I’m Scared of Skinny Jeans
Written By : Hannah Corbett
I couldn’t help but notice. The creeping whispers, the hushed murmurs, the way people are slowly, cautiously—almost apologetically—sliding back into skinny jeans. It’s happening, isn’t it? The thing we all promised we’d never revisit. The denim silhouette we swore we’d left in the early 2010s, along with our side parts and the Sepia instagram filter. But some people are wearing them again. And I’m scared.
Not that I NEED to wear them , just because they’re “trending” BUT what happens if I'm the last person on earth to not be wearing skinny jeans? What then? So,skinny jeans are creeping back, like an ex who swears they’ve changed. This time, they promise to be more comfortable, more forgiving, but isn’t that what they always say? I mean, at first we got away from the skinny jeans and added the high-rise jeans, the bootcut, the wide-legs. I’ll never forget when I first wore jeans that aren't SKINNY. It was September 2015, I got 2 new jeans from Abercrombie & Fitch called “The Boyfriend Jean” made to be a little wider than usual but still fitted. I remember feeling like my pants were floating on me like they were so big. Now I can't even imagine trying to put on them again. My whole style revolves around the jeans I’ve acquired since then. It’s not something I’m going to just throw away.
Enter FRAME, the brand behind the Alix Jean, a new skinny jean that’s taking over socials. They’ve tapped Alix Earle to be the face of it—because who else. Influencers are getting sent the jeans, and here’s the kicker: they’re wearing them. And saying they don’t hate them. Honestly? I don’t hate them either. But I am scared. They’re pairing them with boots that are covering the scariest part of all. The Ankle. I actually have chills thinking about feeling a breeze on my ankle. Like, what am I supposed to do? Put on skinny jeans, converse and my Aeropostale v-neck t-shirt?
But here’s the real question: Do I want to wear them? Do I want to spend the next ten minutes struggling to get these on, twisting and turning in a dressing room, huffing and puffing like I’m trying to squeeze into a corset? Do I really want to live a life where my jeans require a mini workout just to achieve the perfect, second-skin fit? Spoilerrrrrr: No. I realllllly don't.
So, while I don’t hate them—and I totally get the hype, I really do—I’ll just be over here, wearing my low rise loose jeans, that at one point I would have probably freaked out about wearing as well. Maybe one day I'll come around to the idea. Actually, I’ll make a deal with myself. If skinny jeans are still trending a year from now, I’ll get a pair of my own and them out. Until then, I’m still scared of skinny jeans.