Blame it on the ongoing '90s nostalgia, but I'll admit that I'm still drawn to the silhouettes of my youth. (Case in point: I still haven't met a sleek spaghetti strap LBD that I haven't liked.) Recently, I had a sudden pang of style sentimentality for my middle school wardrobe—and in particular, I've been on the hunt for an elevated version of the belt and jeans pairing that was basically my eight grade uniform.
Now, I wasn't exactly a beacon of fashion at that age; a typical #ootd was an unbuttoned U.S. Postal Service shirt over a baby tee and probably cargo pants (ew) with Doc Martens, finished off with a slide belt. (See, told you.) So when I spotted these belted wide-legged jeans at LA label Cotton Citizen's Melrose Place shop the other week, I knew that I could redeem myself for my many confused outfit choices of 1998.
The comfy, relaxed fit is roomy enough to move in—a must if I expect to be chasing one of my kids—without feeling like I'm tripping all over my hem or wearing those flappy elephant ears-esque JNCOs. (FYI, the revived brand shuttered for good earlier this year.)
The super-long matching belt is a grown-up take of the rainbow web one I used to wear, and I dig that the stretchy fabric is pretty forgiving at the waist on days when I've overdone it at brunch. Oh, and they're made right here in L.A., too.
I'll be wearing this with a black chunky knit sweater, a simple rose gold chain necklace, and pointy-toed mules if I'm in a casual-fancy situation; on casual-casual days, I'll swap the shoes with my trusted pair of Converse sneakers. And if I'm in particularly matchy-matchy mood, I might even wear it with the cropped jacket—but maybe without the belly-baring (hey, I never said I was going full-on me in nineties).
Shop: Cotton Citizen Boyfriend Jean, $345; also available at Cotton Citizen, 8463-2 Melrose Pl., Los Angeles, CA 90069
