Lean jeans appear on front lines

Here's the skinny on the latest trendsetter.
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
Just when you think denim is bound to fade from fashion's front lines, a new color, wash or style gives denim jeans a big boost.
Black denim was the rage for a while. White was last summer's hit. Now the talk is about skinny shapes.
We mean skinny as in affectionate, hugging, stretchy, second-skin skinny. The look is not for everyone. It is only one of many choices on the market. But it has injected an energy burst into this volatile, trend-dependent market.
The idea has flown, of course, in part thanks to the celebrity factor. Kasil Denim Co. is distributing pictures of Jennifer Aniston in lean, stretchy jeans and Ashton Kutcher in straight legs. Sales of this style jean are best on the East and West coasts, says Grace Lyu of Kasil.
Variety available
"It's all about the straight and skinny for us right now, but it's just like any other trend, so we are still offering a variety of styles, from our tight and skinny to our wide-leg trousers," she writes in an e-mail. Kasil jeans are priced from about $165 and are available at www.kasildenim.com, among other stores.
The Lee Co. has introduced a skinny jean in the One True Fit line, says Jennifer Johnson, public relations coordinator. It is in a clean blue denim with a wider waistband and is available at Kohl's.
Mirror image
But lean jeans are easy to find in almost every denim line in a range of prices. Just be sure you try them on with access to a full-length mirror and a back view.