Skinny and stretch are two of the most popular styles of jeans. They both offer a form-fitting construction that creates the appearance of a slimmer silhouette. With either of these styles, you can rest assured knowing that your jeans won’t fit loosely.
While many people assume that skinny and stretch jeans are the same, however, they differ in several ways. If you’re thinking about buying either of these styles, you should learn the differences between them. Only then can you choose the right style for your taste in fashion.
What Are Skinny Jeans?
Also known as slim-fit jeans, skinny jeans are characterized by a snug fit. Different jeans fit in different ways. Some of them fit loosely when worn. Relaxed-fit jeans, for instance, are known for fit loosely, meaning they have excess material that hangs or drapes from your body when worn. Skinny jeans don’t fit loosely. Instead, they offer a snug fit with little or no excess material.
Skinny jeans became popular during the early 1990s. Around this time, famous musicians and celebrities began wearing them. They were particularly popular among members of well-known rock bands such as Poison, Bon Jovi, KISS and Motley Crue. Shortly thereafter, skinny jeans experienced a decline in popularity. With that said, they experienced a revival in the mid-2000s when countless men and women began wearing them again. Today, skinny jeans rank as one of the most popular styles of jeans.
What Are Stretch Jeans?
Stretch jeans, on the other hand, are any type of jeans that feature a hybrid construction of pure denim and an elastic material. Conventional wisdom may lead you to believe that all jeans are made of pure denim. After all, the use of denim is what distinguishes jeans from other pants and trousers. While all jeans are, in fact, made of denim, they may contain other types of materials as well — such as the case of stretch jeans.
You’ll still find denim used in stretch jeans. Stretch jeans are comprised primarily of this soft and durable cotton-based material. However, they also contain an elastic material, such as spandex, lycra or polyester.
Stretch jeans have been around since the late 1970s. Reports show that professional fashion designer Peter Golding pioneered this alternative style of jeans. At the time, not many people knew about stretch jeans, and even fewer people worn them. Nonetheless, it’s safe to say that stretch jeans are now one of the most popular styles of jeans. Millions of men and women across the world wear stretch jeans on a regular basis as part of their daily outfits.
Benefits of Skinny Jeans
Skinny jeans offer some amazing benefits. With their snug fit, they’ll make you look skinnier, hence why they are known as “skinny” jeans. Some people intentionally avoid baggy and other loose-fitted jeans because they have the opposite effect. When worn, they’ll make you look larger. If you wear a pair of baggy jeans, the excess material will hang from your body so that you look bigger. You can avoid this problem by wearing skinny jeans.
You might be surprised to learn that skinny jeans are less likely to damage than other styles of jeans. Since they offer a snug fit, they won’t drag on the ground. Baggy jeans often drag on the ground when worn. The bottom of the pant legs may extend past your shoes or boots where they gradually wear down over time. Eventually, the bottom of the pant legs can fray. When this occurs, it can be difficult to protect them from damage. Skinny jeans are naturally protected from such damage because they don’t drag on the ground.
Benefits of Stretch Jeans
You shouldn’t overlook the benefits of stretch jeans, either. Stretch jeans actually offer many of the same benefits as their skinny counterparts. Like skinny stretch, they offer a snug fit. They are made of pure denim and an elastic material. The elastic material allows them to contour to your body when worn. The end result is a form-fitting construction that doesn’t hang or drape from your body.
Many people prefer stretch jeans because they are softer, and therefore more comfortable, than other styles of jeans. All jeans are soft, and most of them are comfortable as well. Stretch jeans, however, feature a unique construction. They contain an elastic material that increases their softness.
When performing physical activities, there’s no substitution for stretch jeans. It’s often difficult to bend your legs and move your body when wearing traditional jeans. Skinny jeans are no exception. They can restrict your movements even more than other jeans. With stretch jeans, you don’t have to worry about limited mobility. You can jog, run, do yoga or perform other physical activities with relative ease thanks to their elastic construction.
What About Skinny-Stretch Jeans?
If you’re struggling to choose between skinny jeans and stretch jeans, perhaps skinny-stretch jeans are the answer. What are skinny-stretch jeans exactly? As the name suggests, they combine the benefits of both styles of jeans.
Skinny-stretch jeans are essentially skinny jeans that are made of pure denim and an elastic material. They offer the same snug fit as skinny jeans. Rather than only being made of denim, though, they are made of denim and an elastic material.
Skinny-stretch jeans are a relatively new style of jeans. They’ve risen to popularity over the past few years as an alternative to traditional styles of jeans. They feature the same “form” as skinny jeans and the same “construction” as stretch jeans.
With skinny-stretch jeans, you’ll get the best of both worlds. This unique style of jeans fits the same as skinny jeans. A pair of skinny-stretch jeans will hug your body so that you look slimmer. At the same time, they feature the same construction used in stretch jeans. Skinny-stretch jeans are made of denim and an elastic material. Thanks to the elastic material, they are softer, more comfortable and more elastic than non-stretch jeans.
