Advertisement

The Denim Revolution: How To Find The Perfect Jeans For You This SS15

We spoke to denim expert Donna Ida to find out what we should investing in for next season – and it turns out 70s flares (and putting your jeans in the freezer) is all the rage…

The high-street is going head-over-heels for denim this SS15.

Fresh from the Stella McCartney, Fendi and Burberry Prorsum Spring / Summer 2015 runways, we’ve seen the humble denim reincarnated from the back of your wardrobe to becoming THE focal point of your outfit.  

Crazy for denim on the Stella McCartney, Burberry Prorsum and Fendi SS15 runways [Getty]
Crazy for denim on the Stella McCartney, Burberry Prorsum and Fendi SS15 runways [Getty]

And with a recent study by Tampax Compak Pearl revealing that 40 per cent of women struggle to find the perfect pair of jeans, we spoke to denim expert Donna Ida to get all our questions answered…  

The Next Big Thing In Denim

There’s no denying that jeans are an all-year-round wardrobe staple (and we shall not be parted from our trusty black skinnies come winter), but summer signals a change in style direction for most of us.

Donna, who owns a flagship denim boutique in London’s Chelsea, told us it’s all about white jeans and 70s-inspired flares in terms of next season’s trends.

Donna Ida - aka the Queen of Denim - spoke to us to promote the launch of Tampax Compak Pearl
Donna Ida - aka the Queen of Denim - spoke to us to promote the launch of Tampax Compak Pearl

“White jeans are an absolute summer essential and SS15 is no different! Wearing white jeans is all about confidence,” said Donna.

“I think the flare will continue through to next season but there will be a more glamorous take, with a focus on denim fabric finishes.”

70s-style flares are all the rage for SS15 - just team with cork wedges [Topshop]
70s-style flares are all the rage for SS15 - just team with cork wedges [Topshop]

And for those days where it’s too hot for actual trouser-wearing (let’s hope we get some of those soon, eh?), we’ll be sporting the ubiquitous denim mini-dress, with Donna telling us we should let the dress do the talking by keeping styling simple.

“I would keep it quite clean and chic, and add a waist cinching belt and a cute pair of strappy sandals,” she said of styling a denim-dress.

How we'd style our denim mini-dress... [Yahoo Lifestyle]
How we'd style our denim mini-dress... [Yahoo Lifestyle]

From L-R: Blue Denim Patch Pocket Front Tunic Dress - £24.99 – New Look, Annalese Necklace - £18.00 - Avon, Lareani Sandal - £50.00 - Aldo

And double-denim? Donna told us it’s all about not looking too matchy-matchy – instead clashing your washes for a stylish effect.

“Wear different washes together, for example a dark wash jean and a light wash shirt,” she said.

“Also play around with sizing - you could try a looser shirt over skinny jeans.”

Choosing The Right Denim For Your Body Shape



We all know there’s no point succumbing to styles that don’t suit your body shape, which is the number one fashion faux pas.

In fact, confidence is key – and finding the right pair of jeans will have a massive impact on your self-confidence, so we got down to the nitty-gritty with Donna.

AKA we found out which jeans we should all be wearing! (you can thank us later…)

Pear – A higher-waist style will cinch you in and draw the eye towards your small waist, whilst a bootcut or wide leg style will skim over your hips, balancing out your body proportions with the kick at the bottom of the leg.  

Curvy - A straight-leg jean is a must as it will elongate your pins. You should also stick to a heavy-weighted denim with a minimal amount of stretch; a lighter weight with too much give will not provide the structure that you need.

Apple -

There should be plenty of stretch in the apple girl’s jeans; typically you will look best in a stretchy straight leg style, with a mid or low rise waist. Apple shapes should also be wary of choosing the right wash; darker styles tend to be more flattering.  

Boyish – Luckily, boyish types look good in most styles of denim, but a low-rise skinny jean will provide more shape and definition than most other fits. As a boyish body shape, you can get away with detailing such as zips and hardware; adding detail to the seat, like back pockets.

Boyish figures like Cara Delevingne can get away with added extras on jeans [Rex]
Boyish figures like Cara Delevingne can get away with added extras on jeans [Rex]

Tall -

If you’ve got long legs then one key point is to keep the waist at the right height; too high and it the jeans will elongate your legs even further and shorten your torso. Stick to mid and low rise styles, in a longer length.  

Petite - A petite girl’s gentle curves look great in skinny or straight leg jeans, particularly if the style has fading or detailing to add shape. High-rise styles will elongate your legs and cinch-in your waist to show off your perfect proportions, whilst cropped styles really suit your smaller frame.

Finding Your Perfect Pair

So you’re in the shops, you’ve found the right jeans for your body shape and they’re bang-on-trend for next season – but how do you know whether they’re the right size?

Well, if they go on with ease, they’re actually a size too BIG – and if you have to jump up and down to get ‘em on, that’s a good thing…

“If they go on easily, go down a size,” she said.

“Premium denim jeans will always have 2 per cent stretch and so you should have to wriggle to get into them because they will give when they warm up with your body's heat.

“Even if you have to jump up and down to get into them, that's fine.”

Trying on jeans needn't be a struggle... [Rex]
Trying on jeans needn't be a struggle... [Rex]

And it terms of washing the beauties, you might be causing them damage if you’re regularly chucking them in with your darks on a 30 degree wash…

“You should wash your jeans but it does not need to be as often as people think,” said Donna.

“Denim is best washed on a cold wash, never hotter than 30 degrees, then laid out to dry naturally.  

“You can put your jeans in the freezer - just put them in a zip lock bag and this kills the bacteria, this is also good for leather or coated jeans.”

Right so now we’ve got that sorted, it’s time to hit the shops. Show us your denim finds on Twitter @YLifestyleUK or in the comments, below...

[Stylist's pick - nautical trend]

[For Love and Lemons: Celeb fave brand]