Crazypants! The blog.

Black Friday, black denim

December 17, 2016

My jeans need a refresh, and a lot of styles I'd stalked went on sale on Black Friday. Now I have a pile of boxes awaiting decisions and at least one clear winner.

1-2: R13 Boy Skinny, a duplicate of my favorite jeans in an even better wash. I bought two sizes and kept the larger (shown in photos) for the intentional slouchy look. The smaller one is going back.

3-5: R13 Skinny. I'm on the fence. They were a great deal at Yoox and I've wanted to replace an old pair of the same style. But... do I really want low-rise skinnies right now? Do they look awesome or a bit dated?

6-7: CoH Liya with a high waist and stepped hem. I sort of love them and sort of hate them on myself. Expensive, so I should probably return unless I really love them. I would re-cut the stepped hem. I just don't think this look is me, no matter how trendy.

8-9: CoH Cora jeans. I was in love with these online but I'm pretty sure they're going back. I was hoping for stiffer denim.

10-11: WIW for today's chilly air. The new boy skinnies (I cut the tag after the photo), an old J Crew turtleneck, and my favorite giant architectural cardigan from Madewell. It's rarely cold enough here for a turtleneck so I was excited to wear it.

Edit: I just spotted my kitty sneaking into a photo! Can you find her?

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Posted in the Shopping category
This post is also published in the youlookfab forum. You can read and reply to it in either place. All replies will appear in both places.

15 Comments

  • Joy replied 7 years ago

    Kitty spotted in #1 (ears) and #8 in bottom corner. I like the jeans that you cut tags on best. It was very interesting to see these styles together.

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 7 years ago

    Your new jeans are fantastic (the ones you kept)--I like your outfit with them!
    I also love the ones in 6-7 and 8-9 on you. Especially 6-7. I haven't seen the step hem at that length--only shorter. I like it long, because it looks like a cool way to show your foot from the front and lengthen the legline on the side and back views. Genius and cool looking! I understand if the 8-9 pair isn't the fabric you want, but I think the style and fit are dynamite on you.

    I do think the low-rise skinnies look a bit dated (or may we just say "classic"?) compared to the others here. The question is whether a new style will actually feel like a replacement for your old ones, or will you keep wanting the old style?

  • Greyscale replied 7 years ago

    Posting these photos was so helpful - I agree, the low-rise skinnies don't look awesome. But when I tried them on I was sure they were keepers. And yes I do think I'd miss the old ones (same brand and style, different size and fabric) - I might fit them again some day and I prefer the wash over these. So those will go back.

    The two CoH jeans are growing on me, looking at the photos. But they're also more than I ever spend on jeans, and I'm just not sure they fit my needs.

  • replied 7 years ago

    I agree that taking pictures is the sure-ish way to assess a look.  The first set of pictures (the ones you kept are very flattering).  

    I do like the CoH jeans, but not as much as the skinny boy jeans that you cut the tags off.  I too hesitate to spend a lot of money on jeans.  They would have to fit my needs perfectly for me to be able to rationalize them.  But finding jeans that fit is such a challenge for me that I might still be tempted.  

    Let us know what your final decision is.  

  • LaPed replied 7 years ago

    Oh, I'm on a black denim quest, too. I love the Boy Skinnies and the Coras. If I ever get up the guts to spend $$$ on jeans, both of those are on my shortlist. :)

  • replied 7 years ago

    I'm going out on limb here to say I also like the CoH Cora jeans on you. Also enjoyed the brief glimpses of your cat.

  • replied 7 years ago

    I don't think the low rise jeans look dated. I still like low rise jeans with a thick belt and a sweater that rests on the belt. That's just me of course.

    I decided to go off low rise jeans myself because they don't have enough bootie coverage and I found they were making my legs look shorter that a regular rise. Also they're less comfortable.

    I also like the COH coras. Those are a great silhouette!

    The stepped hem ones I don't like as much for some reason.

  • Bennett replied 7 years ago

    Loving those boy skinnies on you, loving the Cora on you. I love a giant turn-up (as opposed to a giant turnip, blech!!!!) on my jeans, for some reason. It's just unusual enough to drawn attention to some fabulous footwear.

    I, too, have a love/hate relationship with my cropped, stepped-hem jeans. I think I haven't tried enough variety of footwear yet. Hopefully that will solve the problem.

  • Greyscale replied 7 years ago

    Hm, after wearing the boy skinnies for a day... the denim is much stiffer than my other pair, awkward against my belly and my knees. Do any of you have knee pain from jeans that aren't even particularly tight? I'm not sure why I have such problems with it. They're not too small.

    But, I like the look and they're comfortable enough that I'm sure I'll still wear them plenty. I'm almost considering duplicating one size up while they're on sale.

    A word of warning - R13 sizes are all over the place. I have 25s that are too big and 27s that are too small.

  • replied 7 years ago

    Oh.  I am sorry to hear that about the jeans.  Perhaps it will break in a bit with wear.  I am a fan of duplicating bottoms that work for me.  

    WRT knee pain. I've had knee pain when the pants were too tight.  Most of the time my knee pain occurred when I was sitting.  I was fine when standing.  

  • UmmLila (Lisa) replied 7 years ago

    I think they're all good in their way. You know I like the Coras, since I have them. I agree that they would look a bit more intentional on the width/fold if they were a stiffer denim.

    Have you ever tried The Great? I have a pair of slouchy skinny black jeans from them that I got last winter that I'm quite fond of.

  • Jaime replied 7 years ago

    This is tricky. The ones you are wearing are great. Not sure you need the low waisted skinnies but then again, waists seem to be the new hemlines and after they go up, they are bound to come down. I actually really like the high waisted cuffed jeans, but only if you will wear them.

  • BrieN replied 7 years ago

    I like the proportions of the high-waist and cropped/cuffed pants on you. 

    And the wash on the pants in #1 is really nice.

  • Greyscale replied 7 years ago

    Oh noooo! I love the new R13 boy skinnies so much that I was about to buy a second pair - but they're back up to full price! Tragedy. I've worn them like 5 days this week. They did stretch out to be very comfortable after the first day, as some of you predicted.

    I guess I'll keep an eye on the price.

  • Jaime replied 7 years ago

    Check ebay too. I literally wore my R13 faded grey jeans to death and was able to find an exact replacement for a great price on ebay.

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