Black jeans get a weird reputation. Somewhere along the way, they became the “safe” choice. In other words, a basic item everyone needs in their closet. And that’s all fine and good, but outfits with black jeans can be ‘Jodiefied’ to be anything but ordinary.
Quote of the day: “I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it.” Thomas Jefferson
That’s exactly what my crew and I played with in today’s outfits. Each of us started with black jeans and then added something different to make the look feel vibrant, intentional, and fun.
Because if you think black jeans are basic… I hope we can change your mind.
Insider details: You’ll see my mom’s photo in the title photo, but she accidentally wore brown jeans instead of black. Thus, I didn’t include her outfit. But you’ll notice she wore a great vest and a men’s tie as a necklace to give it sass.
Before we get to the outfits, let’s give black jeans the credit they deserve.
Black denim has a few magical qualities:
Think of black jeans like the little black dress for your bottom half. The base might be simple, but the styling possibilities are endless.
I hope you join my email Family. It’s the place where I share things even before creating on my blog. It’s also my space for fun and positive content. In addition, you also get my free eBook when you sign up, but that’s not the best part.
The best part is being part of my community, where we inspire and lift each other up.
Valerie proved that one of the easiest ways to elevate an outfit with black jeans is simply adding color. And not just 1 fun color but a bunch of them.
I would say that her bright pink top instantly changes the vibe. Instead of looking neutral or understated, the outfit feels energetic and joyful.
She didn’t stop there either. Orange sandals and turquoise accessories give the outfit a rainbow of happiness, yet for those who think there can be ‘too much’ color in an outfit, the black jeans ground the look.
Details:
-I Love how Valerie added a brown and pink print scarf around her neck.
-Turquoise jewelry really spices up any outfit, even if you don’t live in the SW. Do you need more examples? We’ve shown many options of colors to wear (and not to wear) with turquoise jewelry.
-This is the perfect case of how a different color shoe is incredible.
For my look, I decided to lean into pattern mixing. And I even worked with subdued colors as a fun challenge for me.
I count 4 print pieces: the blouse, jacket, booties, and cap are all different versions of a brown print in different tones, shapes, and sizes.
Again, like Valerie’s look, since the jeans are neutral, they keep the whole look grounded.
Pattern mixing can feel scary for beginners, but I consider it one of my favorite tricks for making outfits feel creative and expressive instead of predictable.
Stylist Tip: One school of thought could be that this blazer has so many different details that you should keep the rest of the outfit simple. Well, I say hogwash to that. Instead, why not add more?
Details:
-It wasn’t planned that both Valerie and I would carry a turquoise purse, but great minds think alike.
-I added a large crystal brooch to the brim of the hat.
-The brown plaid blouse has a tie in the front, but I wrapped it around my neck to keep it out of the way.
Lesley chose the assignment about playing with shape and silhouette to make her black jeans feel fun and fabulous.
Her ruffle-sleeve blouse already brings drama and movement. But then she layered an open vest on top, which gives even more flow to the look.
Proportions are one of those words that I didn’t understand 10 years ago, so here are some ideas to use with your outfit with black jeans:
Details:
-Black purses can also be thought of as somewhat boring, so Lesley shows that a textured one is the answer to that issue.
-Pink suede shoes (that don’t match the vest, as they are a different shade of pink) bring sass to the bottom of the outfit.
I had more ideas than what we are showing, but I didn’t have more models at my disposal. Thus, you have to use your imagination with these 2 other ideas to Jodiefy your outfit with black jeans.
Shoes can completely transform an outfit.
And while the 3 of us wore fun shoes, this idea can work when the rest of the outfit is basic. It would be like wearing a red shoe with a black dress…it’s meant to stand out and be interesting.
It’s no different than how we answered the question of whether your shoes have to match. Of course, they don’t, and it creates a fabulous look when they don’t.
When the shoes are interesting, they instantly elevate the entire outfit.
Texture is another secret weapon when styling black jeans.
Instead of focusing only on color or pattern, think about fabrics that add depth and richness.
Textures are easy to incorporate in winter, but if you struggle with the warmer temperatures, here are a couple of options:
-silk
-lace
-crochet
I’ve talked about mixing textures in spring if you want some outfit examples.
Even an all-black outfit becomes incredibly interesting when different textures are layered together.
Black jeans don’t have to be boring. Because, as I always say, your outfit is not just about a single clothing item. It’s how you pair everything together.
Stylist tip: Think of your black jeans as a blank canvas instead of the star of the show. Create fun with all of the other elements.
When you incorporate fabulous items, then your outfit with black jeans becomes anything but basic.
While I don’t wear my black jeans much, I do believe they have a place in our closet, and that place can be anything but boring.
Thank you for visiting my space on the internet. I like to showcase how it’s never too late to look great for women of any age, size, or working with any kind of budget.
I feel I’m here to help move beyond the fashion rules of yesterday and evolve. Style and clothes are made to give you joy. Not cause us Stress because we are worried about what others think.
My hope is that you get ideas and inspiration from my crew and me. It’s not about copying what we wear, but about using what you already have and updating items along the way.
Most of all, it’s getting us to think differently and dare I say, have fun.
Jodie Filogomo is a retired cosmetic dentist and fashion blogger behind Jodie’s Touch of Style, where she has been helping women over 50 experiment with style in fun, creative ways for over 12 years.
Find out more about the crew, because I love to showcase all ages, body shapes and women who love different styles.
The post Think Outfits With Black Jeans Are Basic? Not Anymore appeared first on Jodie’s Touch of Style.
