OK, so Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants got some things very wrong (ahem, there's no way you all fit in that one pair of thrifted jeans), but it got some other things very right. A good pair of jeans is like a great friend: lasting, dependable, and versatile enough to go with you anywhere and everywhere. While one literal pair will not fit every single person in your friend group (I don't care what you say, Alexis Bledel) there is such a thing as a style that you can all get behind. We had a hunch that the new Levi's® 711 Skinny was just that style, and to prove our theory, rounded up three sets of real life besties to show us how they wear theirs. Spoiler alert: I might be a little biased, because I included myself and one of my closest friends of 22 years — we have very different styles, but the 711 fit each of us like a glove, and a wide range of washes meant we could keep our looks distinct.
Each girl we've profiled has their own personal style, and their own concerns when it comes to shopping for the perfect pair of jeans. After all, finding the perfect pair can defintely be a challenge — but once you do, it can be hard to part with them (kind of like your BFF). We partnered with Levi's® 711 Skinny to see how this new cut worked on each of them, and also got some inside info on their relationships. Pants may travel, but it's the girls in them with the real stories.
Michelle & Suze
Suze is wearing the Levi's® 711 Skinny in "Mountain Sound," and Michelle is wearing the Levi's® 711 Skinny in "Lasting Damage," both available at Macy's.
Suze: Michelle is a little bit older than me, so I’ve always kind of looked up to her. I remember going to her 23rd birthday party and being like, oh my god, she’s so cool and sophisticated! But there’s always been a deep sense of mutual respect between us, and one of the things I love about Michelle is that she is 100 percent genuine in her friendships.
Michelle: I met Suze through a mutual friend at a brunch. The brunch was filled with people who were really, really good friends, and I only knew one person. I instantly liked Suze and every time we hang out I laugh hysterically. She's one of the most quick-witted people I know.
Suze: Michelle and I were introduced by our mutual friend Adina, who I went to college with at Barnard and who Michelle used to work with at a publishing company. Adina’s number one goal in life is to champion female friendship for all of her pals, and she does so in a really thoughtful way. She introduced me to Michelle because we’re both very creative and into the same kind of stuff (read: books).
Michelle is wearing the Levi's® 711 Skinny in "Lasting Damage," available at Macy's.
Michelle: Confession: I don't normally go for distressed denim or for light-wash denim, but the second I saw these jeans I was in love. Normally when I think "light wash distressed denim" I have flashbacks of the early 00s, but there's something about these jeans that's refined while still being laidback. They are also so comfy — not always the easiest thing to find in skinny jeans.
Suze is wearing the Levi's® 711 Skinny in "Mountain Sound," available at Macy's.
Suze: My all-time favorite Levi's® piece is my trusty vintage denim jacket, which I bought at a thrift store in Nashville when I was 14 and has since accompanied me to England, Italy, Spain, France, Denmark, and all across the US. I’ve had it for eight years, and aside from some cool fading, it’s as good as new. It goes with everything and I plan to wear it well into my old age.
As someone who is five feet tall but without an actual "petite" bone structure, denim shopping can be super frustrating, but I really liked these as soon as I pulled on, which is so rare for me.
Sophia & Mella
Sophia is wearing the Levi's® 711 Skinny in "Deep Wave," and Mella is wearing the Levi's® 711 Skinny in "Rustic Woodland," both available at Macy's.
Sophia: Mella is my best friend and my friendship with her is one of the realest and greatest friendships I’ve ever had. I don’t even know where to begin, but we’re always on the same page and she’s the first person I go to when I need to talk about something. We call ourselves the “dynamic duo” because of our chemistry and the fact that whatever we do and wherever we go, we have a great time. I love her to death.
Mella: So, I have a nickname for practically every person in my life, and my name for Sophia is “Yung Sprout.” I'd say don't ask how it happened, but it's pretty self-explanatory. One day this little bean decided to get the sprout emoji tattooed on her ankle, and now it's a reminder of how our friendship is constantly growing.
Sophia: We do most things together, and because of this we share a lot of really amazing stories. One of my favorite memories with Mella is when we were both cast in the Verge Queer Fashion show for New York Fall Fashion Week in 2015. That was an event that really helped to put queer fashion on the map, and sharing the experience with my best friend was truly amazing.
Mella is wearing the Levi's® 711 Skinny in "Rustic Woodland," available at Macy's.
Mella: I grew up in a house that only wears Levi's®, and to be honest, I usually wear black — but this medium wash feels so versatile and classic. Plus, no one can deny that slipping into that perfect fit is the best thing ever. I like to experiment with modern cuts and pair them with more vintage menswear-inspired pieces. I’m definitely one of those people whose outfit reflects their mood. Some days I’ll go full bohemian in loose button-downs, a big hat, and suspenders, while other days I’ll wear my tightest jeans or leather pants with lots of black.
Sophia: Mella is so good at layering clothing and can make anything work. She’ll throw a bunch of random stuff together and somehow it always looks perfect. She’s also great with accessories — like how she took this shoelace and turned it into a really cute choker. She can take something completely random and turn it into something great. She also has an incredible hat collection that I have yet to see rivaled.
Sophia is wearing the Levi's® 711 Skinny in "Deep Wave," available at Macy's.
Sophia: Skinny, dark jeans are my go-to. The 711s fit really well and are so comfortable. The cut moves really well with my body and doesn't feel constricting.
Mella: Sophia is like a young Johnny Depp circa the 1990s. Yes, she really is that cool. I love that she can slick her hair back, throw a leather jacket on, and just completely destroy the boundaries of gender with an outfit and a killer jawline. This world seriously needs more confident women who can explore identity through clothing and self-expression, and Sophia never ceases to inspire me.
Emma & Jenna
Emma is wearing the Levi's® 711 Skinny in "Indigo Ridge," and Jenna is wearing the Levi's® 711 Skinny in "Lasting Damage," both available at Macy's.
Emma: I've known Jenna since I was three years old when she was in kindergarten with my older sister. Their friendship sparked a great friendship between our families. We've had countless sleepovers, family vacations to the beach, Disneyland excursions, and many, many fashion shows (greatly influenced by the Spice Girls). She's definitely a lifer.
Me: Emma has more energy than anyone I've ever known. Not only does she totally kill eight Broadway shows a week (how anyone does that, I do not know), but she's still the life of every party — even if that party is just four girls cooking dinner and watching retro movies at home. You can't not gravitate towards her, and she never fails to bring out my more spontaneous side. I don't have a sister, but Emma and her sister Brigitte make up for it. (We also let my little brother hang out with us sometimes).
Emma: One of my favorite memories with Jenna is our first road trip as "adults" without our parents. It was me, my sister, and Jenna in her SUV from Los Angeles (where we grew up) to San Francisco. We blasted Justin Timerblake's FutureSex/LoveSounds on repeat the entire way. It felt pretty cool to be on our own.
Me: Emma takes more risks than any of my friends, and it defintely inspires me to do the same. She's the one who got an extreme pixie cut on a whim, moved to Australia for a year, and can pull off a fur coat like nobody's business. She never hesitates to go for it, and truly makes the most of every day — as we all should.
Emma is wearing the Levi's® 711 Skinny in "Indigo Ridge," available at Macy's.
Emma: I've been wearing Levi's® since I was a kid. I love this dark wash and snug fit. I could wear them with high tops and a t-shirt or dressed up with heels at night. This is also one of my favorite tops. It's an authentic Rolling Stones concert shirt from 1981 that my mom got in Paris when she saw them while she was studying abroad in college. I absolutely love it because it's a part of her and her adventures.
Me: Emma's mom was truly one of the most stylish women ever, and it's so cool to see the way her style continues to influence Emma's. A great heel, babydoll dress, perfect bold lip, or vintage crop top will always make me think of her.
I'm wearing the Levi's® 711 Skinny in "Lasting Damage," available at Macy's.
Emma: Jenna has always been very fashion-forward. What's great about her style is that she is always very minimal, clean, and classic. She's always had an eye for quality and would never be caught dead in anything gaudy or, God forbid, tacky. She makes black look delicate and floral dresses look super chic. She's got that great fusion of California girl and New York working girl going on.
Me: My style is definitely more predictable than Emma's. I'm super picky about fit and colors, but once I find a staple that I love, I'll put it in heavy rotation. A great pair of jeans, booties, and oversized tee or button-up are my go-to when I don't have much time to think about my outfit, but want to feel effortlessly put together. The distressing on this medium-light wash 711 is just enough to grunge down a more polished top and the fit makes them so versatile.
This article is sponsored by Levi's® 711 Skinny.
Photography: Lauren Perlstein; Styling: Jenna Wexler; Hair: Akihisa Yamaguchi; Makeup: Jamie Dorman
