Happy Colors for Good Jeans
Cheerful accessories to boost your basics.
You know what Madrileñian women are really good at doing? Wearing color. Head-to-toe, in spurts, gradient; blocked, bright, and bold as hell. The older women do it especially well. And it’s starting to rub off on me.
Consider this: Lately, I’ve been carrying a yellow bag. I have never in my life carried a yellow bag. Yellow is hot this summer – I know, I read Substack – but it’s not just that. I’m wearing a yellow bag with burgundy shoes. For some, this would be nothing of note. For me, it’s… different. Little jolts of color give big life to the jeans and white tops I lean on so heavily. Other nice color combos are kelly green (bag) + rusty orange (maryjane), and tomato red (tote) + pale blue (slip-on).
The jeans I’m into wearing with colorful accessories are sort of their own “color” – clear indigo without any fading around the hips or knees. Like blue pants. But… jeans. Rachel Comey’s patch-front pair and ToJ’s Sally style are excellent options. It’s worth saying that distressed denim is not a thing I see on the streets of Madrid. Whenever I wear my vintage 501s, I feel deeply – noticeably – American.
Here are some more yellow bags I’d buy if I didn’t already have one I love so much. I’ve mentioned before that cool Madrileñas don’t really carry logo-heavy handbags (Loewe being an exception). This selection reflects that. All of these bags would go so great with jeans – dark wash, light wash, real vintage, faux vintage. The combination with any white tee (I love this one) is gorgeous.
There’s a store in Malasaña, across the street from Antigua Casa Crespo, called Lacambra that makes the kind of everyday, handmade-in-Spain leather goods you see women carrying all over Madrid. I’m especially into this mini tote, which is offered in nine buy-now colors and twenty-five more made-to-order ones. Lacambra bags can be personalized, shipped internationally, and they make perfect presents.
Maybe some of my willingness to wear all this color-on-color comes from wanting to make the limited clothes I brought with me feel shiny and new. Tired of the purple cami I wear on auto-pilot with my Levi’s? Let’s pair them with the bright blue Leset pants I keep talking about and see how that feels. Fun! Boredom really is the gateway to creativity.
I’ll also use this letter as an excuse to show you that time I tried on a traditional flamenco dress at Madrid’s historic dance superstore Maty because it’s as much of everything – purple, polka dots, tiered skirts, and hips – as you may ever see of me. Again, fun!
One of my favorite things to do on the weekends here is take my kids to Parque del Oeste, where there’s a creek full of tadpoles and daisy fields and dogs. It’s safe to say that the time I’ve spent in the park has also started to affect the way I see and live with color. Here’s how in looks on theme for today:
Vale, that’s a wrap. Thank you for reading. I have less than a month left of my stay in Spain and I’m starting to panic shop (as if I buying linens and perfume will help me bring all of Madrid home). It’s been such a wonderful time (I have deeper reflections on it drafting). For now, I hope something here makes you happy. Thank you for trusting me with your jeans and things. As always, Denim Forever.
Jane
More good links…
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The most clicked-on thing in last week’s letter was this jacket.
The best-selling jeans from last week’s letter were these.
The color both in fashion and design here is a language unto itself. Somehow always comes off as sophisticated- rarely garish.
Doña Juana: always happy to see you embracing your life there. And color. And yes, yellow is a thing there as well, because everything is born in Europe first.
Nota: The correct expression is MadrileñAs y Vale! Because
Valle means Valley, as in Valley of the Dolls.
Posdata: go have an unforgettable meal in Sala de Despiece in Chamberí before your return.