I broke into a hot sweat. Usually I’m so calm in the changing room; if something fits it goes into the ‘buy it’ pile, it if doesn’t it goes on the floor and I pretend it never existed. Trying on skinny jeans isn’t so black and white though.
After battling to get my size 11 feet through the small foot holes, and fighting to drag the rest of the material up over my calves to my waist, I finally had the jeans on. This was the first time I had ever looked them in the face, let alone try them on. And they didn’t look too bad. I was pleasantly surprised. Don’t get me wrong though, it’s taken me a while to get to this point.
Up until recently I was incredibly reserved on the skinny jean debacle. Could women over a size 12 wear them? Could men who were not in a band or who didn’t live in the jaunty East End don the denim? In both cases I am sure of one thing – if you think you’re too big for them, you probably are. I’m allowed to say that. A few years ago I was four stone heavier; getting me into skinny jeans then would be like getting toothpaste back in the tube…never going to happen. I wouldn’t have even dreamed about it. But after some light encouragement and a little weight loss, I feel I am ready to show off my pins and a bit of my shape.
I must admit I was coy the first time I went out in them. Do I look lumpy? Have I got back fat spilling over? Am I slowly developing a case of thrush from the almost sprayed-on denim? I hope the answers to all the above is no, but I’ve come to the point and size where I feel able to experiment. Super skinny stretch jeans however will unfortunately have to go straight over my head. The name scares me.
I think people should wear what they want. Fashion is expression. I also choke on the word ‘skinny’ in any product name but I do think that there are clothes that suit body shapes – this is exactly why there are boot cut, flared, straight leg and high waisted jeans too. It’s all about flattering your shape. That’s your lesson for the day! J