Deal Of The Day: Up To 60% Off Miss Sixty Jeans At Bluefly

So you're doing a little light spring shopping.... Oh, who are we kidding? You're giving your closet a head-to-toe warm weather overhaul. But while you're out snatching up the most strappy, lightweight, pastel things you can get your little mitts on, don't forget about your trusty old standby, denim. Jeans don't discriminate by season; they're a sure thing all year round. Ergo, you should be buying them all year round. If you follow this logic, here are three to try. Wear 'em today, wear 'em next month, wear 'em six months from now. It's all good.


Warmer weather calls for lighter colors, and these Extra Low Ty flares ($70, were $159) are just the ticket. Super-faded with a goes-with-everything gray tint, these jeans offer a nice break from your basic blues.

 
Everyone deserves a fabulous pair of weekend pants (and we're not talking about those Juicy Couture sweats you can spend 48 hours straight in). Pair these cropped cargo pants ($77, were $99) with an earth-toned cotton tee for a relaxed weekend vibe.


Casual Fridays call for darker, more streamlined jeans. Miss Sixty's Tommy Ones ($70, were $149) fit the bill from boardroom to bar. Matched with an appropriately high heel, a button-down and tasteful jewelry, you'll present a pulled-together front instead of falling into the dreaded Casual Friday slouchiness trap.

More sales and deals:

It's Saks' First Big Sale of the Season. Save up to 40% on women's apparel, shoes and handbags.

All figure-flattering swimwear is 25% off at One Hanes Place.

Select jackets from Marc Jacobs, Nanette Lepore and Diane Von Furstenberg are 40% off at Nordstrom.

For more sales posted by SheFinds readers, check out the message boards.

My Favorite Thing: Skinny Jeans You Can Actually Eat In

What: J. Crew Matchstick Jean in Premium Indigo ($98)

Why: For the longest time after skinny jeans came back, I maintained that because I am short and my legs look like legs, not stalks of asparagus, I could not wear them. I resisted as I watched others prance around showing off the sorts of cute flats that got lost under my wide-legged trouser jeans. Finally, purely by coincidence, I grabbed these jeans just to try on with a top that had caught my eye.

As it turns out, the top was completely unmemorable, but these jeans are superb. The dark wash can be dressed up or down, and the bit of stretch in the fabric makes them my skinny and not-so-skinny jeans; if it’s been a heavy on the carbs, light on the gym kind of week, I just hold off washing them for a few wears (TMI, I know, but an oh-so-helpful strategy). And in a world where $200-plus designer denim proliferates, snagging a fabulous staple for less than half that is just so satisfying.

Get Yours: JCrew.com

How Green Would You Go?: Drop Your Designer Jeans For A Pair Of Eco-Friendly Levi’s

I still start to giggle when I think about those old Fruit of the Loom commercials with the dancing apples and grapes, so I was dismayed to find out recently that the process to make those 100% cotton underoos is more puce than green.

As it turns out, cotton is one of the most pesticide-dependent crops in use today, accounting for over 25% of the world’s pesticide pollution and contributing heavily to the contamination of ground water and soil. In other words, your “but-I-need-a-new-pair-of-jeans” habit may be encouraging the damage of local ecosystems across the world! Eeek.

The good news is that several designers are now producing denim lines made from 100% organic cotton. (Think washed dancing apple and grapes.) Like other organic products, this cotton is produced under strict processing regulations to ensure that it is free from any harmful toxins or chemicals. The result? All-natural jeans to satisfy your habit and help you treat the world a little more kindly.

Levi’s has led the pack in the organic denim movement, when in comes to established, big-name jeans brands. The company introduced their “Levi’s Eco” line a few years ago, which are not only made entirely from organic cotton, but boast recycled zippers, rivets, and buttons and colored with a special dye made from potato starch, mimosa flower, and Marseille soap. The eco-friendly Levi’s are available in several popular fits and finishes and are embroidered with a lowercase "e" either inside the front pocket or at the bottom of the right leg of each jean to signify their green-ness.

The Levis Eco mid-rise bootcut ($68) has a great, modern silhouette and comes in three washes: midnight sheen, wendy (indigo with a soft yellow tint), and Abby (bleached-out blue).

New for spring are the Eco Skinny Jeans ($59), which are perfect in purple or one of their other pastel washes.

Boutique brand Loomstate also has a great selection of styles, fits and colors, ranging from skinny-leg pants to mini skirts. Loomstate’s Justice jean ($70), which has a bit of stretch and a classic bootcut leg, is best in the chic dirty dark wash.

Although I harbor a hippie streak, the idea of organic clothing initially gave me visions of scratchy hemp lounge pants in earth tones. This new wave is certain a welcome alternative and a move towards the positive. But all things considered, it seems to like there’s only one really effective way to go green: cut back on your clothing consumption! I propose you wear your jeans out and cut them into cute shorts when the knees rub bare. Now that’s an idea. Are you up for it? Let us know if you'd part with your favorite, but not so eco-friendly denim to go green.

Check Out These Comfy Jeans (And Get Free Shipping)--Right Here, Right Nau

I'd never heard of Nau when I tried on their jeans, so I enlisted a fashionista friend help me to evaluate the company's new women's denim line. Our unanimous verdict: four big thumbs up. The Lean Jean ($138)--soft but sturdy, fitted but not muffintop-tight, organic but not hippy--is an all-around great pair of pants. Just look how slim and sexy they are. If I had to pick a particularly pleasing feature though, it would be the relentless attention to detail: criss-crossed belt buckles embellish the waistband, cleanly cut back pockets flatter the bum, and slitted cuffs look great over boots.

These attributes visibly distinguish the Lean Jean from the hordes of dark wash skinny jeans on the market. Paired with high-heeled boots and a light tunic, they'll work at work; matched with wedge sandals and a tank, they'll take you out on the town. An excellent addtion to Nau's clothing collection.

The other item in Nau's new line is the Women's Loose but Not Slutty jean ($148), which comes with the amusing tagline, "We asked ourselves what kind of jeans women wanted to wear. Then we made them." That actually sounds pretty good to me, considering that other designers seem to contemplate the most painful thing a woman could wear, and make that. The Loose is a return to classic lines and true comfort, with raw denim and indigo-dyed yarns and a comparatively baggy fit we haven't seen in years. They're just waiting for you to take them for a walk on the beach, or a Saturday stroll around the park.

Best of all, Nau is all organic, chemical and bleach-free, and made to last. Order online soon and you'll receive free ground shipping.

Blue Jeans Aren’t So American Anymore: International Denim Designers Take Over

In my opinion, blue jeans are more American than apple pie (when was the last time you had apple pie, anyway?). But we no longer own this casual classic. And that's a good thing--as designers around the world reinterpret jeans, our denim wardrobe grows bigger, more varied, and infinitely more interesting. We already told you about Radcliffe Denim, the British company that made waistbands sit higher on your back to eliminate thong exposure (skinny jeans go for $179). Now Travel+Leisure clues us in to some other international designers that are making waves in Levi's world:

 
Eco-chic Eurostyle. Kuyichi, a Dutch label, has been clothing Europeans with their sexy and eco-chic denim designs (the company is fair-trade and uses only organic cotton) since 2001. Though Kuyachi does not currently sell its wares in the United States, SheFinds has the hook-up on how to get its great pants, like these Dazzle Jeans ($155). The zip pocket detailing niftily matches the zip detail on the leg cuffs, and the three-quarters length and light color make these pants perfect for spring.

I also love these Vintage Skinny Jeans ($155). They're slightly higher in the back, a detail I increasingly appreciate, and have a flattering slim fit (don't judge them by those unfortunately-matched pink-heeled shoes). 

Levi's, Reinvented. Evisu is a Japanese company that uses Levi-inspired looms in a clear bow to the original gods of denim (the hand-painted back-pocket logo even means "rebirth"). Check out these Geisha Slim Jeans ($289). They're made of super soft cotton, and have a beautiful dark grey wash. See other cute Evisu designs here.

Skinny Stretch. We already love Sweden for handy-dandy Ikea and tasty meatballs, and now there's one more reason: Acne Jeans. Using almost exclusively stretch denim, Acne's jeans fit like a glove, which makes them about as sexy as demin could possibly get. I've been really into black jeans for a while now, so I immediately fell in love with these Needle Black Jeans ($299). The Needle collection is a very tight, very high-waisted, very feminine line, and this black version would make even Olivia Newton John's character in Grease jealous of its bad girl appeal. Acne actually also has a few great non-stretch designs, like these L.U.V. Paper Jeans ($269). This typical Seventies silhouette (the leg is tight down to the thigh and flares out just above the knee to reach full volume at the bottom leg) gives the wearer a perfect fit over the hips and seat.

And for more great jeans, take a peek at our Denim Guide and Celebrity Jeans Guide. 

Good Question: What’s Up With Those Hot Prospects?

From the SheFinds Forums: I recently saw a girl in downtown LA that was wearing these cool jeans—flare or bellbottom style with flap pockets on the back. I tracked her down and asked her what brand they were, and she said Prospect. I looked them up and called some stores, but I can't find them anywhere. I am so frustrated!

Talk about fashion forward! The jeans-ophile you chased down on the streets of L.A. must have the inside track on denim, because the Evelyn style flap pocket flares she was rocking — along with the rest of Prospect Denim Co.'s line — won't be available in stores or online until this summer.

Prospect's award winning website is already generating a lot of buzz for the line, and for good reason. The rustling cornfields, lazily spinning windmill, and big red barn are evocative of a sunny So-Cal farm in the '30s. The brand is all about nostalgia and Americana (after all, what could be more classic American that a fantastic pair of jeans?). Named for the original moniker given to L.A.'s famed Hollywood Boulevard, Prospect plays on the laidback-yet-refined So-Cal vibe of yesteryear, when the glamour of the silver screen was just creeping into the national consciousness. Browse the upcoming men's and women's wares, and sign up for email updates about the brand. The collection will be available in five cuts and five washes, and pairs will cost between $168 and $232, with exclusive antique-washed and embellished pairs coming in at $300.


If you need some flap pocket flares ASAP, get your fix with William Rast's Belle denims ($209) or 1921 Surplus Flare jeans ($178). You could also try Hudson Jeans' Signature Bootcut versions ($165) or Paige Premium Denim Pico jeans ($189) if you can't hold out 'til summer.

Need the SheFinds editors to do some sleuthing on your behalf? Ask your questions in our forums, and we'll get on the case.

Deal Of The Day: 50% Off Select Denim At ShopBop

Not everyone has the luxury of an office dress code lax enough to allow jeans, but those fortunate few who can break out their denims on a day-to-day basis still have to follow some rules. No tattered or holey jeans, nothing too tight or too light, and the easier the transition to happy hour the better. Dark denim in wide-legged styles that look fantastic with pointy heels and boots are always a sure bet, whether you're buying for your work wardrobe or your weekend one, and when they're 50 percent off, you can buy twice as many to stock your closet.


Channel your inner Elvis with Seven Jeans' ginger treated pair ($89.50, were $179). The ginger treatment gives these nearly-black jeans an evening-ready sheen. They may be a bit risqué for the boardroom (or even the break room), but these flares sure are bar-worthy.


Wide leg jeans aren't going out of style anytime soon, and luckily they partner as well with ladylike heels and flowy tops as well as peanut butter pairs with jelly. A delicate blouse, pretty, girly pearls, and GoldSign's Orchid wide leg trouser jeans ($107, were $214) make for the perfect casual-chic work combo.


Bring on casual Fridays in Genetic Denim's Mutated Gene jeans ($121, were $242). The phenomenal fit will keep you comfy all day (no yanking and tugging to keep your midsection in order), and you'll be ready to flirt over after-work drinks when you match them with bright, pointy heels and a colorful cami.

More deals on the web:

It's Lancome gift time at Nordstrom. Get a free Lancome Play gift set with any $39.50 Lancome purchase.

Give your favorite outfits a new twist. Take 20% off all accessories at Smart Bargains.com.

Take advantage of free shipping from C&C California through the end of the week.

The Recipe For A Fashion Designer: Bilson Designs For DKNY

2 cups semi-talented actress on an occasionally entertaining teeny-bopper primetime TV show

½ cup barely-anticipated and over-buzzed about movie with hot co-star

1 tbsp. chick who has been on the cover of all the men's magazines and some of the ladies (maybe that should have been 2 cups - get it?)

1 tsp. hot bod and fun hair

What do you get? A fashion designer! What – you couldn't tell from the ingredients? 

It seems these days everyone is a fashion designer - especially those actors and singers. Where and when did they all find the time to learn to draw? Drape? Sew?  It's called partnership and licensing, my dear Watson.

Rachel Bilson is the latest actress to partner her ideas with DKNY Jeans for a line of junior sportswear called Edie Rose. The line will hit stores like Macy's and Nordstrom in September. Bilson's collection consists of about 15 pieces for the launch, including a sportswear mix of button-down tops, sweaters, jackets, T-shirts, dresses, and two jeans styles — a straight leg and a skinny leg, both available in a dark wash. The brunette beauty admits to having never been formally trained in fashion design and "can't draw at all, so I won't be doing any sketches, but I am learning to sew." We all know celebrity designers don't really have anything to do with the actually designing, but Bilson comes right out and says it, doesn't she? That's guts! Look out for the FIT grads next time you're in NYC Rachel - they've been working their little tushies off to barely get a glimpse of where you have gotten with a little stardom under your belt.

The line does have cute potential and at the price range of $19.50 to $49.50 a pop, is sellable to its target demo.

These pics are a sneak peek of a few pieces from her line. Not bad for someone who can't draw, or sew. It's magic..