You know those nights you thought you were staying home only to get a phone call/text message telling you to be ready to go out in a matter of minutes? Here are some suggestions for quick fixes to the last minute how-do-I-make-my-jeans-and-t-shirt-dressy dilemma:
Add a scarf. Nothing adds color and finishes a look better; worn over a plain shirt with some simple jeans this will make an outfit pop.
Ditch the flip flops. Pull on a pair of riding boots for cooler temps or a pair of wedges when the weather is warm. If you can’t decide just opt for a pair of booties! A nice pair of shoes goes a long way to adding to an outfit.
Accessorize! Just like a scarf, some nice statement jewelry makes your simple basics look like a backdrop instead of boring.
So what are your thoughts, do you have any go-to secrets to take your jeans from plain to stylish?
posted by: Bonnie Coombs on August 11, 2011 at 11:24 am
filed under:Denim 101
TAGS:
skinny jeans
Summertime is perfect for weekend plans, a quick trip out of town with perfect weather is the ideal way to recharge for the work week. Since we always have denim on the brain at INDI here are some suggestions on how to wear jeans for some of our favorite weekend trips.
Beach
What’s more perfect than a sunset stroll on the beach? Pair a loose, colorful tank with rolled white jeans and simple sandals or bare feet. You’ll be able to pull off laid back and stylish. All images courtesy of Polyvore
Mountains
Some distressed jeans tucked into a pair of good hiking boots go perfectly with a t-shirt and light cardigan. Keep accessories light, and don’t forget water! All images courtesy of Polyvore
State Fair
Light, vintage wash jeans paired with a skinny belt and woven flats are perfect for the fair. Top it all off with a light lacy blouse and you’re ready for a Ferris wheel ride. All images courtesy of Polyvore
Museums
Use the weekend to finally see that exhibit you’ve been thinking about for months. Head indoors in a classic pair of rinse bootcut jeans and a structured sleeveless blouse and get your art fix. All images courtesy of Polyvore
Those were some of our ideas for adventures in Northern California, but what are some of your weekend plans?
San Francisco is known for its finicky weather. Case in point: yesterday was about 20 degrees cooler than last year’s temperature and we are approaching the end of June! If you are planning to travel to San Francisco, don’t let our summer wind and fog get you down. Just remember to pack a great pair of denim jeans and lots of layers for the multitude of climate changes.
In preparation for your trip, we’ve gathered pictures of stylish San Franciscans and their whimsical personal style, to serve you readers as inspiration on how to dress.
Whether you plan on checking out the music scene on Filmore, shopping on Union Square or walking around Golden Gate Park, when deciding on what to pair your jeans with, don’t be afraid to mix and match. Pick a handful of bold and bright pieces to work into your wardrobe and choose to pack a pair of dark rinse jeans since you can get more use out of them. It’s possible to get by with only one pair when traveling but if you’re staying longer than a week and if you really like wearing jeans, you might want to pack more—in different leg styles. Here’s our suggestion, some pieces to include along with your jeans:
We love the look of a plaid buttoned shirt paired with flare jeans like the girl on the far right spotted on Filmore. Another thing you could try is pair your jeans with a lacey top to add dimension. Summer is also the perfect time to break out your nautical inspired pieces, you can complete your sailor-esque look with a fedora hat and skinny jeans like this girl on Union Square in the middle. Remember San Francisco is a foggy city so pairing your jeans with layers is key. If you need more advice on the best jeans for travel click here
posted by: Eunice Tanos on June 29, 2011 at 10:40 am
filed under:Denim 101
TAGS:
custom jeans,
dark jeans
Last week we defined some components that make up your favorite clothing item, jeans. Now we’re back with to continue the denim education!
Yoke
The v-shaped section at the back of jeans below the waistband is called the yoke or riser. This fabric adds curve to the seat, so the deeper the v-shape the greater the curve. This will vary on INDI jeans depending on your individual measurements.
Belt loops
To wear or not to wear a belt? That is the stylish question.
Back rise
The distance from the crotch to the top of the back waistband is the back rise. This measurement is longer than the front rise because it has a little more to go over, if you know what I mean.
Embroidery
Back pocket embroidery can be used to advertise the jeans brand, as many now have iconic designs. However, use embroidery wisely, a little goes a LONG WAY to making a statement.
Seat Area
This area is the back of the jean including the back pockets; think of it as the “part of the jean you sit on”. Since INDI jeans are custom, this area will vary depending on your personal booty.
Leg Opening
This is the width of the jeans at the hem. At INDI you can choose a leg opening, so whether the skinny leg alarms you or the bootcut is too boring, there’s a leg style for everyone.
Hope this helps simplify everyone’s favorite clothing item. Now that you can define the parts of the jean, design your own!
posted by: Bonnie Coombs on June 23, 2011 at 8:48 am
filed under:Denim 101
TAGS:
Welcome to today’s edition of Denim 101. So what, exactly, makes a pair of INDI jeans?
Waistband
The waistband is the part of your jeans that holds them up. Imagine how awkward life would be without a waistband! Our INDI women’s jeans all have contoured (curved to your body) waistbands, while our men’s jeans do not. The contoured waistband gives a tighter fit.
Coin pocket
The coin pocket completes the traditional five-pocket jean design; it sits inside the right front pocket. These days they function as a pocket that nothing actually fits in, but somehow a classic pair of jeans doesn’t feel complete without one.
Rivets
Historically these little metal studs were used to reinforce the parts of the jean that received the most stress (remember the original wearers were miners and cowboys). While still placed in high stress areas (like the edges of pockets), today these also function as decoration and a way to differentiate between brands.
Front rise
The front rise is defined as the distance from the crotch to the top of the front waistband. INDI offers rises from super low to high. Lower rises help prevent gaping (the space that appears between your waist and the jean) while higher ones help conceal a curvy tummy.
Whiskering
Whiskering is a hand-detailed treatment in which faded lines are applied to the denim to mimic the subtle creases in the area surrounding the crotch, thighs, and knees in order create a slimming effect on the hips and thighs by drawing the eye downward. You can choose several options for whiskering when designing your INDI jeans, or opt for a completely clean, undistressed, jean.
Sanding
In order to create visual interest by changing the color and texture of jeans, sand paper is carefully applied to them by hand to create wear patterns. Yes, the jeans are literally sanded! INDI offers several sanding choices, from subtle dark indigo to bold vintage distressing.
Inseam
The long seam that runs down the inner leg from the crotch to the hem is called the inseam. This measurement varies depending on the height of the wearer. Since INDI makes jeans custom to you, we can offer any inseam you need, so no more high waters or excessive hemming!
Stay tuned next week as we give you run down on more parts that make up a pair of jeans.
posted by: Bonnie Coombs on June 15, 2011 at 2:47 pm
filed under:Denim 101
TAGS:
This Father’s Day, give dad the chance to (painlessly) shop for men’s jeans. When you buy him an indi gift card, there are no crowded stores, or waiting in line. With a few simple clicks of the mouse dad can build himself the perfect fitting pair of men’s jeans in whatever wash he likes (though, depending on your particular dad’s style, you might want to keep an eye on what he comes up with). Here are a few suggestions on how to style his new indi jeans:
Weekend:
Have dad looking stylish wearing our Dark Vintage with Whiskers wash paired with a simple striped t-shirt, for a chic and casual running errands vibe.
Weekday:
Dad’s ready for work (or casual Friday) in indi’s Rinse with Subtle Sanding wash and clean cut button up shirt.
Going Out:
With indi’s Rinse wash jeans and a fitted blazer, dad is ready for a night out (now hopefully the babysitter will be on time!) All shirt images courtesy of Polyvore.
So for Father’s Day 2011, give dad the gift of custom jeans, shop indi gift cards here.
posted by: Bonnie Coombs on June 13, 2011 at 12:26 pm
filed under:Denim 101
TAGS:
Black Denim: It doesn’t get any more basic than this. We say basic because it’s a key piece that’s worn and styled to fit countless occasions. While we normally associate jeans with the color blue, today we’re switching our focus on black. Black denim may seem easy enough to pull off; the color black after all, is the easiest color to wear. Not only does it go with almost everything in your wardrobe, they’re also destined to be multi-season keepers. And while almost everyone knows that black is slimming, it can also be considered boring. That’s why we are here to show you how to wear black denim in three different ways.
First up, the night look, pair your black denim with a sharp feminine top that breaks up the solid black color of your jeans. Choose a fun necklace that livens up your ensemble that will take you straight to the evening. I personally like pairing my black skinny jeans with edgy shoes that are high but still sensible so I can actually wear them.
For a weekend day of lunch and errands, pair your black denim with a casual and preppy striped top. Gold is black’s natural pairing and for a weekend, add a pop of color by choosing gold sandals to wear with your straight-leg black denim. Just make sure the rest of your ensemble is low-maintenance. For this look especially, it’s important to be both comfortable and stylish.
For the office, the key to make black jeans acceptable for this setting is to pair your black denim with tailored pieces and dressier fabrics. Choose a chic work week basic like a black blazer to go over your top. Stick to wearing neutral colored heels, keeping everything structured and easy on the eye.
Rachel Bilson wearing black denim
So whether you’re grabbing some drinks on a night out, enjoying an afternoon lunch with friends, or putting hours at work, you can dress up your black denim.. Put them on one leg at a time and you’re good to go—for any situation.
posted by: Eunice Tanos on March 29, 2011 at 9:37 am
filed under:Denim 101
TAGS:
While browsing various denim-related topics I came across this Discovery Channel video on how jeans are made. If you have 4 minutes of spare time I highly recommend checking out this video, it clearly shows the automated processes that go into creating mass production jeans. It really is amazing how many specialized machines there are simply for producing jeans.
However, what struck me the most about the process were the differences between their method and ours at indi. Since our jeans are custom patterns created from the fit measurements entered by each individual customer our jeans are cut one at a time. By contrast, at the company profiled in the video a whopping 350 jeans are cut at once. Another example of the custom process versus mass production is in the back pocket, whereas this company cuts 20 pockets at a time, with our various options on back pocket style and embroidery we obviously cut these individually.
That’s not to say at indi we don’t try to be efficient when possible. Orders with the same wash, (for example vintage tint) we batch together when it comes time for laundry so this step can be completed as quickly as possible for our customers. Also, similar to the denim company in the video, many of our steps are automated. On the other hand, since our jeans are custom and therefore have different measurements and stitches required, each one is hand sewn.
This video is a fascinating look at how modern factories operate and also goes a long way to explaining how off the rack jeans are truly one size fits all body types. Here at indi we know that your body is unique and sometimes mass production, while efficient, doesn’t always cut it.
posted by: Bonnie Coombs on March 8, 2011 at 12:54 pm
filed under:Denim 101Misc Musings
TAGS:
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