We’ve seen them rocking on stage at our favourite concerts, featuring on the front covers of magazines, worn by celebrities and there children across the globe, walking down the street looking smoking hot and then on the slightly larger body that does them absolutely no justice! We’ve seen them on men and women throughout the 60’s, 70’s 80’s 90’s, 00’s both on and off trend and often with attitudes ranging from; “hot!!” to “they are way too tight!”. Now we see them probably more than any other type of pants for both sexes from ages 0 to 80! Yes I’m talking about the skinny jean. But with this mass sensation of fashion swooping the globe for at least the past 5 years, is there an age requirement? Are we too young or too old to be seen rocking a pair of skinnies? Where did they come from and when did they become cool?!?
Going back to the 19th Century, skinny cut jeans started to become popular in the 1950’s. Being seen on rock legends such as Elvis Presley undoubtedly cemented the skinny jean into it’s intrinsically linked category of ‘rock and roll’ with ‘bad boy’ connotations, of which it arguably still maintains today. After Elvis, you simply were not a true rock band unless you were seen wearing a pair of skinny jeans. In fact you’d be hard pressed to name a rock band that does not or has not worn a pair of skinnies; The Beatles, Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan in the 60’s, The Clash and Sex Pistols in the 70’s, Metallica and Slayer in the 80’s, Michael Jackson and Freddie Mercury in the 90’s and almost everyone today!
Today the beauty of fashion, the internet and the readily connected globe means that everything is accessible to everyone in almost every demographic. From $7 a pair from your larger mainstream department stores, to $120 a pair from mid to higher end labels, back down to $0.75 cents from your local second hand or thrift store and every where in between. At this exact moment in time skinny jeans can be bought everywhere in every size for your little men. I know this to be fact as I have bought all three of my boys endless pairs of skinny jeans in each of the above mentioned markets – my most recent being today at Cotton On for Kids for $10. But don’t be fooled, just because they are everywhere and at every price does not mean they are all worth it.
Being a frequent shopper for my boys, along with coming from a family of six and being the only child of four to have children who are subsequently spoilt with clothing gifts, I come with some degree of qualification when I say I have bought a lot of skinny jeans for my boys that are not worth it, whilst others have stood the test of time and been passed down from my four year old to my two year old. Here is how I would break them down:
Department store Skinny Jeans: In Australia this would be your Target, Big W or Best and Less, or Next in the UK. Fantastic shopping destinations for cheap clothes with a decent variety (assuming you shop at the start of the season) of boys wear, where I find cheap t-shirts and board shorts to be brilliant for my boys. Although I often refer to these pieces as ‘farm’ or ‘home’ clothes, the boys are able to buy funny charactered and often multi coloured tees which they love for as little as $5 and trash them or wear them everyday – with my boys it’s usually trash or stain, which is why they work. There skinny jeans however, are not so durable or cheap. If your lucky you can get a sale pair for under $10, which I have done before, but they tend to be ‘left over’ and on sale for a reason. They either fail to fit comfortable or simply do not last more than a season – perfect if you are buying for this purpose or only have one boy, but now that I have 3 and intend to recycle the boys clothes, durability is a must! However, having received several pairs of skinny chino’s and jeans from my sister from Next in the UK, the reviews are more mixed. Usually featuring different designs to what is available in Australia, the boys regular ‘NEXT’ purchases are something I look forward to receiving. Except for having only one blow out in the knee recently of my four year old’s green skinny chino’s, all of his Next skinnies have passed the test of time and been handed down to my 2 year old, with one pair of faded denim skinnies making it down to my youngest!
Above Skinnies available at www.nest.com/au from $19-$33!!
Semi-independent chain store Skinnies: I would consider these to be your Cotton On for Kids or The Kid Store. A place of which I have previously bought whole winter wardrobes for my boys, including skinny jeans and track pants, does have a slightly better track record in that there design and fit is far better than there cheaper counter part, however the cost is almost double. Again these store are brilliant to attack when they are on sale. I recently bought my oldest boys a pair of skinny slouch track pants each on sale 2 for $30 and my 2 year old a pair od very cool green skinny denim for $20, however, you’d normally be looking at paying around $30 – $40 for a pair of skinnies. As they usually make there jeans in a stretch cotton, there perfect and comfortable for the boys very physical type of play. Last season’s track pants did not make it past the season – both getting holes in the knees, however there The Kid Store skinny shorts from summer, which my eldest wore almost every day, are still going strong without fading, changing shape or losing there adjustable waist button which there Cotton On counterparts tend to do.
Available at www.thekidstore.com.au
Mid-to higher end label skinnies: These would be everything else, from labels such as Industrie and Munster to Mini Rodini and Stella McCartney. Although I haven’t personally bought skinnies from the last two brands, being readily available in Australia, I have bought the boys skinnies from both Industrie and Munster and to be honest I can’t complain! Although they were upwards of $59.95, they truly have been the best pairs of denim jeans I have bought for the boys. Not only did my 4 and 2 year old wear a black pair of Industry skinnies to my wedding, but they’ve worn them over and over again since and they have simply lasted! There made from a thicker more duarable cotton which means they fit better and are stronger, particularly around the knees, the colour has lasted and except for now being too small I could guarantee they’d last another winter or two! Hence why they’ve been neatly tucked away ready to be handed down. The same could be said for Munster. After buying a bright blue pair of skinny shorts for my 2 year in summer, I would happily recommend them for durability and fit also.
Available at David Jones or at www.industriekids.com.au
If your boy is not in a pair of skinnies this winter he is simply not rocking!! They are available everywhere, and although I did not intend to at the on set of writing this post, when it comes to skinnies you really do get what you pay for! In hindsight, I’d probably buy 2 really good pairs of mid to higher end labelled skinnies (or any denim for that matter) for the boys to guarantee they will with stand my boys rigorous style of play and be passed down to each of them then buy several pair of cheaper pairs (that usually end up being more expensive in total) that will be lucky to last a season. But wherever you shop or for what ever the purpose or intention is mini skinnies are a must for your boy this winter!!!
Perhaps my boys next pairs???
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