeans! I used to wear guys jeans back in high school and now that I’m in my mid 20′s, I’m sick of stuffing myself into tight ‘girl’ pants all the time. I have just recently bought a couple pairs of these, and I’m enjoying every minute of wearing them!
since i’m currently wearing a pair, i’d say i’m in the yes category. at least, for certain people. i’m tall, i have a small waist and i’ve found a pair that sits on my hips with a long inseam. i think i look pretty cute with a tank and sneakers. this pair is pretty worn, but a newer one with a clean dark wash would look great with a long fitted tank.
i love them, i think they are easy to wear its just a matter of getting use to them, remember when skinny jeans came out?, i was like “mmm no way i’m wearing them”.