by Kathy Deutsch

Created on: February 15, 2010

Jeans never go away.  Denim is as hot as it ever was.  It lasts, it looks good, and if you buy the right style, it will be on trend for many years.  There is no trick to buying the right jeans.  What's important is finding the jeans to fit your body type and lifestyle.  They will look great on you for many years, and you will feel great in them.

Current trends in denim include the damaged and ripped, the skinny, the baggy-boyfriend, and the boot-cut Western.

The damaged and ripped trend is current for the young.  The tight jeans are creatively ripped to form patterns up the leg.  These jeans are most often in trendy colors and fabrics, including stretch.  This style is a matter of personal taste.  It takes guts for anyone over 30 to wear them.  But if you have the body, and you are going someplace where they would be appropriate (like a club), then the damaged style is for you.

The skinny jean is tight from hip to toe.  It starts just below the navel with a surprisingly comfortable waistband.  It is vital that the jeans don't cut too tightly or the line from hip to toe is lost.  No bumps, no muffin-tops over the waist.  Going up a size will usually alleviate the problem.  These pants are made with stretch fabric so it will skim the body smoothly.  The hem has a lot of latitude: from just above the ankle to 'way long to drape over the heel.  It depends on the shoes-flats need the shorter length, the ultra-long need a high heel to show them off.

Baggy/boyfriend jeans are probably the only ones in 100% cotton.  If that is important to you, embrace this trend.  These jeans are tricky.  They should be close-fitting but not tight, and cut for a guy, with a straighter cut.  Usually they are shown rolled-up at the cuff, as if they are too long.  This denim should look roomy but NOT over-sized.  Too big is not boyfriend.  The damaged trend is also seen in this style, with rips at the hem and rear pockets.

The trend that looks good on everyone is the Western boot-cut.  The waistband starts below the navel and above the rear.  The band is tailored, in fact, to be slightly higher in back (for horseback-riding coverage).  It looks great, sculpted to draw the eye around.  The leg is not tight but not loose, and straight to the calf.  The slight flare is the boot-cut.  It is made to fit over boots.  It also visually lengthens the legs.  I have seen this in both all cotton and stretch.  Both work well.

The colors of denim this year are all over the map.  Color depends on style.  Damaged worn boyfriend jeans need to be light and over-washed.  Damaged skinny club jeans go black.  Western boot-cuts are mostly seen in brand new indigo and prewashed.  Skinny jeans are also seen in sherbet colors for summer.  This will be a short trend, though, so don't overspend on them.

Jeans are a fashion classic.  This year has so many great styles, classic styles, that a denim buy now will still be correct in five years.  Once you find the type of jean that fits you, it will keep you looking good for a long time.

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