How many of you have a pair of jeans lurking at the back of the closet, hidden behind oversized knits and flowing maxi dresses, that you bought on a whim and wore for 2 minutes before that extra piece of chocolate or second serve of lasagne stapled itself to your thighs and they didn’t fit anymore? Perhaps, like me, they were bought for a special occasion many years ago (at a horribly inflated price because it was a ‘special’ occasion) and have sat languishing at the bottom of the ironing basket since, waiting for the day when your body returns to its pre – Wispa Gold size?

Sass & Bide The Lover Jeans $220.00$154.00 by Sass & Bide at shopbop.com

The story of my skinny jeans began mid 2007. As far as jeans go, I was never a big fan. Much more a tailored pants kinda girl, it took me a long time to decide that yes, I did like jeans. I then proceeded to buy the worst, ill fitting, el cheapo jeans I could find, under the premise I was ‘finding me feet’, demin wise. I wore Cotton On and Target in the hopes I would find my place in the demin hierarchy, but if one aspires to find the perfect fit with a good balance of support, cut and colour, these are not the places to start. You don’t go to Diva to find a Tiffany ring after all.

Then came the ‘special’ occasion, officially known as ‘meeting the friends’. (You know what I mean). Aside from being nervous as all get out – will they like me? Will they approve? – I felt the most important thing I could do was look fabulous, thereby feeling fabulous and more confident, assuring they would of course, love me.

I wanted casual chic, not too dressy, but still sophisticated and nothing can say all these things like a good dose of demin. Everyone has favourites for denim – Sass & Bide and Bettina Liano are among the most popular denim brands in Australia, but given my legs are not twigs, I moved on to tried and tested performers, Just Jeans.

7 for all mankind Roxanne mid-rise skinny jeans $155.00 by 7 For All Mankind at Net-A-Porter

I tried on plenty but came away with Lee Riders, the most amazing, fabulous, comfy jeans ever. Bootcut, dark demin, zip fly (do they even do button flys anymore?). Size 9. Yep, that’s right, size 9. N.I.N.E. After moving out of home 6 months prior, I had lost a bit of weight (read: stopped eating properly) and lo and behold, size 9. I wanted to shout it from the rooftops. I certainly don’t advocate the cereal for dinner lifestyle but what can I say?, it works!

Needless to say, I looked fab, the friends loved me and all was right with the world – until 6 months later, when I was settled in my new home, living with a roommate who cooked (and enjoyed the odd glass of red and block of chocolate) and the jeans no longer fit. Try as I might, the next two years were a rollercoaster of kilo’s, seasonal fluctuations and boyfriend jeans – until today.

As well as spending endless hours in bed earlier this week, I also managed to get some washing done, which is how I found myself in a predicament this morning. Two pairs of jeans. Both over the clotheshorse. Both still damp. (I don’t have a dryer. I know I live in an apartment. They are bad for the environment!) It’s casual Friday at work and try as I might with skirts and harem pants (trust me, they are ALL over my bedroom floor right now), the only thing that was going to cut it today, was jeans.

With the two pairs of damp jeans and a bout of gastro behind me, I took a deep breath and tried the size 9 jeans. At that exact moment, the stars and planets aligned and with a snap of my wrist, the button did up. I truly could not believe it. I still don’t (but I can now feel aforementioned button starting to make its mark on my flesh). Yes, they are tight, but not uncomfortably so (yet, I haven’t had lunch though). But I don’t care. I’m wearing my skinny jeans and feel on top of the world.

While I imagine that when I wash these jeans they will shrink back to their former selves and I will again struggle to fit my backside into them, I have discovered that just one day of fitting back into your skinny jeans is enough to inspire you not to have that extra handful of chips or row of chocolate. To get up and go for a walk in the morning, or do 50 sit ups before bed. Drag out your skinny jeans and give them a go, or go out and buy a really good pair of jeans. Feel fabulous and confident!

Image Three: Remember the episode of Sex and the City when Miranda pulled on her skinny jeans? Fabulous!