My dad has spent a fair amount of his time in academia, specialising in economics and politics. (You can buy his must-read on Marx here). He is very interested in that stuff and sometimes I like to say to him things like “What will happen with Brexit?” or “Who is going to win the election?”
He will look up from his book, cross his eyes and hang his mouth open, then say “It’s not a good idea to try to predict the future.” Another favourite phrase of his is “It’s too soon to tell.” For example: “Dad, how has the suffragette movement affected social mobility?” Answer: “It’s too soon to tell.”
It took twenty or thirty years for me to understand in particular his shyness when speculating about the future. Don’t clever people always strut about all over the place saying “The housing market it going to crash” and “Trump is going to win – and get us all killed” and “If you drink the rest of that bottle of wine you’re going to regret it, Esther”?
Why would you not, if you knew a lot about these things, make predictions? What’s not cool about being an oracle?
But maybe what he meant by this is that second-rate clever people strut about making these sorts of predictions. First rate clever people stand to the side placing bets on both outcomes, looking to lay off their bet for a profit when the result becomes more clear.
Which brings me to skinny jeans – and cross-body bags. But mainly skinny jeans.
Fashion people have been trying to kill off skinnies for a long time. And I, too, a few months ago went “Oh, skinnies are over, cross-bodies are over” – but I kind of knew even at the time I was wrong.
Skinnies and cross-bodies are just too handy, they’re too practical, like wearing flats. The minute fashion allowed women to free their hands, run about in flat shoes and keep their jean hems dry, it was like we were let out of prison. We finally experienced life – work, parties, travel – the same way that men did: with our hands free and painless feet. Why would we ever want to go back?
Fashion people this winter would like you to wear this sort of caper from Zara, re-formed jeans with an asymmetric hem.
And that’s fine if you live in a warm, dry place. But we don’t and this winter, in this country, it is going to rain. And then it’s going to be cold. And then it’s going to rain, and be cold and then it’s going to be windy. And so what we really need to do is wear some trousers that we can tuck into some boots to keep our ankles and feet from going blue.
Personally, I’m bored with seeing these sorts of jeans in magazines and I would feel like a horrible try-hard wearing these. But I’ve also yet to find a skinny jean that doesn’t send me into a rage by 3pm.
What’s the answer? I’m afraid it’s just too soon to tell.
I’m afraid you’re right, it IS too soon to tell. I think the skinniest will stay in until after welly boot season is over then hems will start to widen.
As for cross body bags, I’ve been doing them since I was a teenager and have no intention of stopping
Skinny jeans won’t go out of fashion (think Kate Moss) they are a classic and way too practical, the problem is staying skinny so they look good!
I wear a kind of straightish leg a lot of the time, (I’ve kept that up to some extent through the whole skinny phase as though I’m size 10 I’m hourglass and they just suit me better) but wet day at the zoo yesterday and the skinnies came out. They are going strong with everyone I know, almost without exception. Where will it end?! Have a good holiday, think of me getting cold-shouldered in Devon x
You can pry my Pieces high waisted super skinny black jeans off my cold dead body. When I see myself in them I feel winched in, put together, slim, streamlined and FABULOUS. What happened to wearing what makes you, YOU, the wearer of fashion, feel and look good? Fashion so often misses that crucial point. I will wear my beautiful skinnies untill they turn to dust.
My answer is Gap Authentic True Skinny, they are sensibly high waisted, give like jeans used to in the olden days and are basically free with the insane number of discount codes that they send out at the moment (well, £30).
Esther – only you could get a book about Marx into a piece about jeans! Re skinnies though, I have avoided buying jeans for years as I am scared of them and hate trying things on (Hello Boden). I am not a porker, and have slim legs, but every time I have tried on skinny jeans it has been a disaster. I am cheered by the high waisted jeans mentioned above and would welcome any other tips – thank you. Ps why do yours enrage you by 3pm?
They just cling and stick around my middle and feel strangulating and awful. It’s possibly just me
I second the recommendation of Gap Authentic True Skinnies – most skinnies slide down my body by 10am and give me an attractive ‘hanging crutch plus muffin top’ look, but these seem to stay put. I have no idea why.
Thanks Alyson, you have described why I had skinny jeans. But I will give these a whirl x
The best skinnies are Paige Margot high rise. They stay up, never wrinkle or bag at the knee. Supremely brilliant things. Expensive of course, but I wear mine every day from October to May.
cost per wear babes. cost. per. wear xx
Nope, the best jeans are Hudson which cost a gatrillion pounds from Selfridges but are THE MOST flattering on the market, in particular for those slightly more hippy than they’d like. And they don’t go baggy, not even after two weeks straight on a walking holiday in Wales when they are the only thing to make you feel semi-human and not worryingly similar to your games teacher circa 2003. You know, for example.