In the last few weeks there has been some major dissension among HuffPost readers regarding the topic of Skinny Jeans. Which body types can and cannot pull them off, when they are appropriate, which types of people they're appropriate on... the argument over who should and shouldn't wear these jeans goes as far as age, sexual orientation, nationality, occupation and even race! It's really intense when you think about it - that a style of denim can cause so much controversy.
Of course, being the fiend for controversy that I am, and being the lover of skinny jeans that I am, I had to jump in.
There seem to be two main arguments when it comes to skinny jeans. One is that thick girls cannot wear them (thick="plus sized", so I'm going to say over a size 8), and the second is that men cannot wear them (unless they're gay). I am here to make a rebuttal on both accounts.
Let's begin with skinny jeans on "thick" girls (the ones with booty, hips and thighs). Before I delve in I'm going to ask you to do something that has probably never been asked of you before: try and separate the disdain that you have for bigger girls in skinny jeans from the disdain that you have for bigger girls in general. Don't get defensive. My guess is that people who are attracted to girls over a size 8 don't have a problem seeing them in skinny jeans. Simply ask yourself, "do I not like the way skinny jeans look on thick girls because the jeans don't look good, or because I'm not interested in seeing curves accentuated in that kind of way?" I think for many, it's the latter - so we automatically jump to the assumption that thicker girls should wear a different kind of jeans that hide their curves.
So, assuming that little exercise had any impact on you at all, and you're now able to take an objective look at thick girls in skinny jeans, let's take a moment to check these women (and their skinny jeans) out in all their glory:
If this doesn't convince you that bigger/thicker/plus size/whatever women can (and should) wear skinny jeans, then clearly you've got something else going on. In my previous post defending skinny women, y'all jumped to the bigger girl's defense, and in somebody else's post declaring the skinny jean universally flattering, you attack the bigger girl for trying to get in on the action. C'mon.
If you're a thick girl and you're interested in wearing skinny jeans but not sure how to approach the situation, that will be my next post, so stay tuned.
Moving onto men. Many people think that skinny jeans can only be worn by men who fit into one or more of the following categories: gays, rockstars, hipsters, ages 16-25, super skinny men, gays, artists, Europeans, or gays. While skinnies do look fabulous on these folks, I assure you the list does not stop there. I'm going to be real with you here though and point out that not all men can venture into this land. First, the interest in skinny jeans has to be there. You have to be comfortable in your body, and know that taking it down a few sizes (which most men out there should probably do regardless) might make you feel more exposed. This is normal - and just like us women - most of the insecurities you have are probably in your head. With that said, while I do support curve-hugging skinnies on a woman - the curves of a male are not quite as sensual as the curves of a female, if you catch my drift. You don't have to be Mick Jagger skinny or have abs like Mario Lopez - but in order for men to pull off the skinny/slim jeans look correctly, you have to think about your body in terms of proportions. Skinny jeans can be worn on most body types - thin, stocky, ripped, or even a little belly/love handle - but if your midsection is super out of proportion with the rest of your body, either you have to compensate with some seriously fresh personal style up top, or skinny jeans are not for you.
Now that that part is out of the way, let's move onto the benefits of skinny jeans on men - starting by defining what I'm talking about. I do not mean this:
But rather something like this:
Skinny jeans for men should sit below the waist, they're slimmer through the hip and thigh, they have a narrow shape in the leg, and they're slightly tapered at the bottom. What can skinny jeans do for you?? Here's how a skinny/slim fitting jean can elevate YOUR look as a man:
So you see, no need to be gay or a rockstar or European or even under 25 to wear these jeans. Intimidated? You don't have to go skinny immediately! Go to a place like Levi's or H&M that has different gradations of skinniness for you to experiment with. I know you'll be pleased. Bring a girl for moral support, she'll steer you in the right direction (believe me I've helped many a dude along this journey).
The skinnies are here to stay (at least for a few more decades), so everybody (thick girls and men included!) might as well partake in the glory. You know it's a worthy cause when the queen bee of judging (that would be me) is telling you to take a step back from your cynical, negative attitude toward something and embrace the unexpected. When it comes to this cut of denim, please live and let live, open your minds to the glory of The Skinny, and don't forget to look both ways while you strut across the street.
Happy Shopping.
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Now as far as dudes wearing skinny jeans, the relaxed / slim/ straight look isn't a big deal. The skinny jeans guys think of are the circulation strangling, spandex looking denim that looks like it should be worn by a woman. Men wear clothes to define themselves. Women wear clothes that make them feel beautiful.
With that being said...ladies you can keep the skinny jeans
No one looks good in jeans that are too small, including skinny women. The only thing that looks worse than skinny jeans that are too small are jeans so big that an entire group of people could wear them at the same time.
Buy your clothes to fit well, and you will always look classy.
1) Skinny jeans look best on skinny girls. There, I said it. And the pictures you included to show fuller-sized women look just as cute in them don't do those women justice. The pictures are stretched to make them look even bigger! Also, Scarlett Johannson is wearing high-waisted jeans, not skinny jeans, and at least three of the other pictures feature tight jeans, not what we'd define as skinny.
2) A skinny jean is a skinny jean (wow, I'm getting sick of typing "skinny") no matter who is wearing it.
Those JCrew pics you posted are as April noted, Relaxed Fit.
Now, don't get up in arms because I said bigger women can't wear skinny jeans - it's simply not the most flattering wardrobe choice for a plus-sized figured.
1) The pictures being stretched is a resolution thing. When Huff published my jpg it got distorted. If you'd like to see the original image you can refer to my blog here:http://snapsanddaps.blogspot.com/2010/01/skinny-jeans-debate-thick-girls-men.html
2) Scarlett is wearing high waisted skinny jeans. Here is the original image: http://www.shinystyle.tv/00010m.jpg If that's not skinny I don't know what is.
3) All of the J Crew men's photos I posted are either in the "Vintage Slim" category or the "484 Slim" category. Not Relaxed, not Straight, not Bootcut. Here is a link to the Relaxed that you speak of http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Browse/MensBrowse/Men_Shop_By_Category/denimandcord/relaxed/PRDOVR~18982/18982.jsp Completely different.
KABLOW!!
Clothes need to fit properly, no matter the style.