My Denim Updates

Tuesday 22 April 2014


I made a couple of updates to my denim wardrobe. Just a few subtle changes but enough to make me feel like I'm still hanging on in there.


Update 1. Big Turn Ups.

It's not escaped my attention that there seems to a big turn up thing going on at the moment. I always associated it more with the dark stiff selvedge raw denim kind of jeans but lately the faded blues are getting a bit of a look in too.

And I'm late to this one as I actually said that I couldn't do the big turn ups thing on Sharron's blog Style At Every Age when she posted about them as I said they made my legs look even shorter than they already were but I walked away thinking - why can't I? And the reason was, because I was cuffing the wrong jeans. I was trying to do it on my skinnies and it was looking all kinds of wrong on me. The look isn't about cuffing skinny jeans, it'a a more slouchy laid back kind of look.

The jeans which probably kicked off this trend and everyone seems to be raving about is the MIH Phoebe mid rise, slouch leg jeans with it's sliced off hem turn ups.



Now, I don't have any old slouchy jeans which I particularly want to cut the hems off to attempt this look with. But I do have a pair of old New Look straight legs which are the perfect length for turning up to try this look. Not as loose as the Phoebes but I have to say, I don't suit really baggy jeans. They make me look well ... baggy.

Carvela sandals (old), New Look Jeans (old), Nail Polish - OPI Skyfall


Normally I turn these up a couple of times to work the boyfriend look and have been doing this with these jeans for the last 2-3 years but it struck me that the bigger turn ups would bring me up to date and make me look more current. You need at the very least a pair of straight legs so they can skim but not touch your ankles. You're going for that half mast look which you see on kids who have had a growth spurt and suddenly their trousers are swinging around their ankles because their mums have forgotten to let the hems down ... by about a year.

2014                                                                      2013


I could have gone the whole hog and cut the hems off to get a similar raw edge effect as the MIH Phoebes but I actually like my jean hems which have the frayed tatty bits on the back of them where I've scuffed the ground with them - these are jeans which have genuinely been round the block a few times - they've earned their hems. Having looked at the 2014 picture above, I've actually turned these up another cm since (go me!).

And if I could be bothered to attempt to do this properly - I think I would actually buy a pair of men's jeans in a slim/straight cut as they tend to be cut a little looser on the calf and you would be able to get the swingy effect of the Phoebe's without the £200+ price tag (ouch). As you can tell - I have given this far too much thought whilst sat in too many play parks for far too many hours these past two weeks and if the Easter holidays had been another week longer, I might have done it in a fit of madness. Also if you are going to do this and you have swingy hems - can I recommend an iron of the hem to "cement" it and a couple of stitches either side just to hold the turn ups in place and stop them from falling back down. 


Update 2. Cut Off Hems.

No one's really mentioned these anywhere that I know of but I just fancied having a bit of a play with some of my old jeans which I had fallen out of love with. I had a pair of old Zara skinnies which were banished to the spare bedroom clothes graveyard. I dragged them out and thought "ey up" (well I was born and bred in Yorkshire), had a funny brainwave moment and proceeded to hack the hems off using the method I blogged here.




Well I sort of like what I did but I don't think I did it on the best jeans for the job. But they will do for the summer and they make a nice change from turn ups.



Update 3. Normcore Jeans


Well this was a little unintentional and just happened to coincide with the "Normcore" trend. This strange term has been banded around a bit and there are many takes on it but I like the description of "understated non descript style" rather than "boring". Err ... what I am guilty of wearing most of the time and doesn't always get featured on the blog. I became aware of the Normcore phenomena on Alyson's That's Not My Age blog and the Uniqlo jeans she featured on there are the exact pair which I happen to have. Oh oh! And there was also a grey sweatshirt featured. And a mention of some New Balance trainers. I have all three! Oh oh!

So here I am chanelling Normcore. I even thought I'd throw in a rucksack for extra Normcore'ness.


Can I just tell you about the rucksack. When I was dragged kicking and screaming to go walking in the Lake District ten years ago, I was gently coerced in to the whole thing by the promise of new (walking) boots and a bag. The bag turned out to be this rucksack. I was offered a bright orange horrid cheapo thing and I shook my head and then pointed at the silver and black kick ass Lowe Alpine number hanging on the wall which cost oodles more. I thought it had a touch of DKNY about it circa early 2000s (yes I am that sad and deluded). Besides, if you make me walk up mountains. I make you pay ... literally.

Anyway, back to my Normcore jeans. I bought the Uniqlo Skinny Fit Jeans in shade 65 blue.


As you can see, mine looked nothing like the picture above in terms of colour. They are a more dare I say it "stonewashed" blue in real life. But the fit was good and I liked the skinny straight leg fit that they were on me. For the record, for those who like skinny jeans which taper right in to give you the full carrot effect, these are not the jeans for you. For those who don't want that and want a slim jean but not as wide a hem as some of the straight leg offerings out there - these are pretty good.

Anyway, a crotch shot for you ....



... just to show you the whiskering on the jeans which is done quite subtly rather than the big tiger stripes which so many companies are guilty of doing on their jeans. And they blend nicely in to the natural creases as well. Oh gosh, these are so Normcore, it hurts. 

I bought these in a size 27 which I would equate with a UK 10 for those who have ever wondered about ordering Uniqlo jeans and don't understand their sizing. I didn't either but followed their instructions of measuring an existing pair of jeans to compare the measurements and lo and behold it worked. I got the impression that they give a little with wear and chose to size down to a 27 whereas I take a 28 in other stores. This is the fit around the top of the jeans ....

No gaps around the back.


I also had to hack off about 4 inches and do my original hem trick which I explained here previously.

Spot the join on the hem!

But they are quite comfy and haven't overstretched or anything during the time I've had them and worn them. Do I love them - no. Because they weren't the exact shade of blue I had in mind but if they had been, I would have been over the moon because I couldn't fault the fit (no camel toes here). Besides, it's a bit of a struggle to work through the variations in denim shades online so if you get the chance - just shop in store and besides, you can get your jeans shortened if necessary for free if you spend over £19.90.

So that's my my little denim update and here's my little photo bomber who thought he'd help out whilst he's on his Easter hols.


Chip off the old block!

Going ....

.... going ....


..... gone!


Don't worry, he didn't really fall down the stairs!






35 comments

  1. Give George a HUGE squeeze from me!! Love the cut off jeans especially with the Birkies - I want to do this with some boot cut jeans so there is a bit of a kick to them above the ankle bone:) Love a good crotch shot:) xx

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    1. I know the look you're going for. Very cute but make sure the flare isn't too big or it could look a little strange.

      And yes, I'll give George a big hug on your behalf from Auntie Joanna!

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  2. Ha ha love the photos of your little one. I'm a fan of the big turn and yours look great. Nippy on the ankles today though brrrrrrrr x

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    1. I have my Uggy slippers on today - like you say, it's a bit nippy today! Us Northerners - we're so nesh!

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  3. Ha Ha love this post and I love the updated deep turn up - stick them on with your Birkie's love! Also I like Normcore, is that wrong? It was you that made me buy that grey sweatshirt last year from H&M - I feel a post coming on! xx

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    1. I will stick them on with my Birkies! Providing the weather warms up again. It was lovely yesterday but today - I nearly stuck the heating back on!

      And no, I think it's cool to like Normcore. There's a bit of it in all of us whether we care to admit it or not :o)

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  4. Jean-ious Sue! Love the turn up....they look great with your sandals as does the frayed hem with the Birkies!! The Uniqlo jeans look great, all their trousers seem to all be so long! I've just been taking up a pair of the Uniqlo skinny combats......using your fabulous technique of course! xx

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    1. Their jeans are long aren't they? That was one of the things that put me off ordering from the for so long but everyone raves about them so I thought I won't know till I try. And I do like them actually - enough to go and order another 3 pairs to try all the different styles and fits. But I just kept the pair I have here. And that hemming thing is a doddle once you get the hang of it - I think it takes me about 30 mins to do a pair now.

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  5. That pic with the white Birks and coral-red toes makes me want Birks and coral-red toes.

    Your little one is so handsome! He's doing a pretty good job of normcore too :) Oh, how does the Skinny Tapered fit do in terms of sag/wear?

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    1. So far so good - they haven't sagged on me or given so they have been pretty true to size from when I tried them on.

      And the coral red toes - the colour didn't stay on my toes very long - it wasn't me! I'm grunge colours all the way.

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  6. Great post and you giving us a crotch shot (shocked :-) I think the 2014 take on your' jeans works perfectly. I also like the cut off hems. H x

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    1. Was it a bit much - sorry (blush blush).

      I think the cut off hems seem to be a bit of a winner here - it might be because of the shade of the denim against the red polish and the white Birks - they stand out.

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  7. What a little cutie! He is just adorable! I live the turn ups and I've been experimenting with this look but was unsure as I too am short in stature like yourself! They look fantastic on you so I shall be doing this soon! Lynne x

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    1. They weren't as bad as I thought - they are still only as short as when I wear them with normal turn ups so technically they shouldn't make your legs look any shorter but sometimes you know how your eyes can get tricked! Look forward to seeing you do this on Avenue57.

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  8. Fab post & some great ideas Sue! Especially love the turn-ups & also your nail varnish colour is gorgeous (& goes perfectly with the Birki's. I've not tried Uniqlo for jeans but I have a lot of their tops so might give them a go (although I much prefer being able to try jeans on rather than ordering online). Super cute photo-bomber too! :) x

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    1. I think I would definitely head in to a Uniqlo store next time I get the opportunity (which is very rare indeed) and just spend an hour going through their whole range because I honestly think they do good denim - it's just finding that perfect pair. These are a good fit but I'm not sold on the look and the finish and I don't think I should have kept them but sometimes you do what you think is right and afterwards, you think "whaatt?". I might tweak them a little to make them more fun for me.

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  9. I love the what you have done to the Zara skinnies with cutting the hem off..... they remind me of a pair of Paul & Jo jeans....(I think.....) I have seen and liked. George is adorable....loving the hand on hip pose and then being a typical boy and the leg kick and roll....fab. x you have lovely feet by the way.

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    1. Clara on The Working Girl has a pair of cut off hem jeans which look a little like this - it's probably where you spotted them. And George is no longer helping with the photos - he's back at school and no longer tearing up the house. You didn't see the rest of the outtakes - he looked like he was doing the "big box, little box, cardboard box" routine :o) And thanks about the feet!

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  10. Nothing like breathing new life into your basic denim! I have to say, I love the big cuffs on you. It looks so fresh and somehow, thoughtful, and don't shorten the legs at all like I often fear it might when I try it myself. As for he cut and frayed edge? I am a huge fan and have been for a few years. It all started with a pair of Mother jeans I bought that actually came like that (and yes, I paid way too much for them, but they were perfect). I found it so refreshing and flattering that I have since chopped I think 4 pairs? I should actually go and chop a few more, since I don't have a clue what to do with all those bootcuts in storage (why am I keeping those again?). As or the norm core, meh, I have to say, I think that's one I'd pass on.

    Fun to have the little extra dose of cuteness photobombing :)

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    1. I started with the frayed hems when I was pregnant and buying maternity jeans and they were all just too long. I didn't know anything about the invisible hemming so I just used to chop the ends off and let them fray naturally. Then I learnt the whole hem thing and now I'm back to leaving them as they are. What do they say about fashion being cyclical?

      And good idea to try with a pair of bootcuts to try the bigger hem - they are sitting there redundant after all - go for it and let's know the verdict!

      I think I did extreme normcore here - to the point of boring. Might pass on this or at least rework with my usual boyfriend jeans at least and Birks. Somehow that feels more current.

      And photobombing - that's why I don't post sometimes, all I get is kids licking the mirror and stealing my thunder. Pah! :o)

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  11. Loving the cut off hems! I bought the Phoebes, they are very baggy...not sure about them at all. I also got the nouvelles which (although they are skinnies) work really well with a large turn up. I had absolutely no idea what normcore was! :D

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    1. It might be that the Phoebes are a touch too baggy so they're not very easy to carry off. I don't know the styling on the Nouvelles - I'm such a cheap and cheerful High St denim girl and am always looking for different pairs. There is no such thing as the one pair all singing all dancing pair of jeans for anyone I believe. There's a pair for every occasion and that's the fun of it.

      And you're not missing much on the Normcore front. You wouldn't know it if it came and hit you in the face and that's the point of it. Now where's the fun in that?

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  12. Favourite is cut off hems & Birkenstocks, your feet are pristine x

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  13. Go you! That works perfectly on your existing jeans.....Strange how 12 months, and a couple of "cm" suddenly makes them look so current!! xx

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    1. Honestly fashion is so fickle but it all it takes is a different turn up and no spending of money - I'm all for it!

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  14. Hmmm...I actually like the big turn ups on you...they do not make your legs look shorter.
    On the other hand...normcore...no, Sue, no. Step away from that trend. ;)

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    1. Okay, okay ... stepping away from the Normcore!

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  15. Nomcore - never heard of the term but shall be using it!!!
    I think the bigger turn up makes your legs look longer.

    I will NEVER tire of seeing you in a grey sweater - EVER

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    1. Good - because I have a lot of grey sweaters. Too many infact. But I do love them!

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  16. Hey - one taker on the Uniqlo jeans so far. I'm not a hundred percent sold on my Uniqlo jeans - they are almost bordering too safe territory if you know what I mean - I may have to tweak them a little yet to make them feel more me but I certainly won't be wearing them in the way shown with NB's - that's just a little too blokey for me. Despite being a bit of a tomboy, I always feminise a look somehow. But "Normcore" - just another name for being normal - someone had to make it fashionable to make it okay to dress like your dad.

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  17. I love love love your style! Especially the blouses. Just visited my native Yorkshire - Harrogate, for work, and had a super time. Forgot how friendly people are. Hx

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  18. You are fully responsible for the massacre of an ancient pair of Miss Sixty straight legs *brandishes scissors* - will let u know how I get on!!

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  19. i just had to comment, your boy is too adorable! i don't normally do turn ups because i never have the extra length (not the worst problem to have i know) but also in the early 90s all the mags i was reading were all about how to look taller etc, and turning up jeans apparently visually cuts off leg length. that must have stuck with me subconsciously because i avoided turn ups like the plague.. but definitely coming round it it now that i no longer care about looking taller. love this "normcore" thing btw, i'm a big fan of sweatshirts and jeans (actually wearing a pretty similar outfit right now!)

    steph / absolutely-fuzzy.com

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Susie So So