Jean Therapy:

Fall 2019 Denim Trends

Fashion0919

September 2019 Issue
by Sharon Mosley


If you’re ready to update your wardrobe, chances are you’re going to want to add something denim to your shopping list. And while you may need to replace some of your old favorites, the newest denim choices this fall are anything but basic. From relaxed carpenter jeans to fringed miniskirts to snakeskin prints, there is plenty of new jean therapy for everyone.

Here are a few tips for boosting your denim mood right now.

• When shopping for a new pair of jeans, it is best to head to the store. Unless you have a brand you’ve recently worn and know your exact size, it will be difficult to order denim online. As there are so many different designs available now, a morning session of actually trying on jeans may be the best way to find a new favorite.

• Don’t be afraid to size up. Not all brands are the same. The goal is to find the most flattering fit for your body type. Maximize your assets. There are jeans for adding curves, for boosting your butt, for slimming your stomach and more. Comfort is key. There’s nothing worse than a pair of jeans that bags in the back and bunches around the knees.

• Take several pairs of shoes with you when you shop for jeans. The footwear you wear with a pair of cropped jeans may be different than what you wear with a pair of long boot-cut jeans. Various heel heights will give you a better idea of how the jeans will look in “real life.” If you’re a fan of boots, you’ll want a pair of jeans that easily tuck in.

Denim trends to try on this fall:

High-rise takes you to the top.
Forget the name “Mom” jeans. These are the hottest jeans hopping into the jean pool right now. There are also lots of “mid-rise” styles. Find the ones that fit you best and that hit your waist in the right place. Then belt them and top off with shirts or tees that barely blouse up over the waist.

Take the straight and narrow route. Skinny jeans have been around for several years now, and they are still one of the most popular looks in denim. But jeans that are a little looser, while still slim from the hips down, are taking over their tighter cousins. This is a flattering streamlined silhouette for both men and women.

Add some flare. One of the best ways to really brighten up your style mood this fall is by wearing a new pair of wide-leg jeans. The flares that start getting wider from the knees to the ankles are showing up everywhere, from the clubs to the office. In lighter washes, they are more casual; in darker indigo, the flares are perfect for more dressed up occasions and even professional settings.

Make some room for the boyfriend.
The roomier look in jeans is definitely a welcome change from the skinny jeans. The slouchier cuffed boyfriend jean is a great date for weekends. Carpenter-style jeans with multiple pockets and loops are another version of this trend.

Remember to stretch. This may be one of the best things of all about today’s denim. Gone are the days of scratchy jeans. Enter stretch denim. Cotton, polyester and spandex combine for extra comfort for all ages. Pull-on jeggings (jeans and leggings) are an option, too.

Double up on denim. Wearing denim head to toe used to be a big fashion no-no. But designers have resurrected the “Canadian” tuxedo, and pairing denim jackets with jeans or denim skirts is once again the hip way to go. Thanks to Bing Crosby and friends, who were turned away from a Canadian hotel in 1951, the name stuck. Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake reintroduced the trend in 2001, and Jay Leno was also known to sport the denim-on-denim trend. Now you, too, can double up on denim and not make the “what not to wear” list.

More denim trends. And the fashion news goes on: printed denim, coated denim, colored denim, patchwork details, embroidery, fringed hems, ombre effects, overalls, jumpsuits, side stripes and slit fronts. For whatever ails your wardrobe, get your jean therapy today.

Sharon Mosley is a former fashion editor of the Arkansas Gazette in Little Rock and executive director of the Fashion Editors and Reporters Association.

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