Getting the skinny on straight-legged summer style

Friday, July 07 2006, 02:10 PM EDT

Contributed by: Sharon Mosley

HEY, SLIM
HEY, SLIM
When it comes to pulling on your pants this summer, you'd better start thinking skinny. Forget the flare of gauchos and those long, pleated skirts. Now's the time to take a deep breath and suck it in for the sake of one of the newest fashion trends that's sure to be around through summer and into fall: the skinny silhouette of pants.

Start with jeans - one of the hottest looks and a classic fashion essential found in almost everyone's closet. But don't speed up the treadmill just yet. You don't have to be skinny to wear "skinny," according to Caroline Calvin, senior vice president of Levi's global creative design. "The skinny jean is about a look, not a waistline," she says.

"The resurgence of skinny and straight jeans is part of a modern '80s trend built from familiar looks," Calvin adds. "Straight has been around since the invention of the 501 over 130 years ago."

And yet, it takes a little twist to make this new look rock 'n' roll. "Skinny is built from a sexy rocker look, and both will be hot this summer and fall with men and women," she said.

Here are Calvin's suggestions on how to rock with the straight and narrow style setters who are getting in on the skinny trend:

- Pair skinny jeans with a high-heeled slouchy boot. The chunkiness of the boot makes the leg look slimmer. For the same effect, try wearing one of the new skinny stacked-style jeans. The stacking, or buckling, at the ankle offers visual balance much like a boot-cut fit.

- Wear long tunic tops for a long, lean appearance or sweater knits to create eye-teasing balance.

- A pair of high heels will give you a sexy, long, lean look with a skinny or straight jean.

- For classic Audrey Hepburn-inspired style, try pairing ballet flats with a crop or capri fit. If Kate Moss is more your style icon, pair flats with a longer skinny jean. But, Calvin says, "Keep in mind this look works best on smaller frames."

- Guys can channel James Dean by slipping into a pair of vintage-style sneakers and lean straight-leg jeans, too.

- And if you like a few bells and whistles on your skinny jeans, don't worry. There are still lots of cargo pockets and retro detailing in some of the new skinny styles of denim.

- Skinny jeans, although all lean, are not always long, either. Styles include extra long, cropped and at-the-knee shorts.

- The skinny jeans are newest in dark finishes and washes, including gray and black; worn-in vintage looks with hand-repaired stitches, patchwork and frayed hemlines are also still making news.

- And if you're not thrilled about stuffing your legs into the new skintight jeans, don't despair - just wear a slimmer straight-leg jean and you'll get the long and lean look and still have plenty of room to breathe.

Now you can exhale.

- - -

Sharon Mosley is a former fashion editor of the Arkansas Gazette in Little Rock and executive director of the Fashion Editors and Reporters Association.

© Copley News Service

Comments (0)

Greater Paramus News and Lifestyle Magazine
http://www.paramuspost.com/article.php/20060707141011944