This Pair of DL1961 Jeans Made Me Swear Off Skinnies for Good

I distinctly remember my first pair of skinny jeans: I was in sixth grade and performing in an all-girls show choir in my hometown of Tampa, Florida. We were putting together a country music medley, and our costumes included flannel button-ups and a dark-wash pair of skinnies. I ordered mine from Delia’s and, even though I wasn’t supposed to, I wore them on days when I wasn’t performing. At only 11 years old, I was dedicated to living my life exclusively in skinny jeans.

As I got older and went through changes in my body type and fashion sense, my love for slim denim didn’t falter. That is, until I was introduced to the Hepburn high-rise wide-leg jeans ($156) from DL1961 Denim. I originally snagged the ivory pair created in collaboration with beauty influencer Marianna Hewitt, and have since acquired them in two additional colors, because I love them that much.

As a woman with pretty wide hips and a very round backside, I never really pictured myself as the type of person who would gravitate toward wider pants, out of fear that they wouldn’t be flattering on me. But skinny jeans were always such a pain to put on—so much so that the “skinny jeans shimmy” has become a signature dance move—and though I loved how they hugged my legs from hips to ankles, I was eager to try something new.

My DL1961s are super flattering, with an ultra-high waist that actually covers my belly button and a slight crop that means I can wear them with boots or heels. They’re also comfortable enough to get me through a long flight (like the 13 hours I spent in the air between Los Angeles and Auckland, New Zealand) and they travel well, because they don’t get creased even in the most stuffed suitcase. Plus, the off-white color of my first pair is appropriate for whatever climate or terrain I’m in, whether it’s the cave houses (and high humidity) of Mykonos or the deep winter chill of New York City. With a bodysuit or blouse, the pants are dressy enough for a nice dinner, but I can also wear them with a baggy sweater and still feel poised and polished.

The thing I love most about my collection of skinnies is that they can often feel like leggings, thanks to the skintight cut and the forgiving fabric that moves with you. So I was delighted to find that the Hepburns are woven with just a hint of elastic that doesn’t stretch out too much; I can wear them multiple times without worrying about baggy knees or a saggy waistband.

Though my love for skinny jeans definitely still runs deep, the impact that these DL1961 jeans have had on my wardrobe is monumental (yes, seriously). I’m a total convert to wide-leg cuts, seeking them out over my usual tapered picks—and that rings true whether the pants are faux-leather joggers or dressy slacks.

I am a bit scared about spilling wine on my off-white jeans, so I’m simply going to need DL1961 to make the Hepburns in a million additional colors. Please and thank you.

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