WIW: Remember carpenter jeans? Yeah, neither did I.

I spotted these Miss Sixty carpenter jeans at the swap meet and had to have them! Channeling a little Super Mario today with pants that can hold a hammer, bright colors, and a critter that will either alter my morphology or take years off my life... :) My shoes are disappearing into the carpet here, and maybe black shoes would be better, but IRL I kinda like how they lighten things up and bookend my light colors up top.

For DIY July, I'm sporting my second handbag dye project using Tarrago's Bright Red color. Full review here:
http://www.onedollarwonders.bl.....right.html

Mossimo gray cardigan - Target
Ann Taylor ruffled top - Ann Taylor clearance
Miss Sixty jeans - flea market
Report Marks booties - Nordstrom sale
Abro handbag - flea market
Butterfly pendant - DIY
Men's belt - flea market

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33 Comments

  • texstyle replied 11 years ago

    Remember them? They were some of my favorite jeans way back then. Very cute and somehow modern on you.

  • Jem replied 11 years ago

    I remember them from Jr. High. We all had a really big comb that we would put in that side pocket and/or one of those huge Lip Smackers. :-) Anyway, they look fab on you!

  • Aziraphale replied 11 years ago

    Sadly, I DO remember them. Must be a testament to my (rapidly advancing) age! I had a pair I loved when I was about eighteen. (It never occurred to me to stick combs in the hammer loop, though! Cool idea, for a high school student at least). I do remember occasionally snagging drawer knobs with the hammer loop as I walked by -- watch out for that. :-)

  • Nadya replied 11 years ago

    Honey, I had red denim carpenter OVERALLS! 1978 was such a fun year. Totally cute outfit - I love the yellow and grey and contrast of finishes.

  • Freckles replied 11 years ago

    Me too Nadya, carpenter overalls all the way. Love the jeans Rae.

  • rae replied 11 years ago

    Ok, I have to find something to stick in the pockets RIGHT NOW! Thanks, Elizabeth! :D

    I *love* picturing the carpenter overalls. I tried overall shorts not too long ago, but they didn't work for me.

  • Julie replied 11 years ago

    My mom told me when she was in high school, all the girls wore the white ones, called "painter pants".

  • rae replied 11 years ago

    How fun - this style goes back farther than I knew!

  • Transcona Shannon replied 11 years ago

    Holy moly - I remember carpenter jeans. Had a pair in a real dark blue. I don't remember them looking this good though - lol! They look fab with the citron blouse.

  • replied 11 years ago

    I remember them! And Lipsmackers. And 10-0-6 lotion. Okay, I'll stop now.

    You look cute!

  • replied 11 years ago

    Many moons ago, I wore the white ones. I remember Lipsmackers, too.

  • Amy replied 11 years ago

    I like carpenter jeans. They look especially fab on you!

  • Meredith1953 replied 11 years ago

    I love carpenter pants and haven't seen any for such a long time! You look good in them and I like the light colored footwear too.

  • lynne replied 11 years ago

    I loved my carpenter jeans. I had white painter pants too, as well as painter pants in cobalt blue and in red. The current colored jeans trend reminds me how much I loved these.

  • DeclawedJaguar replied 11 years ago

    I actually wore my Carhartt carpenter pants to work every day in the summer for the past 3 years (field work). That loop is very handy for all sorts of tools. So yes, I clearly remember them. :) Yours are a feminine take on the utilitarian classic.

  • JR replied 11 years ago

    I remember them too, *sigh*. Can't remember anybody wearing them with a shiny shirt though. Nice touch! Love the juxtaposition of the feminine and the masculine you have going on here.

  • rae replied 11 years ago

    Hm, I guess I'm the only one who didn't know about this style. I really like it - masculine, utilitarian, rugged... what's not to love?

    JR, I had to try several tops before I settled on this one. The masculine jeans were crying out for a feminine top, I guess. I like the juxtaposition, too. :)

  • cheryle (Dianthus) replied 11 years ago

    I believe mine were medium wash Lee carpenter jeans. I also remember lipsmackers and 10 0 6 lotion. I wore the jeans with the white canvas Nike runners with the dark aqua swoosh.

    Great jeans Rae.

  • kellygirl replied 11 years ago

    Ahem, I remember them too. Yours look way more fab than mine--although I think mine were overalls (cringe.) You look sassy and cute, Rae!

  • greenglove replied 11 years ago

    I used to wear white "painter pants" all the time!
    You look gorgeous as usual!
    Love you in yellow!!

  • Deborah replied 11 years ago

    I think I have a vague recall of these bit I never had them:). These look great on you Rae and your styling certainly gives mthem a contemporary vibe.

  • Mo replied 11 years ago

    I clearly remember having a red pair in 6th grade. I even remember the tag "Sam's Jams" because I got teased about it lol. They are right up there with Chermin de Fer, and their choo choo train logo, hip huggers in my memory vault.

  • Mander replied 11 years ago

    Ah yes, they were quite popular for a while in the 90s, about the same time that cargo pants became big (at least in my neighborhood!). I associate them with grunge -- I had a pair that I always wore with combat boots.

  • Mo replied 11 years ago

    Hunh - I remember them as a mid 70's craze. Guess I was on to other looks by the 90's . . .

    Oh, and Rae, yours look adorable on you, in a kick ass kind of way, of course ;)

  • rae replied 11 years ago

    Mander, now I have to wear these with combat boots - thanks!

  • Diana replied 11 years ago

    Ha, I had some carpenter jeans in the 90s. They were light wash and too short. Yours are much more fab!

  • Abie replied 11 years ago

    Add me to the carpenter jeans and combat boot club! Those are very fab carpenders Ray, you look awesome!

  • Marley replied 11 years ago

    Carpenter jeans - in denim and white. Denim carpenter overalls. LOVED them all - but I never rocked them as well as you're rocking this outfit. I love that blouse with them - perfect!

  • MNsara replied 11 years ago

    Oh yes, those almost-white painters pants (probably Lees brand) were ALL the rage back in the 70s!! They were truly high waisted (even for the guys because these were mens pants), no stretch, and I even wore SIZE 25!!!!!! then (boy, those were the days).

    Rae, yours look great - like your personal twist on BF jeans - and I like that :-)

  • Angie replied 11 years ago

    Naughty and nice :)

  • Kari replied 11 years ago

    I used to love to wear my carpenter jeans (and overalls) around my grandpa, because he'd always tease me and say "You need a hammer in that pocket!"

    They look cute on you, Rae.

  • AJ replied 11 years ago

    My eldest DS prefers to wear baggy carpenter jeans. Old Navy always seems to have a version of them for boys.

    This slim leg version looks FAB on you, Rae! Your bag turned out great!

  • Carole replied 11 years ago

    A little walk down memory lane, yes, I remember carpenter jeans. Seriously, is there anything that doesn't look amazing on you?! Love it.

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