The Quest for the Perfect Disco Jeans...

Disco jeans, tube pants, high-waisted skinnies - whatever you want to call them, I have been in search of the perfect pair all year. Not much of a jeans girl in general (with the wealth of other options available for encasing one's legs, they usually strike me as an obscene waste of half an outfit, unless they happen to be brightly coloured, patterned or smothered in gold foil, pearls or the like), I nevertheless find it impossible to avoid the allure of the high-waisted, bodycon "disco" silhouette on any garment, and if anything is going to prove a more versatile wardrobe staple than the disco pant, it may well be the disco jean...

But while it's now easy as pie to snag a good quality pair of disco pants at a bargain basement price, high street dupes for American Apparel's disco pant sibling style, the Easy Jean, are still running to play catch up.

I have tried, and rejected: River Island's Tube Pants, Topshop's Joni Jeans and Primark's Super High Waist Skinny Jeans. Now, I know there are zillions of satisfied purchasers of all the above out there, but, for me, the RI and Primark versions aren't stretchy or "disco-ey" enough in structure, whilst the Jonis are far too stretchy and legging-like. Oh dear, I am starting to sound a little like Goldilocks here (and yes, I do have the same problem with porridge)...

The Contenders...

Based on extensive visual assessment of the other options available online, I decided to order Missguided's Cessie Stone Wash Disco Jeans (above right, and below), back in May. Exactly what I was after in terms of look and fit, except for one tiny problem - I couldn't sit down in them without the weird popper button fastening unpopping itself and the flimsy zip ripping open in the middle! Now, I'll admit, I may have been able to avoid this problem had I sized up to fit my hips rather than my waist, but the fit on the legs and waist was perfect - if only the material had slightly more "give", or the fastenings were more sturdy! I'm hanging onto them for now, in the hopes of one day losing the elusive half inch which may fix my zipper issue (I'm pleased to report that the popper, at least, is now holding its own!). But, in the meantime, the search continued...

Jeans: Missguided, Top: Primark, Boots: Peacocks (Past Season)

Last week, my quest took me to New Look's kids' section - at 5'7, I'd never imagined I could get away with childrens' jeans, but, bolstered by excitement over my recent teen buys, coupled with desperation re: the (lack of) disco jeans situation, I figured it was worth a try, at least! Imagine my excitement on discovering these acid wash age-14 beauties (along with some gorrrgeous age-13 skinny denim dungarees, to be featured imminently!). They may be a little shorter on me than intended, but I'm actually finding the slightly cropped length rather chic, in a Parisienne-type way! They're also a little lower-rise than I usually prefer in a high-waisted garment, but I'm embracing the '90s vibe! These are much softer, thinner and stretchier than the Missguided versions, making them super comfortable, whilst they still look like jeans, rather than leggings! Loving them with crop tops and trainers for a casual feel, and tucked-in tops with heels or brogues for a more grown up look... These are definitely going to be an all-year-round wardrobe staple - watch this space! 

Jeans: New Look (Teens), Top and Trainers: Both Primark

Jeans: New Look (Teens), Top: Dorothy Perkins, Jacket: Daisy Street, Hat and Shoes: Primark

Has your denim gone disco?

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Review: Primark Disco Shorts and Charcoal Disco Pants

A couple of weeks ago, I walked into Primark Oxford Street to be greeted by the glorious sight of rack upon rack of disco pants in all shades (including a new emerald variety) and all sizes... accompanied by a full complement of... *drumroll* ... disco shorts (well, almost - the black ones had predictably been pillaged)!

I'd been after a silvery-grey pair of disco pants all year, so popped a pair into my basket, along with the matching shorts (I would have started my collection with black, but needs must). You may have already read my review of Primark's red disco pants here, but since discovering that the various components of their disco range may well be cut from the same cloth, but not to quite the same pattern, I decided that the new pieces merited their own evaluation...

The Shorts

Disco Shorts and Top: Both Primark, Beanie: New Look, Boots: Peacocks (Past Season)

I was surprised to find that these aren't simply a shorter version of the pants - they come up a lot bigger than both the charcoal and red disco pants on me, so don't really "pull in" in the same way, and have a tendency to ride up due to the generous fit at the waist. The pockets also seem to sit a little higher. 

The cut is pretty much indistinguishable from the American Apparel originals, but this does make them rather "cheeky"! Unless you're a real exhibitionist/trapeze artist, you'll probably want to slip tights underneath to preserve your modesty (tip: footless tights tend not to sport that ugly band at the top of the thighs!). Overall, a great value dupe (£12 to AA's £50), but worth trying before buying! Daisy Street appear to cut their £14.99 versions below "cheek level", which may be more conducive to public settings?!

The Pants

Disco Pants, Top, Trainers and Necklace (Pre-DIY!): All Primark, Beanie and Bracelet: Both New Look

The matching disco pants, on the other hand, turned out to be a significantly smaller fit than either the shorts or my original red disco pants, especially below the knee! Still comfortable, but stress around the ankle/lower calf area when pulling them on caused the seams to split in a couple of places the first two times I wore them, so they sadly already need to be mended/reinforced, an issue I've never experienced with the red ones! Otherwise, the quality and cut (aside from being generally smaller) is similar. As I said in my last review, at £17, I can still see myself eventually purchasing the whole range, although I am trying to pace myself!

Have you disco-ed down to Primark for your dancing trews yet?

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Peplum Shirt + Mixi Sale Bargains 4 Ways...

Since peplums and mixi skirts definitively crossed the line into TOWIE-land, my ardour had begun to wane... until I saw these visions of amazingness in the Miss Selfridge sale - illuminating a path away from those ubiquitous neoprene peplum mini and wrap-around drop-hem styles, and toward a renewed sense of elegance and sophistication - aahhh...

My first investment was in their cream peplum blouse, reduced from £32 to £22, and then to £17.50 in the Debenhams Summer Spectacular. I'd been after a peplum shirt since last year, and this incredible sheer version, with a feel more Victorian than eighties, or even forties, could have been plucked straight from my dreams. The peplum is generously sized within normal ranges at the front, but drops to tush-covering at the back in a beautiful waterfall-esque manner (oooh - just realised that it's actually a mixi peplum - fancy that!). It goes with sooo many things, but I happened to be wearing my floral lantern midi when I picked it up, and loved the ladylike combination of cream tones, statement prints and vintage shapes.

Shirt: Miss Selfridge (Available Here), Skirt and Necklace: Both Primark, Shoes c/o F&F at Tesco

By the following week, the black version had joined its sister on the sale rails - after a 5 minute debate (of which, if I'm completely honest with myself, I always knew the outcome), it too was mine. Visions of gothic splendour were already crowding my mind - leather skinnies and pencil skirts, floor-sweeping maxis, rock chick jewellery, killer heels and, of course, disco pants... Even if, for once, it was really far too hot to try out any of the above combinations, I made a valiant effort with the help of my trusty standing fan!! I can confidently say I foresee this piece featuring rather prominently in my AW13 wardrobe...

Shirt: Miss Selfridge (Available Here), Disco Pants: Daisy Street, Boots: Boohoo, Earrings: Primark

On the same day I discovered the black shirt, my eye was also caught by some intriguing peach ruffles - the average mixi might have been more likely to turn my stomach than my eye at that moment, but this was something else... there was something about the Victorian nightie vibe that I just couldn't help but adore! I couldn't resist pairing it with my newly acquired cropped mint knit and sweetie-style gem collar for a pastel-powered shot of candy goodness...

Skirt: Miss Selfridge (Available Here), Top: Tokyo Doll at New Look, Collar: Dorothy Perkins, Shoes: Primark

Meanwhile, mum came up with the so-crazy-it-was-actually-genius idea of wearing my mixi peplum and mixi skirt together... and something about the deconstructed-Edwardian-aristocrat-meets-hippie-chick vibe just seemed to work - thanks mum!

Shirt and Skirt: Both Miss Selfridge, Hair Band, Necklace and Shoes: All Primark

The skirt and both shirts are currently still in stock on the Miss Selfridge website, and you can also nab the shirt in a variety of pastel colours, and the skirt in black if you so wish... amazing bargains to be had in any case, so have a squizz!

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Review: Primark Disco Pants (Yep, They're Red!)

On my last central London shopping trip, I finally found a lone pair of Primark's new £16 disco pants in my size! Of all the colours on offer (black, cobalt blue and silver/graphite), red wouldn't have been my first choice, but I was prepared to settle for anything sporting that ever-elusive size tag, and, having got them home and popped them on with the £2(!) cartoon print crop top I'd also picked up, was actually kinda glad they'd been forced upon me (and not-very-well resisted!) - they're so perfect for this spring's cartoon super hero vibe!

Disco Pants, Top and Trainers: All Primark (Current)

Wonder Woman Hoody: Primark (Past Season)

Shoes: New Look (Past Season)

Boots: Boohoo (Current)

Battle of the Bargain Dupes

But is the quality worth the saving? Daisy Street's dupes (reviewed here), which, you may recall, I was rather delighted with, are currently Primark's closest competitor in terms of price, at £22.99. The Daisy Street versions sit slightly higher on the waist, which I prefer, and have a slightly thicker waistband and larger, more rounded pockets, which tend to be more flattering, but the material used in the Primark pants is thicker, and they offer a bit more length to play around with, plus absolutely no ankle gape (not that the Daisy Streets gape, but the hems on these are super slim)!

Although other bloggers have found Primark's disco pants a small fit, I found them true to size, veering toward generous, especially in the waist area (I bought these in an 8, the size of 90% of my clothes, but I occasionally need a 6 to fit my waist, or a 10 to fit my hips or bust), and definitely larger than their Daisy Street counterparts. So they won't pull you in as much around the waist/tummy area, but you won't have to deal with any of that fly-stretching zip-pulling-to-the-side hassle.

Overall, I'd wholeheartedly recommend them as a great dupe, even disregarding the price tag! Personally, I think I very slightly prefer the fit of the Daisy Street dupes, but, taking the nearly-30% saving into account, I'll definitely be snapping up the Primark versions in their full range of colourways if and when they appear in my size! Realllly hoping they bring some more colours out soon too - my wardrobe is crying out for shiny khaki!

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