Mintage: The Great Jean Revue... er, Review!

I love me some denim. Maybe you've heard? Yea, I did triple denim... in the office... I'm going for quadruple next time.

BOO YAH!

Anyways - back to the point...

I am now the proud (and broke) owner of a sh!t ton of repro jeans.

I have (in order of poi-chase... er, purchase):

1. Three pairs of GAP High Waist Skinny Jeans (2 Black, 1 Blue)
2. Freddie's of Pinewood Classics
3. Freddie's of Pinewood 1940s Work Pants
4. Bernie Dexter Siren Capris in Black Denim
5. Bernie Dexter Siren Capris in Blue Denim
6. Bernie Dexter Skinny Dungaree High Waist in Black Denim
7. Vivien of Holloway 1950s Jeans in Black Denim

Whew... "Ouch" said me wallet!

I will do a proper review later with photos of my fine denim-clad azz but for now the story is:

1. Pic Unavailable - These puppies sold out fast because their reputation preceded the quality of this batch!

Bust the zipper out on me ol' Blackies. Good thing I had a spare pair. These fit great... however, the black denim fades to a Salvation Army tinge after the FIRST wash... looks more vintage than I'd like if you catch my drift! The black denim was much thicker and therefore flattering. I wore the blue jeans once but the fit on those was so horrid... the thinness of the denim paired with the thickness of the waist band gave the worst silhouette. Spit! Gross! Givin' me the Horsey Sauce Blues!

2. Freddie's Classics. Had to go up a size in these from the 1940s Work Pants because ain't no way that was gonna happen. Ah the fond memories of bathroom adventures when these were yet to be properly broken in... shudder. I really liked these at first - in the dressing room at Camden market. Buuuttttt.... uuuggghh. I have since decided the denim is a smidge to thick and the cut a smidge too wide for someone of my thigh-ular proportions. It just... was.... :: Little Mermaid gasp - sigh:: stumpy. Such an absolute shame since in my mind Freddie's has by far the best quality denim on the scene... Maybe I should give the New Jeanies a go??? So in the end I took the scissors to these and made them into shorts... I think they work ok... especially because I was able to choose the length... which is a whole other post about how impossible it is for us chubby-legged lassies to get some retro shorts that aren't hotpants!

3. Freddie's 1940s Work Pants. These! They are so the goods. The fit is incredible and makes my legs look miiiiiiles long and my waist so fly (or waspy?!?! boom! puns!). But seriously. These are a great jean and I can't imagine them not looking good on anyone. Though, disclaimer, I won't wear these without some chunky-azz platforms for extra leg-lengthening... which left a HUGE void in my life since I can't seem to manage wearing heels between the hours of "sober" and "buzzed"... so I needed a pair of casual denim that wasn't stumpy!

4. That's when I went to What Katie Did and snagged me first pair of Bernie's (which I initially wrote about in my Mintage Spending Spree post). These were the Black Denims, size Rio Grande (which will be my stage name from now on - obvs!). These fit amazing. These seriously caused a man to honk and give the boyfriend a thumbs up as we were walking down the street... hahahahahahah. It's as if all those years of shite denim lead up to this moment. These jeans were the reason I ate all those cheeseburgers and ditched soccer practice. So that my curves could be resplendent in Bernie Dexter jeans... Alas, just as all love stories come to a horrifying end (or maybe just Love Story... ugh the worst)... I am having some ishies with my babies. One of the back darts is coming undone (Mind you there are only 2 months old) and the front seem is pulling... Obviously not devastating but I get weirdly obsessed with little imperfections and so have focused on and blown these issues out of proportion... sad face.

5. Then bought the Bernie's in Blue Denim, which are available in the UK through Kittenish Behaviour and at £100, vs £120 at WKD. These are also great though aren't as thick as the black denim... which is a bit boo. And also! The way that it's just the zipper and no button! Word to the wise... this happened to a friend of mine.. ahem!.... make sure they are zipped up right and maybe use a safety pin or else yo bare azz will be walking through the airport.... SHAME.

6. Woops I lied. I actually "technically" bought the Skinny Dungarees before the Blue Siren Capris.... alas, they are sitting in LA until I collect them in July because my momz refused to spot me $200 for shipping.... GAWD MAWM WHY>!>!>!> jk.... Hoping those are awesome. Fingers crossed.

7. Now about my most recent acquisition... VoH 1950's Jeans... and finally! Some awesome casual jeans that aren't so va-va-voom as the Siren Capris but still look good with little tomboy shoesies. I lovelovelovelove them... Though there were some intial issues with the purchase... first was told the wrong size, then bought the wrong size and then when I got home I noticed the seam on the pocket was coming out so had to bike out to the shop and return them and then bought the right size online - whew. So as I sit wearing them now everything is lovely... will comment on durability a bit later as this is my first day wearing them! And then just want to add in the most roundabout non-controversial way possible... I know I am just still used to American levels of customer service.... and I can admit that I am the most socially awkward and sweaty person ever so I take full responsibility for that.... SO I am hoping I just had some off experiences! Let's put it that way! Here's hoping because I love the jeans and hope to score the sombrero skirt as well! Wow I just b*tched out of that hard. Man up, Horsey Sauce!

That's that.

Leave a comment or email me at TheYearOfGigi at Gmail.com if any questions on sizing!!

Credits: Bernie Dexter, Vivien of Holloway, Freddie's of Pinewood

Mintage: Spending Spree!!

These past three weeks have been a case study in the lack of self control present in 20-something females itching for sunshine and a little Vitamin D - I mean, what else can explain the vast quantities of hot weather apparel I purchased while sludging around London knee-deep in rain.

But in order to dilute the real issue at hand, and spread around the guilt, I will do a "X-Part Series" of reflections on my recent purchases....

First up... What Katie Did!

So I finally dragged my LAZZZzzzzzZZZzzzzY self out to Notting Hill to visit What Katie Did in the flesh. The shop was just lovely and the shop assistants both beautiful and helpful.

I had gone out there with a few missions:

1. Determine my sizing in Bernie Dexter so I can start ordering in bulk (especially the items that aren't available in the UK... which I can have sent home to LA)

2. Maaaaaaaaybe pick up a swimsuit depending on my self-esteem that day

3. Any other fun underthingies that strike my fancy.... depending on my self-esteem that day... ha!

So how did I do?

1. Everything fit... perfectly. I tried on the Capri Pants in Black Denim as well as the Beatrice Dress in Tiki Mask Print.

I was really concerned about the Capri Pants as according to the size chart I am size "non-existent" with my 29" waist and 43" hips... ok, maybe 30" and 44" hips depending on the weather and the trouble I've been up to :)

But, incredibly enough, the Large fit perfectly and were insanely flattering! I snatched these babies up! So, girls, please don't be put off by the claims of their being "very true to size" because, while they are, with a little twine and grease they will go on and actually start to give by the second time of wear (so much so I am considering that I may have to throw them in a hot wash to shrink them back down to their optimal girdle-like level of compression). Disclaimer: I am currently wearing them and was tempted to do a product shot in real life alas I've just died in the arms of Meat Mission and don't feel up to the challenge! (Below, a bonus pic from Meat Mission - it's a jazzed up memorial to the residents of Hoxton who lost their lives in WWII...)

The Beatrice dress was, as expected, incredibly flattering. Though the Tiki Mask Print is gorgeous, I just didn't feel the same way about it as I did the insanely awesome BBQ Print version:

Since I had figured out my sizing, I visited the actual Bernie Dexter online shop and dropped some serious cash on the BBQ Beatrice, the Black Dungarees (hoping they are a similar fit as the capris), and the Ginger top - to be sent home to LA and eventually put into my grubby little mitts at a slightly less instantly gratifying date.

2. Mission impossible, you say? Trying on one swimsuit and landing it the first go? Lies! But it's true, I swear. Unless WKD was piping in some kind of instant feel good vapors, this really happened. And now, a brief history of Gigi shopping for swimsuits: none.

My last one was a quickie Gap polka dot number that was actually quasi-decent given that I couldn't even be brought to try it on. Instead I just used a 30% off coupon and ran out the place before I could think twice of the implications of buying a swimsuit - that is, actually having to wear it. Before that, I had settled on a nice £10 M&S number that looked stunning on the glamourous Greek Isle getaway I had purchased it for - NOT! It was gross and though I was probably the youngest at the resort, I was by far the least glam. Sob sob sob - sob story over....

This fit beautifully! And the quality of the material is really something to be seen and felt. It just felt good on. I have a trip to San Sebastian coming up and can barely contain my excitement over how ace this is going to look in such a picturesque place... I can only hope the weather participates in my fantasies....

3. As for mission #3? Well, I suppose that's just for me to know! But let me just say that, wowee, that is an incredible selection of undergarments and the quality, feel, and fit of just about everything I tried was extraordinary. There was only one small hitch... I nearly suffocated to death amongst the ostrich feathers in the dressing room while having a go at a corselette... I guess I will always be a little bit of a weasel in that I could not figure out how to get that thing on... I guess this is why I deserve my nickname: "Scooter". Because sometimes I am just such a dweeb.

Until next time, in which we will chat: Shoes!

Credits: What Katie Did, Bernie Dexter