Yanuk 32 (and 31 and more 32s)

A. After seeing this lookbook for Paper Denim and Cloth I got so excited because hey, they have an ombre jean like the J Brand ones I have been lusting for since I first saw them on, I think, Rachel Bilson nearly a year ago. And now that PDC is doing them, the J Brand ones will go down even more in price! And maybe the look will be more than a one season thing! (Stella McCartney also had an ombre or dip dye jean - it's not like the ombre look hasn't been huge for a year in dresses and shirts so I'm not all "RIP OFF!!" or anything.) BUT! Ideeli had a PDC sale this morning and they had the ombre ones! For only $49! ($59 with shipping, ouch.) So I bought them. I'm not a 100% taken with the 25" inseam but we'll see how it looks on. Still! Finally, my sweet sweet ombre jeans will be mine! Now if someone will just do an homage to the J Brand Houlihan cargo pants or the Current/Elliott cargo leggings in my price range.

I have an email from citizen blues - from thursday morning to sunday night, everything is $50 or less. I've never bought them from but my friend has, and she seemed happy with their customer service, etc, so, worth checking out!

Today I wore my "new" from ebay Yanuks. Are they not awesome? Straight from ebay, I paid about $12. Oh, and I managed to sit all day on those buttons on the ass and somehow it was still comfortable. (I'm still bitter about that silly article I linked to, yes.) I love Yanuk. I joked with my friend that they apparently used my ass and thighs and tummy as their fit model as I've never been anything but thrilled with the fit there with Yanuk. I can swing a 31 with their looser fits, but I know the 32 will fit perfect, and I love that. So if you have my butt, thighs and tummy, may I suggest Yanuk?

Then I thought, I should take a picture of all my Yanuks! And this was too fun not to do again, here are the six pairs of Yanuks I own that I wasn't wearing (I own a total of 7 - I suspect I have more 7Fams, but I bet we'll find out soon enough). Purchased from Rue La La (the brown ones), Smart Bargains (the bermuda shorts, the black ones, the skinnies), Ebay (all the other ones). And the boyfriend jeans? Those are my perfect boyfriend jeans. Not too baggy, no droopy crotch, but that perfect look. I LOVE THEM. So, Yanuk? Two thumbs way way up from me.

My friend who tried them found the pair she got too tight in the butt, so I wonder if they're not the right choice if you're above average in the butt? I still recommend the brand in general to anyone who's buying in the 30-33 size range.

AG Goldschmeid Angel 32 + Diesel 31

It's been a long time since I actually enjoyed reading Fashionista but this particular one is really irritating. I sat all day on Hudson's back pockets and studded pockets with no pain or discomfort at all. Possibly this is because I have a different butt and body than the Fashionista writer, but she didn't bother to mention that possibility existing, so maybe I should just make a sweeping generalization that she's wrong? Also, if you'd like to see how the hemmed lovestory J Brand jeans look hemmed, why not actually look at some of the many many excellent personal style blogs or denim blogs where people are hemming and WEARING them? In pictures? And everything! Ugh. I actually really love the many many excellent denim blogs out there and personal style blogs where the bloggers wear a lot of denim, it irritates me when a blog about fashion seems so ignorant of these resources.

Well, Fashionista's general "there are people who don't live and die by fashion and fit into sample sizes? NO I DO NOT BELIEVE YOU" attitude irritates me. I still haven't gotten over their "what is mentally wrong with people who shop at dress barn?" post.

Since today's and yesterday's jeans were ebay, I decided to feature both. While the Diesel would be hard to find for yourself, the AGs are their very popular cut the Angel, so it seemed worth a few pics and comments.

I bought these 32s on ebay at least 6 months ago and, sadly, 3 or 5 pounds ago, and yet, they are still stretchy and comfortable without looking baggy. It's no wonder so many people swear by the Angel cut, especially if you're in the upper size ranges. Yes, there's a lot of stretch in these jeans, but not, I think, in a cheap way. Definitely these jeans I bought pretty well loved and used, but they have held up great.

Okay, ebay downside: meet the unprofessional hemmed hemming. It's not as bad as the next pair of ebay jeans, but it's noticeable to me.


Speaking of! These Diesel jeans were only 99 cents - 28 inseam and as described: unprofessionally hemmed. I decided to roll them up and go with them as capris. I think it looks cute!



They're right in the thigh and made for a bigger booty than I have (darn my average butt!) and yes, if I were in the store, I would have sized up. But if I were in the store, I'd be paying, what, 100 times 99 cents? They fit, looked cute, and I was perfectly comfortable walking back and forth to the grocery store.


I really love the Diesel front pocket detailing, on these and the other Diesels I own - I don't know if the double sort of hem really has any effect on how my hips appear, but I like it, it's something different.

I'll be here on Wednesday, promise, but Sunday I'll be on vacation for the holiday so that entry might be delayed a bit. But it will also be extra exciting. My mother is going to teach me how to hem my jeans. As I plan to maybe buy a sewing machine and get on that as a good skill to have.

Kasil 32 Shadow

 

I bought these Kasil jeans on ebay. I buy a lot of jeans on ebay. And most denim blogs, well, they don't write much about ebay. It's easy to see why - it's not news, not a sample sale, the basics of how to ebay is pretty easy to get, you don't get much benefit from linking to a great sale except for competition from your own readers. Heh. (Speaking of referrals, my goodness, if you are not a member of Gilt, click on that link to the right and JOIN NOW. Tomorrow they have part one of their final sale and Gilt's final sales ROCK. They are the best of the final sales, I think.)

Ebay also has a rep for selling fakes and fakes are bad. Google and you'll see it's more than just ripping off the original brands, it's a scary illegal violence ridden bad bad vibes thing.

But I've bought at least a third of my premium jeans on ebay and my experience has been 99% positive - one shirt that had some stains on it that the seller had tried to hide. I spent a total of $7  so I wasn't really that upset.

Things I love about ebay: MEASUREMENTS. So many excellent ebay sellers will give you all the measurements you can't get at sample sales or online stores - actual waist, hips, inseam, leg opening, thighs. These Kasils fit PERFECT on me. Those measurements wouldn't have worked for everyone but I started drooling, well, at Kasil 32, but I bid what I bid because the measurements made it clear how well they would fit.

And pretty! Also, I love the price. I paid under $15 for these. They fit perfect, they're durable good denim, they have cute details and, as seen in the top pic, the world's most pointless pocket possibly ever.

And yet, another reason writing about ebay is rare: this isn't really helpful. If this cut of Kasil comes up in your size at 30/31/32, I say buy! Great fit all around. But since it's ebay, who knows when this cut will come up again? If you want to know more about the seller, read their feedback, not my review of these awesome jeans.


A

Also, everyone has their own ebay philosophy of bidding. I set up searches for things I want, like "Kasil 32" and then I bid on everything that I like where the total comes to under $20 for jeans, hoodies and dresses and under $15 for shirts. I am frequently outbid, I go, "okay" and move on. My friend never bids until the last ten minutes. But I worry about getting caught up in a competitive fervor and paying more than I want to. I know what I want to pay, if someone is willing to pay more, they'll do so whether it's five minutes before the end or five days. Of course, sometimes I don't get outbid and I have a week where I suddenly have spent $60 on ebay without actually planning to even if I did get some awesome jeans out of it.

SO: ebay is awesome for finding awesome jeans. Be smart, though. And Kasils ROCK. Also, the pictures of my butt are something I really need to master, as this one makes the jeans look saggy in the ass which they totally were not. Up above is an equally bad picture of Rock and Republic skinnys (SO AWESOME AS WELL) where I took a similarly bad picture. I need to work on this, I know. Both jeans fit my butt very well.

And tomorrow! Final Sale on Gilt!!!!!

31 Gap Straight Leg & 30 Wideleg Hudson

Denim Debutante is having a how should jeans change comment fest in  her blog which is worth checking out.

Sigh, unrelatedly, I totally had this moment today of being so so very tired how none of the denim bloggers look like me. I am right on the edge of premium denim, I know,  and it's not like I think my ideal body is 20 lbs lighter (for me to lose 20 lbs would require serious illness or disordered eating, I am fairly sure) but it is TIRING. It is hard to trust reviews that say nothing about those of us whose stomachs have never been close to flat and who put up with what people insist on calling muffin top because, you know what? I do want to wear Ksubi. ANYWAY.

I got permission from my friend to quote her email weeks ago when I was talking about starting this blog, so I FINALLY quote her:

There is a distinct lack of commentary about how sizing runs on the high side compared to the low side. I know that a 32 in COH are perfect, but a 32 in Kasils are small. I would love to read about how different styles fit, how they run, all of that jazz. I would also love to read about how to find them in the higher sizes as well. When stuff comes on sale, you have to jump on the 32s just in case you want them. They always sell out quickly and when stuff comes up again as a super sale, it's almost always the small sizes. There are a lot of women who love their designer jeans but need them in the larger sizes and have trouble finding them or there isn't enough information on them. The models are always 25, 26s which doesn't tell you how the 31, 32s run.

And back to me, I have to say for me Yanuks are perfect and for my friend they are not! Oy with the sizing.

On to this week jeans! First, check out those Hudsons, woot! They're a freaking 30 and while they are a wee bit tight around around the tummy, they certainly button with ease and I didn't wear a yummie tummie to make them look nice. They had to be hemmed, but I love love them. And they look great. I just think it's wacky that's how a 30 fits. Completely wearable on my generally a 32 body, oy gevalt sizing.

I went to the Gap! Cause I had a coupon for 30% off. And I had seen that Who What Wear email about the Gap jeans with PATCHES so, of course, I had a PLAN. First I tried the 32 and thought, ugh, this fit is weird. A little loose in the crotch, a little saggy in the butt. The 32 is the bottom picture. Then I tried on the 31 which the Gap calls the equivalent of a 12 and everything was perfect. That's the top two. No saggy crotch, perfect fit in the butt. I am always a 12 in the Gap, bless their hearts. These were on sale for $59.99 before the 30% off, and I love the patches. Can't wait to wear these. 

And! I saw their straight leg khakis and briefly thought, oh, is the Gap doing knock offs of those fantastic J Brand skinny cargos??? The ones I will not be able to afford or find on sale ever? As you might be able to tell from the top picture they are not. That hugely baggy fitting cargo? Is a 10. I was pulling it up so the crotch was actually somewhat near my body and that waistline is inches above my belly button and natural waist. I probably could have fit in an 8 comfortably, those things are sized way way way up. So if you don't see your size and would like some nice khakis, try looking 3-4 sizes down. 

Anomame 32 Paris Skinny

I hope I took enough pictures for you guys!

I planned my wardrobe to wear these today because Anoname is a brand I've just started seeing on sample sale sites and once or twice in Nordstrom Rack - I haven't seen more than one or two reviews. And since I was super pleased, I wanted to get the good word out.

Also, I moved out of the bathroom for pics. Isn't my kitchen exciting? 


I got this pair from The Sample Sale site, and peeps, if you love denim and haven't registered there, please, please, do so now.  (If you do so from here, I get $10 when you purchase, wherever you do it from, you do still, I think, get $10 credit just for signing up.) To date, their sales have had a lot of variety, sizes up to 32, great prices and oh so quick mailing.

I ordered the Paris Skinny because a) I do find initial interest in brands when certain celebrities wear them and look good and my personal favorite denim diva (Jessica Alba) was seen in Anoname recently so I checked out the sale, b) I'm feeling skinnys lately because I also love my boots and skinnys are so perfect for showing those off, c) the Paris Skinny has this super cute dark visible stitch. They just looked cool! And look cool on. I've styled them just like they were in the sale picture, with the cuffing at the bottom. I like the look!


And no hemming, wooooooooo. The flash and lighting in my kitchen is not ideal but I think the picture to the left with the bottom of the jeans plus my favorite clogs gives the best color of the wash and stitching. Two thumbs up! I like the back pocket design as well - I am a fan of clean and I am a fan of flashy embroidered wacky, this is a nice compromise. AND FIT, which is all you care about since you have eyes: two thumbs up! I found the 32 basically just right - I don't think I would have been better sizing down or anything. Nice fit in the thighs, not too tight. The picture of my butt makes it looks a little more saggy than it is. There was a little space in the butt/crotch which I think is a great sign for women with bigger butts than me as it means the 32 might very well work for them as well. Definitely worth trying on if you're near a Nordstrom or another store that carries them. It wasn't a ton of room or anything, as seen in the pics, it's a comfortable fitted fit, not too tight, just also a smidge of room for my butt (or more likely: my poochie tummy) to grow.


Also: $47 total. For jeans that looks this nice! I'll be coming back to you, Anoname, yes I will indeed.

Ksubi 32

When I mentioned starting this blog to a friend, I also said I would confess to my beloved shapewear habit. I own 5 Yummie Tummie tanktops - 4 I bought on ebay for $25-$30, one (pictured here) for $25 on final sale at Rue La La. No endorsement paid for, and I haven't actually tried other shapewear tanks. I really love Yummie Tummie, though, as we shall see!


It's time for some super unflattering pics! In the side view & front view, the first picture is me sans YT tank, tucked in tee shirt. Then the tank, then tee over the tank as you would normally wear it.

I don't own spanx, or the shapewear that's like bike shorts or undies. I do have a full body slip and a half slip, and man, using the bathroom is no fun. Which does not come up with tanktops, god bless. Though I don't buy the ones with built in shelf bra because, hi, I'm a 38D, I don't need another bra and I never wear bralettes, I wear bras. Heh. This supremely unflattering pic shows how long the Yummie Tummie tank ends up being on me, which is an advantage of being short.

I read recently that Ksubi does not make 32s - this is the inside tag of the Ksubi 32s I am wearing that I bought from Gilt. So I think the person who made that assertion is wrong.


So, here you go - sans YT tank, my poochie tummy spills over more than I would be comfortable with these jeans that I can button without effort. (Some commercial was all "that's longer than it takes me to put on my skinny jeans" and OMG why do you buy jeans it takes you 10 minutes to put on? Ugh. Different choices for different folks - I should be less judgmental.) With the tanktop, which is pretty darn comfortable to wear all day in all honesty, the pooch is reduced. I don't size down thinking I'll just wear something to make it fit. But it does take tight and poochie to comfortable and less poochie. It helps that my problems with fit are mostly tummy and not butt or thigh. And might be helpful to you! I hope so. Also, how awesome are these Ksubis? ($68 on Gilt.) I do wish they'd think about making a wider variety of sizes - maybe it will be something they consider as they work out of bankruptcy. Up to 36? Be bold, Ksubi! 38! 40! Dream pretty for everyone!

Housekeeping: I added a ton of links on the side. To blogs I like, personal style blogs and other shopping blogs and denim ones. I also added links to sample sales that often feature denim - said links take you to my invites. If you register through them and buy something, I get credit there. I've happily shopped (bought and received the product I ordered) at all of them except Top Secret and Ideeli - mostly because I'm picky about my pricing, etc, not any sort of negative endorsement. I've also included a link to Ebates which I loooooooooooove - if you buy things online at places like Target, Ebay, Gap or Smart Bargains or Beyond the Rack or Billion Dollar Babes, Ebates gives you cash back. You get five dollars for signing up (and I get $5 too) and it's a tiny percentage of what you buy that you get back, etc. I'm a fan, anyway.

See you Wednesday with more denim!

J Brand Ink 32 purchased on ebay

Let's start from the start. I was reading one of my many awesome denim blogs and said entry included a note about sizing, about how being over a size 10 can mean no premium denim for you! But, I'm a size 12 and sometimes 14 and a 30, a 31, a 32 and I have more than 32 pairs of premium denim!

Okay, wait, even more start: I believe in Health at Every Size. And also fat acceptance. I think beauty is diverse and more than the extremely narrow representation we get. I still think models are super pretty and Jessica Alba is gorgeous. In the ideal world, clothes would be made for everyone. No one would argue that making clothes above a size 14 would 'encourage' people to get fat. We don't live in an ideal world and when people wonder why some brands only go up to 31, let's be blunt: it's because they don't want to make clothes for women they perceive as fat. Which is a really shitty world, there. And it's hard work - even when you're making clothes for that more ideal size 8, one size is never specific for all the awesome varieties of people out there, hips and thighs and butts and calves.

SO. The idea was one more blog: I generally buy a 31 or 32. I loathe paying full price. I shop a lot on ebay and in thrift stores. I'm in my late 30s, 5'2" and between 145-150lbs. I like patches and distressing and plain wide legs and jeans - I really love jeans. Here are my jeans, how the fit, where I got them, how much I paid, tips on sizing and stuff! Hopefully some of you will find some space for one more blog! I plan to update on Wednesday and Sunday with pictures of the jeans on me and how I bought them, etc.

I bought these J Brand Ink bootcut jeans from ebay for a total of $15 with shipping. The seller helpfully included a lot of pictures of the fraying of the hem and, as you can see circled in the sorry so porny shot, patched holes on the inside of the thigh. That was the only angle where you could even see that the thighs were patched - it's basically invisible, yay!

The lighting in my bathroom is super bright, so I took the pictures in there, I might try somewhere else next time, heh.

(See, this goes back to the wide variety of people. I've bought a few pairs of used jeans where there was wear on the inner thigh like that, and yet, jeans I've owned for over 10 years (my weight hasn't varied much more than 5-8lbs in that time frame) don't have wear there. Life! Full of variety! We are not all the same!)

Okay, the tummy shot is kind of super unflattering, but you know, these jeans are actually kind of loose in waist and I had to tug them up a little a few times. But it's a weird angle! I feel defensive!

Anyway: J Brand. I almost always fit and prefer a 31 in J Brand but then I bought another pair of bootcut ones at 31 and they were super tight, so I decided for J Brand and my butt and tummy, 31 for skinnies, 32 for everything else. Which is why trying things on is always so awesome, but when you have Ebay and good sellers, you have something nearly as good - measurements! As noted, I've already had a bad experience with J Brand (and every brand) a size meant one thing in one cut and then soemthing else in another. But this seller told me the waist size in inches, the inseam and the rise. I bid for them knowing the inseam was just at the edge of my no-tailor zone (you can see I'm wearing them with heels). Seriously, bless sellers who give you measurements!

So, that's day 1. See you Sunday, let me know if you have any questions, additional comments, etc!

I realize I should have included a more straight shot so you could see them just there, and also noted that these jeans were super comfy, and looked fairly darn fabulous. Something for next time!