What Caught My Eye: The Ultra High Cuff
A new daily series about pushback.
Hi everyone, I hope you had a good weekend! Usually I send a Sunday edit but I ended up spending the day in the forest with my dog doing a 10k hike. The weather has been incredible in Paris this past week so I embraced the hilly outdoors. Plus, stories don’t make themselves by sitting inside scrolling the internet.
With the spring pushing through, I wanted to switch gears and dive into fresh waters on a format for this newsletter that I’ve been flirting with for some time: The Daily. I will be writing WCME from Monday through Thursday. Column name courtesy of a Woman Chanel Model at an Event, who told me, “there are too many Photographers in the toilets”, at an art gallery opening in Paris. Anyway. I’m running with it.
You’ll still receive the shopping edits as part of the Style Beat ecosystem. Those take more than 2 days to work up at minima. Believe it or not, I spent 4 days thinking and planning last week’s shoe edit.
So here’s what to expect from my new column, What Caught My Eye (WCME):
What news will get covered:
Culture, interior design, people you should know about, business, lifestyle, and fashion.
What frequency can I expect?
Monday - Thursday.
Why this news vertical?
As much as I enjoy sending shopping guides and thoughtful commentary, what I really miss right now is pushback. I have been around the block on Substack for about a year now, and much longer in fashion, and way longer in business and culture. I was that guy who moved to New York at 18 and slept in a couch, and found a job in the city. I’ve been missing that stubborn side of life. So this is my way of leaving the school of fish, and going against the tide.
What goes on behind the scenes?
Okay—this is really important. When I report the news to you, I report information that I have verified. This means that I have the sources to back up the data, and that I have thought critically about it. Nothing angers me more than reading something false but catchy. Or, blown way out of proportion without critical thought.
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No. Every letter I have sent you has been free of affiliate links. Those links are for your pleasure and purpose only, and they’re my sources. The only source of revenue for this newsletter is a paid subscription, so I invite you to upgrade to paid if you enjoy reading my work. Subscriptions are $5/ month, $45/year. Moreover, hitting a like or sharing is incredibly appreciated!
Who am I?
I am a Peruvian-American expat based out of Paris, and I work full-time in e-commerce (your paid subscription helps me buy my summer plane ride to the US!)
I always describe myself as a New Yorker at heart when people ask where I come from. I work in fashion and currently enjoy all things Paris. Professionally I am an editor.
What is fashion?
Look—it’s a lot of things to many people. And a lot of different things at that. But it comes down to a sense of personal style. What it’s not (for me at least) is a staid overly complicated thing. For the record, I am well aware that I am not selling medicine. Proportions are the base, but I am not sure we need a centuries old math formula to dress well and feel powerful in our clothes. It’s kind of just having a little street cred and doing something with it.
Alright—let’s dive in! If you have questions let me know in the comments or by message. And hit a like!
What Caught My Eye: The Ultra High Cuff
I tested this style out in Miami a couple years ago, so been there, done that. And I have some notes. Jeans have forever been a question about proportion—and also what to wear with them, and when! Almost everyone has a pair, and it seems as if there’s always something new to learn. (Cf. last year’s double-hem…)
These days denim has unabashedly gone rogue. We are in anything goes territory, which is why I want to reel it in a bit here. The latest trend to hit the denim department is the ultra high cuff, courtesy of the wide-legged barrel leg needing a commercial spin.
Maybe it’s a diagnosis that we are just taking a little longer than usual to run to the tailors.
Every brand has a version now: Loewe, BlankNYC, Madewell. InStyle just did a trend report on them. And on a walk in Paris-center over the weekend, I must’ve seen about a dozen!
The question comes down to weight. And there is a whole world out there where adding a little weight to the hem can balance out a look. Especially when you are going minimal on top (ahem, tank tops). Especially in summer-time territory and with the return of the slim sneaker and the naked flip-flop.
The issue with the style is that it can look a little stuffy if not done correctly; cue in selvedge denim and high cuffing an already very dressy look. It just feels heavy! That’s a lot of cuff!
In my honest opinion the worst thing you can ever do to a cuff is tuck it inwardly, making it meatier for no reason, and erasing the hem from the bottom of the pant. But it happens.
The other issue with the super cuff is that it completely stiffens the bottom of the jean, making the pant drop awkwardly on the ankles. Keep it playful like with the fisherman jeans, but finally it’s a look that with some time in your hands, means it’s time to go to the tailor. He (or she) will get you sorted.
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