To Wear or Not To Wear Skinny Jeans 2006

Robert Carney

Will you be wearing skinnies? Will you be tucking them into your
boots this fall and winter? Will you be wearing them with your
gorgeous heels or open-toed high sandals? Maybe with your
favorite ballerinas or pointy-toed flats? What will or would the
effect be on your total look? Remember, we're likely shooting
for SLIMMING aren't we. We all know our body-type intimately, so
get real and make the right choice to flatter.

For some of us the look will be most excellent and slimming, for
others of us, this may not necessarily be the case. For those of
us who run from the skinny- don't despair, there are cool
trouser styles a plenty this year! Skinny jeans are not for you?
Move on then. But, if you haven't yet made the skinny jean
commitment and are just now choosing to head away from the
baggier boyfriend style jeans, and to embrace the skinny . . .
Well then, here are a few helpful hints for you in your skinny
jean adventure:

- Legs less than pencil thin? Choose your shoes wisely. A chunky
boot is the best bet. Keep up the balancing act. Your goal is to
make those legs look slim and to enhance your height, thus your
slimness as well. If you choose tiny, cute, little shoes, you
are only going to draw emphasis to your less tiny,
less-than-little legs.

- Be brave! Roll up your skinnies to reveal footwear that is
anything but understated. Does the roll-job need to be perfect?
No way. An imperfect roll belies a bit of artistic, confident
and casual chicness. - Got thighs? Disguise and hide, while
still wearing your fashionable skinny jeans. Do this by wearing
a cool long white top, tunic tops, jersey tops, blouses with
volume or even a chunky cardigan sweater. Or you can do it up
with a super dress to middle thigh range or even longer. Dresses
can be any style: shirt-dress, empire, wrap, smocked or baby
doll. You know which styles are your best friends! Pair these
with your new pair of skinnies and all the problem areas will be
covered.

- Choose a pair of skinnies wisely. Don't go less than 2% Lycra
to retain shape. Also, despite your aversion to ankle zippers .
. . remember that those will help you pass those oversize
tootsies through the leg-holes!

- Don't skimp on a perfect fit. Finding yours will not be easy,
so be prepared to try a bunch on in the beloved dressing room.
Your perfect fit will eventually come to the forefront with a
bit of patience. Your perfect skinny may actually be a slim-fit
(if you're not pencil thin.)

- Color is key. Go for the darkest of blue. If black is for you,
then black will be smartest at it's very best, that would be jet
black. Avoiding the dirty, washed out shades to keep your skinny
look sharp. Like it's been said to me, "Keep it simple stupid."

- If you are uncomfortable with the hip-factor that you call
your own, avoid completing your look with a trendy belt over
your skinny jeans.

- If you have skinny-jean legs, but a less than skinny or
balanced torso, you may want to skip the skinny jean look
altogether. Remember, flatter your figure. Larger upper-body
frames will balance best with wider legged bottoms. This may not
be the best news if you are large busted or plus-size. It's
better to know now and choose a more flattering style to keep
looking your personal best.

Happy skinnies hunting, or moving on . . . , whichever it is.
The great truth here is that the best fashion trend is one that
actually works best for you and your bod. Shed no tears if the
skinny is not for you. You can always splurge on the shoes!

About the author:
Robert Carney is publisher and owner of Old Crappy Tee. To stay
informed on the latest fashions, visit