Alina's Loving Now: Frayed Denim + Polished Shoes

The combination of cropped denim (preferably frayed) showcasing a polished shoe isn't particularly new, but my obsession was reawakened over Christmas break when I found myself "Insta-pinning" the look on repeat (on that note, have you guys started using this new feature of Instagram? I'm hooked). What makes this look so appealing is the opposing elements: the casual, cool-girl feel of cropped, flared, and ideally-frayed denim, with the polish of a shoe like a sleek boot, pump, or Mary Jane. 

Perhaps unsurprisingly given the country's sartorial supremacy, pretty much all of my photo inspiration on the trend comes from two of France's leading ladies: Jeanne Damas and Anne-Laure Mais. Their style epitomizes what I'm drawn to: effortless, simple, and classic, with a strong focus on vintage-inspired denim and accessories (shoes, outwear, and bags). 

To embrace this pairing, I'd focus on investing in the denim and skimping on the shoes. One amazing pair of jeans from a brand like Re/Done, or some of my other favorite denim brands (vintage Levi's, Frame, Mother) can get you a thousand different looks by swapping in different budget shoes. The market I pulled for the footwear piece of this post came from Top Shop and Zara because that's actually where I look for and purchase a majority of my shoes—they are universally recognized sources for incredibly-designed shoes that are so affordable. They're also on-trend, and especially in Zara's case, often setting the trends while mimicking vintage aesthetics. 

Denim-wise, the length of the pant is key: they can't be cropped too high–you want the crop to hit just at your ankle bone or no more than a few inches above–so the amount of skin that's exposed between end-of-denim and top-of-shoe isn't too extreme. 

Happy New Year and happy shopping to all! 

P.S.–here's an image of Emily wearing the look to perfection a few weeks back! 

I snagged these boots over the holiday break at the TopShop at The Grove—I love the crushed velvet texture, I’d had a pair of velvet boots on my to-buy list for awhile, and was happy to catch these on sale for $60! My Levi's are vintage, which I got at Assembly. 

1. M.i.h. Cropped Flares ($270)
2. Re/Done High Rise Crops ($310)
3. THE GREAT. Water-Washed Jeans (on sale for $114)
4. FRAME White Crops (on sale for $129)
5. FRAME Jeans (on sale for $110)
6. Re/Done Cropped Flares ($310)
7. IRO Freya Jeans ($204)
8. McGuire Denim Cropped Slim Jeans ($233)

1. Sock Boots ($160)
2. Rose Gold Ankle Boots ($130)
3. Heeled Mules ($30)
4. Strappy Camel Slingbacks ($30)
5. Pink and Black Boots (on sale for $70)
6. Cracked Gold Heels ($50)
7. Block Toe Slingbacks ($35)
8. White Leather Ballerinas ($30)
9. Cheetah Print Heels ($50)
10. Velvet Ankle Boots (on sale for $60), the ones I'm wearing above!
11. Metallic Laminated Heels  ($35)
12. Metallic Toe Boots ($70)
13. Block Heel Shoes ($35)