For the longest time, one of the most frustrating fashion experiences for me – and I am sure most women – is the ordeal of finding new jeans. Heaving to dig through the piles, figure out what is in fashion and your style, try them on, get new sizes… it was hours of time to maybe find one or two pairs. Now, with COVID-19, dressing rooms are closed, making it close to impossible to find want you really want. Because women’s fashion is a far cry from men’s, each store having their own way of sizing things among the crazy number of styles, finding just the right jeans can be quite the adventure. Finding a new pair of perfect jeans is like finding the fashion holy grail, and I am here to tell you how to help your jeans live forever.
First things first, you have to find the right pair for you. Many stores have many options, and it does not always have to cost a ton. I absolutely love and have stocked my closet full of Universal Thread jeans from Target. Their mid-rise and high-waisted jeans are perfect for my body type and fashion sense. Even Target, though, has more than Universal Thread. Their women’s fashion includes the brands Wilde Fable, A New Day, Ava & Viv, and Levi’s – which all have jeans. Target has the normal women’s sizes of 0 through 30, but they also have the waist size in inches. (For example: I wear size 6, 28” regular.) True, this will take a bit of time and understanding of what you are looking for. True, this part of the process has not changed. But! Once you find your perfect fit, everything else becomes that much easier.
The one thing my grandmother always said when it comes to fashion: “If you love it, get it in every color”. Sure, this could mean bras, camis, t-shirts, and blouses. But it also means jeans! So, once you have found your perfect pair of jeans, it is time to stock up. Tip: dark colors make the legs look smaller, but lighter colors are great under oversized sweaters. Tip: dark colors work well with black and lighter colors work well with brown. Either way, try different styles along with different colors is a great way to mix and match fashion basics. Straight leg, skinny, jeggings, etc., in dark, medium, or light wash. And do not be afraid to get a second or third pair of your favorite! This way, you will not be wearing the same pair of jeans every day and that will help all your jeans last that much longer.
Though I am usually one to support the use and exposure of Earth-friendly products such as Love Home And Planet, Mrs. Meyers, and Seventh Generation, one of the few times to branch out is for color-protecting detergent for your jeans. Almost all detergent brands have their own version, and this is the perfect time to use it. Part of the jean picking process is determining what color you want, so do not let that effort go to waste. Using color-protecting detergent will extend the lifetime of the color of your jeans and keeps them looking fashionably fresh.
Contrary to modern belief, not all clothes need to be washed after one wear. Jeans especially should be washed after several wears or when they get noticeably dirty. Jeans have been around longer than most people realize, dating all the way back to 1873! Do you think cowboys washed their jeans every day? No way. Not only will washing them every day weaken the fabric, but you are also cleaning them with harsh chemicals more often than needed. This can contribute to the loss of color and elasticity. To help keep their shape, too, make sure you zip and button your jeans before you throw them in the wash.
The other thing that can contribute to the loss of color and elasticity is the drying process. Using a dryer on high heat will burn out the elasticity and wipe out the structure and shape faster than a medium or low heat. It would be best to wash and dry all your jeans together – with the zippers and buttons done – in a slower tumble and lower heat.
A bad habit most of us share is pulling our jeans up by the belt loops. Women on the go cannot exactly avoid having to adjust their jeans entirely but it is possible to make it less often and less destructive. Wearing a fashionable pleather belt the same width as the belt loops will not only help your pants stay in place but help you from pulling them up by the belt loops. This overall keeps you from pulling the belt loops from the jeans and ripping them but also helps your favorite jeans keep perfect to your shape.
Another way to keep your pants from prematurely ripping or getting bent out of shape is folding them in the natural places for them to crease. I fold my jeans like they do in the store and stack them on my closet shelf. First: fold in half, hip to hip, creasing at the back seam. Second: then bring the ankle to the waist, folding at the knee. Last: fold it one more time, almost making a square, and it creases at the cup of the butt. This way random parts of your jeans do not lose their integrity.
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