Things I Bought That I Love: Summer Denim Edition

Things I Bought That I Love highlights the (hopefully) rare, carefully considered new purchases that spark joy in this aspiring minimalist.

Vancouver-based beauty, life and style blogger Lisa Wong of Solo Lisa talks essential summer denim for the aspiring minimalist. Her picks—a Banana Republic distressed denim jacket in light blue, Old Navy boyfriend shorts in distressed light blue, and AG 'The Prima' white cigarette jeans—are styled on a white chair against a white wall.

My style has changed a lot since we KonMari'd our condo and I stopped posting outfits. It's more casual, streamlined, neutrals-heavy—and I'm almost always wearing denim. With denim playing such a crucial role in my everyday looks, it seems inevitable that I would be replacing and adding a few basics to give my spring/summer wardrobe much more mileage.


Old Navy boyfriend distressed denim shorts in light blue with a cuffed hem and 3.5

Old Navy is pretty hit-and-miss, but the thrill of finding a gem at a great price keeps me coming back. These denim boyfriend shorts ($26.94 on sale now for $21.50) are one such find—and, if you can believe it, they're also my first ever pair of denim shorts. The boyfriend fit is relaxed yet flattering; the light blue wash and slight distressing give these a worn-in, summery vibe; and the 3.5" rise provides coverage but still flatters short legs. I've already worn these on weekends with Breton stripes and loose-knit sweaters and Birkenstocks on some of Vancouver's warmer spring days. I'm already looking forward to working them into many more summer looks.

AG 'The Prima' cigarette jeans are the perfect white jeans for girls with curvy legs and bottoms. The denim is stiffer and thicker so it doesn't cling unflatteringly to lumpy bits.

I had to go much more high-end for my second denim purchase, white jeans, which I've been searching for on and off for the last two years. As soon as I got over the fear of stains enough to want a pair (very logical considering how often I splash/drop/spill while eating), there was the frustration of actually having to shop for them. They had to be well-fitting, not see-through, and they had to flatter and elongate my relatively thick legs.

A tall order indeed, but AG 'The Prima' cigarette jeans ($235) ticks all the boxes. The mid-rise is just right and the denim feels thicker than other white jeans I've tried, which means they won't cling and highlight lumpy bits. I got mine at Nordstrom, where I sized up for a loose straight leg fit rather than a skinny one, and took advantage of the in-house alteration service for free hemming.

Banana Republic distressed denim jacket in a light blue wash

As much as I want to be one of those "Buy less, choose well" minimalists who hangs on to the same denim pieces for 5+ years, the fact that my body is changing—a combination of a slowing metabolism in my 30s and building muscle through more exercise—has meant this is sometimes an impossibility. I can still wear the same jeans I wore 3 years ago, but this spring I found that the bulk of my jackets and coats were suddenly a very tight squeeze across the chest and shoulders. And as much as I wanted to hang on to last year's denim jacket, I finally had to call it quits when I tried to tie my shoes one day and the simple act of bending towards my toes made my arms and shoulders feel like I was in a strait jacket.

A good minimalist would try to see if she could do without before plunging ahead and buying a replacement. I tried, I really did, but I missed having that layering piece for the brisk days that was a jacket, not a cardigan, and that was versatile enough to go with everything. So I picked up the Banana Republic distressed denim jacket ($124). The petites sizing is just right in terms of sleeve and jacket length. I went up two sizes so it'd feel roomy and comfortable enough through the shoulders if I wanted to layer it over a sweater. Despite the larger size, the jacket is close-cut enough through the torso to look nonchalant, not sloppy, with just a tee.

Vancouver-based beauty, life and style blogger Lisa Wong of Solo Lisa talks essential summer denim for the aspiring minimalist. Her picks—a Banana Republic distressed denim jacket in light blue, Old Navy boyfriend shorts in distressed light blue, and AG 'The Prima' white cigarette jeans—are styled on a white chair against a white wall.

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