Despite a move towards baggy jeans, Emma Johnson discovers that skinnies are still a good fit
EVER since Kate Moss stepped out in a pair of spray-on black Superfines two years ago, fashion-conscious women the world over have been torturing themselves with skinny jeans.
As ever, taking their nod from the world’s most copied clothes horse, the fashion pack quickly made it clear that skinny was the only way to go and woe betide anyone – regardless of their height, weight or waist measurement – who didn’t get on board.
Soon, women from slim size sixes to curvy sixteens were shunning the flattering boot-cut jean that had for so long dominated the denim scene to squeeze into ultra-tight trousers regardless of whether the look suited them.
But now, for those not blessed with gazelle-like pins and Victoria Beckham type bottoms, there could be light at the end of the trouser leg as fashionistas declare the skinny jean dead.
Mischa Barton, Coleen McLoughlin, The Olsen twins and Rachel Bilson have all been seen in baggy jeans lately and Superfine, the label hauled up as responsible for starting the whole skinny trend, launched their own super-loose Beau design.
The fashionistas at website www.mywardobe.com, a favourite with the super-cool set and home to such designer brands as By Malene Birger, Paul and Joe and Tsubi has already dropped traditional skinny jeans from its collection.
“We have stopped selling them almost entirely apart from for the Asian market,” says Liverpool-based stylist and buyer for mywardrobe.com Joanne Watkinson.
“But we are still getting offered them. At Sienna Miller’s range 28-12 there were skinny jeans on offer for autumn/winter because they do still look great with boots but we are finding customers are looking for new designs.
“There is a really new denim range from Australia called 18th Amendment,” adds Joanne. “Their range has a really high- waisted jean but our best-selling jean at the moment is the Lovestory style, by J Bran, which has recently been seen on Kate Moss.
“They have a proper flare and they sold out in three days; we are just getting new stock in now.”
While Ms Moss may be switching her denim allegiance and the fashion bibles are advocating freeing your pins from blood-constricting drainpipes, a quick trip along Church Street reveals a very different reality.Skinny jeans, like smock tops and permatans, are every-where. This could be because the new baggy, boyfriend and high-waisted styles are so hard for your average woman to pull off.
Baggy jeans can make small girls look even smaller, while corset and high-waisted jeans only serve to enhance large hips and posteriors.
Ironic, really, given that critics originally damned skinny jeans as only looking good on ultra-svelte supermodels creating the dreaded carrot shape (thick at the thigh, skinny at the ankle) on women not blessed with pipecleaners for legs.
“These styles are not as easy to wear as skinny jeans,” says Joanne. “Skinny jeans are actually really easy. When worn with boots and a tunic, they really balance out your silhouette. But they were very much an of the moment thing, I think, and they didn’t work as well in summer because, like Posh Spice said, when you wear them with flats, your legs look like golf clubs!
“They may no longer be the fashion favourite but I think we will still see skinny jeans tucked into boots on women in winter.”
Phil Jagger, manager of the Diesel store, in Liverpool’s Metquarter, where they are about to receive their new season denim, echoes Joanne’s opinion.
“I think we will definitely continue to see them throughout autumn and winter. Here at Diesel we are going into a really superslim jean now where some of the styles taper into a different fabric and have a bit of a sporty feel. And they are even tighter than before.
“We do about five or six slim styles and our biggest seller is a style called ‘Live’ which is a straight leg slim fit and which we also do in a superslim.”
On the bright side, Phil suggests we may also see the return of the boot-cut jean this autumn, which became such a fashion no-no following the skinny revolution.
Like mywardrobe.com, Diesel also stocks the achingly hip high-waisted designs. However, like Joanne, Phil is of the opinion that particular look is not for everyone.
“The high-waisted jeans do look phenomenal on,” he says. “When you have the figure to wear them they are amazing. Everyone can wear the skinny and superslim jeans, though, and they can be quite flattering. They also have versatility – you can dress them up with heels or down with flats.”
So put that doughnut down, ladies, it looks like we haven’t given skinny jeans the boot (cut) just yet.
