The Best Thing That Happened to My Denim Collection

Hello All!

 It has been too long since I have written! A lot of things have changed, and without boring everyone with the details, let's just say I started working in a more corporate environment a little over a year ago,  and I have not made time to post on here as I should. To my pull myself out of this blogging slump, it wold take something extraordinary, something I had to share with my fellow fashion lovers, if any of you are reading. But mostly, I want to share it for me, because I love to talk about clothes...more specifically, denim. So please read on to find out more about my latest and greatest denim discovery!

                         

The James Jeans Moto Combo Legging in Baroque & Ponte

The Back Story:

One day, I was casually surfing my favorite fashion sites, when I spotted a shot from the James Jeans blog. I saw a photo of this incredible pair of jeans, and I knew I had to have them! I had never seen moto jeans done to perfection like this before! I recently became a fan (make that whole-hearted convert) of James Jeans when I tried on my fist pair at a local boutique, Uniquities . I tried on the Randi Pencil Leg jeans in Baroque (yep, same wash as these Moto jeans). The fabric, fit, and craftsmanship were amazing, and you could tell they were worth the price. I liked them even better than J Brand! So this led me to start looking at James Jeans' other styles. Hence the blog trolling. Seriously, check out their blog here.

I have become a huge fan of online shopping in the last year, and since I knew these jeans were not in any stores near me, I took to the internet to search for reviews of these amazing Motos. What I discovered is that not only are they difficult to find for purchase, there were only a few reviews published on this exact pair. I also discovered that James makes other moto styles, and they have a HUGE devoted following, for the Moto trend alone! They really are perfect. And to be honest, I had to have them. So after waiting for an aptly-timed Black Friday sale and some Christmas money, I purchased a pair of my very own. I wanted to make sure that I posted a review so others can learn about this brand, and score a pair of these jeans for yourself! Stay tuned for many more posts about James Jeans. I have started a collection in just 3 short months, and I'm in love with every pair!

The REVIEW: 

The Moto Legging in Barque/Ponte is made of a cotton/tencel/elastin blend that is both incredibly soft and incredibly stretchy. The wash is so dark it is nearly black, but has plenty of carefully crafted abrasions to give them a worn-in, vintage feel. The black ponte panels are soft and stretchy, making this style extremely comfortable despite the amount of detail work on the legs. After my experience with the various James I now own, I would say these fit true to size. I actually purchased 1 size up from my standard James size, thinking that maybe the legging fit would be tighter. When I got them out of the bag, they looked so small I was afraid they wouldn't fit me! But boy was I wrong! They are actually loose on me, after just a few wears. So if you are looking to purchase a pair of your own, I would buy your true size. If you are *technically* in between sizes, like myself, I would go with the smaller size. I do not own the other Moto styles, but for this particular fabric blend, they do stretch out and conform to your body with each wear. As others have mentioned, these jeans truly are the most comfortable pair I own. I would wear them every single day if I could. I am so scared I am going to wear them out I want to buy a back-up pair, though at the moment, I can't shell out that much! But I stalk every fashion website known to man to see if I catch these or another pair at a discount :)

My new favorite jeans on a rainy day.

If you are interested in picking up a pair for yourself, please click the link above the first photo to go to the James Jeans website. Or click the links below:

James Jeans 

Couture Candy

Happy Shopping! 

Fall 2011 Wardrobe Updates

It's August, which means it's still generally hot around here (minus a few cooler days lately which have been glorious!). But September is just around the corner and that means I've started scoping out the pieces I want to add to my wardrobe this fall. September issues have been flying off of magazine stands (or into your mailbox) giving advice on the pieces you need this season, and I have definitely been intrigued. There are some trends I'm not really ever going to be into (like...argyle). But others I am certainly willing to branch out of my comfort zone and try, particularly if I can score them at steep discounts. So today I took a trip to Goodwill with a $20 limit to see what I could dig out of the racks to update my wardrobe for fall. Here are 3 key pieces that will serve as the foundation for 3 major trends that are going on this fall. Observe.

1. Menswear

This lightweight striped button-down by Gap is a perfect essential for a fall wardrobe. We've all heard the buzz about menswear taking over fashion (blazer, suiting, oxfords, boyfriend jeans, ties, etc.) and this button down is certainly borrowed from the boys but with a feminine flair. The lightness of the fabric moves with you and skims your curves without bulkifying your frame. In this neutral palette, it would go easily with some cool military cargos, dark wash skinnies, or tucked into a high-waisted skirt. It would look great over a tank top while it's still a tad warm, or layered under a sweater, trench coat, or leather jacket when the temperature drops. Besides, it's really soft and comfy so what other reason do you need for going out and finding one?

2. Nautical Inspired

The nautical inspired trends have been on off and around the runways for several seasons now. I feel like Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren throw a bit into their collections nearly every year - and for good reason: the chic striped shirt has never gone out of style. Every girl should be in possession of one of those Audrey Hepburn-esque, big, striped tee shirts to throw on with a pair of skinny jeans and ballet flats. This fall, nautical can make a comeback in your closet when restyled in a modern way. I never get tired of that iconic stripes & skinnies look, but why not try mixing it up by adding some chunky wedge heels or boots, a pair of high-waisted flares, a trench coat and some gold bangles? Why not dress up your striped tee by pairing it with a classic pencil skirt in a coordinating color, accenting with sparkly jewelry, a peacoat, tights and peep-toes? I challenge you to go buy one striped tee shirt and see how you can style it this fall.

Striped tee shirt by Old Navy, via Goodill

3. Trouser Jeans

So maybe trouser jeans are not a trend in and of themselves. But this fall I've noticed the silhouettes are a mix of skinny and every variation of flares. Yes, those flares you tossed out of your closet several seasons ago when you were told that they, along with bootcut jeans, were a thing of your chic-less past and that with the advent of the skinny jeans, their services were no longer needed. Yet here we are watching flares walk down runways and into department stores all over again. "Everything is retro", my Dad always said. He was right. So I used to detest flares and all their hybrids. But I saw this pair of denim trouser-flare-thingies at Goodwill and decided that for $3.39 I could probably afford to go for it and see what happened.

Denim trouser-flares by Merona, via Goodwill

Ironically, despite my lack of height, these jeans are the perfect length to wear with short heels! I was so excited! I've always shied away from these kinds of flares due to my petite frame, but these jeans were surprisingly cute and comfortable. In fact, they looked excellent with my striped tee and some wedges! This fall I plan on wearing my leather riding jacket and ankle booties with these. Or a long, chunky sweater with ballet flats. They're a little high-waisted which means I have a chance at another fall trend that still scares me a little.

In conclusion, I would like to point out that the above three pieces cost me pennies over $10. And that, my dears, is why you should never fear thrifting.

Especially after you see the COACH shoes I picked up in my next blog...cheers!