Rollerjeans
What to wear when the assignment is a California boardwalk cruise with Margot Robbie. Plus, the sale at CQY.
When my friend Abby Aguirre told me she wore jeans to go rollerblading with Margot Robbie for this month’s Vogue cover story, I had to know which ones. I love it when jeans rise to the occasion. In Abby’s case, the occasion presented a trifecta of challenges, including bulky footwear, physical activity, and the added bonus (read: pressure) of being out in public with a Hollywood star… with Barbie, herself! (The movie comes out in July.) A jean that can get you through that? Scroll down to read Abby’s story.
Meanwhile, it didn’t take long for Instagram to figure out what I have been up to and start serving me ads for jeans to buy. Among the brands now popping up in my feed daily is CQY, the Los Angeles label designed by denim veteran Samuel Ku. It is my understanding that CQY (pronounced koi), is liquidating inventory, which explains the 60%-70% markdown that’s been running for a few months. (The website does not confirm the closing, but the sale has been promoted @cqydenim as a “Farewell Tour.”) Despite CQY’s seemingly sad fate, I’ve decided to feature the jeans I bought there last fall – and wear consistently, still – because they are great and currently $98 (down from $340). I would be remiss if I didn’t share this news.
If you are just now joining me as a subscriber – Welcome! You’ll want to know that I am 5’4” and a size 25 in most jeans. I am not a model or representation of all body types, and I love hearing from people about the jeans that work well for their size. Please, don’t be shy.
CQY: Vinyl in Charming
Made in Los Angeles, these straight leg jeans could almost pass as vintage. Though I typically avoid artificial hip-whiskering, CQY’s Charming wash does a convincing job of looking real and feeling natural; 100% cotton selvedge helps (it’s rare, if not impossible, to get a true, vintage-like patina on stretch denim). Even the slightly ill-fitting butt echoes that of older-generation 5-pockets. For non-vintage, they have a sustainable side – CQY cut Potassium Permanganate and added Ozone to the wash process, saving water. As I mentioned above, these jeans are currently on sale for $98(!).
Vinyl’s straight, 90s fit reminds me of the exquisitely worn-in A.P.C. jeans Doutzen Kroes wore on JeanStories.com nearly a decade ago. “Their anti-skinny statement is a welcome change; the fit we suddenly – seriously! – want to wear,” stylist Ketevan Gvaramadze said at the time. I still think they look amazing. The Vinyls, which share A.P.C.’s rigid denim DNA, may be as close as it gets.
Jean of the Week: by Abby Aguirre
A writer rolls in wearing a pair of black bootcuts…
Is it possible to look good on rollerblades? I found myself contemplating this fashion koan a few months ago, when I learned that, for a Vogue story on Margot Robbie, the Barbie star and I would go rollerblading together on the Venice boardwalk.
The question grew more complex, and frankly terrifying, when I realized there was a not-insignificant chance that Robbie would attract the attention of paparazzi. I am camera-shy in the extreme, and the one time I did an interview with a well-known person in public, there were photos on Page Six the next day. As the date neared, panic set in. I didn’t want to be rollerblading on Page Six. And I certainly didn’t want to be rollerblading next to Margot Robbie on Page Six. But I especially didn’t want to be rollerblading in spandex next to Margot Robbie on Page Six. Could I wear jeans?
The answer is yes, if the jeans are Frame’s Le Crop Mini Boot in film noir, which I found on sale at the Melrose Place store. The cropped flare allows plenty of room for an enormous boot, as I discovered when buckling into the rollerblades Robbie lent me. (There’s a reason bell-bottoms and modern roller skates emerged from the same decade, I suspect.) And they have just the right amount of give—stretchy enough that you can move freely on skates, but not so stretchy that they start to feel or look like jeggings. Though I can’t imagine rollerblade-wear is in high demand, my Le Crops have also proven great for hiking and biking and other outdoorsy things. If they're ever on sale again, I'd buy more.
In the end, I needn’t have worried about the paps. Unbelievably, Robbie went unrecognized. I'm still glad I got the jeans.
Abby Aguirre is a writer and Vogue contributor who lives in Taos, New Mexico, with her two rescue dogs, Yoshi and Woodstock.
Some of you have sent in stories about the jeans you wear now, or wore once upon a time – I love reading these emails, thank you. I also love getting requests, and I am working on addressing each one. Subscribing at any level helps me do this. Your support, as always, is everything.
Jane
Do the CQY Vinyl jeans run true to size? I missed getting a pair when they were still available, but am looking for a pair secondhand. Not sure if I should stick with my regular size or go up. Thanks!
I love jeans from imogene + willie. I'm quite tall (5'11") and many of their styles have long inseams. They also offer hemming at no charge. The denim quality is truly excellent! Minimal stretch and they wash and wear very well.