Express Flexx Jeans

 I've been on the hunt for a great fitting pair of jeans since last year. Like probably most of you, I struggle to find a brand that I can stick with because styles and sizing vary so differently. I do love the last pair I bought, but I had been wanting something more basic that I could wear with everything. I tried Good American, Abercrombie & Fitch, Kut From The Cloth, and Target but I wasn't really thrilled with any of them. It was a game of "too much stretch" or "not enough." 

Linking what's available // Express jeans, Sezane bag, Similar flats

Linking what's available// Express jeans, Express bodysuit, Sezane bag and shoes

Before giving up on my quest, I decided to give Express jeans another try. Express has long been one of my favorite retailers, and they've definitely made a bit of a comeback for me after a few years of disappointment. Totally on a whim, I ordered their new Flexx jeans. Super high waist, the perfect shade of medium blue, short length to ensure I don't need to hem them, and just the right amount of stretch. Meet my new favorite skinny jeans! I know skinny styles are out, but I still prefer them over wide leg silhouettes. I'm obviously a creature of habit in that way, but I just find them to be more flattering. So why are they called Flexx? They move with your body, and come in sizes XS - XL instead of the usual standard sizing. For example, I am usually a size 8 or 29 in denim. I took a medium which is meant for sizes 6-10. I was skeptical of that amount of range, but once on my body, they hugged my curves perfectly without feeling loose nor restrictive. Basically, they feel like leggings. No gap in the waistband, but not tight in the legs either. I want them in every wash. I highly recommend giving them a try if you're shopping for jeans this Spring! 

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Free People

Wearing //

Free People sweater

Forever 21 tank

Topshop jeans

Express bag, similar here & here

Marc Fisher pumps

Beauty //

Essie nails in "Go Ginza"

Lips in Dior Diablotine

I wasn't very familiar with the brand Free People. My best friend however lives in it, and because I admire her style, I decided to take a look and see if I could find something suitable for my taste. She loves that bohemian vibe, and it looks perfect on her! It reflects her carefree personality and lifestyle. I'm more into the classics of course, and I'm anything but carefree most days! But I do like to take cues from her. When I saw this sweater online, I ordered it. Reviews warned that it ran extremely large and boy, they were not kidding! This is a size small and it swallows me up! I contemplated returning it or at least exchanging it for an extra small, but for some reason, I quickly warmed up to the slouchy factor and decided that it's perfect with leggings and super skinny denim. I like the contrast and balance. It all makes for a comfortable, casual outfit that still makes me feel sort of glam for a Friday night at the movies. Oh and by the way, have you seen 13 hours? No? Well you should. Excellent movie about the attack on our consulate in Libya.

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I Really am a Denim Girl

Wearing //

Express cami & vest, similar

LOFT jeans

Sole Society heels (comes in many colors)

Nordstrom bag

Margaret Elizabeth druzy cuff, similar

Nordstrom necklaces here & here

I have been asked several times by friends and other fellow bloggers why I don't wear denim that often. My initial reaction is to smile or laugh, because I wear jeans practically every single day during the week. As most of you know, I work with at-risk youth in their homes or foster placements until their cases close with the county. I do a lot of behavior modifications and teach coping skills so that they can better handle their emotions. It's a tough job for several reasons, but I love the kids I work with. I dress casually because I find that kids will respond to me more if I'm "one of them" and not a  social worker (no disrespect to social workers. My kids just happen to associate them with painful memories). It just makes sense, and most of my co-workers dress in a similar way.

So, back to wearing jeans. Because I wear them so often during the week, I enjoy dressing up on the weekends if Nate and I go to dinner or grab a drink somewhere with friends. Those are typically the outfits that make it to the blog, I don't ever photograph looks that I don't actually wear. Some bloggers do that, but I'm not one of them. We take pictures Friday through Sunday and that's about all we have time for, so normally a dress or skirt is what I go for. As soon as the weekends hit, I peel off the jeans and try something different! But I really am a denim girl, and I wore this outfit last Friday night to prove it.

Hope your week is off to a great start!

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Back to Basics {Jeans}

There's nothing I live in more than my tried and true jeans. I wear them to work because my job has a casual environment. I wear them on weekends when I don't feel like wearing my spanx underneath  skirts and dresses (and no, I'm not afraid to admit that little tidbit ladies. I love spanx). I wear my jeans A LOT! But I do adhere to a few guidelines:

1) I like mine fairly dark as they are most flattering on my body.

2) I do prefer a skinny or straight leg style, but I don't typically go for "jeggings" because they are usually too tight.

3) At 5'2, I shop for a petite length,

4) I don't spend much money on them. I love higher-end denim brands as much as the next girl, but I just can't bring myself to spend that amount. These days, you don't have to sacrifice quality either.

5) I like to pair jeans with polished looking accessories to elevate the style from super casual, to a little dressy.

Keeping all of these in mind, here are my favorite pairs.

Loft Curvy Skinny jeans

They accommodate a larger bottom, but are still slim through the legs. They are extremely comfortable.

Loft modern skinny jeans in a light distressed wash

These were so different for me! I had never owned a pair of distressed denim before, mainly because my mom used to tease people about them and like most mothers and daughters, her comments annoyed me. I got over that though, and I am still in love with these and wear them quite often. I don't like too much distressing, just enough to look intentional so these are perfect. The fit is great as well.

Banana Republic Skinny jeans, similar

These are an old favorite, as I've had them for over five years now! This picture was taken last year around the Holidays. I'll admit that they are taunting me from my closet as we speak because they are one size too small now that I've put on some extra weight. I hope to fit my booty back into them soon! They are beautifully made, super soft, and almost have a slight sheen to them. 

Old Navy Rockstar jeans

Oh yes, an oldie. Before I was married, before we moved into our condo, and before my husband took over the camera and moved things outdoors for blog photos. I love ON jeans. These have just enough stretch to keep them comfortable, but they don't stretch out too much so you aren't pulling them up around your waist constantly. They come in petite and tall sizes. 

By the way, I can't bring myself to wear that bubble necklace anymore. Man that was a huge trend at the time! 

Loft Moto jeans

My new favorite - I've worn them incessantly since buying them just a month or so ago. I liked them so much, that I bought a second pair last week when they were 50% off!

I hope this little guide is helpful to you ladies who are in the market for flattering, affordable, and comfortable jeans. I may continue with this type of post that features favorite items of clothing such as blouses, skirts, even jewelry. Does it sound like something you'd be interested in reading? 

Also, let me know what your favorite jeans are, especially for petites! 

Oh, and Happy Halloween tomorrow! See you next week.

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Denim on Denim

Wearing //

Loft softened chambray shirt, love this wash too

Loft moto jeans

Zara pumps (old) but super similar

Michael Kors bag

Fossil gold watch, similar

J.Crew pave bracelet, exact look for less

Gorjana gold cuff

The whole denim on denim trend has always intimidated me. It has reminded me of my high school years, where it just wasn't "cool" to wear mixed denim. Not that I really cared about being cool since I was quite the expert at owning my wallflower identity. However, a lot has changed since those days and I am now convinced that a simple chambray shirt can look crisp and clean over a pair of dark jeans. Pinterest showed me the way. My one caveat is that although I adore my softened chambray shirt from Loft, it is 100 percent cotton. Good for keeping me nice and cool, but what a serious wrinkled mess it turns into after just a few minutes of wear. I promise you guys that I did iron this shirt before I wore it, and yet a five minute car ride was just enough time to create creases and lines. Oh well, what can you do? Go with it I say.

 Oh, and look who came out of hiding? I decided to give my blue Kate Spade bag a rest and bring out my selma satchel for Fall. 

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