Work Basics: We Begin Again, with Jeans

Last week, I made the decision to move my small law practice to a larger firm.  The thing that sucks about being self-employed is that everything is on you — you work all day, then you do the books, and the marketing, and the admin work.  And as I looked at the next year of my life, I needed more stability and less stress.  I needed paid maternity leave, a 401k match, and someone else to keep the books and answer the phones.  But my wardrobe is not ready for this change.

I talked about this decision last night in my Instagram Live, and several of you messaged me to say that you’re in a similar boat.  Your employers are bringing people back to the office or you’re changing jobs.  Maybe you’ve gained or lost weight during the pandemic.  And you need to get back to basics.

So let’s begin again together.  And let’s start with jeans.

Why jeans?  Because many employers are more casual today than they were at the start of the pandemic.  And because — unless you’re into the 20-something Mom Jeans with the high waists and the cropped, wide legs — jeans for work are hard to find right now.

These Wit & Wisdom Ab-Solution Jeans (also in petite) are constructed to provide ‘booty lift’ and stomach slimming.  But unlike Spanx which constrict and bind, the jeans smooth and lift and also make the jeans more comfortable to wear for long periods.  Plus, no waist gapping when you sit or bend over.

The narrow bootleg opening is flattering on many body types.  And in this dark wash, it’s a dressier jean that looks great with a top and blazer or a nice sweater.

Need shoes for this?  Point toes are the way to go.  I like these Trotters flats and these Vionic flats.

Wit & Wisdom has bootcut jeans that also come in plus-size.  Oh, and did I mention that they’re under-$100?  Yeah, that’s a nice feature.

Love a wide-leg jean?  The Seven Dojo Jean, has been my favorite wide, slightly flared cut since college.  They’re wide without being baggy.  Add a pair of high heels or heeled boots, and you get the best of the 1970s flare in a style that is perfect for work.

The Farrah jeans from AG are still, even a decade later, my favorite.  The waist is high, but not too high.  They stretch for movement and comfort, but don’t fall down or get loose as the day goes on.

This super black color is the only one I replaced when I went up a size.  I’ll replace the blue denim later, but this black was a must for me.  It looks so good with a black sweater or a black top and blazer.

Looking for a less expensive alternative?  I’ve tried on these jeans from Good American and they have a similar look and construction.

I’m about to be an associate at a medium-sized firm, so I need to prepare myself to be working on Saturday.  (Deep breaths.)  These frayed hem jeans from Kut from the Kloth are the jeans I can’t stop wearing.  They sold out on Nordstrom, and at Macy’s, so clearly I’m not the only one who loved them.

The frayed hem is a nice detail, and the lighter wash makes them more casual.  They make a similar style in plus-size.

One more style before we go.  If you’re not ready for jeans, that’s okay.  Chico’s has you covered.  Yes, that Chico’s.  No, you don’t have to wear it with the zebra-printed kerchief tunic.  But this retailer has a whole line of pull-on jeans that look like denim and wear like leggings.

Shown are their straight-fit pull-on jeans.  The waistband is flat front like a legging, so you may want to wear a shirt to cover it.  Also, for sizing, Chico’s sizes are totally different than most retailers sizing.  In a Chico’s jean, I would be a size .5 or 1, which translates to 6 or 8.  So make sure to check the size guide, and even then, I air on sizing down.  But the sizes run from 0-22 US, so it’s a wide range.

Do you have a favorite style of denim for work?  If so, share them in the comments.  It’s going to be a long road back to the office, and feeling we look our best might make it a little easier.

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