Denim & Jeans

If there’s one fall collection I’m super excited to get my hands on right now, it’s Cotton Citizen. (Think James Perse meets American Apparel … but better.) This brand could change the way we look at T-shirts forever.

Made in Los Angeles, Cotton Citizen came about when Adam Vanunu, whose family runs American Dye House (makes sense!), experimented with premium fabrics (think bamboo, organic cotton, jersey and French terry) and unique washes and dyes often associated with denim (think acid wash). The effect was a show-stopping complexity of color. When I first got one of their shirts, an ultra-soft rust-colored number with faded, watercolor-like detail, I wore it almost every day for a week! (I’ve since restrained myself, but still want to wear it every day.) (more…)

Last night, I stopped by Kiehl’s unveiling of its environmental partnership with Golden Globe winners Michael C. Hall (“Dexter”) and Chloë Sevigny (“Big Love”) in support of the Waterkeeper Alliance, an organization dedicated to preserving and protecting water from polluters. As I’m someone who loves to hang out in the ocean and observe marine life off the coast of California, this is an issue that hits close to home, especially with the abundance of waste, plastic bags, oil pollution and nuclear disaster coverage that have unfortunately become part of our lives. But it’s not just the ocean that needs our attention, it’s the rivers, lakes, streams, even groundwater, that affect us and our health on a daily basis.

To show its support, Kiehl’s USA President Chris Salgardo presented the Waterkeeper Alliance with a giant check for $100,000 at Kiehl’s beautiful Santa Monica store while Sevigny, Hall and Santa Monica Baykeeper/Executive Liz Crosson look on smiling. Chloë’s brother, Paul Sevigny, DJ’d the event while guests sipped on cocktails and checked out stacks of Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque, featuring limited-edition label art designed by Sevigny and Hall (see Sevigny’s, left). One-hundred percent of the collection’s proceeds go to the Waterkeeper Alliance.

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It’s been a year or two since I’ve tried Habitual, and while I liked the denim line enough back then, I totally love it now. Well-known for their high quality premium denim and their signature Maltese cross on the back pocket, they have some fantastic classic styles for spring.

If it hasn’t warmed up where you’re located, skinny jeans are probably a must-have since they tuck perfectly into boots. I’m obsessed with the Alice Mid-Skinny in Venus – the ideal skinny leg jean since it doesn’t hug too tightly. I love the softness of the jean (much more than previously), yet the denim has a medium weight for structure and sturdiness. The medium dark wash slims legs, and has become one of my go-to pairs. (Tough to do, since I live in jeans practically!) I’ve been wearing this pair everywhere with ballet flats.

Also, I tried the Amber Straight, which will definitely become a classic since a straight leg should be a staple in every woman’s closet. If you’re not comfortable with the skinnies, the straight leg is a great alternative since it hugs curves but has a looser fit. This style is a dark sleek denim with a bit of whiskering, so it’s perfect for more casual occasions – like brunching with friends or a morning at the farmer’s market. If you haven’t tried Habitual in awhile, like myself, or are in the market for a new pair of jeans, it’s definitely a brand you must try. You’ll love these styles!

I’ve been a fan of Levi’s for the past few years and always mention their name when friends ask for denim recommendations. They’re an iconic brand with strong and affordable denim options for women. One of their newest lines is the Curve ID, which offers three different fits to meet the needs for three different general body types: Slight Curve, Demi Curve and Bold Curve. (more…)

Well, in denim form, anyway. Thanks to new premium denim line Rue de…, I’ve been lounging in comfort all day in their Boyfriend Jeans in Mademoiselle (a roomy, medium blue pair with faux rips and optional cuffs similar to what the model above is wearing), $187.

With the goal to deliver a “custom, comfortable fit that adjusts to the ups and downs of your day” without sacrificing quality, Rue de… has managed to keep their jeans almost as comfy as sweatpants — but much better looking. (The secret? Great fabric and a patented logo on the waistband that allows for up to two inches of stretch.)

Inspired by European style circa the 18th century — and creator Cindy Yun’s desire to wear comfortable jeans during her many plane trips, the line is named after the streets of Paris (“rue” means “street”). The core focus is on three main fits — skinny, straight and flared bootcut — but there are several shades and styles to choose from, along with limited-edition styles. The jeans are priced from about $105 to $280 and available in Hong Kong and specialty stores in L.A., N.Y.C. and Orange County. Find out where to try them on at their website, ruedejeans.com, and keep up with this blossoming line’s latest news on Facebook and Twitter!

Hmm, are they jeans or leggings? I can’t decide. They’re too thick to be leggings and too thin to be jeans. All I know is that I’ve worn them almost every day for a week and I’m not going to stop anytime soon. From the founders of L.E.I., SOLD Design Lab‘s super-stretchy, pull-on skinny jeans (the “Spanx of jeans,” I’ve been told) are quite possibly the most comfortable piece of skin-tight denim I’ve ever worn. I tried a black pair of Spring Street Skinny Pull-on Jeans, a style recently seen on Cameron Diaz, and while she’s tall and leggy and I’m short and curvy, the jeans truly did conform to our body types. There’s no zipper, just a button; and pulling them on sometimes reminds me of those maternity jeans with the stretch belly on them. But who cares? They feel and look fantastic, and for $98, I can afford to get them in white too. I might even check them out in perforated leather and corduroy!

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I’m totally jean obsessed (thankfully I live in Los Angeles, where you can wear jeans practically anywhere) so whenever I find a new pair that I love, I can’t wait to tell people about them.  My new favorite jeans are Rich & Skinny’s Sleek cut.  It’s a straight leg jean, so it pairs really well with heels (which I’m almost always wearing).  I love my boot and wide leg cut styles, but they do tend to hide cute shoes – and what’s the fun in that?  The Sleek jeans are made of a lighter weight denim, so they’re soft and comfortable, almost like wearing leggings.  (Although they do tend to run small for their size, so you’ll definitely want to try them on before ordering to make sure you’re getting the fit that you want).

The pair I’m wearing are in the Rinse wash, an ultra dark (almost black) denim that’s easy to dress down for the day and up at night.  They have the distinctive Rich & Skinny “R” on the back pocket and a funky purple silk inside waistband.  The Sleek cut is available in several different washes and the price varies per wash.  To view styles or find a store near you that carries Rich & Skinny, visit RichandSkinnyjeans.com.