In Spades

Style... in abundance

Spring Denim Trends

If you’ve been reading In Spades for a while, you know I talk about denim a lot.  So of course we have to discuss Spring’s Denim Trends.

As Millennials noted in the press this past week, skinny jeans are out.  Do I really think so?  No.  But I’ve long been a supporter of straight leg, barrel leg, and wide leg jeans and haven’t worn a true skinny myself in quite some time.

Here are three of my favorite Spring Denim Trends for 2021.

Light Wash

This is my favorite of the three.  Not only does it have a throwback vibe (I secretly adore acid washed jeans) but the light palette makes these a super versatile option.

It’s easy to make a stretchy jean or a 100% cotton jean look awesome in a light wash.  Lighter washes are easier to dye, so you can find super affordable pairs that look expensive.  On the flip side, a dark wash is difficult to dye, so it’s easy to spot the difference between affordable and designer.

Tapered

AGOLDE Jamie Jeans

These include barrel leg, balloon leg, and “slim” leg jeans – anything that gets narrower at the hem.

What I love about them is that they are all cropped.  You need a cropped length to be able to see the tapered detail.  That makes them awesome to pair with any kind of shoe – heels or flats.

You want 100% cotton for this type of leg.  They’re meant to be broken in and roughed up, so anything with stretch doesn’t work IMO.

90’s Inspired

Pangaia cropped t-shirt

These include wide leg, flare leg and longer hem styles.  They look best with sneakers, boots or a block heel.

I also prefer these to be 100% cotton.  The relaxed vibe doesn’t really work when the denim contains stretch.

Nautical Vibes

Nautical Look Nautical LookTop (similar here) // Jeans // Shoes (similar here) // Sunglasses (similar here)

I love a nautical inspired look.  Especially in summer.  I will never forget the scene from Clueless when Dione tells Cher all of her bridesmaids will wear sailor outfits with sailor hats.  Teehee!

My top is from Tibi and although it’s old, I break it out every spring and summer.  The shirred sleeves are so fun.  Tibi tends to revisit this style season after season, which I adore.

These jeans remind me of vintage Japanese denim, so of course I had to have them.

Last week I had a random shower thought when it comes to denim.  Go with me on this.

If jeans are 100% cotton, they need a button fly.  It just solidifies that vintage, lived-in look.  But if jeans have any type of stretch in them, they need a zipper fly.  So many denim brands are opting to do all button fly’s nowadays and the reality is that it adds a lot of extra bulk.  If your jeans have stretch in them, then you are probably wearing them pretty snug.  And who wants extra bulk in skinny jeans?  Not me.

After trying on a few pairs of mid-raise stretchy jeans (and none of them working out), I’ve realized that a zipper fly is the way to go.  I found these, and think they fit the bill perfectly.

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Fashion Friday

Petra Collar Necklace

With the Coronavirus pandemic, not much is happening in the business of fashion.

Italy has shut down its retail operations, the stock market is struggling, and everyone is just trying to figure out how to best handle the situation.

What this retail stall means for you as a consumer is continued sales.  I noticed Net-a-Porter still has their end of season sale going (unprecedented for this time of year) and many other retailers are discussing starting their Friends & Family and other spring sales early.

I picked up the jeans and necklace above in recent sales and LOVE them both.  Those black snakeskin sandals are calling my name thanks to the block heel.  Bonus points that they’re under $70.

Other than What I’m Coveting, I’m sharing an interesting topic in today’s Fashion Friday on Instagram.

Did you know luxury brands incinerate unsold goods?  What’s your take on this?  What do you think they should do with unsold merchandise?

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Denim’s New Trend: Barrel Leg Jeans

Barrel Leg JeansBarrel Leg Jeans Barrel Leg JeansNaadam cashmere sweater // Levi’s barrel leg jeans // Prada mules (similar here)
Gucci sunglasses // Bottega Veneta bag

Denim trends change all the time.  And honestly, I love it.  I wear jeans more than anything else and love experimenting with different styles.

The 80s and 90s have played a huge role in the types of denim trends we’re seeing now.  Hello, Mom jeans.  We’re also moving away from skinny jeans in favor of a true straight leg.

The newest take on straight leg jeans is a high waist, cropped style that tapers at the ankle.  Barrel jeans and balloon jeans are super flattering because they elongate the legs. While skinny jeans draw attention to your hips, barrel leg jeans even out the ratio from hip to ankle.

I love the stitching and wash on this pair, but they also come in lots of other washes and colors.

If you’re looking for a more 90s inspired style, try balloon leg jeans.  These tend to be longer in length and wider through the leg, so if you have long legs, definitely give them a try (or be prepared to wear heels or platforms).  I tried these on over the weekend and adored them.  Be sure to go up one size.

Cropped sweaters and tops are an ideal pairing with these jeans because of the high waist.  I paired my Naadam cashmere sweater (on sale for $100!) with these babies (you MUST check out the brand – read my review here).

Oh, and I got a new handbag.  Teehee.

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