MEAGHAN SMITH PERSONAL STYLIST

Whether you’re petite, curvy, lean, or over sixty-five, there’s an ideal pair of jeans for you.

Great jeans will make you feel stylish and confident. They will fit in all the right places and be comfortable. 

They’re one of the most versatile pieces of clothing in your wardrobe. You’ll be able to wear them to work with a blazer and boots, on the weekend with a t-shirt and casual sneakers, and to a party with heels and a blouse.

However, finding a pair of jeans that are flattering and stylish can be frustrating and overwhelming; after all, there are literally hundreds of different brands, styles, washes, and fits to navigate your way through.

Here are a few things to consider next time you decide you need to update your denim.

• Unless you’re shopping with the view to sample lots of different styles, have a clear picture of what you’re looking for. (e.g. mid-rise dark denim straight with some stretch)
• If you don’t know what you’re looking for, be open-minded to trying on different styles.
• Always try jeans with shoes. If you think you’ll wear them with a heel, try them with a heel. If you think you’ll wear them with a boot, try them with a boot. (You don’t want to get them home to discover the boots you have, don’t work with the jeans you’ve bought)
• Know your body shape and understand the best denim styles that suit your particular shape – the best rise (crotch to waist), the best color, and the best leg width.
• Try a pair of jeans that theoretically shouldn’t work for your body shape. What’s the worse thing that could happen? They just might work, and they might look great.
• Think of buying jeans as you would buying pants/trousers/a skirt. To find the perfect fit for you, you may need to have them altered.
• In the change room, once you have the jeans on, bend over, sit down, do some squats, and lift your knees up (like you’re marching)  to see how much they stretch and move with your body and to ensure they fit properly.
• Take more than one size into the changeroom. Just because the pair you have at home is a size 12, doesn’t mean you will be that size in all jeans. Try on a size smaller and a size larger than you normally would.
• Unless they are boyfriend or girlfriend style, jeans shouldn’t sag around your bottom; pull across the tops of your legs or bag at the front of your thighs. They should fit firmly at the waist and not dig into your stomach or hips.
• Take notice of the size of the back pockets and where they sit on your butt. Are they doing what you want them to do? (ie giving your bottom a nice shape)

Read about shopping for jeans with me, here

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If you’re having your jeans cropped and not sure where to tell the alterations person to take them up to – show them this.

*Just above the ankle bone.

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In the past couple of weeks two of my regular clients have asked me to help them find something “sexy” to wear.

One contacted me saying “Help! I’ve got a wedding to go to and I need to look hot. My ex-husband is going to be there with his new girlfriend” and the other was ready to start embracing her curves, by accentuating her lovely figure and wear something less conservative than she was used to.

The first thing I asked both of them was – When it comes to clothes, what makes you feel sexy?

(One, after some prompting from me knew what it was, and the other had no idea, which meant we had to do lots of sampling of different things til she figured it out).

Everyone has their own idea of what sexy is and what makes you feel that way when you’re wearing it. For some, it’s a pretty soft flowy dress with just a subtle hint of skin, for others it might be a figure hugging and/or revealing (perhaps Kardashianesque) outfit and for others like me, it’s my favourite perfume, pretty lingerie, a great pair of jeans and heels.

(And for some, it’s not important at all…)

Whether it’s “funky”, “edgy”, “trendy”, “cool” or “sexy”, that you’re wanting to achieve, you need to figure out what that word means to you first. Keeping in mind that it’s not just about how you look, but more importantly how you feel. Because when you feel it, you’ll also exude it..

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I get asked often whether denim jackets are still in fashion. A client might have one in their wardrobe, that’s been hanging unworn for years, because they’re unsure whether or not to let go of it or hold on to it.

My answer is always yes denim jackets are still in fashion however, like everything, shapes change and some can become outdated – particularly those that are made of treated denim (perhaps stone washed) or have zips, studs or rhinestones.  So if you have an old Sportsgirl version from 1995, chances are it may well be dated and either needs reinventing (if possible) or retiring.

Because I’m always encouraging people to try and work with what they already own before racing out and buying anything new, I thought I would talk about how you can determine whether your denim jacket is right for you and whether to keep it or not.

Consider..

• firstly, whether a denim jacket is your style.  It’s certainly a classic piece, but not for everyone.  Don’t just wear it because it’s there.
• whether your particular jacket is flattering to your shape.  Is it too short and boxy or too long?  Is it too wide across your back?  Are the sleeves too full making your arms appear bigger than they are?  Is it making your shoulders and/or bust look broader/bigger than they are?
• whether the denim is dated.   1980’s distressed denim and 2000’s distressed denim are not the same
• whether it’s worth having it altered by a tailor to make it a more modern, flattering shape for you
• whether the style is still current or if it’s dated. (ie. if it’s acid washed with bat-wing sleeves and suede fringes, unless your style is Eighties Rocker, I’d say it’s probably time to donate it)

…and in case you’re wondering, yes, denim jackets can be worn by all ages.  But just like anything, it’s not what you wear, it’s how you wear it. For instance, unless you want to look like Dolly Parton, avoid wearing your rhinestone embellished denim jacket with your jeans of the same denim. Wear a dark denim jacket to lunch with a stripey tee, navy linen pants and espadrilles or throw one over your shoulders when you’re wearing a cool summer dress, while you’re on holidays.

Here are a few pictures to give you some ideas for how you can wear your jacket.

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