The 2010 Anti-Jean Challenge

I've decided to abstain from wearing jeans for 30 days. Truthfully, this will be one of the most difficult fashion challenges I can endure. I live in my jeans.  I love how versatile they are, I love how they kind of hold everything in and give me the semblence of a nice butt. I love how comfortable they are, and how multiple wearings only makes them look better. Shamefully, I have to confess that I own close to 25 pairs of jeans, mostly Citizens of Humanity, Seven for All Mankind, and Joe's Jeans. I'll have to devote a future post to my love of these brands because they really do deserve further exploration.

In the meantime, allow me to define the parameters of my anti-jeans quest:

• I will avoid wearing jeans of the following styles: Bootcut, flared leg, skinny leg, straight-leg, and wide-leg. Colored jeans are also off-limits.

• Wide leg denim pants will be permitted. I have two pairs of extremely wide leg pants made from a lightweight denim-type material. I don't believe they qualify as jeans, because they don't have the traditional five pocket styling or a defined leg.

• Colored jeggings are okay...because I consider them leggings, not jeans. The ones I own do not have pockets or zippers, aside from those at the ankle.

• I will wear denim skirts and dresses, because although they're made from the same material, they're (obviously) not jeans.

Here's what I came up with for today, day two of the challenge (I'm counting yesterday as day 1):

Vintage fur chubby jacket, Forever 21 slub-knit sweatshirt; Anthropologie lace tunic; Gap stretch camisole (not shown); Joe's Jeans jeggings; Vince Camuto bow ballet flats; Forever 21 feather and rhinestone earrings (hard to see...clearly, I need a better camera); Marc Jacobs rectangular case watch.

I love the zippers on these jeggings! They look really  chic unzipped.

Truthfully, I had some difficulty styling this outfit. The lace tunic has cap sleeves and considerable embroidery along the neckline, and I worry that it all makes me look kind of lumpy. However, I adore the lace peeking out from underneath, so that kind of makes up for it.

Off topic, but how God-awful is my yellow backdrop? This wall is the only space in my home not occupied with furniture or deritus form my children. Clearly, I need to find a better space for my hubby to take photos.

Get up, get going

I'm a jeans and flats kind of girl. My closet is jammed with a kind of gross display of denim  - flared leg, skinny, bootcut, jeggings...even wide leg (which aren't typically flattering for a short girl like myself, but they're so comfortable I can't resist.) When I go shopping, I almost always begin by making a beeline to the jeans. Doesn't matter if my want list even has jeans on it.

Now that the weather has finally cooled off here in Texas, I've become inspired to break out my tall boots and tights and wear them with the few dresses I have crammed in the back of my closet.

Denim jacket: Forever 21. Dress: Free People. White tee shirt: Some unknown label, TJ Maxx. Tights: Hue Ultra Matte. Boots: Frye. Earrings: Lucky Brand.

I love these boots! With a one-inch heel and square toe, they're super comfortable, and the exposed side zip makes them easy to pull on.

Can you believe that I've owned this dress for five years and never worn it before today? I get so stuck in my jeans that it often doesn't even occur to me to wear anything else. This outfit has really inspired me to wear more dresses and layer them up for winter. I love how the short jacket broke up the boxiness of the dress and gave me a more defined waist. The ruffled sleeves peeking out are sweet but not in too cutsey of a way. And I'll take any excuse to wear these swinging turquiose and bone earrings.