WIW RATE white and others

I have a spotted history with white jeans (literally).  After ruining something like four pair in the past few years, this is my current pair. They have a stain that I can't get out.  I didn't see it on these jeans when they were blue, but when I bleached them, a couple small spots turned gray, rather than white.

I almost tossed (or cropped) them, but then realized that as ill-fated as white jeans are in my household it was only a short while before they'd be stained anyway, and I could just pretend that I didn't notice.  Yes, I'm that RATE.

So I wore them.  And I liked it.  And I didn't notice the stain (it's about two inches above the hem), and I don't think anyone else did either.  (It really is fairly faded, but the rest of the jeans are a pretty bright white, and the spot is, well, pale gray).

I think I'll wear them again, just to revel in the RATE ness of my life.

Bonus, a couple of other mediocre outfits from this week that I haven't posted yet :)

All feedback, especially suggestions, welcome!

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25 Comments

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 8 years ago

    I'm laughing at your story about white jeans, and that you are going to wear these again to "revel in the RATE ness of [your] life"--ha hah! You should definitely wear them again. They look great! I really like outfit 1 on you. Also like #2 a lot! And #3 is okay, but I think the colors somehow drag you down a bit. I don't know if it's the darkness (black or navy?) or the bright blue. Thanks for sharing your bleaching adventure.

  • Nebraskim replied 8 years ago

    I have a well worn pair of sand colored jeans I got at Target several years ago for $2 because they have a weird rust stain near the hem on one of the legs. I figured for $2, I could live with the stain. I like your white top in image 2.

  • Olivegreen replied 8 years ago

    Totally agree about the RATE life. Anyone with kids and animals and no staff would :-)
    The pants look good. Chiming in to say that the bright blue top simply screams One Of Your Best Colours.

  • amiable replied 8 years ago

    Thank you all!

    Firecracker, I agree - I think the black (perhaps combined with the blue, not sure), is just too heavy for spring and the attitude I have right now.  I was trying out a business casual idea, because I have to work on site for a customer one day next week.  But this isn't the look.  I'll try again.

  • Joy replied 8 years ago

    Have you posted how you bleached the jeans white? I'd love a tutorial.
    1: my favorite of the group. This looks so springtime and reminds me of flowering cherry trees. Repeated washings may continue to lighten the stain, but nothing is noticeable.
    2: a different silhouette for you. The top has interesting details such as the neckline.
    3: the blue top is a fab color on you and I like it with black. The black footwear seems to make it a little heavy, so maybe lighter colored shoes with this one. Do you have shoes that will bookend your new hair color?
    I also think black footwear that shows some skin or has other colors with the black would work.

  • amiable replied 8 years ago

    Thanks Joy!

    I'll write up a mini tutorial on bleaching jeans - I've done it a few times now and am comfortable with the process (mine is a little different than the online tutorials that I've found).  But I don't have in progress jeans to make it a good tutorial.  It is easy though - I'm generally good at finding the laziest (i.e., not quickest, but least hands-on time) of doing things :)

  • carter replied 8 years ago

    Love outfit #1 on you! The jeans are great. The color of that sweater is perfect on you. And those shoes...awesome.

  • lisaflex replied 8 years ago

    a better way to wash/clean white jeans and keep them white is to use borax or biz. not bleach. works alot better and keeps them white. and rinse with vinegar instead of softener.

  • Mary Beth (formerly LBD) replied 8 years ago

    I really really like the direction you're heading in you WIWs of late - I feel like I am seeing the 'real' Amiable - the way you like to dress - and not what you think you're 'supposed' to dress like.   I don't know that/why I had that impression before, but I realized it when I saw your Burberry-inspired outfit awhile back.   It was a fantastic outfit, and I felt like I was seeing 'you'.   You look great!   

    I am going to copy you, and celebrate my RATE-ness as well.   Second on the request for the bleaching tutorial!

  • Carole replied 8 years ago

    Too funny about the white jeans:) my favorite is 1...love the pretty pink Marled top with your "white" jeans!

  • Angie replied 8 years ago

    HAH. Wear the spotted white jeans to match the rateness of your life - why not? I like the pink and white with your burgundy hair quite a bit, Amy. 

  • SandyG replied 8 years ago

    'Spotty' white jeans are too too true in real life (and so much easier to find!)  I love the way yours fit.

  • kkards replied 8 years ago

    i love that you have no fear of trying new things, and making something better out of something else. love the white jeans, and they look so fab with that sweater! 

  • Nebraskim replied 8 years ago

    It occurs to me that deliberately and intentionally "spotting" or "staining" white or light jeans could look kind of cool. Sort of like how distressed jeans come with whiskering or fading applied at the factory. Adding your own coffee, tomato sauce and red wine stains can just be called My RATE Life Experience.

  • Daria replied 8 years ago

    White pants are great and I would totally wear them with a grey spot. :)
    Also the pants in #2 fit you great.
    #3 is too much black, although that blue is fantastic on you!

  • rachylou replied 8 years ago

    Haha! I love your RATEness scale. The needle is completely pointing to *Oh no! WHATEVER* for me.

    Right. So I'm loving these sweaters. I could so not wear #1. You, you look fab!

  • Missey replied 8 years ago

    You are hilarious!  They look fine to me :)  PS your hair is getting so long!  I love your hair this length!

  • Caro in Oz replied 8 years ago

    I really like #1. You could always do the 70's thing with your white jeans & put a patch over the stain :)

  • Joy replied 8 years ago

    A friend who owned a coffee shop had a fab tee, white with coffee stains on it.  Each stain was neatly labeled in permanent marker for the type of coffee that caused it.  We could label the stains on our white jeans :)

  • merwoman replied 8 years ago

    :-) you are so rate-tastic! I can't see any stain - but love how you sported grey shoes to matchy match!  You look fantastic Amy!

  • Windchime replied 8 years ago

    What stain? I am so impressed that you dyed your jeans.
    You are looking wonderful in all these WIW's--your hair color and style are very flattering.

  • amiable replied 8 years ago

    LBD - I think the difference in what you're seeing is that for two weeks now I've planned my outfits ahead of time, a week at a time, so that I have no decisions to make in the morning.  The only day I deviated from it so far was the day I wore the black and blue above - I got up and hated what I'd chosen so much it made me feel angry.  So I chose something different.  I think I'm happier with the way I dress when I don't make those decisions in the morning!  

    And thank you for all the kind words, everyone!  A bleaching-jeans tutorial is coming up soon :)

  • Jaime replied 8 years ago

    You made the right decision about the jeans - they look terrific on you. A stain near the hem doesn't really count in my book anyway. I am not sure I can accept lazy as a term for "least hands on time so I can do a million other things at the same time".

  • Staysfit replied 8 years ago

    I love the white jeans look the best. I wouldn't mind a small stain. However, This post reminded me of something my DD said she would do. I have a pair of white jeans where the entire pocket turned neon yellow! It didn't wash out, and I have no idea what it is. In any case, we had the idea to have her wear the jeans while she paints for a few weeks. Instant splatter painted pants and authentic also. She gets paint on everything she wears. I figure it will look deliberate, distract from the weird yellow pocket, and they will be unique.

  • Deborah replied 8 years ago

    The white jeans outfit is really lovely. I think the footwear works really well. Your other outfits look good but I agree #1 is a winner.

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