Do you dream of one day finding that perfect
pair of jeans? The ever-elusive pant that will solve all your problems? The
denim discovery that can make you look thinner, taller, younger, happier? —
If you’re like the rest
of us, you secretly wish your jeans were a little less “blah” and a little more
“yah!” Lucky for all of us, New York
Family’s models-turned-re-stylists Beckie Klein and Martina Gordon have
come to the rescue. Collectively known as Beckiemartina, these style mavens
have revamped closets from the Upper East Side to Soho, and know some great tricks and hints to snag that all-important
wardrobe staple. You can find their expertise in our September issue—in a primer
for denim-challenged moms—but for now, the fashion gurus offer a few “denim don’ts”
for dads, and the rest of us.
Have You Seen
“Dad Jeans”?
Who remembers
how much grief President Obama got when he
wore high-waisted, light wash jeans to throw out the first pitch at the
All-Star Game a few years ago? As his “Dad Jeans” made national headlines, even
the leader of the free world admitted he was “a little frumpy” wearing them.
Since jeans are acceptable almost everywhere now—from board rooms to five-star
restaurants—Beckie and Martina agree that men should follow the same jeans
rules as women. “Men need to invest in their jeans and get a great-looking pair
of dark jeans,” says Beckie. “Now, we aren’t men and it’s hard for us to say
what is comfortable or not, but we know what our husbands buy…and what we like
to see them in.” On that list: jeans from J. Crew, Acne and Levis
511. “APC
jeans are great,” Martina says. “It’s a brand that has been around for a
long time; it was one of the first really cool and hip jeans on the market. It
is raw denim, and the jeans age with you.”
Why
You Don’t Need Black Jeans. Really.
They love the
darker washes and greys, but as for black denim, Beckie and Martina say to
pass. “We aren’t fans of black jeans,” Martina says. “They are too dressy for
daytime, but not dressy enough for evening. You just don’t know what to do with
them.” Instead of wasting the dollars—and precious closet space—on a pair of
black jeans, they say buy the black cigarette pant. “It’s a classic piece that
you can dress up or down,” Beckie suggests.
Old Jeans
Make You Look…Old.
“Some of our
clients hang onto specific styles of jeans thinking they will come back in
style,” Beckie says, “and that cut of jean might, but it would be in a
different denim or a different wash and10 years from now.” As you get
older, they suggest, it helps to keep your jeans cleaner, simpler, upgraded.
Leave the trends to the young ladies in their 20s. “A sloppy, trendy look is
not a good look as you age,” Martina says, laughing. “The more wrinkles you
have on your face, the less you can have on your clothes. We know! We are right
there with you…iron in hand!”
For
more style wisdom, visit beckieandmartina.com.
