Jeans became popular in the 1950s and 60s – when ‘cool’ itself was born. Close-fitting trousers were most popular in the late 50s and right on through the 60s – jeans of that time were just as tight. The counter-culture and youth movements of the 1960s and 70s kept skinny jeans on the fringe of fashion, whatever the other trends of the day happened to be. Moving into the 80s and 90s, skinny fit jeans took on an even tighter-fitting appearance. Luckily, by the end of the 90s, the ‘sprayed-on’ look was fading away and today’s skinny jeans are comfortable and flattering.
Nearly all the leading denim names make a skinny jean – some of the most popular brands for skinny jeans are Levi’s, Miss Sixty, Gap, Versace and Rock and Republic. While there are a number of people who find skinny jeans uncomfortable, shopping around between the different skinny cuts can have great results for the dedicated fashion seeker. Levi’s, for example, have at least half a dozen skinny-fit jeans on offer at any given time. Each style offers a slightly different waist and leg cut, providing some flexibility for different body types and opening the skinny jean style to a wider audience.
This season, skinny fit jeans really are everywhere, from the high street to the superstore, as well as in scores of online shops. Skinny jeans are probably the most difficult to buy online, simply because of the fit issues. So, the best advice is to buy from a trusted online retailer with a good return policy that will allow you to exchange the jeans if you need to. Also, if possible, stop into a local shop to try on a pair similar to those you’re buying so you can get a fair idea of whether the style suits your body before you commit to purchasing them.
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