Closet Edit | 4 Styles of Jeans to Get Rid Of

Get rid of the outdated to make room for the new on-trend styles!

Denim styles have changed drastically in the last few years. For a long time, low- and mid-rise skinnies and jeggings ruled. We saw the rise of distressing, ripping and chewed-up hems. But the only thing constant is change, and it’s time to get rid of the old to make new for the new.

So gather all your jeans and evaluate them using the tips below!

THE RIGHT RISE

GET RID OF JEANS THAT: The rise is too low

REPLACE THEM WITH: Mid-rise or high-rise styles

Jeans rise is the distance from the middle of the crotch seam (right between your legs) to the top of the waistband. It usually ranges from 7 inches to 12 inches. The interpretation of rise levels is all over the board, but they are generally as I show in my second slide. HOWEVER, the actual inches isn’t the important part. It’s where the jeans sit on your body:

Low rise: Rests at the hip bones. Elongates the upper body.

Mid-rise: Rests between the navel and the hips bones. Balances the upper and lower body.

High-rise: Rests at the natural waistline. Elongates the legs.

TOO SKINNY?

GET RID OF JEANS THAT: Are skin-tight skinnies or jeggings

REPLACE THEM WITH: Higher-rise slim fit jeans

Get rid of jeans that you have to paint on and opt for a slim-fit jean.

But don’t worry, you don’t have to say goodbye to all your skinnies. They’re great to wear with tall boots. Just make sure your skinnies have a contemporary style: Higher rise and slightly relaxed leg.

HOW MUCH DISTRESSING?

GET RID OF JEANS THAT: Are overly distressed or ripped

REPLACE THEM WITH: Jeans with subtle distressing

While distressed jeans aren’t going anywhere, HOW distressed they are is. Say goodbye to the super-distressed jeans and those with lots of rips and holes. Cleaner styles reign supreme.

But, distressing CAN add interest to a pair of jeans. Just go for a pair with subtle distressing. It’s a much cleaner look.

CRAZY HEMS

GET RID OF JEANS THAT: Have super chewed hems or step hems

REPLACE THEM WITH: Raw hem jeans

Chewed hems. Frayed hems. Step hems. For awhile, it seems like every pair of jeans at retailers had something crazy going on with hems. They may have had a moment, but the moment is gone.

Opt instead for a raw hem. You can even cut jeans currently in your wardrobe. It’s easy! Check out my blog post to learn how to do it.

PRO TIP: If you’re not ready to get rid of your chewed hem jeans, cut off most of the fringe to get a cleaner look.