Corrinne's Search By Inseam Blog

How to Keep your White Jeans Pristine

July’s issue of Real Simple magazine has some good tips on caring for your white jeans (p. 96). Since they are the perfect summer staple, it pays to put a bit more effort into keeping them pristine. Of course, if you haven't yet found the perfect pair of white jeans, head over to SearchByInseam.com.

1.    Before the first wear, spray all over with Scotchgard to ward off stains.

2.    Be careful about pairing your jeans with a dark indigo jacket or a bright canvas handbag. Dyes may rub off on the white denim.

3.    Wear just once or twice between washings. Overwearing without laundering causes a grayish tint.

4.    Wash with other whites in warm water. Don’t overload the machine, since that can keep garments from rinsing thoroughly, and detergent residue can lead to yellowing.

5.    If the jeans are still dingy after washing, soak them in warm water with a capful of color-safe bleach for 30 minutes.

 

How to Keep Jeans from Fading

Just got through my June issue of InStyle and found these tips on keeping your jeans from fading (p. 162):

1. Wash in cold water on a gentle setting. The general rule is every four wears, but the longer you can go, the better.
2. Since indigo dye comes off when it rubs against other items, turn your pants inside out when laundering. (One dye-setting trick: Mix a solution of 1/2 teaspoon white vinegar with a pinch of baking soda and add to your machine cycle instead of detergent.)
3. Ideally, hang dry. If you can't wait, tumble dry on low heat, then press with an iron along the waistband, pockets, and side seams to prevent puckering.

Jeans: We're Spending More & Shopping Longer

The Recessionista wrote an interesting post titled Jeans: We're Spending More and Shopping Longer. It's a good read! I need to check out the June issue of Consumer Reports and see the data for myself. They always do a good job of researching things.

How to Look Thinner in Jeans

I was just reading through my March InStyle Magazine last night, and came across a good tip that I thought was worth sharing.  In her new book, "How to Never Look Fat Again," author Charla Krupp gives the following advice about denim:

"Pick simple, unadorned denim.  Clean, streamlined jeans are the way to go.  The most flattering styles are dark and feature unembellished pockets.  Avoid extra details that catch the eye and give the illusion of bulk - think twice about tags, grommets, or decorative extras.  The leanest silhouettes of all: boot cut and straight leg" (InStyle, March 2010, p. 248).

How to Keep Your Pants Tucked into Your Boots

Just got my January issue of Real Simple and noticed a cool new product called the Kuza Strap (p. 44).  Like suspenders for your pants, the straps work to keep everything tucked neatly into your boots or wellies.  They're adjustable and come in 3 cute designs.  $16 for a set.  Check them out if your pants keep bunching up when you tuck them in.     

Jeans to Perk Up a Saggy Butt

Here's a helpful tip from November's issue of InStyle magazine: to perk up a saggy butt, make sure your jeans have at least 2% stretch, like Lycra (p. 199).  This is according to Susie Crippen of J Brand jeans.  She says, "Pants with more than 98% cotton can stretch out as soon as you wear them and give no support" (p. 199).  I've personally found that more than 2% is too stretchy, but it's just a matter of how much give you want your jeans to have.  Here are a couple pairs of J Brand jeans that have 2% stretch.

The Best Time to Buy Jeans

According to this month's issue of Real Simple Magazine, October is the best time to buy jeans.  Lindsay Funston reports that it's because "the rush for back-to-school clothes has ended, so retailers are cutting prices on leftover inventory" (193).  And The Budget Fashionista predicts that stores will have excess denim this year because shoppers will be more frugal with their back-to-school purchases.  Funston foresees 30-60% off retail prices and buy-one-get-one-free deals at some stores.  We'll see!  Bring on the fall savings!    

Tips to help job hunters dress for success

There was a good article in The Sacramento Bee, reprinted in my local Tacoma News Tribune two days ago, that I thought was worth posting about since so many people are looking for work right now.  Here goes:

When it comes to job interviews, first impressions matter.  If you're just out of college or new to the job hunt, here are some tips on what to wear.

Do your research.  You won't sound silly or unprepared if you call and ask what to wear to an interview.  It shows you respect the company culture.  (I have to say that I totally agree with this one.  When I was a recruiter at Microsoft, I liked having my candidates ask me this question.  It showed me they really wanted to put their best foot forward.)

Play it safe.  If you're applying for jobs in financial, medical or sales fields, a suit is usually mandatory.  If it's a tech or design company, "business casual" attire is likely OK.  Classic dark colors are always safe - blue, black or gray.  (Agree with this one, too; however, I've only worked in tech companies where dress code is always either business casual or just casual.  For interviews though, go with business casual - slacks and a button-up shirt.)

Keep it neat.  Whether it's your shirt, shoes or hair, show up to interviews well-groomed.  Tops and shirts should be freshly pressed, with no stains and all buttons intact.  Shoes should be clean and scuff-free.  Get a fresh haircut and trim facial hair.  And don't let bangs or hair flop in your face; eye contact with your interviewer is essential.  (Agree.  And if you're tempted to keep pulling your hair out of your face, or playing with it, tie it back.)

Bye-by backpack.  Carry a purse, a briefcase or a portfolio case, but keep the loud colors and logos at home.  (This one isn't important if you're interviewing at a tech company where you know the culture is casual.  We all carry backpacks to work.)

Jingle, jangle.  Accessories let your personality shine through, but stay away from bright nail polish, crazy ties and "bling" jewelry, which can be distracting.  Cover tattoos and pop out the nose ring, at least until you get the job.  (Totally agree, especially on the tattoo.)      

The Perfect Jeans

Rod Stafford Hagwood wrote a good article called "The Perfect Jeans" for the South Florida Sun Sentinel that was reprinted in The Tacoma News Tribune on Monday.  He quoted Tim Gunn of "Project Runway" who said, "For daytime, I think the washes should be light to distressed to medium.  Of course, the more dark the jeans, the more places it can go."  Hagwood argues that in order to find the perfect jeans, you need to ignore trends and focus on what looks good on you.  Here are his tips:

• If you have a "Caribbean curve" - with womanly hips and thighs - pick a boot-cut jean, which will balance everything out and give the illusion of proportion.
• If you can't imagine how it's possible to have too much of a "Caribbean curve," then go ahead, girl, and put your shapely rear on blast.  Look for jeans with yokes (or rear seams) that angle downward.  Denim capris have a proportion that can make your derriere look mountainous - which isn't always a bad thing.
• Yes, skinny jeans are of-the-moment but "they're not for everyone," said Gunn.  If you must, try a darker color or wash.  Also pair with a loose and blousey top.  Wear with a stiletto heel to elongate the leg, or stuff them inside boots, which creates balance with hips and rear.
• If you want to camouflage a bit of a tummy, look for a pair that's cut higher in the back than the front in a boot-cut style with a Lycra-enhanced fit.
• Tall women with a long torso or waist might want to try high-waisted jeans.
• Women with boyish shapes might want to try a skinny jean to emphasize the hips.

Shop SearchByInseam.com for your perfect jeans today. 

 

Tips on Choosing the Right Denim Weight

The weight of your denim can make a big difference in how your jeans fit.  According to this month's InStyle magazine, medium-weight 12-once denim is going to be the most flattering because it'll hold you in without being bulky.  A lighter weight denim jean is best for wide-leg, relaxed styles, but opt for heavier denim for traditional boot cut jeans.  Finally, choose a jean that's made with 2% Lycra.  Any higher content of Lycra will reveal your bulges; any less Lycra means you'll sacrifice stretchy comfort.  Find 2% Lycra, medium-weight, lightweight, and heavier denim all at SearchByInseam.com.  

Michael Kors' Secrets of Style

The April issue of InStyle magazine has a great page of Michael Kors' "Secrets of Style for Right Now" (p.145). In the short article, Kors shares six tips worth noting: 

1. It's a season for seasonless. Spring is all about clothes you can wear most of the year. Weight matters. Ban summery colors in heavy fabrics. No one needs a mint-green wool Easter coat.
2. Neat and polished. What's right for now if looking pulled together. For me, the smartest way to do that is to mix the unexpected with the familiars, like a ballet flat in white cheetah or a sleeveless sheath in scarlet or purple instead of black.
3. Retrain yourself. After years of indulgence, avoid disposability. If you go all out for that new silhouette in the hot print of the moment, you will be over it soon after you realize you've been foolish. Unless it's nearly free, forget it.
4. Check your basics. Before buying new pieces, look in your closet for staples that ground them: white jeans, ribbed turtlenecks, flat knit V-necks, fitted pencil skirts or a fresh white shirt. Buy the best quality you can afford.
5. Shopping isn't a sport. Americans race through stores like Supermarket Sweep contestants, who had 10 minutes to toss whatever they could grab into a cart. The result? Racks of clothes that don't go together. Take your time.
6. Accessorize on the spot. Try a dress with or without stockings; with a thin belt and a thick one; slip on a heal, then flats. Do not be embarrassed to ask salespeople to help you get whatever you need. In this economy, they'll be glad to do it.

Check out Kors' jeans and pants at SearchByInseam.com.

How to Find Perfect Plus Size Pants That Fit Online

The Plus Size Clothing Scoop did a nice review of SearchByInseam.com today, and titled the post How to Find the Perfect Plus Size Pants that Fit Online.  Check it out!      

What Inseam Do I Need for Workout Pants?

Is getting in shape on your list of resolutions for 2009 this year?  We see sales of yoga pants spike between now and the end of January at SearchByInseam.com, and often get asked what inseam is best for workout and yoga pants.  In general, it's best to buy yoga pants 1/2" to 1" shorter than your normal jean inseam (more if you buy your jeans extra long to wear with heels) because you're going to be practicing barefoot, and don't want too-long pants tripping you up while you work on mastering your poses.  If you're buying running pants, you also don't want those being long enough to reach the ground and get muddy every time you wear them.  Visit our helpful page on measuring your inseam, and then adjust accordingly for the type of workout you'll be doing.  If you already have a pair of workout pants that are perfect in length, just measure those and go to SearchByInseam.com to find your replacements in the exact inseam you need.  SearchByInseam.com carries yoga and workout pants in inseams up to 39 inches.   

Reader Tip: Long Gloves

Thanks to Laura in Allentown, PA for sharing this great tip with us!

Got long fingers to match your long legs? Have trouble with gloves? I do. Women's gloves are never long enough in the finger or wrist for me, but Men's gloves are so bulky. I found a great solution in military surplus -- Nomex flight gloves. They have a great fit and feel, plus a trim tailored styling that passes for elegant and maybe even sexy. And they're extra long to keep those wrists warm!

How to Look Good in Wide-Leg Pants

Jean Patteson wrote a good article in The Orlando Sentinel over the weekend about how to look good in wide-leg pants.  A reader said, "I have been trying on slouchy, wide-leg trousers but feel like they give me elephant legs.  When I see the pants in pictures, on models, they look elegant, not enormous.  Also, what kind of shoes look best with wide-leg pants?"  

Patterson replied with some great advice: "Any extreme style can feel wrong if not done quite right.  For starters, pants with really wide legs tend to look best on tall women.  Most models are exceptionally tall, which makes them perfectly suited to this trouser style.  But most women can look good in full pants.  Select the right slacks:

• Choose pants with a wide, snug-fitting waistband that sits a little below the natural waistline.
• Look for pants with a single pleat.  This creates volume below the fitted waistband and gives the pants a definite shape.
• Avoid pants with legs that are the same width from top to bottom.  Those will definitely feel elephantine.  Instead, choose a cut that flares slightly toward the hem.  Again, this makes the pants look, and feel, more shapely - and therefore more elegant.
• Wear the pants long, with the hems just about 1/2-inch from the ground.
• Anchor the trousers with shoes that have some heft.  Flats and heels both work, so long as they are not too delicate."

Good advice!  Shop SearchByInseam.com for wide-leg pants in your exact inseam length, rise, favorite brands, and price range.  And try zappos.com for great shoes that come with fast, free shipping.

How to Patch Your Jeans

I was so bummed to find holes in the upper inside legs of my Seven Dojos the other week.  I do wear them a lot.  But still, I was surprised to see my thighs showing through! 

I went to the fabric store and got some iron-on patches that worked great for a couple days, but then they started peeling off.  I ironed them on again, and they stuck for an even shorter amount of time.  So, I called my trusty tailor and asked if she could help.  She said she could.  Score!  I thought paying her to keep them around was a good investment (and much less expensive than buying a new pair).  Sorry I forgot to take a "before" picture.  Here are the "after" pictures (click to enlarge and show the detail).  She did a zig-zag stitch all over the patches and the holes are totally invisible now!  I love my tailor. :)

Here's the inside detail - the patch, covered by zig-zag stitching:

Here's what the outside looks like:

And here's a shot of the backside zoomed out.  You can hardly tell there's a patch there, and when I have them on, it's totally hidden.

 

How to Care for Your Jeans

I was reading an old issue of Allure magazine the other day and came across a good interview with Scott Morrison, designer and co-founder of Earnest Sewn.  Here are his tips (March 2008, p. 140):

• Get a little dirty.  If you have stiff, dark raw-denim jeans, wash them as infrequently as possible.  Walking, sitting, and just the shape of your body will be the things that break them in.  The longer you go without putting them through the wash, the more comfortable they will become.
• Keep them snug.  Stretch jeans should be washed more often.  Many women's jeans have 2-4% of stretch material and will loosen up after a few hours of wear.  If you wear them a lot and like them snug, you'll want to wash them about once a week to keep them as close to the original tight fit as you can.
• Be protective.  Turn your jeans inside out in the washing machine.  This protects the color.  Use regular detergent and either cold or warm water.  Raw denim or loose-fitting jeans should be air dried, but stretch denim should be tumbled for about 40 minutes on high heat.  This will eventually reduce the elasticity, so if you've had them awhile, air-dry them most of the way and then throw them in on high for 10-15 minutes.
• Hang out.  After they're dry, hang your jeans in your closet instead of folding them, which causes creases.
• Patch things up.  Act fast when you spot a tiny hole in your favorite jeans!  Buy a heat-transfer patch from the fabric store and iron it onto the underside of the tear.  Morrison also recommends hand-washing from then on to prevent exacerbating the problem.    

How to Organize Your Closet

I've been meaning to post on this article from People's Stylewatch April 2008 issue for about 3 months now.  Better late than never!  Here are 5 great tips from Barbra Horowitz, personal stylist, author of Closet Control and host of Fashion 411:

1. Shed some light on the subject.  Make sure your closet is well-lit so you can see what you have, and also invest in a full-length mirror.
2. Merchandise it like a favorite boutique.  When you walk into a store while shopping and can't figure out the layout, you get overwhelmed and leave.  It's the same with your closet - if you like the way it looks and feels, you're less likely to become stressed when trying to figure out what to wear.  Organize your clothes in a way that makes sense - grouping by type of item or by color, for example - and, put anything that's new/exciting front and center.
3. Consider resale.  If you buy new clothes knowing that you will eventually sell them, you'll get into a regular purging mindset and also be able to afford more expensive items (retail price minus resale cost equals your true cost).  Horowitz' motto is: "Own it first, wear it fast, sell it quickly, repeat process."
4. It's not about the weather.  You should pack away bikinis in winter and heavy coats in summer, but refrain from organizing your closet by season because Horowitz says you can miss out on great styling moments this way.  She says, "Fashion happens when we wear opposites - a turtleneck with a chiffon evening top over it."
5. Maintain.  And here's my favorite quote from Horowitz: "Your wardrobe is like your front lawn or your hair.  It needs constant maintenance.  If your closet is tightly pruned all year, you'll have far less work keeping it in order"  (p. 44). Well said! 

The hip-T

Have you heard of the hip-T yet?  The tube top-like band promises to keep your assets covered by banishing the dreaded muffin top and undie peek-a-boo, as well as helping you say no to crack!  Invented by two stay-at-home moms who loved their low-rise jeans but hated what happened when they bent over, the hip-T looks like a layering cami and comes in sizes XXS to XXXL.  Payment is made via PayPal.   

   

Online Returns Made Easy

Most sellers have made returning online purchases extremely easy, yet I still talk with people who are reluctant to shop online because they think returns will be such a hassle. The Shop It To Me Blog had a good post about online returns last week. Here's a quick summary of the advice given (check out the full post for more detail):

• Read the return policy before you make a purchase. Many chain stores (Nordstrom, macys.com, Gap.com, PetiteSophisticate.com, etc.) allow you to buy online and return to a brick and mortar store, which saves you from paying to ship the item back. Others (like zappos.com) offer free returns via a pre-paid shipping label. And finally, some stores will offer amazing deals during Final Sales, but don't allow returns on this merchandise. So, just check out the policy before you buy.
• Keep all papers that are mailed with your new item. These often include things like an invoice and shipping labels. You're going to need them if want to return or exchange the item. It's tricky to make the return if you haven't kept this stuff, so keep it until you're sure you're going to keep the item!
• Buy 2 sizes if you're not sure which one will fit best. You can always return the one that doesn't fit well. I've done this a lot when trying new brands, since a size 8 in one brand isn't always a 30 in another. Buying two also ensures the style you want doesn't sell out while you're trying to find the perfect fit.
• Take a chance! You may very well find your fav new pair of jeans at an amazing deal - I've had this happen numerous times. But even if they don't work and you can't return them, you can sell/give them away or take them to a re-sale store and recoup most of the money you paid anyway.