Trend Alert: The Controversial Skinny Pants

You cannot fool me. You can call them straight, skinny, even cigarette pants but to me they are all just as horrific as the original fashion sin against the female body: the tapered jean. The first few times I saw this tight pant trend appear on the runway, I felt smug knowing that most of us learned our lesson after the 80s and left the skintight jeans to the models and those who have had a difficult time parting with teased bangs and scrunchies. But much to my chagrin, the paint-on pant has leaked to the street and all of my favorite jean brands are pushing them as the latest and greatest. So why don’t I just stick to my boot cut and turn the other denim-clad cheek? Because I’m jealous. Belt a long striped shirt and you’re Pat Benatar. Add some black kohl liner in a cat-eye and you’re suddenly a mod sensation. Shorten the hem and pair them with pretty heels and you’re flirty in a fifties sort of way. The skinny pant is gloriously retro if done right but it is tacky and oh-so unflattering at its worst. And as a girl with a little bit of thigh, these pants are just plain dangerous. So can us non-models get away with this trend? I say yes, but with a bit of careful outfit planning. Avoid form-fitting tops, and look for shorter versions of the tight jean that you can wear with a heel to draw attention to a lovely slender ankle rather than to trouble zones. I personally swear by the Skinny 503 by Levis. Find it at levisstore.com.

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