Monday, 5 October 2015

And while on the subject of fashion...

...what about waists? And more to the point, "low rise" jeans? What is the point of a waist that isn't a waist? A waist that balances precariously on the hips, neither up nor down; neither one thing nor the other?

 I am a woman, and notwithstanding my advanced age and four babies, I have a waist. I go in at the middle, and out above and below (too much below, but no matter. I have learned to live with it). Most modern women's jeans are designed to settle at half mast, and this is not comfortable. They dig into the hip bones, and need a belt to prevent them from sliding South. I'm wearing some now. Jeans that have proper waists in the right place are hard to find. Trust me. I've been searching, yet again, for a pair. I live in jeans (when not in jodhpurs, which, btw, have proper waists), so this is a matter of great importance to me.

That's all. (No pictures. The Bat was the last photo of me you'll see on this blog. Unless at some stage I feel impelled to redress the balance and show you I can occasionally scrub up well.)

16 comments:

  1. Levi 501s they also do another in proper denim with a zip but I can't remember what they call it.
    John Lewis or on-line.
    The former usually struggle to have the right size in but will order them and post them on.
    It's that imitation stretchy denim or worn out looking stuff I can't abide.

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    1. I rather like stretchy, Adrian. They....adapt.

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  2. I always shop at M&S for jeans. They have a range of leg fittings (straight, slim, bootleg etc) and leg lengths to suit most people. The waists vary, but I always try them on. I think that's the main thing - try before you buy

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    1. Buying M&S clothes makes me feel so old, Maggie! Plus, there isn't one near here. But I'm in denial....

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  3. When below the waist waisted trousers and jeans came in, I thought it would be a temporary thing, but they've been around a long time now. I expect the minute we get used to them, the only trousers we'll be able to buy will cover our nipples.

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    1. Yes, Patsy. Dungarees! I said I loved dungarees, and they certainly cover nipples, and pretty well everything else as well.

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  4. Do you have access to J.Jill in England? They clearly mark the different "Rises" and "Cuts". BTW. horse riding attire now comes in Low-rise options. Shudder!

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    1. Hipster jodhpurs....now I've heard everything. I wish you hadn't told me that, ER.

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  5. Like Patsy, I thought it would be temporary and looked forward to waistbands coming back, but they didn't, neither for jeans nor skirts. I had a skirt altered once to give it a waistband because it felt so odd sitting on my hips, but I can't do that every time.
    Thank you so much for showing us the beautiful 'bat' dress, Frances. You looked stunning. xxx

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    1. Beautiful Bat....I love the alliteration, Joanna. And it sound like a sonnet by Keats.

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  6. How about buying men's jeans, they tend to be more traditionally cut, although I'm not sure if they would cope with too much hip.

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    1. Cro, men's jeans bulge in the wrong places, and don't in the right places. So it's a no-no, I'm afraid.

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  7. I was into my sixties before I ever owned a pair of jeans. I was having coffee in Napier with a lady friend (well a female who was a friend) and she was so horrified to hear that that she walked me out of the (very fashionable - her choice) place where we were having coffee into the 'old fashioned' man's shop opposite where she and the owner proceeded to use me as a (rather unwilling) model for various pairs of jeans until they found a pair (i.e. one - silly terminology 'pair of trousers') that suited me in their eyes. I still have that pair and I wear them around the house etc. Since then I have discovered several things: I love jeans and they can be dressed up or down; and John Lewis own brand and M&S make by far the best jeans for my figure. I think I have five pairs at the moment. They will probably outlast me. I also think that the total cost of every pair I've bought since the first pair is not yet equal to the cost of the first pair!

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    1. Well done you, Graham. I can't get John to wear jeans. He just won't.

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  8. Oh I wish I had a waist - I do like trousers to be where my waist ought to be. I suppose I do go in a bit, but not as much as I used to. I've tried those things that sit on the hips and all I want to do is hitch them up! xx

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    1. Teresa, there must be a waist somewhere. Have another look, and breathe in. (I've been hitching jeans up,all day 😠. I've just found the smiley and cross faces on my iPad. Had to use one.)

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