Before I was pregnant (the second time) I wrote about being over skinny jeans. Of course, there’s always a place for a skinny jean. Inside a knee-high boot, under a dress, with a heel for cocktails… yes, the skinny jean is certainly a wardrobe staple. But in the last couple of years I’ve been intrigued by a different shape – a defined bootcut, a cropped flare, culottes – and, now that I can fit back into my usual size of jeans, I’m embracing the straight leg.
My worry with straight leg jeans was looking frumpy. I don’t have a slender frame, I don’t look athletic, I’m not particularly tall – all these physical features (also known as having great legs) do make wearing the straight leg jean a lot easier and I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure how it would work with my big bum and short lower half. However, I felt so fed up wearing skinny jeans in the daytime I was desperate to find a pair of alternatives that were narrower than a wide leg or flare but not as tight as a skinny or jegging and so I thought f*ck it! If I want to wear a straight leg jean I will wear them!
How did I find the right ones? I went for a classic blue denim so that it was obvious they were jeans, not trousers. I chose a high waist to elongate the leg, and an ankle grazing length for a modern finish (too short and the high waist is rendered pointless; too long and they look uncool).
Styling tips would pretty much come down to tucking (or half tucking) your top into the jeans to maintain the illusion of longer legs, and choosing trendy accessories such as sunglasses, shoes or a bag. I wore these narrow New Look sunnies, but love the straight leg with my flip flops. Alternatively, a grandad trainer or strappy heel would work well, while a miniature bag of any kind, preferably cross-body or with an embroidered strap, would look great.
But, the most important advice of all? If you love it, wear it! Make it work for you, your wardrobe and your own personal style and let your joy shine through.
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Jeans, Topshop (link goes to bleach wash but I’m wearing mid blue); jumper, Oasis (old, gifted – similar here); sunglasses, New Look at ASOS (similar here); flip flops, Havaianas.
Images: Kris Miller.
Location: Broughty Ferry beach, Dundee.
