JEANS AND H & M SCARF

There’s just something about a really good pair of jeans that feels unbeatable. Not the stiff, fresh-out-of-the-store kind—but the ones you’ve actually lived in. The ones that soften over time, mold to you, and somehow get better the more you wear them. To me, that’s when jeans really start to feel like yours.

It makes me smile thinking about how things have changed since I was younger. Back then, if I got a hole in my jeans, I’d sit down with a needle and thread and try to fix it myself. And if it was too far gone, I’d carefully sew on a patch and keep them going anyway. There was something almost resourceful about it. Now, it’s funny—jeans already come “distressed” right off the rack, and people actually pay extra for the look we used to try to repair.

These days, I wear jeans everywhere, just in slightly different ways depending on where life takes me. In the cooler months—like October—I’ll usually pair them with a nice jacket and one of my favorite scarves. If I’m out hiking with my dogs, it’s all about comfort: jeans, a hooded sweatshirt, and just being outside. When I’m at the beach, I’ll wear them with a tank top, and as the sun goes down, maybe throw on a lightweight sweater. Even in the heat of summer, you can still find me in jeans and a striped tee, especially if I’m near the ocean.

I also like how versatile they are when it comes to styling. Sometimes I’ll throw on a pair of black boots or a denim jacket for a more casual, layered look. And other times, if I want to dress things up just a little, I’ll pair them with a softer, more detailed blouse—something with a bit of movement or texture.

Over time, I’ve really broken in a few pairs that I love. Some of my favorites include organic cotton jeans, Riders by Lee, Levi's, American Eagle Outfitters, and First Issue by Liz Claiborne. Each pair has its own feel, its own personality almost, once it’s been worn enough.

Right now, I’m still in the process of breaking in my Jennifer Lopez high-rise skinny jeans. And every time I see that name, I can’t help but think back to her days as a Fly Girl on In Living Color—it feels like a lifetime ago, and yet somehow also not that long ago at all.

There’s something comforting about jeans like this, though. They stay with you through seasons, through routines, through all the little everyday moments that make up a life.