I cannot for the life of me understand the whole boyfriend jean trend going on right now. Why, ladies, why? Why would anyone voluntarily wear a beaten-up, ill-fitting piece of denim? Clearly, I’m not cool enough to understand fashion trends. At least that’s what my sister told me this weekend when I turned to her, baffled by the two brand-new pairs of Express boyfriend jeans I found in her closet. Even though there is about a 20-pound difference between us, we tend to share the same clothes. Mostly because I wear clothes that are too tight while she prefers hers three sizes too large. It usually works out perfectly. But no matter how much I adjusted those boyfriend jeans, they still looked sloppy and unkempt. All I needed was a piece of twine and I could be any hobo anywhere in America.
I offered to take a couple of my brother’s jeans, drag ‘em around the yard, fold ‘em up at the ankles and sell them to her for $50 a-piece, but she declined my offer. ‘They’re comfortable,’ she said. ‘But so are regular jeans,’ I told her. ‘And they don’t fall off your waist, either.’ But what do I know? I’ve never been cool. As far as I can tell, the look was popularized after several well-known Hollywood actresses were photographed hobnobbing about town with their ‘boyfriend jeans.’
But which normal woman wants to dress like their boyfriend anyway, especially considering the number of ill-dressed men out there? Yes, Hollywood types look glamorous in their boyfriend jeans. But Hollywood types look glamorous in potato sacks too, that’s their job. This look just does not translate well to the average woman’s body. I’m sorry. Really. Somebody had to tell you.
I’ve just never had the urge to walk about in a pair of men’s jeans. First of all, there aren’t any hips, the waist is all off and the crotch sits at the wrong level. Not to mention, they’re made for someone like 10 sizes bigger than me. Do real girls really borrow their boyfriend’s jeans? Is it some sort of morning-after-walk-of-shame phenomenon? Did last night’s Harlequin Romance, bodice-ripping-esque shenanigans result in the destruction of last night’s wardrobe? Was last night’s margarita the tipping point in the battle that is you versus the zipper of your too-skinny skinny jeans? Please, explain. I want to believe.
So is the issue the FIT of boyfriend jeans or the rips? I hate deliberate rips and “worn-out” spots–I’d rather do that to my jeans because I love them so much it happens naturally. But in terms of fit, I am so over the low, ultra-low and so-low-i-see-london fit of women’s jeans. Not to mention jeans that fit my butt do not tend to fit my waist…so consider this (not as fashionable) girl in favor of boyfriend-cut jeans!
P.S. My husband is smaller in size than me. So, um, I can’t wear his clothes anyways. Except for the shorts he gave me because they were “too baggy” for him anyways. True story.
i own a pair of jeans like this. please note that i did not buy them this season “in fashion.” i just had them in the closet and now they are cool.
i wear them when doing dirty things, like painting, or just around the house. sometimes to walgreens at 10pm, but that’s about it. they are the sweatpant of jeans, which is why i like them.
last note: mr bee HATES them. and tells me they’re ugly. this makes me love them more.
Haven’t really noticed the “new” trend yet (because I usually socialize from behind my computer, probably), but I do remember that in high school, the cool thing was to wear your *father’s* jeans. Which I did, and loved it. Couldn’t do it these days, though; he’s way too skinny.
Look. If I’m wearing ill fitting jeans that make my ass look slouchy and flop around on the ground when I walk, it’s because it was laundry day and I was home alone and grabbed the boyfriend’s jeans so I could run to the store. THAT IS THE ONLY REASON. I don’t need for it to be a fashion trend!
It all started with that craptacular Claire Danes jumping into some dude’s arms being all “i’m all cutesy, and it’s ONLY because I’m wearing YOUR jeans! Not because I’m Claire Danes! And certainly not because I seduced Billy Crudup away from 7 month pregnant Mary Louise Parker! CERTAINLY NOT BECAUSE OF THAT! Really! NOW BUY THESE JEANS!”
Ugh.
Now, I’ll wear boyfriend blazers because they’re great, and not all fussy and prissy and tailored, but the kind that are like, yeah, I went with an unrequired bit of fanciness that I can throw on with jeans and heels. JEALOUS?
But boyfriend jeans? No. Unless I’m having a fat day, and only running to the store or post office. :-P
I am WAY more in favor of my boyfriend’s jeans than those fakakta sausage casings I’m sick of seeing on everyone, male and female alike. FUCK SKINNY JEANS. I DO NOT want to know where, exactly, your labia are or to which side your twig and berries prefer to lean. UGH.
My boyfriend’s jeans (no, really, I didn’t purchase them; they’re his ancient Levi’s) are gloriously frayed, aged, just slouchy enough– and they look great with the right heels (cf: J.Crew). If you’d like to see them, I’m wearing them in the FB pic I had until today, albeit with blue flats. Arrow past the current “Ladies who brunch” pic once, et voila. I’m with you on the not-needing-to-BUY-them, obv. :)
Excellent comments, thanks all. I should’ve mentioned that I’ve been jean-shopping in vain for a bit now and all I seem to find are a) super skinny jeans, b) boyfriend jeans c) ripped jeans – neither of which are flattering on my body type.
Shruti, I agree w/ you about the natural fading/tear/wear part of jeans. If you find bf jeans comfy, more power to you. Personally, I prefer a more tailored fit – but that’s just me :)
Ms Bee, I need to meet this Mr Bee.
Danya, you were a model/ballerina. As such you fall under the Hollywood celebrity-types I mentioned above :) I’m betting you’d also look great in potato sack. All of us are not so blessed.
Huma, I’m looking into the bf blazer asap.
Suitablegirl, I hated skinny jeans when they first came out, but they’ve grown on me (but I mostly wear them w/ boots, a more flattering silhouette methinks). No worries, mine aren’t extra-tight. I do loathe skinny jeans on men. Ew.
http://phillygrrl.com/2009/07/08/men-skinny-jeans-yuck/
And you looked cute in your bf’s jeans :)
I used to wear men’s jeans, back when I was 17 and rail thin, but they weren’t “boyfriend” jeans, they were just the only things that were long enough (31×36 FTW!)
I think the trend turns on the “I spent the night at my boyfriend’s house on a whim aren’t I cool” idea, and, well, that’s fine for itself, but I don’t get spending $50 a pair for the look.
Of course, I’m not even cool enough to go with the skinny jeans thing, either. (I think you give up any cool points you may have had lying around when you become a parent.)
Why boyfriend anything for that matter?
I hate the new tight jeans guys are wearing they look like stick figures…
………