The Denim Edit: Five Favorite Looks

Photo by Kirsten Beeksma Morse

On Monday I had the pleasure of appearing for the second time on Seattle's KING 5 television's New Day Northwest. I did a "Stylish at Any Age" segment last spring and other than wearing a dress on camera that made me look like a large pumpkin, I loved doing it. When the producer reached out to me again a couple weeks ago I was ready to go with some ideas on what I wanted to talk about next: denim. Local boutique Canopy Blue generously supplied the clothes for the show, and five gorgeous fashion friends agreed to model. "Stylish at Any Age: The Denim Edit" was so much fun to do. I loved it!

New Day Northwest with Jennifer Lovin, Kirsty Papadopulos, Mary Bridget Pehl, Kirsten Lear & Chardon Dankers

Denim styles have become so much fun this past year and they just keep getting better. Gone are the hard to wear low rise styles and the awkward combos of either too much or not enough stretch to your denim. Sometimes it has felt like finding the perfect pair of jeans could be nearly as terrifying (although not quite) as finding a swimsuit. But now we have the 'step fray". We have the "girlfriend' and "boyfriend" and we have high waisted and cropped flares. There is so much great denim out there, it makes me want to yell, "I'll take one of each!", but then again I often feel like that when it comes to fashion. Let's explore the five styles I focused on the television show. Here's hoping you are inspired to try something new, because there is a lot to love about denim these days.

The Step Fray or Step Hem

The hem design on these is a stair step looking bottom, with the back of the hem longer than the front, like a little step. It can come in a hemmed style, like these Frame High Rise Step Hem Skinny Jeans, or even in a cropped hem, like the MOTHER Inside Crop Step Fray. It is a modern take on denim that gives a major cool factor to any style of denim.  Dressed up with heels or down with a cool pair of sneakers, this edge has an edge.

Winter Whites

Actually, not just winter whites, but white period is fresh looking, especially this time of year. It matters what weight of denim you are wearing, not the color. If you have got a lightweight white jean, save it for the warmer months. but if it is a heavier weight denim, get those babies out! I love the look of my white jeans with a black sweater and black boots for a look that is sleek and modern. On the show today we paired the MOTHER Insider Crop in a cream color with a blue denim jacket and blue suede Joseph Altuzarra Blue Suede Pump and it was so chic. White before Labor Day, white after Labor Day, white denim all year round!

MARZdenim courtesy of Hitchcock Madrona

Vintage Upcycled

Upcycled denim is recycling at its fashionable best. Taking old denim and giving it a new and fabulous life is what MARZdenim is all about and it is my favorite company that is doing this right now. I have written about MARZdenim in a previous blog post, and it was a no brainer to include it in my list of favorites. For the segment on New Day Northwest, blogger and fabulous fashion girl Kirsty from The Kirsty Files modeled the Criss Cross Globe Trotter. This killer jean was a pair of plain Levi's in its previous life. The jeans were recycled and resewed into a boyfriend style jean complete with vintage pages, embroidery, paint dipped hems and grosgrain ribbon details. Kirsty wore it with fun floral heels and a white silk blouse, knocking it out of the fashion park.

MOTHER Denim - The Stunner

High Waist Skinny

The high waist and the skinny is a match made in heaven. I am constantly reading about the demise of the skinny jean, but instead of dominating the jean scene, I think it has now just become another choice. Having a high waist gives you more variety with what top you can choose. A cropped sweater or jacket that nips at the waist are just all the more flattering, or you can do the famous "half tuck" with your blouse and show off a cool belt, as was featured on Kristin on the show. Also, the MOTHER Looker Crop in Graffiti Girl was amazing on stylist Jennifer Lovin. You can find all these at Canopy Blue here in Seattle. Yay for the high waist...it takes the scary out of the skinny.

Photo by Kirsten Beeksma Morse

Cropped Flares

This is a denim style that I am head over heels in love with. I have cropped flares in a frayed edge style, like my rag & bone pair pictured above, as well as a finished edge in black and a high waisted pair. So, yes, I love them. Rock a pair of chunky heeled boots or a pair of on trend slides; either way the cropped flare shows off your cool shoes perfectly. The fitted leg that flares out just above the ankle is truly flattering on everyone. It is a go-to for me, no matter what the season.

Denim is a year round wardrobe staple and adding a new style to your rotation is an easy way to up your style game. Like I said, there is a lot to LOVE, so get out there and try something new and let me know what becomes your new favorite! Happy Valentine's Day! xx