When considering the purchase of a pair of expensive ($200) black skinny jeans a few months ago, I mentioned to the sales associate "I don't know--black denim fades so quickly and the fact that these particular jeans fit so snug, I'm sure they'll shrink with washing, should I go up a size?"
The sales associate looked at me as though I'd been living on another planet and she slowly and patiently explained to me that denim doesn't require much laundering and in fact most jeans feel, look and wear much better when they are not washed more than a few times a year. And in fact, according to our 20-something editor, Maggie, in order to get the best jean fit there is a certain amount of squeezing necessary, which sometimes include walking lunges.
Won't they smell eventually? "Well, first of all, denim isn't to be worn to run marathons" my jeans expert tells me, "nor should you work in the yard or wash the car in them." Black skinny jeans, in particular, are to be worn as you would wear any fancy item. Should they take on a smell, such as what happens when exposed to smoke, you simply carefully fold your jeans to the size of a laptop and insert in freezer overnight. In the morning, move the iceberg denim from the freezer to the dryer, set on fluff for 10 to 15 minutes, and voila a relatively fresh pair of jeans, sans smell.
Should the waistband expand or the rear take on saggy britches appearance, again simply toss in dryer, this time with a little heat for a quick minute to bring back the natural stretch. Do this with caution however, as the more time in a heated dryer, the more quickly you'll lose color.
My expensive black skinny jeans are on now on their 10th wearing and going strong. I have found an item at the local Tide Dry Cleaners that I love, love, love. It is a fabric freshener that you spray on garments to revitalize them. Even so, I am approaching the dreaded first washing...but I have to say, that if they don't weather it well, I'll have enjoyed them for about $20 per wear.
The sales associate looked at me as though I'd been living on another planet and she slowly and patiently explained to me that denim doesn't require much laundering and in fact most jeans feel, look and wear much better when they are not washed more than a few times a year. And in fact, according to our 20-something editor, Maggie, in order to get the best jean fit there is a certain amount of squeezing necessary, which sometimes include walking lunges.
Won't they smell eventually? "Well, first of all, denim isn't to be worn to run marathons" my jeans expert tells me, "nor should you work in the yard or wash the car in them." Black skinny jeans, in particular, are to be worn as you would wear any fancy item. Should they take on a smell, such as what happens when exposed to smoke, you simply carefully fold your jeans to the size of a laptop and insert in freezer overnight. In the morning, move the iceberg denim from the freezer to the dryer, set on fluff for 10 to 15 minutes, and voila a relatively fresh pair of jeans, sans smell.
Should the waistband expand or the rear take on saggy britches appearance, again simply toss in dryer, this time with a little heat for a quick minute to bring back the natural stretch. Do this with caution however, as the more time in a heated dryer, the more quickly you'll lose color.
My expensive black skinny jeans are on now on their 10th wearing and going strong. I have found an item at the local Tide Dry Cleaners that I love, love, love. It is a fabric freshener that you spray on garments to revitalize them. Even so, I am approaching the dreaded first washing...but I have to say, that if they don't weather it well, I'll have enjoyed them for about $20 per wear.
