I have new jeans! Emily and I have been very, very sorry to see the skinny jeans trend. I really didn’t think it would catch on because it looks so ridiculous—and that’s exactly what I thought about wide-legged jeans when I was wearing jeans so skinny I had to unzip the ankles to get my feet through. What I’m hoping is that being in my mid-30s gives me a little break on being cutting-edge fashionable—like, maybe dark-rinse bootcut pants are no longer THE VERY HIPPEST, but at least they’re a step closer to it than my old taper-legged light denim jeans, and so for a non-fashion-hobbyist I feel PRETTY HIP.
Anyway, my new jeans. They’re the Ultra Fit Bootcuts from Lands’ End, and they’re $29.99 down from $68.50, and there’s almost always a free-shipping code for Lands’ End. I had one RIGHT HERE and now I can’t find it. Oh, here it is: promotion code SUNPORCH and pin number 6125, through May 18, no minimum purchase. [Edit: Crap, it appears that code will only work two times total. But if you sign up for the Lands’ End email mailing list, they send out a free shipping code about once a week. I never pay shipping from there.]
Listen, I am just never going to remember to wash the mirror before I take photos, that is JUST HOW IT IS.
(I took a photo of them from the back, too, but that goes a little beyond my comfort zone for my new “Okay, I Will Post Photos Of Myself” policy. But if you’re thinking of ordering the pants and want to see the back view, email me and I’ll email you the photo—which, if you can believe it, is of EVEN POORER QUALITY than the one of the front view. It is challenging to photograph one’s own backside, and perhaps that is a blessing anyway.)
I’ve been wearing the Merona stretch jeans from Target, and I get those in a size 20w but they’re Quite Snug in that size, and in fact I think I’d buy the 22w next time. The Lands’ End ones are also a 20w but more what I’d consider Just Right. (This is odd because I bought the super-cute Outside Adventure Pants in size 20w, too, but they’re too small. No stretch in the adventure pants, I think is the problem.)
They’re fitted in the thigh, and quite wide from the knee down. In fact, I would have called them “wide leg” or something because they’re more than merely bootcut. You could fit TWO boots in that leg. It seems to me they’re cut just like these Modern Wide-Leg Chinos, which, by the way, I think I’d better buy now that they’re down to $19.99 from $50.00, don’t you think so?
Oooooh, you CUTE! Buy those chinos.
Swistle, you choose the PERFECT styles for your body type! Those wide legs balance your proportions so well — the jeans make you look very balanced and proportional. Also, no muffin top!! Nice work!! I’m certain the cinos would be equally flattering — BUY THEM! (but maybe not in canary yellow?!?!)
I can’t believe you’re a size 20. That just seems impossible. Those jeans look fantastic on you! I also love the chinos but the yellow is a tad bright no?
Dark rinse boot leg jeans might not currently be the cutting edge of fashion, but I love mine so much that I actually went back to the mall a couple of weeks later (the outlet mall an hour away, no less!) and bought a second pair. Good thing, because that was a couple of years ago & I haven’t found a pair of jeans I like since then. It certainly doesn’t help that I have to get my jeans in a petite length or they just don’t look right. Anyway, my point is who cares what the cutting edge of fashion is, what matters is finding what works well for you and I think you’ve done it. And those chinos? SO cute! And 19.99? I hope they are already waiting in your shopping cart!
They look fantastic on you! Does Lands End have a decent return policy? I’ve never ordered anything from there, but that’s the Catalogue of which I was speaking and I actually love some of the things in there.
Like this!
http://www.landsend.com/pp/OriginalLightweightDenimCropPants~206164_59.html?bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::DVK&CM_MERCH=IDX_00002__0000000085&origin=index (gently tapered legs)
Also, I want to say that I would probably like the skinny jeans thing if I had a pair of awesome boots to tuck them into, but my CALVES don’t like boots either and did you know how much money a pair of really awesome boots cost?
I’m with Amanda. My first thought when I saw this pic was you look so thin! What is with all of this plus sized nonsense swistle keeps talking about? And then you said they are size 20w (which I still can hardly believe). It just goes to show that if you pick the right style for your body type, you will look great regardless of the size. And you look great!
yes, def on the chinos. Great jeans and I commiserate on the mirror cleanliness.
Okay, GASP, love! I also hate the low rise jean trend. No friend to baby makers, I tell ya. I’m always looking for a nice mid rise jean. Okay, off to shop!
I love the yellow pants! I wish I was acveturous enough to get some like that. I’m always leary of buy pants online because I never know if they are going to fit and I just don’t know what size to get.
First, having seen your bum, you just don’t LOOK like you wear that pants size. At all.
Secondly, I look ridiculous in wide leg AND in skinny jeans. I’ve been wearing boot cut or perhaps a straight leg for 15 years now, and I have no intention of changing it up any time soon. The only real jeans makeover event that I ever went through was shifting to higher waisted styles post-baby. I vote for finding what looks good and sticking with it regardless of current fashions.
And yes, buy the chinos.
Absolutely adorable, I’ve got to say. I envy your nicely proportional (i.e. long) legs… my little shorty stumps make any jean look ridiculous. I support the chino purchase!!!
See, I like the yellow. Not for me, but in general, yes.
The jeans are lovely. You get such good stuff from Land’s End, it makes me want to shop there tooooo.
(Speaking of other things that you do that makes me want to do them…I had my bathroom painted orange yesterday. LOVE. You have the best ideas.)
I say, buy two more pairs of the jeans (for the future) and some chinos.
Skinny jeans are the devil.
YEAH for Lands’ End! I’m telling you, it’s my favorite of favorites. They love those of us size 16 and above. And I love that you posted a picture. I may just order those…
I would have though ADVENTURE pants would have LOTS of stretch. For adventuring….
Dark rinse may not be the trendiest thing, but it is what Stacy and Clinton are constantly recommending to everyone on “What not to wear” for whatever that’s worth. Dark rinse, straight leg, with the top of the pant hitting just below the bellybutton.
Emily- Oh, they have SUCH A good return policy! I once returned a pair of shoes that I felt had worn out too quickly for their price, and LE gave me a full refund. And you can return stuff to a Sears store and then you don’t have to pay return shipping.
Misty- Yay, orange bathroom twins!! I continue to love mine!
I am going back and forth on the yellow still. They are So! Very! Yellow! I’m not sure what TOP I’d wear with them. Maybe a white short-sleeved sweater? I dunno.
Superjules- ME TOO! I thought adventure = easy movement! But I think I need to lose about 5 pounds to fit into them. I ordered them in another color anyway, because they are adorable and I often go up and down 5 pounds.
Yes, a white shirt would look very nice with those yellow pants. Skinny jeans will never enter my house.
Because of my need for extremely wide leg jeans, I make my own. Congrats on finding some that fit nice, though! There are lots of people I’ve found that, like me, have taken to making their own jeans because they’ve gotten fed up with trying to find a good fit in RTW.
I’ve tried those chino’s and I think they’d fit your small waist/bigger hip figure. Me – with my not so small waist and smaller hips…not so much.
Love the jeans.
Dark wash is the bomb.
You look amazing! LOVE the jeans on you! You look curvy and perfectly porportioned and HAWT. What’s this plus-size business?
Never!Ever! on the skinny jeans for me. I love love love those jeans. And the Chinos too, actually. I had some Lands End maternity clothes that I just loved.
Speaking of mailorder crap, my FAVORITE catalogue is Chadwicks. Have you ever shopped there? They do deferred billing and a lot of free shipping and even free items if you are on their mailing list. I get a lot of my clothing from them.
I love Lands End! I like your jeans. Sometimes I feel weird wearing bootcut jeans with flats instead of well… boots!
I see the dinosaur pajamas!
Navy top! A navy top would look PERFECT with yellow chinos! (White would be good too- perhaps white tee and navy cardigan? I don’t own a lot of white because I spill things, so I like navy.)
In my opinion, the only people that should wear skinny jeans are skinny PEOPLE. And by skinny, I mean size 0. They look horrific on anyone else. A good dark wash with a wide leg is the most flattering on a person that is not a toothpick with hair and possibly bolt-on titties. Lastly, I am finding it hard to believe that the picture is you in a size 20-something. To my eye, I was thinking “she’s not plus-sized, she’s lying! LIAR!” and also that you were wearing a size ten maybe? Shows you what I know.
Thank you!!
Those pants look like they fit perfect! Isn’t that always a great feeling? The yellow ones look perfect for a spring pick-me-up.
Secondly – YES ON THE SKINNY JEANS! I was at a high school graduation last night and felt very jealous & out of it – all these teenage girls were walking around in their ballet flats & skinny jeans. I am what magazines call kindly call “boy” or “athletic” shape – straight and scrawny – and skinny jeans make my hips appear hugely out of propotion w/ my body! Can we all just go back to bootcuts??
People! Check OUT her figure! With the NO muffin-top excellent proportions! AND SHE HAS FIVE CHILDREN. FIVE CHILDREN CAME OUT OF THAT MUFFINTOPLESS MIDDLE. *grumblegrumbleJEALOUSgrumble* (Apparently, I am in desperate need of a Stacy and Clinton work-up, because there are MUFFINS ALL OVER THE PLACE OVER HERE)
i’m late to the party on this post, but i too have recently discovered land’s end. they used to have only frumpy clothes, but now they have a lot of really cute stuff and i ADORE that on some of the pants you can customize the inseam. i am short so that is very, very useful! i bought those same jeans and i lurrrve tem. i also ordered the wide leg chinos and they were TOO wide leg for me, but the weekend bootcut chino is just perfect.