Homesick Jeans
Wearing new things from L.A. in Spain with Italian slippers.
Earlier this week I attended a cocktail party in celebration of this year’s Loewe Craft Prize. It was held at the fabulous Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, where an exhibition of the competition’s 30 finalists will remain on view through June. What an incredible display of creativity. For me, seeing designers Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez there, weaving their way through all the stylish Spanish ladies beneath the palms, helped crystallize their appointment to helm the house of Loewe. The New York fashion team of my 20s evolving amidst today’s Spain is very exciting to think about. I can’t wait to see what they do.
Announcing the prize winner – sculptor Kunimasa Aoki from Japan – was Academy Award-winning director and national treasure Pedro Almodóvar. If you’re in Madrid, I recommend going to see the show. The textiles are especially gorgeous.
I’m calling this post Homesick Jeans, not because I’m missing home (sorry, America, you look nuts from over here), but because I’ve recently been gripped by a longing to shop the clothing labels I know and love. So many of them can’t be found in the stores in Madrid, and I miss them. Is that lame? I don’t think so. For a long, long time I’ve known that clothing, like food, is comfort (which is not the same as being comfy). I was bound to crave a home-cooked meal, sooner or later.
I packed for my months-long stay in Spain sparingly, thinking I’d shop as needed. But when I needed new jeans and authentically-me jeans weren’t materializing at the lovely Barcelona-based BF by Beatriz Furest shop on my street, or at the major department store, El Corte Inglés, or anywhere else in the city for that matter (sorry, Zara), I looked homeward. (Did I feel defeated? Not at all.)
Aflalo is the NY-based label by Yael Aflalo (of Reformation fame; and Ya Ya, for those of you who may remember it.) The brand’s Orwell jean is a rigid straight leg with a button fly and vintage 509 vibe. It has a very long rise so I recommend taking your true size, or sizing down if you’re between sizes. I had mine hemmed at the ankle to wear all summer with cheeky flats and Spanish alpargatas. The tailor here knew exactly what an original hem is, I am happy to report.
Taking pics like this in my apartment in new jeans had its own homing effect. Like the original L.A. JoJ, sin seamless, con cute balcony. Familiar formats can be so comforting. When it comes to outfitting, as well. Most days I choose to reinforce myself with a uniform consisting of drawstring pants or rigid jeans, a pretty top, and this jacket at night. I’ve mentioned before that living in a foreign city with little kids means confronting many, many micro-challenges every day. I never, ever need what I’m wearing to be one of them.
Though I’m a little surprised by my lack of interest in buying local designer clothing, I’m not ashamed of it. I love my clothes, I am my clothes and besides, it’s nice wearing pieces that no one else around me has from labels that few, if any, have heard of. I’ve yet to see a single mom at the school in Khaite, for example, and I wear the brand’s Dane jeans to pick-up, proudly. The Dane, btw, has a very wide leg with a belled bottom and snug top block. I like that it’s stretchy (2%) and trouser-y, both. It’s a great summer Night Jean if you leave it long. There’s that saying: Wherever you go, there you are. I’m genuinely happy I’m here in my jeans.
Now, I have to tell you: In last week’s search for authentic alpargatas, I also fell in love with Venetian friulanes, the velvet slip-ons of Italian origin sold in every alpargatería in Madrid. (Unlike clothes, local shoes are something I have had no trouble buying in bulk.) Lobo sells them in dozens of colors for €39,50. (It’s really hard to beat the low-pressure ease of a $45 flat, though the Spain-based,
-approved label Cayumas makes fancier versions that cost more and probably last longer.) Anyways, I bought two at Lobo – in yellow and burgundy – and keep both pairs by the front door for swift exits and quick trips to the bio grocer down the street. They literally go with everything, including the Paige shorts I’ve been wearing since spring break in Tenerife.
I imagine that when I go back to L.A. in July my friulanes will do for me there what my U.S. jeans have done for me here, which is remind me of who I am and where I’ve been in the world. Trust me, I’m stocking up.
That’s all for today. Thanks for reading and trusting me with your jeans and cheerful shoe choices. I love this stuff. As always, Denim Forever.
Jane
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That Nili jacket is insane. I love it so much. Your Spain posts make me want to travel so badly. xx
Love your Spain posts! Going there is like a breath of fresh air. It is SO different; their styling and fashion approach is very different and unique. And that is ok! Yes here in the US, there are brands that are not even on the Spaniards’ radar. They do not care for brands as Khaite…because they have their own amazing brands, and that is ok. I think we just have to accept that they have their own heritage and craftsmanship (like in Ubrique, where all the row items are made!). Their quality is up par, and they do support small businesses and yes they have brands that here, we don’t even dream of. We all share our experiences and qualities ♥️