As I was on my epic search for the perfect pair of jeans, I asked Beckie
and Martina (a.k.a. my Fairy Godmodels) some of the questions I had been afraid to ask… Okay, maybe not
afraid, but I just didn’t know who to ask. Who better than our
models-turned-restylists? —
What is the ideal number
of jeans for a closet?
“You don’t need many pairs,
you just need the right ones,” Martina reminded me.
The ideal number of jeans in
your closet is actually pretty low — only three, maybe five if that is part of
your “mom-iform.” If you do find your favorite pair, buy at least two of
them. Once you get your must-haves, you
can have fun with different styles, they say, but always remember: proportion
is key. Take the “boyfriend jean.” It’s good for those trips to the park, “but
be sure isn’t baggy all of the way to the floor,” Martina says. “Pair
the looser bottom with a tighter top to keep a good balanced look.” Beckie
agrees, “Those jeans are great for the beach with a slim-fitting t-shirt or a
tank.”
What should I look at
when I try on jeans?
“The area from the thighs
up is what we all look at,” Martina says. She suggests looking at how they fit
from the front and the back, as well as the overall proportion of the leg and
thigh. Check out the pocket placement. “You need the pockets low, so the tush
looks high,” Beckie says. “That is prime pocket placement. No bum below the
pockets.” Bend over and squat down to be sure you avoid, ahem, “over-exposure.”
If you are trying on white denim, be aware of the see-through factor. “You
should not see your underwear through them,” Beckie says. “Another giveaway is
if the pockets look darker than the rest of the jeans. That means you can see
your skin through the denim.”
How do I care for my
jeans?
“Wash them in cold water
with Woolite Extra Dark Care and turn them inside out to preserve
the color,” Beckie recommends. “They won’t fade this way.” Martina adds, “Don’t
put them in the dryer. If you have to, set it on a low setting and remove them
before they are completely dry and hang them over a chair.” These tricks help
your jeans last longer and remain fresh.
We’ll have
more shopping hints and tricks from Beckie and Martina at
www.newyorkfamily.com. And for more from the fashion experts, visit
beckiemartina.com.
