FASHION/STYLE : Jeans are the ultimate craze today

Do you have what it takes to be trendy? If you have always wondered, you are not alone; plenty of people, today, wonder if they can ever become trendy. It takes a creative aptitude, a point of view, fashion knowledge — and all of this wrapped up in a package of unbridled passion. Gone are the days of ‘throw it on’. There are plenty of fashion tips from magazines, TV celebrity channels and internet that will save you from the ‘fashion police’. Throw a blazer on to pull the stylish, yet maintain a professional look, and get ready to stand out from the crowd. This week, our focus is on jeans. Jeans have clearly come a long way since their work-wear roots and are now a well established wardrobe staple. There are varieties of jeans available in shops, but knowing the latest trends will help you to own the up-to-date styles and designs. Today, people spend a large sum of money on jeans, and of course jeans make people look stylish, trendy and lively. Skinny, boot cut, designer jeans have clearly got the fashion market sown up, as they continue to enjoy unbridled sales success. One of the biggest trends in jeans at the moment is raw denim, referring to jeans that have not ever been treated or washed with chemicals. While at first they are stiff and almost feel like a corset for your legs, they will over time both expand and conform to your body, becoming unique to your shape. There are so many different finishes available in today’s market. Trouser-style jeans are also on the scene. This is a nice change of pace from the normal jean style. They have more of a classic cut like trousers. Slightly tailored, with a fuller leg and side slit pockets, this is the perfect candidate for a go-to-work jeans. Today, we do not only wear jeans lounging in front of the TV, but we are also happy to wear them for a night out or for a day at the office. According to Omar Ndikumana, who sells jeans in Nyamirambo market, tight jeans are also hot items on market and their demand is high. “Many people, especially girls flock in looking for tight jeans. They love them and if one has enough money they will buy more, in several pairs and in different colours,” Ndikumana says. “Tight jeans bring out a person’s body structure clearly, and make them look sexy,” he adds. For most teenagers, jeans are the most valuable player of the wardrobe. Usually, this is not because they are the most stylish or inexpensive piece of clothing, it is because of their adaptability and comfort. “Tight jeans look best on me. But I wear straight jeans a lot because they are fantastic and comfy. But I also wear a lot of skirts,” says Jackie Uwera, a student at Lecyee de Kigali. Sandra Mutesi, who confesses to being obsessed with jeans, claims that she owns countless pairs of jeans.“I love jeans and every time I go out for shopping, I find myself buying a pair of jeans, even if I didn’t intend to,” says Mutesi. However, tight, thong showing jeans, as worn by the likes of Ciara, Paris Hilton, and Kim Kardashian, have also been the subject of a more recent health warning. Get the right style for your bodyNot sure what style best suits your figure? Here are five quick tips. 1. If you carry weight around your tummy and hips, choose jeans with a clean, flat front and minimal distressing and fading. Real Simple.com 2. Avoid tiny pockets, as well as pockets that are too far apart, because they’ll make your butt look oversized, according to Jeans-and-accessories.com 3. Skinny jeans, which are also known as cigarette pants, look best on slender body types and long legs. They’re unflattering on shorter or more full-figured women and will actually make your legs look thicker and stubbier. 4. Height also matters. 5. If you are five foot, four inches or less, buy jeans in petite sizes because they have shorter rises, leg lengths and inseams. Ends