Saturday Styles: Denim / Women's Styles

Top ten jeans to wear all Spring

Hi there! Welcome to Saturday Styles, your weekly guide to practical, relevant, and sleek product recommendations. Here are my top picks this week based on what I’ve been loving for my clients, my closet, and everyday upgrades.

**If there’s one thing I get asked about more than anything else, it’s denim. No shock there. The hunt for the “perfect” pair is practically a national pastime—but let’s be real, perfection is a myth. Denim isn’t a one-and-done holy grail; it’s a process. It’s about building a small, smart wardrobe of jeans that serve different functions, fit your real life, and evolve with you.

Despite what the trend cycle screams—baggy is in! skinnies are dead!—the truth is far less dramatic. Style isn’t binary. It’s personal. So instead of chasing hype, focus on what flatters your body, supports your lifestyle, and fits your taste. Put some guardrails in place, and let those guide your denim decisions—not your feed.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: here she goes, adding to the denim noise. But consider this more like a stylist’s field notes. Below, I’m sharing what I wear, what I test, and what’s working for my clients across the board. And as always, message me with your fit questions.

STRETCH KICK CROP

This is my favorite white denim these days. The mid-rise is a winner on most bodies, and the kick-crop is an undervalued universal silhouette for all. And since they’re white, it's good to note that they aren’t see-through. A reasonable upgrade on your white denim this year. And yes, they are supposed to be slightly cropped. These will take you from spring into summer. Madewell makes these in three different lengths (standard, petite + tall). Take your standard size in them. Madewell Kick Crop Jeans, $128

ACID WASH PLAY

This is a fresh take on skinny jeans, a little less fitted from the knee down. Pistola is another preferred denim brand in my arsenal. This pair feels vintage without the risks of actual vintage, meaning they have an acidic wash without losing the integrity of the fibers (aka, lower risk of holes), and they have 1% elasticity, so they’re a better spin on those OG 501s (actual stretch and flex). Style them with cool sneakers and tees, or throw on a bomber jacket or blazer for transitional days. Take your normal size. Pistola Madi High Rise Slim Jeans, $148

ALL DAY DARK WASH

I’m sure you’ve seen a lot of apparel brands marketing ‘90s nostalgia. It’s certainly having a moment. This style is one of the few elements of that resurgence I can get behind because you can wear them shortened or slightly slouchy with mesh flats or loafers, or a pair of booties, a la western. I’d pair this with a slightly oversized tee, tucked in, or with a suiting blazer broken up into separates. Take your standard size. They also come in various lengths. Curvy High Rise '90s Straight Jeans, $63

COMFY BARRELS

Many people I know are curious about the barrel jean — they continue to show up across all brands. What I like about these from Kut is that they are a lighter wash, so the idea of wearing them with a tee and sneakers or a slightly fitted knit with layered necklaces and ballet flats is actually more approachable than you think and delivers effortlessness for the warmer days. And… because this style isn’t as accentuated through the hips and mid-leg. It’s just barely a barrel. Plus, this price point is more digestible for a style you’re testing. Definitely take a size down from your standard size in their jeans. This jean inseam typically works well for 5’4” to 5’8” tall folks. You want this style to be slightly cropped. Kut from the Kloth Ashley High Rise Barrel Leg, $109

SCULPTING SKINNIES

Yes, skinny jeans are back. Actually, they were never out in the first place. If your skinny jeans are in good condition, aren’t stretched out, and don’t have any wear and tear (let’s be honest, I’ve had some of mine for over a decade), then wear them. This style from GA is great because it isn’t overly thick in material, striking the right balance of stretch and hold. I also like that they are a darker wash with finished hems and no tears = professionally approved. Take your normal size in GA— they will be snug, but you want that in a skinny jean fit, because again, they will stretch a little. Good American Good Legs Skinny Jeans, $99

COOL CROP

When I see products on eComm images like this one, I occasionally wonder why they would opt for the styling in the photo. I would not recommend wearing a black pump with jeans like this. I would definitely recommend wearing cool trainers and sneakers or chunkier soled sandals with this style and a half-sleeve summer knit, vest, or muscle tee. Take your standard size. Citizens Of Humanity Lyra Wide Leg Crop, $238

MODERN BOOT

A winning style for women over 5’6,” this ever-relevant bootcut silhouette and wash is year-round. Put a blazer and heels on, or a low-profile sneaker and crewneck sweatshirt, and go. Dress up and dress down in this style. Take your standard size. Veronica Beard Beverly Skinny-Flare Jean, $298

CLASSIC STRAIGHT LEG

This cut from LRL exists in three colorways in my closet, and they stand up well. They are on the lower end of the mid-rise spectrum, but don’t worry, they’re not actually that low. If you need a bit more support in that area, esp with a white jean, then go for the Madewell’s up top. If you want something a little more streamlined and straight, this is your girl. Wear with classic shirts, blouses, or even pullovers. Take your standard size in the white wash, and if you want to try the other washes, consider going down one size. Ralph Lauren Mid-Rise Straight Jean, $115

DRESS UP + DOWN MID-RISE

Mother is another favorite denim brand. While some of their styles aren’t quite the flavor for all, this cut is one of their best-sellers for a reason. It fits, and fits well. It’s well-made and well-cut. If you’re shorter than 5’8,” these will work for you. They are great for knocking around or working all day and dressing up for dinner. I actually travel in mine. Take your standard size. Mother The Mid Rise Dazzler Ankle, $218

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🚨 Bonus — Some Denim Tips

• Tailoring — If you for any reason need to have your denim hemmed, please 9 times out of 10, choose to have the “original hem” included. The tailor will know what this means. It helps to keep the integrity of the pants from top to bottom. It’s one of those minor stylistic choices (that costs more), but it maintains the original design. If you opt for another thread color, it’s harder to match and it doesn’t look at good.

• More tailoring — There’s a trend going around right now to wear slouchy, baggy hems that drag on the floor. It looks cool because the people who do it are in fashion, and/or you may not be seeing them all the time, actually wear them. I stand pretty firmly against this. I had to deal with pants being long recently when I wore my orthotic boot to heal my foot. I actually detested how they looked on me while I was out wearing them. They look cool for a minute, and then, they’re not. This look can very quickly transfer into sloppy and amateur. Raise your hems, even on longer styles. Just picture the back of your denim being torn down and two inches shorter than the front side because of the drag (this takes me back to 7th grade and I’d rather not go there).

• Cropped styles — For anyone, no matter your height, if you are going to wear cropped denim, please make sure that the bottom hem of the pants lands between 1.5” and 3” above, starting from your ankle bone. It won't look proportionate on your body if they are longer or shorter than this.

• Flexible buttons — For when you need to make some adjustments at the waist in real time. I have put pants on at different points in my life where the sizing wasn’t quite the same from the previous time I may have worn them, and that’s either too snug or too loose. If you do have some pants in your closet that you need to adjust the waistband on, then consider incorporating a reusable rivet that holds you in.

• Cleaning — Please wash your denim on delicate and cold + air dry them. I know we sometimes want our jeans to shrink back (I’m a millennial, I get it), but too much of this will break down the dyes and weaves which will then lead to denim not lasting as long.

• Clean out — This is the time to try on your stack of jeans that has been gathering dust for a few years. Some pointers: if the material is so worn down that you think they are super soft, then watch yourself because they’re probably one wear away from tearing down the seam in your backside—I’ve seen it happen too many times. Also… when you’re not wearing a pair of your jeans, but you notice little ripples at the bottom of the rise drop, right at the top of the inseam (ahem, in between the upper thighs), that means that the elasticity in the denim has completely broken down. There’s no coming back from this. It’s not a good look, which means it’s time for them to go.

• Avoid the wrinkles — Like you, I have a ton of things going on, and the idea of ironing denim seems insane to many people. I see you. But wrinkled denim does not look good when you walk out of the house. Give them a spritz and a swipe of your hand to smooth them out as you’re getting ready. It takes 20-seconds.

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Stay stylish, and catch you next Saturday!

x Laura