Wearing my Clients' Pants

When a new fashion trend hits, I immediately place it into one of three buckets:

1.     I love this and want to wear it.

2.     I like this, but I know it's not for me.

3.     I dislike this and have no interest in it.

As a stylist, my job is to understand a client's needs and style, and also to gently encourage them to step out of their comfort zone and try new things they might not have considered on their own.

I was recently surprised to find myself on the other side of that equation when I tried a fashion trend I had previously dismissed. This experience was a powerful reminder of how my clients often feel, surprised by a style they never considered and empowered by trying something new.

It’s often a process for people to get used to new trends. They need to see them "out in the wild" for a while before they'll even consider them. And that's exactly what happened to me with barrel leg jeans.

When I first saw them, my immediate thought was unflattering. The voluminous cut around the thighs made me think, “Why would I want to add more bulk to an area I am trying to minimize?”. This trend was totally in my "not for me" bucket.

However, I have been telling my clients to try them, and that with this particular style, it's not a "try one and you're done" situation. There are so many variations of cuts that you really need to try a few pairs to decide if they are going to work for you and if you like them at all.

Meanwhile, I had been getting a little bored with my denim collection and was looking for something fresh. I thought, why not at least try on a pair? As I started to browse the style, I found a pair on super sale, which had a mid-rise (my personal favorite), and they hit me at ankle length, which is rare without alteration at 5'1". So with all of that, the first pair I tried, I actually bought.

Here’s what I learned…

I wore the jeans and felt effortlessly cool. I also knew they were probably the least flattering pair of jeans I had ever worn. The moral of the story is that two things can be true at once. You can enjoy wearing a style because of how it makes you feel, even if it doesn't flatter you in the traditional sense.

Will I be seeking out more barrel leg jeans? Probably not. But if I come across a pair in a great color, pattern, or fabric, I'm now open to trying them.

This experience reminded me what it’s like to be a client who is hesitant to try something new, and then to feel that empowerment and joy when you wear something that feels fresh and exciting. While the majority of your closet should be filled with pieces that you find flattering, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with wearing something that adds a little fun to your wardrobe and that you enjoy wearing.