Essentials of Getting Dressed #02: Cultivating Comfortable Denim

Styling ideas, brand recommendations and all things DENIM!

A bundle of jeans. Fun fact: This photo was inspired by a February 2017 issue of Harper’s Bazaar US featuring Janiece Altagracia Dilone and photographed by Julia Noni.

I’ll admit, I struggle with styling for warmer weather, and as a result my closet is noticeably lopsided. I’ve been on a mission to mindfully expand my wardrobe, and to avoid getting overwhelmed I’m starting simple: Denim.

Although debated, many people trace the origins of denim back to 17th century Nîmes, France. Serge de Nîmes was a twill weave fabric that eventually became known simply as “denim.” The name “jean” came out of Genoa, Italy, referencing the twill cotton cloth worn by merchant sailors in the 1500s.

By 1873, Jacob Davis and Levi Strauss had patented their iconic workwear jeans and were providing customers with softer, less-chafing fabric that could be worn for everyday.

Today, denim is still one of the most versatile and durable fabrics to exist. We can thank indigo for its notable blue hue.

Here, a pile of Uniqlo denim. Everlane is another solid brand for great denim at a decent price point. Brands like Frame and Khaite are more elevated, with a price point to match.

Styling a full-length jean skirt, here:

Up top, a Uniqlo tennis sweater vest with a blazer jacket and raw-hem skirt (this one from Mango is similar). At bottom, another Uniqlo skirt (similar one) sans the raw hem with a LouLou Studio no-lapel blazer. Rothy’s Mary-Jane flats, of course.

The full-length jean skirt is a curious item. On its own it just looks like one giant pant leg, but once it’s styled it totally transforms. I haven’t worn a skirt like this since I was a little kid (the last time it was in-style!), so I was also caught off guard by how comfortable it was!

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Denim-on-denim is not my normal cup of tea, but this early 2000s look is undeniably cozy and ideal for a work day at your local cafe:

This is all Uniqlo.

If you want to skip the jacket, another idea:

My familiar Tory Burch sweater vest (this one is on sale) and Scanlan Theodore baby wool turtleneck combination, tried with the same Uniqlo skirt. Here’s the similar one.

It always shocks me to see my parents wearing jeans around the house throughout the day. These wide-leg jeans from Uniqlo give me hope I may have found a pair comfortable enough to do the same:

In a Lunya pajama top, Uniqlo wide straight jeans, socks from Etsy and Adidas slides (similar ones).

Do you have a favorite pair of jeans you’ve been wearing for years, or are you still looking for that everlasting pair? Are you afraid of skinny jeans coming back, like I am? Always feel free to hit me up and let me know your thoughts on what I’m writing about.

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With that, thank you so much for being here! Next week I’ll be conquering my fear of styling hot-weather clothing, so that should be a trip. I hope to see you there. Until next week!

Yours Truly,

Kyoko

I am not compensated for the features listed in All-Year Season. My sincerest thank you to Uniqlo for supporting the creation of this post.

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Seeking Approval #03: Dressing For Hot Weather

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Essentials of Getting Dressed #01: Staying ‘On Trend’ Without Shopping