Friday, 21 February 2014

Can you live without the Boyfriend?....

Style Theory: The Boyfriend Jean..slouchy, relaxed, distressed, cool and comfortable.

The boyfriend jean is now a major player in the 'jean gang', after the reign of the skinny, the Boyfriend is racing up there grabbing at the heels of the skinny trying to steal it's crown. I think boyfriends are just fabulous, my husband hates them with a passion..maybe becaused I look like I am wearing his jeans but for comfort and style they cannot be beaten. They look great with sweaters and T-shirts but dress them up with a pair of heels, a silk shirt and a sharp jacket and you take them to a new level of cool.

Here are few ideas of how to style the Boyfriend jean:

The boyfriend, great with a breton and layered jackets
Wear with a sweater and dress up with a pair of nude heels
Fab pop of colour with the heels.
Clash your primary colours together and wear with the 'new neutral' leopard or snakeskin shoes.
Stripes, boyfriends and court shoes..a match made in heaven.
Wear in the summer with flat ballet shoes and dress up your tee with a sparkly statement necklace.
Boyfriends and brogues..stunning combination.
When the summer comes team your boyfriends with open toed shoe boots.
Shades of blue
Sienna Miller looking stunning in simple black sweater, boyfriend jeans and high platform sandals
casually stylish.
I adore this look, the trainers are gorgeous, boyfriends and baseball jacket, all super  cool.
Wear your boyfriends with this season's must have trainer..the slip on.
Look chic with a white shirt tucked into your boyfriends and a pair of black courts, simply elegant
Boyfriend jeans are so versatile, wear with a simple breton tee, a chambray shirt, a denim shirt or a silk blouse..anything goes...

Here are the best Boyfriend jeans on the high street:
Current/Elliot Boyfriend Jeans @Matches fashion £260
These are expensive, however the wash and level of distressing is perfect..but you can get boyfriends that look fantastic for a fraction of the price see below.
J Brand Aidan Boyfriend Jeans @Matches £250
These top all the fashionista lists of their favourite boyfriend jeans, I have not seen these 'in the flesh' nor could I spend this much on a pair of jeans but are an ideal shape, not too baggy therefore would be flattering on us shorter ladies and the wash is spot on.
MIH Pheobe Jean at Matches Fashion £195
Love, love these jeans, they are slightly more out there in styling but are just gorgeous, I really like the chunky turn ups and the wash, would look equally good with heels as with trainers...definitely on my wish list...
Isabel Marant Etoile @Matches £155
Not too expensive for a pair of designer jeans, they have a high waist so would hide a mum tum.
Gap 1969 Destructed sexy boyfriend jeans £49.95
Moving into a more affordable bracket, I love Gap boyfriend jeans they seem to fit me really well round the waist and the perfect' bagginess'.They are pretty reasonable and even better if you wait for Gap's 30% off they seem to have every couple of months.
Gap 1969 destructed sexy jeans - daybreak wash £49.95
This is my favourite Gap wash, I personally prefer the lighter wash and like a fair amount of distressing.
Topshop Moto Dark Vintage Hayden Jeans £42
These are good if you are looking for a high rise jean, they are quite short so if in doubt go for a slightly longer leg.
Topshop Moto Rip and Repair Jeans £42
These jeans are the same rise as above just more distressed and look really cool on.

River Island Light Wash ripped Eva girlfriend jeans £40
River Island are always a good go to destination for jeans but try them on as every style fits so different and you may need to up or down a size.

ASOS Brady Slim Boyfriend Jeans in Vintage Wash £38
These look pretty vintage, the wash is good and the level of distressing perfect.
Zara Ripped Boyfriend Jeans £29.99
A great spring/summer jean, the pale colour will look great with pale sandals or pastel heels.
Zara Ripped Boyfriend Jeans £29.99
These are a darker, dirtier wash and will look good paired with brighter colours.
H&M Skinny Boyfriend Jeans £24.99
The most reasonable of all the jeans, these are fairly skinny on the calf (too skinny for me ) but if you have lovely thin legs these would be perfect.

As with all jeans, you need to try on as many pairs as you can in order to get the correct fit. If you are smaller look for a skinnier leg, a less baggy option. Make sure that the base of the jean falls at the most an inch or two above your ankle for a more flattering look. I like the waist to be fairly generous so I can tighten it up with a belt and they hang a little more off my hips, but this is entirely a personal preference and with the emergence of the 'mom' jean (a higher waisted jean) then with these it is probably better to wear them more fitted at the top.

I hope this makes sense and may help you to fill a boyfriend jean shaped gap in your wardrobe.

Here is how I have worn my boyfriend jeans over the last couple of months:
My Style:
My boyfriend jean looks over the past 6 months..I live in them as sometimes you just need to be comfy and after two kids I feel super squashed in skinny jeans!
Casual Look
Left: Jumper Zoe Karssan
Coat: M&S
Trainers: Superstar Adidas Originals
Jeans: Gap
Right: Jumper: Boden
Bag: Topshop
Trainers: John Lewis
Left: Shirt: H&M
Shoes: Dune
Jacket: New Look
Right: Jumper H&M
Shirt: Gap
Bag: Topshop
Left: Coat M&S
Jumper: Whistles
Necklace: H&M
Right: Jumper: Topshop
Scarf: Primark
Left: Fur Gilet: Mango
Biker: Asos
Shoes: Zara
Right: Coat: Zara
There is my round up of the fabulous Boyfriend jean, it is my schoolrun favourite! Do you wear boyfriends, where are your's from?

As always I would love to hear your comments and thoughts, love Frances x

33 comments:

  1. Great post! I tend to still live in skinnies but I do have a pair of boyfriends and am wearing them more and more. After reading this I really want to try on the first pair - they look perfect but at that price I should probably stick with the ones I have! Love all the pics of you in your boyfriends, they look great on you.
    Abbi x

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    1. Thanks so much Abbi, I love those first ones too and am quite smitten with the Pheobe jeans but for the moment I am sticking to my Gap ones! I think Boyfs come into their own in the summer when you can bare you ankles and not get too cold! x

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  2. It took me a while to get into the boyfriends then I ended up with 4 pairs within 4 weeks last year!! Loving your Pinterest pics and your own shots....I'm off out tomorrow night and you have now inspired an outfit for me....ta very much x

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    1. Thanks Michelle, look forward to seeing a pic of your outfit on Avenue 57 x ps I am loving my bomber jacket, second outing out tonight for it! x

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  3. I love my boyfriend jeans especially teamed with a fab blazer & simple cami/t-shirt. You've chosen some great high street picks Frances & I love all the suggested styling pictures - just fab!
    Jane xx
    My Midlife Fashion

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    1. Thanks so much Jane, no doubt you look super chic in your boyfriend jeans and style them super stylishly x

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  4. I haven't tried the boyfriend jean yet ... being small, I can't quite get my head around the look of them on me (plus am addicted to my skinnies) However, after reading this, I may just pop into Gap and try again!

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    1. Would love to know what you think of them when you try them xx

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  5. Oh dear I'm struggling with the old BFs. No waist means they don't go in at the top and I end up feeling like a barrel. Not worn mine for a while but I'm not turning my back on them just yet. I love them on other people though and in particular on you x

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    1. Thanks so much, I too have literally no waist...I am a cube! But I do like them especially with heels! I am sure you would look fab in them x

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  6. I love the look of the GAP boyfriends but when i tried them on they came up SO short! I'm only 5'3" and they were about 2 inches shorter than they needed to be when turned up and they didn't stock a longer length in store, i was amazed and very disappointed!

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    1. Hi Jo, that's not so good, I must admit my Gap boyfs are a couple of years old now so they have obviously shortened the length (i'm 5ft3 too) and you are right they so need to be the right length otherwise they are sooo no flattering! I will go and check them out xx

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  7. What a great post, and I love your styling. I think BF jeans look really good and give a gal a nice edgy look. Perfect when styled with a soft feminine top
    Paul

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    1. Thanks Paul, you are so right boyfs can look cool and edgy and are comfortable too so all good! x

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  8. Bought some gap boyfriends in sale last year but still haven't worn. Think you may have inspired me to try them out! Love all the ways you've styled them, esp with heels x

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    1. Yey!! try them out, they are definitely best with heels, let me know how you get on xxx

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  9. I have boyfriend jeans from TK Maxx, Matalan and Gap!

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  10. I just got the Gap ones on 30% off and was searching google images to see how they were styled, so this post came at the perfect time for me. Thanks! (I have four kids and they are sooo comfy compared to my skinnies - and remind me a lot less of my tum, which is nice.)

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    1. I am so glad...thanks so much for reading, I am a big fan and agree they are so much more comfier than skinnies (I feel like a sausage in sausage skin in skinnies!!) Hope you get loads of wear out of them xxx

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  11. I'm such a fan of bf's, they win over skinnies every time! I have a Zara pair that I adore, they seem to go with absolutely everything and work perfect with heels and trainers alike. Can't wait to summer to wear them a bit more, the cold ankles and extra ventilation provided by the rips isn't always welcome at this time of the year!! Great post! X

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    1. You are so right, bit chilly round the ankle this time of the year..I have dabbles in knee high tights (sooo attractive!) but actually I think it is best to freeze or wait till it is warmer! xxxx

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  12. i love boyfriends on everyone else, but i have big rugby player shoulders and like to scrape my hair back, so rather than looking like i am in boyfriends, I err towards looking like the 'boyfriend'. I did see a pair of distress, paige skinny bf's AND they were 75% off, but by the time i had decided to go for it, they were sold.

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    1. I am sure you look nothing like the 'boyfriend", if I am going 'out' I stick on a pair of heels (my idea of heels are pretty low) but it makes them look a little more feminine. Other days I run out the door with them on and trainers and a sweater and do resemble a guy but a comfortable one! Eek about the paige skinnys they would have been fab! x

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  13. You do rock the boyfriends, I searched most of last year to find my perfect pair and ended up in Zara love them!! I find they work better with my summer wardrobe which is more relaxed than my winter stuff.... Need to work on that. Great post and styling tips. X

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    1. Thanks so much, completely agree the bfs come into their own in the summer, zara ones are always fab x

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  14. Gosh you gorgeous lady - you look amazing in every photo!!! I love your style inspiration photos but I just want to look like you - so cool - your my style icon:) xx

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    1. Joanna you are too kind, but really I spend far too much time in the house in my track suit bottoms! Look forward to hopefully seeing you all on Sat xxx

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  15. BTW I have ASOS, H&M and Zara boyfriend jeans but my favorite are still my Diesle Fayza - not a true bf jean but still I love them!

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    1. I love the diesel fayza, so edgy and cool definitely one of my faves x

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  16. I think you wear them so well Frances - every one of your outfits is amazing. I was slow to the BF Jeans party but I do love them now and in fact, am planning to wear mine at the weekend to London! Ax

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    1. Thanks so much Avril, can't wait to see you rockin the bfs in london xxx

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  17. Wow I've just done a similar post for a friend & wish I'd seen yours first! Great looks & advice on how to wear them! I love them & really need another pair! They are so versatile & I like how they look good with heels & with flats! Roll on Spring as I think I'll be living in them again! Ax

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