Denim Fever

By Heather Summerville

Once a year, a wonderful thing happens at the Lucky offices: the hallways and most of the fashion closet are overrun with racks and racks of denim--we're talking over a thousand pairs. And no matter how hard I try to ignore their somewhat overwhelming existence, I inevitably break down and have to try on a pile of jeans.

Up until now, after I located a pair that fit I'd search high and low for a store where I could actually buy them. But this year, our Web team compiled a sourcebook of really great denim sites that I've saved to my Web thumbnails--and end up looking at almost daily since it was posted.

I know most of you are finally getting used to the idea of dark, skinny, low-rise jeans. Naturally, everything is getting ready to change up again. Some of the cutest new pairs have lighter washes, flared legs, and--if you're feeling particularly bold, which I'm not--high waists.

The line that has everyone in our offices buzzing is MiH Jeans. This British label gained an enormous celebrity following in the '70s, and was recently reinvented by the daughter of the original designers. I'm really into the light wash cropped pair with a woven back pocket. They are hardly inexpensive, I know, but the color is so great, and I love how flatteringly they fit. I'm itching to wear them right now with open-toe espadrilles.

As I mentioned above, a wide-leg jean is going to be one of the biggest looks come fall. I love this pair by Notify. It's got the perfect amount of flare at the bottom, but is fitted through the waist and thigh.

I've decided to finally indulge in white jeans. I always see them on other girls and think they look so summery and chic, but when I initially tried them I just felt bulky. Then I found this pair by Joe's Jeans. The waistband has a trouser-ish polish to it and the fit is a bit slouchy, so they feel relaxed and, most important, super-slimming.

Now it usually takes me a few seasons to get in line with the newest trends in jeans. Skinny jeans actually took me about three years and five styles to feel comfortable. But there's something universally flattering about the wide-leg styles that are having a comeback. Maybe next year I'll even be ready to give high waists a whirl.

Heather Summerville is a senior editor at