Distressed vintage slim jean in worn indigo wash, $135.00, Item 92222
A fall fashion trend that has been getting a lot of attention lately is the rolled-up-jeans look that exposes your ankles. While this look may be great for fashion shoots, I am not sure that it works in everyday life. J.Crew has styled several of their online and catalog looks with rolled up jeans.
If I were to wear it, my friends might think that my jeans got wet so I had to roll them up. I guess it does work for those who want the look of capris without having to purchase another pair of pants.
Katie Holmes received a lot of media attention when she was seen wearing her jeans this way a few weeks ago. NYMag listed some reasons for why she might be dressing this way including depression, desperation, and even being bloated! I wouldn’t want people thinking this about me.
What do you think of this trend? Will you be sporting it this fall?
August 29th, 2008 - 12:05 pm
Definitely one of those “looks great at a fashion shoot, not so great in public” kind of trends. I am sure we will see all sorts of girls trying it out this fall, which makes me kind of happy that I work in an office so that I don’t have to see it all day… And poor Katie. What has she been doing lately? I want the D Creek Katie back.
August 29th, 2008 - 1:13 pm
there’s something about a lady’s ankles… but katie’s just got baggy rolled cuffs.
if the weather is hot enough to demand shorter pants and exposed ankles, then there are more elegant solutions out there. dresses, skirts, shorts, and duh: shorter pants!
there was a trend with women folding their cuffs back more than 3″, which was hideous. It made even the leggiest woman look stubby. This isn’t much better.
August 29th, 2008 - 1:37 pm
Excellent point, Kevin. There are MUCH better options other than rolling/cuffing the pants at the ankle to showcase…well…the ankle. Sadly, though, I think Heather is right: we’ll probably be seeing alot more of this once we hit mid-September. Sadly, I REMEMBER (sigh) all too well the rolled up pants thing from the 80’s and this is just as painful to watch…;(
August 29th, 2008 - 1:45 pm
UGH! I just realized I used the word “sadly” twice in my last post—Katie, what are doing to me?!!
August 29th, 2008 - 3:48 pm
I agree that it looks awfully good in the catalogs, on the models but would be difficult to pull off in real life. However, I did do the roll-up thing with their cargo pants (you know, the ones that came with the strap at the hem?) with heels and a dressy top. A got a few compliments on doing that actually. =) But with jeans? Not so much.
August 29th, 2008 - 6:57 pm
I happen to love this look! I bought these jeans and wear then like Katie, plus I am much older. I have always liked old worn out looking jeans and these are awesome. But one must be careful as to how they wear them. Simple and polished on the top and awesomely “old shoe” jeans on the bottom. Plus ballet flats or heels on the tootsies. LOVE IT!!!!
August 29th, 2008 - 7:13 pm
Ugh, this is a definite “no”! I totally noticed how J. Crew was doing the Katie Holmes things with their jeans in the catalog. Like leggings, this is one trend that they will NOT succeed in making me adopt, not matter how much they shove it down my throat!
August 29th, 2008 - 11:56 pm
I like the look personally. I agree with Buffy about the “simple and polished top”. If you are nervous about “looking bloated” ease into the trend by trying it with the tighter fitting matchstick jeans and some ballet flats for more of a Audrey Hepburn look.
August 30th, 2008 - 7:30 am
BTW, I also love J Crew’s matchstick jeans & cords. They ar quite flattering too! Believe me, I was hard to convince on that one, bbut when I tried them on I was sold.
August 30th, 2008 - 12:57 pm
Good idea to try the matchstick jeans, Allison! I have a few pairs of them (snapped them up last year during the “extra 20% off final sale” sale!) and they’re very easy to wear. I usually wear them tucked into knee-high boots, but ballet flats work too!
September 1st, 2008 - 9:54 pm
I did the tight roll or french cuff (don’t know how it got that name) back in grade school. My sister and I had to beg our mom to get long enough pants to make sure the cuff was right (we wore uniforms to school). And really, I don’t think it is a trend worth bringing out again. It was cute for a hot second in the 90s when I was little, but really? I’m not a fan.
October 6th, 2008 - 1:06 pm
J Crew has actually been showing this look all throughout the Spring/Summer catalogs with Liza print heels and white matchsticks or the vintage (ripped up
jeans and I really find myself caught between loving and hating it. I have flashbacks every time I go to roll my jeans this way (think back late 80’s) and then I don’t leave the house with them rolled– I unroll and go back to the long matchstick with high heel look. They have been religiously shoving this look at us for a while now ( no one says you have to bite.) I personally know I will end up wearing my white matchsticks with Liza heels this way next spring because it just adds flair and shows off the darling print shoes as well (i.e.Carrie Bradshaw) BUT I think proportion is key. Katie’s jeans look ridiculously HUGE on her and the cuff and proportions are off–everything is just VERY off. She’s confused with fashion these days. One day gorgeous, the next way out there–is she medicated or something? No–that’s right–Tom wouldn’t allow it.
October 7th, 2008 - 8:26 am
Covert5, I agree with you. To pull off this look, it is definitely about proportions. I think I am too short to pull it off.