Jeans Hunt with Blithe Spirit and a Dollop of Mustard

The Mourning

Oh how I do mourn the passing of my M&S jeggings.  They fit so beautifully yet sadly they are no longer fit for purpose, as they have suffered a bit of wear and tear; they have become victim to RWI (repetitive wearing injury), are now designated GFGO (good for gardening only) and strictly NTBSOTB (not to be seen on this blog!).

White Company trapeze cardi, Next ivory blouse, mourned M&S jeggings, Adesso wedge heels.

What makes these jeans my much-mourned jeans?  Everything's right about them.

Right fit, right length, right weight, right amount of worn-in-ness.

M&S just don't make jeggings like they used to.  So I'm moving on. 

I currently have two pairs of wearable jeans, the criteria being that the zip is still zippable and they have no distressed  tears, fashionable or accidental (and no distressed tears from me crying as I pour myself into them!). 

I don't like the knee-to-ankle arrangement in either pairs.  So they rarely get worn.

But I like wearing jeans.

The Hunt

So what does that say to you?  Yup, a jeans hunt.  Shopping criteria being a not too wide and not too narrow leg/ankle and waisted high enough to avoid muffin top.  And thin denim, I find the thicker stuff claustrophobic.

During my recent trip to Southampton I went searching for this jeans holy grail.

I went to straight to M&S, as it was not a mega shopping sort of trip.

I would have liked these to have been in the shop.

These are a nice light summer blue, high waisted and the ankles don't look anything like as narrow on the model online.   But that's it, I think they are only available online.

I tried on three pairs in the shop, button-fastening, relaxed, and skinny.

Button-fastening.

The Finding

Yup, button-fastening won!

 Pure Goldilocks jeans.  They were The Ones as soon as I squeezed slipped them on.  

It will come as no surprise that I'm a short 27" leg! The short size stops just at the right point high enough above the ankle to make them feel summery ... and for me to feel cheeky when I wear them.  And that is what I really want from a pair of jeans.  I want a nonchalant spring in my step and a gamine swagger to my hips each time I squeeze slip into them.  I get that from these jeans.

I wear these and transform into a Blithe Spirit!  And those of you who know me as a pathological worrier will see this as no mean feat.

How can jeans do that to a person?!!  Does a certain pair of jeans make you feel cool or coquettish?!

And who would have thought!  Button-fastening! That did deter me at first glance, as it did my shopping mate, Double Coz, who took one look at them and cried "But what about your manicured nails?!".

But the nails handle the arrangement with ease.  Blithely.

I never had 501s back in the day, like Nick did.

The Tenuous Link to 501 Eye Candy

Nick Kamen goes to the Laundrette (only view if you can bear to watch a man washing his jeans!).

Laundry break over! Back to the jeans.

M&S button-fastening jeans, Next navy long-line camisole, M&S mustard bobble-button cardi and snakeprint flatties.

I always thought 501s looked far too complicated but now I am a button-fastening convert.  It's a comfortable arrangement.

The Epilogue

Jeans are an important part of a girl's life so finding the right jeans is a big deal.  From this little exercise I have realised that in order to find The Jeans, you have to first work out what suits you best.  From photos, from the mirror, from compliments or criticism you have received.  

Take all of that on board then work out a your list of requirements, your must-haves in a pair of jeans and the must-avoids.  Then armed with these criteria, easily stored in your head, you have the shopping tools which get you your perfect pair of jeans.

I'm crossing my fingers that these jeans are The Ones as they still have to pass The Pout Laundrette Test!  I'm hoping they'll be The Go-To's that will allow me to go about my day with effortless ease.  

To go forth, blithe of spirit.

A la perchoine.