It’s Denim.  I gather calling them jeans is as dated as calling it your purse or your pocketbook.  Denim is the hottest item in town these days.  Denim is practical and trendy at the same time - it goes with anything and it goes anywhere.  And if you cost average it on a per-wear basis, $200 jeans are a bargain.

so, what are the trends?

Two Words.  Skinny and  Dark. Take this as far as your shape will allow, and there are options for every shape.   From skintight jean-leggings (”jeggings”) to the new, skinny boyfriends. Legging styles not for you?  They are definitely not for everyone.   Move on to skinnies.  No can do?  Straight legs.  Still too much junk in the trunk?  Try skinny boyfriends or a bootcut with a new, higher rise.  Go super dark, black,  grey, or “dolphin,” a dark grey/blue.  A couple of stores are even keeping white jeans in stock for the renegades among us.  Consider some embellishment….zippers at the ankles, studs or embroidery on the back pockets.

what are the fit tips?

Size 28?  Buy it when you see it.  At most stores, this sizes sells out quickly (and yet I am always next to the girl looking for a size smaller than 25).

there’s a reason they’re called skinnies. No matter what the salesperson says.  Skinny jeans and leggings are for skinny legs.  Period.  The same goes for tapered legs…tapering at the ankle accentuates any flare at the hip.  Straight legs work (if you’re reasonably slender) and are a refreshing alternative.   Stick with bootcuts, trouser styles and skinny boyfriends if you are heavy on top.  Unless you are blessed with size 4 hips to go with your DD’s, you need volume at the bottom to provide visual balance.

bootcut is still the classic choice for average height, average build. If you are below 5′3″ try straightlegs.  The bootcut and flarelegs can make your legs look stumpy.  Or go for petite bootcuts available by designers like Paige Premium Denim and at department stores like Neimans and Nordstrom.

no more plumber’s butt.  Almost all new designer jeans have a higher back rise to make sure that you are not crack-shotting or whale-tailing the free world every time you bend or sit down. Buy some.  Please.

the pocket principles.   First rule: Never, ever go with no back pockets. No.  And I mean it.   Second Rule: Too small makes you look too big.  Small & high back pockets make the area around them, i.e. your rear end, look bigger. And no pockets?  I repeat, never.  Rule Three:  Simple minimizes, embellishment accentuates.  This goes for pocket stitching, flaps, buttons, studs, etc.  Also applies to hip  whiskering.  Whiskering widens.  Yep.   Rule Four: Your best friend’s butt is not your own.  Her favorite jean may not flatter you at all.   Pocket size, placement &  fabric are what it’s all about in the rear view.  There are definite differences by designer, so try them on and on until yours looks perfect.

the boot tuck: the best ones to tuck are skin-tight skinnies.  They don’t blouse at the top of the lower boots and don’t jam up in the high boots.  You want a long, lean, uninterrupted line with this look.

MACY”S has a pretty handy denim FIT GUIDE, here.

who are the jean genie’s?

denim affair, Blakeney:  Red Engine, James, Fidelity, Denim of Virtue, David Kahn, Miss Me,
!it.  What’s different?  Keeping a white jean in stock, including a Miss Me with silver top stitching, maybe for the nightlife.   And the David Kahn Nikki in a dolphin-grey pants style, or the Blank Jeans $75 jean legging in a comfy, stretchy fabric with flattering jean structure through the hips.

black&blue, Morrison Shops: Kasil, James, Rich & Skinny, Diesel for Women, Habitual. The B&B go-to jean is still Kasil, which offers designer fit & style for under $200.  Another classic is the James Hector, a bootcut with several washes.   New at Black&Blue this year, the skinny boyfriend by Rich & Skinny, which has the slouchier top with a skinny bottom to cuff.  Trendy?  Habitual in a skinny straight bleached grey wash w/buttons to peg the bottoms.

sloan, Dilworth: Sloan is a denim destination for slender South Charlotteans. Sloan carries a handy mix of classic & trendy on their denim wall - Current Elliott, Paige Premium Denim, AG, JBrand, Rich & Skinny. The super skinny, pencil-leg, black JBrands are flying out, with & without zipper bottoms.  Fit tips from Linda at Sloan?  You need a size smaller than you think….what may feel looser & more comfortable will actually make your legs look heavier after a couple of hours of stretch.  She wants to see you in the most fitted, tight legs you can stand, and the darker the wash the better.   That’s right Joan Jett. Hit me with your best shot.

luna, Phillips Place: Luna is for the young & young at hips, so the news here is  jean leggings and skin tight.   Skinny dark wash JBrands.  Citizens Avedon jeggings.  7’s Gwenevere in black.  Current Elliott Legging Jeans.   Luna brands include Blank, Citizens, Seven, William Rast, Jbrand, siwy, Paige, AG, and Hudson.  One thing to know about Luna is that there are almost always several denim styles on sale, like the rack of 7’s and Citizen’s right now (including the popular but discontinued Pacific wash).  Luna even has a brand new website to shop, www.shopluna.com with jeans on sale even as we speak.

department store designer denim:  Neimans and Nordstrom.

Neiman Marcus: Now easier to shop, in a “store within a store” section in front of contemporary.  True Religion, Joes, 7, JBrand, Rock&Republic.  Neimans has a killer selection of  True Religion, some of which are exclusive to NM.   And Neimans has petite jeans, meaning those 5′4″ and under no longer have to hem (petite sizes in Rock N Republic, True Religion, Joes and 7).   For the less tiny & trendy, NM carries Christopher Blue jeans of all types, washes & fabrics, with a very forgiving bottom and thigh.  Also, CJ by Cookie Johnson (Magic’s wife) a size 10 tired of trying to find jeans fit her curvy shape.
In addition to denim, Neimans LEGGINGS CENTRAL:  7’s black knit jean leggings and herringbone jean leggings.  Black velvet jean leggings.   Leather leggings, faux leather leggings, DVF liquid leather leggings.   Leather leggings w/knit or knit versions w/leather.

Nordstrom is denim mecca in Charlotte.  Almost every brand you want, although a little overwhelming since the jeans aren’t located in a single area in the store.  Nordstrom denim brands are spread out within the appropriate department.  This is great for petites and plus size, and even for the more mature styles of Not Your Daughters Jeans.    Trickier in designer.  Point of View houses the mid rises Kut from Kloth, David Kahn, Lucky Brand and JAG.  Brass Plum has junior styles by Blu, !it, Vigoss and Jalate, most with prices under $50.   Across the aisle in Nordstrom, the prices go up and the cuts slim down - Hudson, Citizens, Paige, Prvcy, Free People, 7.  In the Savvy department, Rock&Republic, Joes, JBrand, Rich & Skinny, William Rast, Anlo, Habitual.

Your friendly neighborhood stores:

The Pink Hanger stocks classic styles in brands you don’t find everywhere.  Denim of Virtue  is a best seller in Patience and Tolerance.  Smalltown is good pick for a trouser style.  TPH has Bishop of 7th in assorted washes including black, grey & various dark rinses.
Fresh stocks Citizens, AG, Joes and Hudson.   Their favorite right now is the Citizens Ava, a straight leg which works on almost all of their clients.  Easier to wear than a true skinny in that soft Citizen’s denim.  Fresh stocks classics alongs with versions of the trends which will suit their customers.  So, new Citizens with embroidered pockets.  Joes black knit jean leggings. Joes Visionnaire and Muse fits, classic bootcut with a slightly higher back rise.   Hudson, lower in the rise, with a signature back pocket known to be most flattering.
And for Dilworth dwellers,Petal on East Blvd. serves up Anlo, JBrand, Citizens and James jeans.  Mostly bootcut and classic, as owner Jammie Dean says, basics with a twist, like an embellished pocket.  Look for the Citizens Kelly in distressed, James straight jeans and James Hector with a higher rise, no whiskers and dark wash.  Petal also carries petite sizes, so those 5′4″ and under don’t have to hem.

In Blakeney, the newcomer to the Charlotte jean scene is LAEast and they are making quite a denim statement.  Boasting an award winning denim selection with well over 35 styles of women’s denim like Joes, Rock & Republic, Mek Denim, Big Star, Rock Revival, Hudson, Frankie B. Paige Premium & more. Prices range from $80 to just shy of $300.  Boot cut is still king om south Charlotte, but skinnies are selling out quickly.    Bob of LAEast tells us that denim companies have gone in two directions these days, either really distressed or really clean.   Either way, LAEast has you covered.