In Defense of Skinny Jeans
Fitting rooms bring me a special kind of anxiety. When you grow up with body image issues (as many of us did), you know all too well the heart-wrenching feeling of that adorable outfit you saw on the mannequin not working when you look in the mirror. For me, trying on pants has always been the biggest struggle. Thanks to a combination of genetics and years of hardcore ballet training, I have a size 4 waist and size 12 thighs. Don't get me wrong, my body is perfect just how it's designed to be. However, the fashion industry sees it otherwise and I'm constantly fighting to find pants that aren't too big in the waist and aren't too tight in the legs.
For years, I didn't even bother to buy jeans. I hated the endless process of searching for a pair that worked for me. I hated spending my Saturdays at the mall in tears, hopping from store to store just praying the next pair I try on will be "the one". It wasn't until I came across a pair of jeggings at Charlotte Russe that fit me like a glove that I decided to get back in the denim game. Soon enough, I found my drawers filled with skinny jeans that felt good and looked good.
I've branched out since (and have found a deep appreciation for Mom Jeans). But I can't stop thinking that certain styles of jeans are destined for different body types. When I asked my friends for their feelings on skinny jeans, some of them could send me endless pictures of them out and about in their favorite pairs, while others stuck to other styles. We all had our reasons for liking certain kinds; one friend likes low rise because it makes her legs look longer, while another loves to dance and run around LA in a practical pair of skinny jeans. And yet, I'm reminded that skinny jeans have seemingly become "banned" every time I open TikTok.
Fashion trends come and go. That's just how the world works. Some I've said good riddance to, like neon crop tops and high-heeled flip-flops. But what if we truly love a certain style?
Are we just supposed to toss it aside because the world says it's yesterday's news?
Do I really have to stop wearing my skinny jeans?
You should be able to wear whatever you want, whenever you want. The most attractive thing you can be is confident, so if something makes you feel good, rock it. When I first moved to New York, one of my professors gave us advice about living in the city. She told us, "people wear WHATEVER they want here, so do the same". I couldn't agree more. I've seen a girl with yellow contacts, dark makeup, fish net tights, and cat ears, and a stranger next to her in pleather pants. I've seen people show up to class in sweat pants, and I've seen people show up to class in floor length gowns.
And people really expect me to give up my jeans?
Fashion is art and trends are meant to be fun. But jean styles should be excluded from these on-again off-again relationships we have with our clothes. The industry is already setting us up to fail, and now TikTokers are, too?
Too many of us have had to muster up so much courage to even put those skinny jeans on. And are they everyone's favorite style? Hardly, but if they're yours and they make you feel good, then WEAR THEM! Ignore the jokes about how the millennials are just trying to manifest 2014 (like that's a BAD thing) and dance around in your best pair.
Follow my lovely model friends on Instagram!
Anna: @durka_durks
Casey: @casey_myer
Bridget: @bridgethatsme5
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