Antik Denim

The blue jean is truly one of the all-time best inventions in the apparel industry. It's the ultimate basic - clean, simple, and capable of going in any direction you take it, wearable on a wide range of body types and completely workable in virtually every closet. One minute, it can be crisp and classic, the next, completely rockstar sexy - all with just a switch of your supporting pieces. There are jeans at the high end and the low, worn on celebrities and debutantes to everyday fashionistas, moms, grandmoms, even little kids. They last forever, rarely go out of style, and can be found in virtually any store in any city. Add to it that care is as easy as it gets and you've got the absolute perfect piece. It's no wonder these babies have been in business since the 1800s!

Happily, plenty of designers have caught on, offering literally dozens of styles, brands, washes and cuts to fit virtually every body and budget. On the downside, this also means that every couple of weeks, we're bombarded by a new "it" jean, a fabulous must have we absolutely must acquire. While it's opened up the doors to some fantastic options, it's also made buying denim downright confusing and complicated. This past week, we sent out to make some sense of it all, with the end result our first ever Denim Shoot Out - a two-part series on the big styles, cool cuts and hot lines coming out of the denim market...

Antik - This novelty style hit the scene this past winter and has grabbed tons of fans as a result, but we weren't entirely convinced. The cut, materials and washes are nice - it's available in dark or light denim hues to give a few options. The shape is a bit curvy (wide in the hip, snug in the jean, flared at the bottom) so for some body types, these jeans will be very flattering. However, the problem we had was with the pockets - they're large and placed low, which historically isn't the most flattering, even with the best of booty. Add to it that the noisy detailing draws attention to the rear, and this may not be the ideal combination. On the plus side, It's 34" inseam is great for longer lengths, though shorter girls should use caution - if you take too much off at the bottom, there's a risk of breaking the line and it'll make you look stumpy (keep 'em as long as you can and wear with a heel). The price is staggering - $200! Not the best range for a novelty jean. Sizing appears to run a bit small - try before you buy if possible... Read More…