my edited closet: jeans

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Some of you have been asking about what exactly I have left after the Great Closet Cleanout of 2012.  I’ve been trying to figure out how to photograph everything, but the lighting in our actual closet is terrible and it seems awkward to just jumble my wardrobe on the bed and take a picture of the pile.

Also, the very idea of that makes me itchy.

I keep getting the same question over and over: What do you mean when you talk about a “tightly edited” closet? What I really mean is that I only have pieces that I’m actually wearing, right now (weather permitting, of course). Let’s take a peek at what’s inside my closet, shall we? Starting with the universal basic: jeans.


I own four pairs of jeans. Yes, really: four pairs. That’s it! Unless you also want to count a pair of skinny corduroys as jeans, which I probably should because I wear them like jeans. So four pairs of jeans and one pair of cords.

The red skinnies and the cords are relatively new purchases; I picked up the cords at the end of last summer, and the red jeans this past winter. The two pairs of GAP jeans are from three years ago, and the Old Navy skinnies are maybe four years old. I hand-wash the red jeans; the others all go in the washing machine, inside out, in cold water. The cords go in the dryer, but everything else gets line-dried.

I don’t love shopping for jeans, and I refuse to settle for jeans that don’t fit right. When I find a pair that works for me, I baby them because I want them to last and last. I’m funny that way.

Your turn: How many pairs of jeans do you own? And how are you feeling about that number? Is it working for you — or are you hording jeans that don’t fit, or scrambling to find jeans you really love?

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25 thoughts on “my edited closet: jeans”

  1. I have those Old Navy Diva skinny jeans–bought for a song a few years ago–and they are absolutely my go-to jeans. I should probably buy another pair, or three. I have about 10-12 pairs of jeans, but that’s coming off grad school where I wore jeans every single day. I imagine in the next few years that number will dwindle.

    • That’s an interesting way to look at it. I would have to put myself in the same category as you. I was initially “OMG! I have way too many pairs of jeans compared to other people!” But I hadn’t considered the grad school factor and how my jeans will probably drop off as I move into a professional setting and as I get my weight to stabilize (in that I won’t want to hold on to jeans in multiple sizes just in case). Thanks for that way of looking at things. I feel more normal now.

      • I think it’s also important to remember that there is no “right” number here — I don’t really wear jeans all that much (wait until we get to the “other pants” category — seriously) so having a very small selection of jeans works for me. But for other people, more jeans is a necessity.

        What really matters, I think, is that you’re thinking about what you have and why it’s in your closet.

  4. I have 6, plus the same pair of Gap skinny cords you have (but I don’t consider those jeans). (An aside: I love those cords, except I find the fit kind of strange. The waist is huge even when everything else is skin-tight.)

    But of my 6 pairs of jeans, 4 of them are repeat jeans in 2 sizes. Does that make sense? Like, I have the Land’s End UltraFit Audrey Slim Legs in size 2 and size 4 (different colors though), and I have a pair of Target boot-cuts in 2 and 4 as well. This is because when I got both styles, I was sort of between sizes and going through body changes, and I loved the styles so much I got both sizes in each. I can get by with wearing both at different times, what with belts and those awesome insta-button thingies (best invention ever!), plus it’s sort of nice to have some wiggle room for those days when I’m not at my slimmest.

    My husband thinks 6 pairs of jeans is ridiculous, but I point out that I’m a SAHM, and therefore these are my work clothes AND my weekend clothes.

  5. I have 4 pairs. One pair of Talbot’s black boot cut jeans that I bought several years ago, one pair of Coldwater Creek dark rinse skinny jeans that I bought a couple of years ago on a whim, and 2 pairs of Levi’s dark rinse straight leg jeans that I just bought this year due to weight loss. I have worn the Levi’s a bunch and I’m hoping to figure out ways to wear the skinny jeans with what I already have in my closet. Susan I really appreciate your help in steering me towards the Levi’s. I couldn’t be happier with them.

  6. Um, so, 3? I have a pair of “sexy boyfriend” jeans from the gap, a pair of “perfect boot cut” from the gap (which I really don’t like but they fit well and aren’t horrible so I wear them) and a pair of boyfriend capri summer jeans from BR. I keep thinking I want a pair of colored jeans but don’t know what color to get or if I’d really wear them so I haven’t bought any yet. I’m thinking about it.

    • I was also on the fence about the colored jeans, which is why I opted for the Old Navy pair (for under $30) rather than something more pricey. I also suspect that by next winter I very well might be over the whole red jeans thing, and it will be easy to part with these because they weren’t an investment.

  7. I have 3 pair – Gap Long and Leans (even though I am neither), Old Navy Sweetheart, and JAG pull-on jeans.

    I love the Old Navy ones when they first come out of the wash (although I do put them in the dryer) but throughout the day, they expand by about another 1/2 size, so by the end of the day, I have to keep tugging them up. As a result, I hardly wear them all day and I wash them way too often.

    My favorites are the JAG pull-on jeans – I love not having the bulkiness of a button and zipper and the rise is a little higher with some stretch around the waist, so they are slimming also.

  8. Although I also preach the gospel of the edited closet, I have to confess that I have succumbed to a weakness for denim lately. Maybe it’s because there are so many different washes and cuts to choose from these days!

    So I have … er … a lot. Habitual medium wash bootcut, Habitual black cobra patterned skinnies, Gap 1969 Perfect Bootcut, Paige Hidden Hills bootcut, Madewell Wideleggers, Calvin Klein cropped medium wash skinnies, Hudson ankle-length skinnies, Uniqlo super dark wash skinnies, LOFT sailor pant style denim, and Hudson dark wash bootcuts.

    I need an intervention! ;)

  10. Oh my goodness, I don’t know how many pairs of jeans I have – I will count when I get home. I would guess 15-20, but I only wear a few regularly (and I HATE skinny jeans (on me) – all mine are either boot cut, trouser or wide-legged). My favorites right now are Anne Taylor curvy fit. Based on your numbers, I need to go through my jeans and be ruthless. Whichever ones I don’t wear, I will get rid of! (or at least hide for a while, to see if I really miss them). Thanks for this post!

  11. I have two pairs that I don’t wear much–a pair of bootcut St. John’s Bay jeans that I roll up to be boyfriend-style and a pair of Sweetheart skinnies in Hudson wash from Old Navy. I mostly wear skirts and dresses because my husband prefers it and I don’t really look that good in pants anyway.

  12. At least 5-1 skinny colored, 1 black, 1 white, 2 regular denim. Plus, one pair that’s pretty much just for hanging out at the property and doing ranch (dirty) work. I’m not even counting my other casual pants. Apparently I like clothes. BUT, I do get rid of things I don’t wear-promise.

  13. Oooh, I really like that you are doing this- listing your closet items and showing us! Thanks for being so responsive to people’s requests/questions.

    I also have a lot of jeans: Old Navy straight red, PacSun skinnies, Levis straight, Gap cobalt blue skinnies, Gap dark wash skinnies, NYCO dark skinny jeggings, J Crew straight white jeans, HM black jeggings, Gap boyfriend midwash… these are just the ones that I wear fairly regularly. I don’t really do skirts or dresses as much.

    This is a great post- reflecting on just the jeans category in my closet is helping me think of some pairs I could get rid of.

  14. Wait! Where are the Lands End audrey slim jeans? Just curious. They were my faves but the dye bleeding and stretching out has led me back to Gap.

  16. 0 pair of jeans. I have one pair of capris in dark denim trouser-ish material… and enough skirts and dresses, but no jeans. I’m short and more than a size 12, so usually I buy jeans & pants in the summer when the cropped/capri length jeans are on sale….they are then regular length on me (just above my ankle).

  17. I only have one or two pair that I’m wearing at any given time, but this is the price I pay for an ever-fluctuating weight. Sigh.

    Anyway, the only pair of jeans I usually wear at any size are trouser cut jeans. To me, they are the perfect style. They turn everything — a blazer, a blouse, even a t-shirt — into an Outfit. Capital O. My favorite pair is a very, very thin and very, very dark denim and they are perfect day or evening. When I want to go very dressy, I have a pair that are a bit tighter in the waist, fitted throughout, and slightly flared in the leg — super sexy but still comfortable. And a much more flattering look on my body than skinny jeans.

    If you want to add a 5th pair to your well-edited closet, I would definitely recommend a great trouser cut pair!

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