How to Wear Boyfriend Jeans:

I’ve never been one for labels, which is incredibly ironic having lived in the land of high-end, luxury retail for the past decade. A land where the ‘status vendor’ is king. I just haven’t drunk the Kool Aid on the label maker for one reason or another. Just ’cause a bag says Gucci, doesn’t mean I’m going to swoon. Hell, I can’t even remember people’s titles at work nine times out of ten.

Image courtesy of www.shopthetrendboutique.com

Here’s where a label does come in handy. Fashion trends. That’s right, slap the word ‘boyfriend’ onto a pair of jeans, and I’ll bend.

Due to the slouchy silhouette, the boyfriend jean is not for all shapes and sizes. Make that a cropped boyfriend jean, and the pool of wearers narrows a bit further. There are a couple of tips to follow so the ensemble slants more towards stylish and less towards shlubby. I’ll use the above pic of Minka Kelly as an example of how to wear this denim trend.

It’s fashion, paint-by-number style:

1. Rugby Vintage Wash Boyfriend Jean- $98 (www.rugby.com) 2. Soft Joie Bradley Flock Photo Tank- $68 (www.shopbop.com) 3. L.A.M.B. ‘Eben’ Raffia Platform Sandals- $275 (www.shopbop.com) 4. Topshop Natural Straw Duffle Bag- $56 (www.us.topshop.com) 5. Shashi Solitaire Bracelet with Yellow Gold- $28 (www.boutiquetoyou.com) 6. Kool Connections Beads & Discs Friendship Bracelet- $12 (www.nordstrom.com) 7. Gorjana Small Gold ‘Chloe’ Necklace- $55 (www.pinkmascara.com) 8. Ralph Lauren Leather Studded Belt- $58 (www.ralphlauren.com) 9. Ray-Ban Aviator Sunglasses- $239.95 (www.sunglasshut.com)

Things to keep in mind with this uber-comfy trend: Unless you’re of Amazonian height, wear a heel to elongate with the cropped leg. If you’re going slouchy on the bottom half of the fashion equation, keep something on top hugging your curves or cinching at the waist so you don’t get lost in the shuffle. And please, please, oh seriously please, do not attempt this with a high-waisted jean. It’s just not right. Low waistlines need only apply here.

Outside of all that, what can I say? You’ve got it all lined up: The medium-wash boyfriend jean from Rugby hits the trend, and a loose, voluminous v-neck tank top from Joie that tucks into the classic, studded belt from Ralph Lauren (or ‘Ralphy’ as my mother like to call him). Pull it all together with a fab-u-lous sandal from L.A.M.B that is the definition of mixed-media, a straw duffle bag from Topshop that adds a little texture, some shiny stuff in the form of layered bracelets and a sweet pendant necklace from Gorjana, and finally, classic aviator sunglasses from Ray-Ban. Done and done.

Keep the momentum going! See more denim, and all other things that fall into the bottom half of any fashion equation, plus how to wear them.