Being fashionable, yet also casual, can be a difficult task. Fashion should look effortless and natural, as if we hardly thought about our ensemble for the day. Well this season, whether you are out running errands or having a casual day – do not reach for your leggings. Reach for your effortless, yet fashionable and comfortable boyfriend jeans. 

Boyfriend jeans got their name quite similar to how it sounds. Women wore their actual boyfriend’s or husband’s jeans for a more relaxed comfortable fit. Jean companies and designers caught on, and created the "Boyfriend Jean” which is made for women, but has a looser style. 

All of the designer jean brands are expanding their lines to accommodate the trend. Established brand Citizens of Humanity, founded by Jerome Dahan in 2003, created a dark wash capri jean. The folded hem gives the style a beach feel. 

Los Angeles brand, 7 For All Mankind, created an ankle length boyfriend jean. The lighter wash and slight distressed hips keep it perfect for daywear. 

Chic hippie brand, Free People, blended the boyfriend style with skinny ankle, created a relaxed fit around the hips, but a tighter fit down the leg. With jeans, however, it is much more important about how they fit your body than the price tag or logo. Shopping in Nyabugogo may be the best place to find the perfect fitting boyfriend jeans. So make a trip with your girlfriends in the coming days. 

The celebrity scene is wearing this trend many ways: some big fans? Rihanna and Katie Holmes.  For a night out, singing starlet Rihanna wore distressed boyfriend jeans. She paired with a gold, shimmer loose fitting crop top and metallic open-toed strappy shoes. For a day look, she wore her same jeans, but instead paired with a white crop top and closed toe nude shoes. 

Katie Holmes also keeps the look for day – and pairs with muted colours and large over-sized tops. To keep it feminine, she often pairs with high black leather round toe pumps.  

Former reality star and current fashionista, Kristin Cavallari, hits the trend spot on. She wore slightly distressed boyfriend ankle jeans with a white silk trapeze camisole overlaid with a canary yellow blazer. She paired with ankle strap black and white heels and an oversized black camdon Chanel tote. 

This trend – although casual and comfortable – needs to be worn with the correct pairings. It is important to counterbalance the androgyny of the jeans. So make sure to keep the rest of the ensemble feminine. You can do this by wearing high heels, or pairing with a top that shows off your figure, or feminine accessories. No matter what, the jean must be ankle length or shorter. Do not wear long boyfriend jeans. 

That’s the fashion scoop for this week. Got a thought? Trend? Style you hate? Send it my way. 

Rachel Breaux is an American living in Rwanda