As I sorted through my jeans collection this week I was struck by an epiphany. Nothing earth shattering although a proper realization non-the-less. It hit me that I don’t wear my ripped jeans any more!
It’s a fact, busted jeans are over for me. Yup I’m done stick a fork in me, over. I simply do not wear them any more and really can’t picture myself ever wearing them again. So I piled up all the jeans sans knees and walked across the hall to Kiki’s bedroom. Excitedly I handed them to her, hoping for a reaction to my generous gift.
“Want some really expensive ripped jeans darling?”
Naturally she replied “Erm ok, sure why not.”
Totally deadpan, rhetorical even. Geez kid throw me a bone…
Kiki was completely underwhelmed by the fact that I’d just offloaded several hundred pounds worth of designer denim onto her. Hey-ho whatever, that’s my very unfashiony thirteen year old for you. At least I save on buying her new clothes right? After all, charity begins at home and besides I’ve already given away fifty percent of my closet this year so she WILL wear them, even if I have to force her!
In any case her reaction got me thinking – Why did I like busted knees in the first place?
WHY I NO LONGER WEAR RIPPED JEANS
It isn’t usually my style to completely go off a tried and tested look. However this decision is an exception I feel completely confident I’ll stick with. Looking back on some outfits with ripped knees I wonder what I was thinking. See here and here for examples of my busted jeans and very old blog posts. What made me think this is a good look? I honestly can’t say now, it’s totally nuts! What possessed me to deliberately damage a pair of jeans and when did buying ripped jeans become fashionable? Think about it, buying what is essentially broken. Already half worn out, sometimes so shredded they’re hardly even pants anymore! I’m not being funny just take a look at these and tell me what you think. Seriously, it’s like I’m seeing this naked knee phenomenon for the very first time!
Ripping and slashing jeans to expose probably the least attractive part of my body, why? “Oh hey everyone look at these nobbly, purple (freezing cold) leg-elbows. Aren’t I sexy?” Bahaha what a mentalist! And let me tell you right now, my knees are beginning to sag so they’re even less attractive than before. Yep I’m over it. Busted jeans begone.
Before you ask if this is age related, no it isn’t at all. I never factor age in my sartorial choices. That simply doesn’t enter my head. A fifty, sixty, seventy or whatever year old is free to wear her jeans ripped as much as she likes. This look is just not for me any more. That’s not to say I’ve turned away from frayed hems. The softly frayed hem of cropped jeans is a look I am still very much on board with. Go figure…
HIGH RISE BARREL LEG CROPPED JEANS
Lately I’m wearing my high-waisted jeans on repeat. This barrel leg pair from Whistles are my favourite baggy jeans for comfort and style. Additionally the cut is perfectly designed to showcase coloured socks or tights. If you missed last weeks post – I have a bit of a fetish for unusual foot apparel. So strong is this desire, I refer to Autumn and Winter as “socks and tights season”. I’m pretty fussy with it too. My socks and tights have to feel soft yet be hard-wearing and fit properly. The pattern is equally important as they’re usually on display like today, as part of my outfit. Swedish brand Happy Socks deliver on all these points plus their designs are awesome. Have a look at this sensational sparkly pair!
As for the best range of barrel leg jeans, you can’t beat Whistles. Here I am wearing them styled differently with my RIXO blouse – These jeans are brilliant quality, super versatile and definitely excellent in terms of cost per wear. In addition to flashing your socks, cropped hems are perfect to expose the sexy ankle of your boots. Since I’m such a huge fan of ALL the boots I love showing them off any way I can.
MY NEW GIG AS A NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHER
As you may be aware I recently took a second job to supplement the dramatic fall in blog income. Since I moved to America the blog isn’t earning anywhere near as much as it was. I can’t say for sure why but I have my suspicions. In any case I’ve taken a part-time gig shooting newborns for Bella Baby Photography.
There is so much to love about this job! As a self-taught photographer I feel very privileged honing my skills with four exceptionally talented professionals. The Women I work with are warm and incredibly generous in sharing their knowledge, making every shift not only fun but also educational. Never one to stop learning, I greatly appreciate the effort of others to teach me. There’s been a lot to get my head around, let me tell you! At last I feel competent in every aspect of this role from admin and tech through to actual photography. Although the learning is never over, how can it be when babies are involved? Photographing a newborn baby is a skill I’m excited to build on, evolve and master. Babies are all different and scrumptious in their own way. They each deserve unique and beautiful images of their very first moments out of the womb.
So far I’m taking three shifts a week so I’m home for the children as much as possible. Plus working weekends so the blog doesn’t take a back seat and sticking to my weekly post schedule. Funnily enough the blog has attracted more attention from brands since I started with Bella Baby. Isn’t that just typical? Let’s see how I manage evening press shows with Hospital day shifts Oh boy…
BYE FOR NOW DARLINGS XX
Comments ( 16 )
Emerald
Corks, I’ve been over busted jeans since my mid-twenties. And tights! I think it’s because I was surrounded by friends whose clothes were falling to bits during the grunge age. So I rebelled against my friends! Meanwhile, I preferred the glamour period of the mid-90s, so anything with holes was despatched to charity shops.
But I don’t think your past post examples are too bad at all really. The rips look quite natural – your daughter will be delighted when she tries them on. 😊
Great jeans and socks! I’m reminded of my stripey tights phase, also around that 80s/90s time. I suddenly went off them the same time as glamour was in, but rediscovered them when I lived in Japan (and where they sell even better ones than the Sock Shop did!).
X
MT
Hahaha that’s so cool! You were a standout even then Emerald, good for you 😉
Lisa the Sequinist
I’ve always loathed ripped and distressed jeans! I’ve never had a pair. They’re fine for other people, but the style doesn’t work on me. Ripped jeans are rock and roll, not elegant.. and I’m SO not rock and roll!
I love a statement sock (or a statement anything really) so these fabulously eye catching socks are such a way to capitalise on cropped jeans… love those on you!
What a pleasure to read more about Bella Baby; it sounds so rewarding and challenging. I’m looking forward to reading about your other adventures with Bella Baby. xxx
MT
Really? I beg to differ my friend. I’ve seen you look pretty rock n roll in your black biker 😉
More on Bella Baby soon xx
Leilani
Michelle,
I love your post and it makes so much sense! Lately I’ve seen the ripped busted jeans phase get more and more outlandish with gigantic rips all up the thigh and just ridiculous looking. While I like the 2 pair I have I try to dress them up (now I find myself wondering why????!! Kind of like the emperor’s clothes story! ha ha!) and find them comfy.
I love also that you pair your jeans with heels. I’ve found in my (relatively few) travels that many women across the pond have a dress style that is so much more feminine and sexy to my personal taste than what is considered the norm here at home. It seems around here its considered “extra” when you choose to dress with a little more polish but hey, extra is good. I can’t remember what male designer said it but I carried the quote with me for years that went something like… It will never hurt you to dress nicer than you think necessary.” That’s not the quote but it was along those lines. I always encourage my children with the same thought. You have a great style and I enjoy reading your posts! Wishing you happiness here in America!
Thanks for the inspiration!
MT
Aw what a totally lovely thing to say! Thank you Leilani, I really appreciate your comment. I’ve always enjoyed wearing heels with my jeans, dressing them up a bit glam. I agree with your quote, you can never be too dressed up 😉
No Fear of Fashion
I knew Lisa is a fan of socks (she taught me and inspired me) and I know she doesn’t like distressed jeans. I do. Not the ones that are nearly destroyed, not the ones with holes in them or knees showing, but slightly distressed I can handle. I am very much a jeans woman, any kind of jeans. Although yours would look so bad on my inverted triangle shape. Luckily there always is a pair for everyone.
I am very glad you found this wonderful job. It seems very warm and loving to me. Learning more about photography is not bad either.
Greetje
MT
I agree with you Greetje, distressed is ok with me just not ripped with holes. And Greetje, the babies are sooo lovely, I fall for every single one!
No Fear of Fashion
Babies make me melt as well. Every single time. I am a baby lover. And toddler. It is when they grow up, I have less empathy haha.
MT
I’m still melting too 😉
Rozanne
First, your new job sounds pretty fabulous! Second, busted jeans are marmite, aren’t they? I still quite like jeans with a bit of a rip at the knees, although I recently had to recycle the only pair I had, as the knees were gaping and flapping, and that just made me look like the losing side in a battle with a blackberry bush… Personally, I still love your old looks with the black jeans and cream top (that was the first blog post of yours that I ever discovered, and it won me over instantly ;o) I think the slight distressing at the knees is a lovely juxtaposition with the feminine blouse in that instance.. For me, femininity needs a bit of an edge… But frayed hems, yep, love them too. And those barrel jeans you have styled are great, I am seriously tempted to give the shape a go but will see if I can find some second-hand. As I may just look like an actual barrel in them… LOVE your socks, needless to say X
MT
Aw thanks mate, that makes me beam..
It’s a good idea to try a new style of jeans second hand first Rozanne. I always do. And by the way I picked up this Whistles pair in their sale last year so keep an eye out for that.Their sales are always excellent. Great mark downs and still plenty of sizes, worth waiting for actually.
xxx
Petite Teacher
Dear Michelle. I do not own a single pair of distressed jeans. I do not wear jeans a lot anyway. As a teacher I feel I should have a somewhat serious outfit (not too serious, mind you, but still…rather serious) and for me jeans are more associated with casual wear.
I do love the way you have styled your jeans here, making your legs look ever so long!
Love, Lieske
MT
Hi Lieske, I wonder if you’d wear jeans for school if they were coloured? For example a black pair teamed with a silk blouse and ankle boots? And if you did, what would the students say? #justathought
NewLifenStyle
OK so I have to admit, I do still own a couple of pairs of ripped jeans but you have inspired me to declutter. I’m actually moving in two weeks (Eek!) So this post couldn’t have come at a better time! xoxo
MT
You’re moving RiRi, how exciting! I obviously need the full deets asap 😉