denim on denim.

Jeans: Zara.  Top: JCrew.  (almost identical one here.) Bag: Michael Kors (similar. cute steal from Target here.) Boots: Bella Vita (similar here.) Necklace: JCrew. (similar.) Sunglasses: Target. (love these.) Watch: Michael Kors. 

So let’s talk denim today, shall we?  You all know I love a great statement dress or skirt (I design them after all), but I’ll always be a blue-jeans-girl as well.  Since I’m a mom and a designer, I need a lot of practicality in my everyday wardrobe.  Being a mother is messy work and running a clothing line requires a lot more rolling up of the sleeves than you’d think, so while I love love love getting dolled up, I pretty much split my sartorial time right down the middle, half the time I’m running around in a fun frock, the other half I’m sporting jeans.  And, let’s be real, most of the time (especially in the summer) it’s boyfriend jeans, because it’s me and I will never ever ever be able to quit them.

Jeans are one of those closet staples that I think are worth every penny you choose to spend on them.  In fact, if there is one item you’re really planning to splurge on, a great pair of jeans is my top choice.  When I’m deciding whether or not to buy something, I usually do a little cost-per-wear estimate in my head.  Jeans are always a great investment because you wear them frequently, and they are very versatile, meaning their cost-per-wear is so low, they virtually pay for themselves.  I also believe in buying one really great quality pair of jeans, over several meh– just okay pairs.  I know some people choke on the price tag of a pair of designer jeans ($150-$200 range) but I think it’s a worthy investment.  Before I started thinking about my closet in terms of quality over quantity, I probably had 10-15 pairs of cheap ill-fitting jeans (in the $20-$30 range)  Being as short as I am, and wanting my clothes to at least come close to fitting me properly, forced me to look to more expensive brands for petite options a few years back and I realized something.  All those pairs of cheap jeans in my closet were adding up to be at least as much (if not more) than one great pair of jeans, and none of them were doing me any favors.  My favorite basic jeans brand is Hudson.  I love the way these jeans fit.  They have a great neutral classic bootcut, and I love that they are made in the USA. (woot,woot.)  The skinny cut is perfect for wearing with boots, booties, or flats.  Having a good pair of bootcut jeans and a good pair of skinny jeans is vital to a well-balance closet.  And I personally think you can get by just fine with one pair of each.

Okay, on to the fun part.  Boyfriend jeans.  These are my favorite thing.  I don’t think you need to spend quite as much to get a good pair of boyfriend jeans, but take care and make sure you get the fit right.  You might need to try half a dozen cuts before you find the right one for you, and just because they say “boyfriend” on the tag, doesn’t means they’re going to work, or be flattering.  In fact, I pretty much always go for a cigarette or skinny fit with distressing and size up a size or two.  The silhouette works so much better for me.  Anyways, my absolute favorite boyfriends come from Zara, but J Crew and J Crew Factory have some really great options as well.

So how about you?  Are jeans your priority, or what’s your “splurge” item?

basics: 1,2.  boyfriends: 3,4,5.