While fall trends like leather skirts and extravagant fur might not be for everyone, some trends that emerged for Fall 2011 during New York Fashion Week were very wearable. So here are our top 5 REALISTIC wardrobe trends for Fall 2011:
Duster Coats
L to R, 3.1 Phillip Lim, L.A.M.B., Rodarte, Chris Benz. Photos courtesy of style.com
Keeping with the current theme of longer hemlines, many designers showed variations of the classic duster coat. Expect to see these popping up at all different price points this fall.
Graphic Patterns
L to R, Chris Benz, Alice + Olivia, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Tracy Reese. Photos courtesy of style.com
Several designers featured a graphic take on traditional preppy sportswear. With oversize stripes, chevron and striking plaids, anyone can wear this look when it is translated into one statement piece.
70’s re-dux
L to R, Nanette Lepore, Chris Benz, Suno, Marc by Marc Jacobs. Photos courtesy of style.com
Continuing with the 70’s feel from the spring, many collections featured wider leg trousers as well as mustard, burnt orange and rust hued garments recalling the color palette of the “Me Decade.”
Colored Pants
L to R, Alice + Olivia, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Prabal Gurung, 3.1 Phillip Lim. Photos courtesy of style.com
Another trend evolving from spring shows is color blocking. For fall several designers interpreted this through powerfully colored trousers. If you want to slim your lower half choose a dark blue or green to inject some fun into your wardrobe.
Luxurious Accents
L to R, ADAM, Prabal Gurung, Alice + Olivia, Marc by Marc Jacobs. Photos courtesy of style.com
Lace and velvet were prominent fabrics in many collections. Pairing with crisp tailoring and more serious fabrics helps keep this trend appropriate for daywear.
There were many more whimsical trends that appeared across many shows, but these are the trends that can be adapted to flatter most body types. So electric blue pants or red chevron skirt for fall? Or a more subtle accent like a duster coat or wide leg trousers? What trends do you like?
posted by: Bonnie Coombs on February 22, 2011 at 4:33 pm
filed under:Trend Alert
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Valentine’s Day. Depending on your mood it is either the best, worst or most irrelevant holiday of the year. Trust me I’ve thought all 3 at various points in my life. Now I choose to think of Valentine’s Day as a great excuse to dress-up and surprise the people in your life who think you live in cardigans and flats. But honestly, the one thing in my wardrobe that I pretty much do live in are my jeans. So how do you dress up your jeans for that Valentine’s night out? Firstly, a little red or lace to be festive isn’t a bad way to start. Just keep it subtle or run the risk of looking like the doily Valentine’s you made in elementary school. Floral is another nice, feminine detail that works great for this holiday but should be kept understated.
So now that there are some ideas on what to wear to be festive, how do you put this together into a coherent look? If you’re not going to a super fancy wear-a-cocktail-dress-or-else dinner than a dark wash jean is a great place to start building your outfit. For a more formal meal I chose a rinse trouser jean because the looser leg style is a classic silhouette for an evening out. Instantly dress up your trouser jeans with a beaded vintage-look top and a pair of delicate sparkled heels. Grab a red purse and favorite special occasion earrings and you’re ready for a nice Valentine’s Day dinner out, without a single heart in sight.
If you’re headed out to more low-key dinner but still want to dress up (I mean it is a holiday) I would again suggest starting off with a dark wash jean. Since the setting is less reserved I opted for a skinny black jean to start my look. Pair a floral silk top with a hint of red as a nod to the holiday. With a bright statement belt and a chunky chain necklace you won’t need any more accessories. The finishing touch is a pair of funky suede platforms in a reddish tone to echo the blouse and complete your Valentine’s Day outfit.
It’s still February. While winter is still in its full force (in case you didn’t know, a snow storm is pummeling certain areas of the country), we here at indi couldn’t help but think about spring. We are always looking ahead denim-wise and according to the latest fashion forecast, we found that the wide leg jean will be a big trend this coming spring.
Wide leg jeans are great when paired with silky blouses if you want a polished and elegant look that’s perfect for business. While brightly colored tops offer a chic and retro way to wear these vintage inspired jeans. For example, an indi wide leg trouser jean we paired with a few colorful pieces:
In the Spring Runway, designers like Marc Jacobs and Tory Burch showcased 70’s inspired clothing with loads of bright colors while Derek Lam used a lot of clean lines and silhouettes to pair with basics such as the wide leg trouser jeans.
Our advice is opt for a dark wash with little or no distressing or whiskering as you want to keep the focus on the leg style itself. We all recognize light wash wide leg jeans from back in the glory days of the wide leg, so modernize your wide leg with a nice, dark wash. A dark wash wide leg is an excellent jean for shapely women, too, balancing out your curves and giving plenty of room in through the hip and thigh for comfort. Make sure to include a little pop of color in your outfit whether it be a jacket, scarf or broach. Sooner or later spring will arrive to suit you wardrobe so better start early, ladies.
posted by: Eunice Tanos on February 4, 2011 at 6:09 pm
filed under:Trend Alert
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wide leg jeans
Making a new item look old appeals to many. “Antique” furniture, for example, often is made to look old with fading, distressing, and coloring techniques to give the otherwise brand-new furniture character. The same goes for jeans with sanding - they look like you’ve loved them for years.
Some different sanded jeans from indi
It is estimated that 3.2 billion jeans are manufactured worldwide annually and of that amount, 1.2 billion jeans are sanded to replicate a worn in look. People love sanded jeans not only because of the visual appeal, but the sanding process also causes the fabric to soften, thus adding to the comfort of the jeans.
Sanding process can be done with a sand blaster or by hand with sandpaper or with power tools. The difference between the two processes depends on how much sanding denim manufacturers would like the jean to have. A sandblast is great for controlling big sections of the jeans they want sanded. A sandblaster could also be used to produce many different patterns. The sandblasting process starts by blasting a very abrasive substance through a nozzle at the denim at high speed and pressure. Hand sanding on the other hand, allows denim manufacturers to be very precise on what gets sanded. It is done with a fine grain sand paper, a sanding block or a palm sander similar to the ones used by carpenters.
Some of our new denim fabrics here at indi contain anywhere from subtle sand blasting over the entire jean or some heavy blasting in selected areas of the jean in order to give you that worn in custom look. Keep in mind that sanded jeans do emphasize curves, so if you don’t want to showcase you legs, we recommend you opt for light to no sanding. But whatever you decide, your sanded jeans will have a truly authentic and well-loved feel.
posted by: Eunice Tanos on January 27, 2011 at 10:59 am
filed under:Denim 101
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For all you ladies with an hourglass shape, we created a video to help you better understand which styles look best on your bodies. This video will take you through the process of designing the best looking jeans that will accentuate your hourglass shape. Enjoy!
Transcript:
HOW TO: Design a jean for an HOURGLASS Shape.
Hi everyone! My name is Alena and, today, I’m going to show you how to design a jean for an hourglass shape. An hourglass shape has symmetrical shoulders and hips, a full bust, defined waist, and shapely legs. To start, go to indiCustom.com and select Design Your Own from the drop down menu under the women’s tab.
Now we’ll choose the fit of your jeans. For an hourglass shape we recommend either our SoMa, our most popular fit, or our Presidio trouser jean. Trouser jeans have a classic look that flatter hourglass figures by offering plenty of room in the thigh and elongating your figure. Our SoMa fit is great for hourglass figures as well because it has a flattering fit through the hips and thighs and has a contoured waistband for comfort. I’ll go ahead and choose the SoMa.
Next, we’ll choose the fabric. We recommend a stretch fabric to accentuate your legs it’ll be more comfortable and flattering on an hourglass shape especially around the hip area. I’m going to choose our Pacifica light weight stretch denim which has 2% stretch. Our next choice is the denim wash. By hovering over each swatch, you can see a more detailed view of the fabric you have chosen and the wash it comes in. Also our visualization tool to the right will display the jeans in their selected fabric. Click “zoom in” for a closer look. Darker washes are the most slimming and they will also serve to balance your hips with your smaller waist. If you don’t want to go quite as extreme as our rinse wash, the dark choice is still deep enough blue to be flattering on hourglass shapes.
Next choose the rise for your jeans. We recommend a low to average rise as this will sit on your hips and help avoid gaping. As an hourglass figure I’m sure you’ve experienced gaping before. It’s that undesirable gap between your lower back and the back waist of your jeans. You can also wear a high rise as you have a smaller waist but make sure to accurately measure your natural waist to ensure no gaping. Stay away from that super low rise, ladies, to prevent that muffin top.
Now, chose either zipper or button fly closure. This is a matter of taste not shape. Time to choose your leg opening style. For an hourglass shape a bootcut is always safe. However, if you want to try something more adventurous we would recommend the wide leg, which gives plenty of room in the thigh and will emphasize your small waist. Stay away from extreme skinnies as these can make you appear top heavy. Choose whichever hem style and coin pocket fit your personal style.
When choosing the back pocket style, avoid the flap. As an hourglass, you already have the curves you don’t need to fake them. But choose any embroidery or embellishment you’d like.
Finally choose your finishing treatment. The best ones for hourglasses are the light sanding or none at all on dark denim. For lighter wash denims more distressing can be used since the contrast will not be as evident. In any case you want to stay away from extreme whiskering, as this will cause your hips to appear wider than they actually are. From here hit continue and enter your personal measurements to customize your perfect jean. For more style tips, go to indiCustom.com or email us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
posted by: Jackie on January 24, 2011 at 4:19 pm
filed under:Denim 101
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As we get into January it’s easy to give up on style. The holiday parties are over, the days are cold and gray, being comfortable and warm become the only priorities. But believe it or not, if you keep a few key accessories around, spicing up your wardrobe can be done in the amount of time it takes for your car to warm up. Here are some sets we made with indi jeans on Polyvore to illustrate just how easy it is to stay fashionable without sacrificing comfort through all these cold days. Starting with the basic after the holidays jeans and do-I-look-thin-in-this-black-shirt here are some ideas to help you get through till spring.
Rather than settle for your classic black or navy (or charcoal gray etc.) peacoat, opt for something with a little more flair. There are so many options out there in every price range, it’s easy to add some fun to your errand runs with a statement coat to chase away the winter blues.
But once you get to your (hopefully warm) destination, wearing a bold piece layered over your black shirt will keep you looking put together. Choose an accessory you are comfortable wearing that also makes a strong statement. Whether it is a printed wrap or a waist defining belt with fun detailing, accessories can instantly up your style factor.
Don’t limit your creativity to the ideas listed here. These are just a few examples to get you back into your style groove. Mix things up with some jeweled or feathered headbands, or a boldly detailed handbag. So don’t surrender to winter, experiment with layers and have fun with eye-catching and colorful pieces!
How do you keep your style going in the winter months?
posted by: Bonnie Coombs on January 18, 2011 at 4:18 pm
filed under:Misc Musings
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Raw denim is defined as a denim fabric that has not been washed at the end of production. This means that raw denim is stiff and has no distressing. Over time the dye will wear naturally in the raw denim and you will get a unique pair of jeans reflecting your lifestyle and daily activities. The most common places raw denim fades is the upper thigh, where “whiskers” form, and behind the knees. Raw denim is considered by denim enthusiasts to be a more unique look than pre-worn, factory denim.
Another key to raw denim is not washing them for at least the first six months (some committed denim heads go even longer!). The reasoning behind not washing your raw denim is that you want to keep the unwashed starchiness of the jeans for as long as possible, so your creases and distressing continue to set. Once you wash your raw denim, it will take longer for the creasing and abrasion to become permanent.
Left: indi Pure Raw Denim that hasn’t been washed or worn. Right:Raw Denim that’s faded over time
Also, washing will cause the raw denim to be more uniform in color, as opposed to having very distinct distressing. In addition, raw denim shrinks drastically if not washed and dried properly (up to two sizes!), so keep this in mind when cleaning your raw denim. Since raw denim is not washed very often, some tricks to keeping them fresh include putting them in the freezer over night or hanging them up in the bathroom when you shower, to steam the raw denim without affecting the color.This may sound a little extreme for one pair of jeans but raw denim wearers will tell you that it’s worth it.
And once you think you’ve accumulated enough time (lots of it) and achieved fading in all the right places (or you can no longer bear the smell that comes from not washing your raw denim) then by all means, wash with caution. Soaking your raw denim inside out with a tub full of lukewarm water and a splash of laundry detergent then letting them air dry will do just fine.
Raw denim jeans will fit you perfectly and reflect your daily life; they will be uniquely yours. At indi, we are excited to now offer raw denim as a fabric option for men. Get a perfect fitting pair of raw denim at indi, then watch them become even more uniquely yours with each wear.
posted by: Bonnie Coombs on January 12, 2011 at 11:07 am
filed under:Happenings at INDi
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With the beginning of 2011, we should all take a moment and reflect back on 2010 denim trends—both good and bad. To give you a quick recap, we’ve compiled a list of denim worthy moments…some we think are inspiring, some we think are intriguing and some will keep us coming back for more.
Expanding our Denim Horizons
The best trend by far this year would be the look that flatters your body the best. In the 2010 denim world, anything goes as long as it works for your body—skinny jeans, flare jeans, boot-cut jeans, trouser, etc. This notion prompted many denim brands to introduce various jean options after realizing that every body is different and not every style is intended to fit everyone. An influx of petite and tall options for women also have popped up at larger retailers like Gap and Banana Republic.
Of course, this isn’t anything groundbreaking. In fact, some of us have known this for quite some time. As you know, we’ve made it our philosophy to create jeans that are made to work for your body. And it’s nice to know that some brands are catching on to this philosophy by finally creating more sizes and more styles for everyone.
Another big trend this year was printed denim, which certainly expanded everyone’s denim horizons to include animal prints, flower prints, you name it. Not flattering for most, but certainly a trend worth mentioning.
The Big Comebacks
Everyone loves a comeback story. Some denim trends that were left behind in the past have made their big comebacks in 2010. Denim trends in the past are not always bad—some just need to be updated in order to look fresh and modern. Case in point: the denim on denim look. By wearing distinctly different denim top and denim bottom, you can create a classic American style that looks put together without trying too hard. Cargo jeans are also another big comeback this year. This time around however, the cargos are skinny, not baggy and wide, with smaller pockets on each side for a more feminine silhouette.
Which is not to say, of course, that wide leg jeans didn’t make their very own come back. Wide-leg jeans, from low to high rises, was a huge 2010 denim trend as well.
Odd Denim Sightings
During the winter Olympics past February, the US snowboarding team was spotted crossing the finish line wearing denim jeans! This is definitely an odd place to wear jeans but its presence in sports, especially snowboarding, has only cranked up the denim’s cool factor.
And finally, in the era of the snuggie where comfort rules, someone invented jeans that are supposedly made for comfort…in this case, maybe a little too much comfort. The “pajama jeans” are made out of cotton and spandex, but was designed to look like jeans and of course, feel like sweat pants. Everyone loves clothes that are comfortable but when your jeans start resembling sweat pants, we doubt that you’re actually making a conscious effort to look nice so we should draw the line here people and leave this trend behind.
Whatever caught your attention in 2010, we know that this New Year will bring more note-worthy moments in the denim realm and we’ll be here, waiting to write about it. With that said, Happy 2011 Denim Lovers!
posted by: Eunice Tanos on December 30, 2010 at 3:28 pm
filed under:Misc Musings
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--Helen Mirren, Academy Award winning actor. (InStyle Magazine, August 18, 2011.)
--Brian Scalabrine, Power Forward, Chicago Bulls of the NBA.