Skinny jeans vs flares: Which is best?
THE SKINNY
IT TURNS out that all the great things in life really are bad for your health. It’s not enough that we will be remembered as the generation who juiced every vegetable known to man; but now the health critics are hitting on our clothes. This is where I have to draw the line. Okay, so it was kind of obvious that wearing heels wouldn’t be the best for your feet. The crippling pain us ladies endure on a Saturday night was a bit of a hint but hey, they’re only feet and, let’s admit it feet, aren’t great to look at in the first place.
READ MORE: Skinny jeans damage nerve fibres, left woman unable to walk
But now the holy grail of the denim world is being frowned upon. It has been reported in the press that wearing skinny jeans can cause serious damage to nerves and muscles. Whilst squeezing my thighs into the skinniest of skinnies the thought had crossed my mind that the tightness was akin to being what it must feel to be wrapped up in bondage. No pain, no gain, is my fashion mantra and since the skinnies landed on the trend shores 10 years ago I have not looked back.
Over the past few season’s designers have banged their heads against the brick wall of the skinnies. They have tried to convince us that the boyfriend jean is sexy in that androgynous cool way. In reality they made is look like little skater boys not something I want to emulate. This season the ’70s are back with a vengeance, but while the bohemian trend is great for festival style, it includes the wearing of flares.
I will admit that before the skinny I was known to have worn flares but only with the highest of heels. As I’m 5ft-nothing, the flare isn’t a great style for me, although if I could match them with skyscrapers then it wasn’t so bad. This is when the skinny came to my rescue. Finally I had found a pair of jeans that didn’t need to be taken up. I could sneakily turn under the hem without anyone really noticing or I could opt for the cropped pairs that sat just nicely at my ankles.
There are many, many reasons as to why I can’t let go of the skinny. Firstly Kate Moss loves them and what the Mossy loves so do I. They are also versatile. The skinny is the enigma of the jean family as it can be worn paired down for during the day with trainers or can be styled with heels for a night on the tiles without anybody batting an eyelid. Try doing that in a pair of boyfriend jeans. My ultimate favourite pair of skinnies at the moment is the Jonie indigo style from Topshop.
Thanks to the ’70s come back, the high waist has been reintroduced which is the way to go when it comes to wearing skinny jeans. It elongates your legs, which is something I badly need.
As all women know it can be torturous trying to find the perfect jeans and when you find it there is no going back. That is why I will never give up my skinnies… well unless Kate does.
THE FLARE
THE skinny jean has been around for a long time. Over the past few seasons’ designers have looked to refresh the jean trend and so was I. The ’70s-inspired fashion is big news this Spring/Summer, and when it comes to jeans, the flared-cut is THE one to get excited about. When styled right, they can look effortlessly cool, and you can wear them with just about everything. Think oversized shirts, cosy sweaters, and striped tees, and just about anything you’d pair with your trusty old skinnies! Not only are they right on trend but they also don’t come with a health warning unlike their skinny counterpart.
Flares are something I think a lot of us used to wear in our teens, and so our memories of them are often accompanied by bad outfits, bad hair, and even worse eyebrows. I bought my first grown-up pair about four years ago. I absolutely loved them, but they ended up getting lost in my overflowing wardrobe back in Galway, and despite searching and searching, I haven’t seen them since!
So this season I decided to cut my losses and buy a new pair. I chose this high-waisted pair in a dark denim wash, and also a black printed pair in a lighter cotton material for festivals and other summer romps. As I mentioned already, flares are perfect for styling with coats and jackets in the cold weather, and I’ll be bringing these two pairs with me into autumn/winter. It’s not just a summer fling for me! As a blogger and stylist I have trailed the shops to find just the right pair of flares. If, like me, you have decided to take the leap and invest in a pair there are a few things to remember. There would be nothing worse then stepping out looking as though you’re auditioning for a part in Charlie’s Angels. The ’70s were great but not that great.
The high street has really bought into the trend. Warehouse, Topshop and River Island are great for some figure flattering styles that won’t break the bank. If you’re looking to invest a little bit more, then head straight to BT2’s Denim Bar for MiH and J Brand. When it comes to the flare I always choose the high-waisted style for a more flattering cut and so it will elongate my legs. Just like with skinnies I buy them in a size smaller and squeeze into them, as they will always stretch!
When it comes to my flare style inspiration I take notes from Claudia Schiffer, Katie Holmes and Gwyneth Paltrow who all style their flares into some casual-cool outfits that are easy to re-create.
Ciara’s blog: www.ciaraodoherty.com
