Source: Eat, Sleep, Denim

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For denim lovers, the beauty is really in the details.

Whether it be the subtle way one jean fits over the other. The texture of the denim. The color of the stitching. The rivets and buttons. The branding. It all plays together as a whole, yet it’s the small things that make the difference between a favorite and a failure. Etienne Marcel, a Los Angeles based brand founded in 2011, while their brand styling isn’t normally my cup of tea, when I saw the grey jeans skinny jeans with the red side zipper, I just had to check them out. You see, as someone who looks at jeans all the time, it’s hard to write about a skinny jean, a dark rinse for winter, you know the regular jam week in and week out. Novelty jeans are great, but can also get tired. What I’ve been feeling lately are classic pieces with a twist. Actually, I’m always feeling classic pieces with a twist.

The Denim

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The thing that surprised me about these jeans was how lush they felt. My stand by grey jeans are the J Brand Ankle Skinny Jeans in Silver Lake I purchased a few years ago. The Etienne Marcels have a similar feel to them, down to the grain of the and the mild distressing. The difference being for some reason, the Eteinne Marcels 29″ inseam hits riiiight at my ankle, so they’re perfect for heels, while the J Brand pair needs to be cuffed. They’re also considerably stretchier the stretch with 74% cotton/24% polyamide/2% elastane composition. The red zip is the perfect detail that makes these jeans stand out without being over the top.  The cool thing is, it’s not just in the ankle where you find the red zipper, it’s also in the fly. The button has very subtle branding, and one of the belt loops has a few stitches in blue, white and red like the French Flag.

How to wear the Etienne Marcel Side Zip Skinny Jeans

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Grey jeans are hot this season.  Actually, they’re classic enough to make sure they’re in your denim rotation every season. I bought my J Brand’s three years ago, and still wear them regularly. Here I’ve riffed off the zip detail and paired red accessories with the jeans. My favorite red shoes, and a red clutch, and the top, I’ve opted to keep it simple with a grey and black striped sweater (I’ve been wearing more slouchy sweaters post-baby). With these jeans it doesn’t take much to make an outfit, so it’s ok to tone down the tops (as with most grey jeans, I’d recommend to be more bold). Either way, I’d say these jeans were fun to style, and I certainly felt stylish wearing them.

Wearing: Jeans: Etienne Marcel Side Zip Skinny ($187) •  Sweater: Vince • Sunglasses: Super Sunglasses • Clutch: Brahmin (gift) • Shoes: J. Crew