An alternative fashion shoot – George jeans from Asda

I think it would be fair to say I’m not a natural in photographs. Video I can do, still shots, not so much. You know that episode of Friends, where Monica tries to get Chandler to pose for an engagement photo? I’m like that. Something happens to my face. Also, I really know nothing about clothes, so when George at Asda asked me to style some looks for their jeans range, what I should have said is ‘honestly Asda, you don’t want me in your clothes, it won’t be pretty.’

What I actually said was: ‘Sure! That sounds fun!’

D’oh.

Now the idea behind the challenge is that George wanted to show me that they have a range of jeans for any occasion. Jeans are a wardrobe staple after all, and can always be styled up or down, depending on what you’re doing and where you’re going. They’ve put together this little video, illustrating the point.

Which jean are you?

Needless to say, I do not look like this woman, so, in anticipation of the photos that you’re about to see, I’m going to spend a little bit of time first telling you about the jeans in words, as they are actually really nice, and I want that to come across.

The Wondersculpt high waisted skinny jeans are fantastic. Seriously, I’ve been pretty much living in them since they arrived. I’ve had a couple of people ask me if I have lost weight, which is lovely, if not a little suspicious, and they are one of the comfiest pairs of jeans I’ve had in a long time. They hold everything in, without feeling tight, as they are super stretchy. The fit is perfect, and I speak as someone who does struggle with jeans, particularly with the whole massive bum/relatively smaller waist ratio. I love the high waist, because it keeps all the wibbly bits tucked in, but there’s none of that ‘I really need to change into my pyjama bottoms now’ feeling after dinner, because they are so damn stretchy. Genius.

In these jeans I feel sexy and smart, but comfortable. I feel like I’m me, but with a bit of a sassy edge, like I’m not too old to wear skinny jeans, honestly.

You want to see some photos now don’t you? Hmmm… Okay….

So, this first one I took myself on a timer, before everyone arrived at a social media workshop I was doing this week at The Forge in Bristol. I went with a double stripe thing because I was running a social media course, and I thought it said ‘look at me, I am so cool and up to date with social trends that I can pull off double stripes.’

What do you reckon? Obviously ignore my face. I could only take one because then people started to arrive…

George Jeans Asda

Here’s another one from The Forge – isn’t it gorgeous? The striped blazer is from George, the t-shirt is my own.

The Forge Bristol

The following photos though are perhaps not the classy shots Asda had in mind when they asked me to take part in this challenge. The trouble is, that I’ve had Bee at home, and when Bee and I do things together it tends to get a bit silly. I would love to be one of those people who just has to stand in front of a brick wall to look like a cool, classy fashion model type, but as you can see, when I stand in front of a brick wall, I just look like a grey haired, chubby, middle-aged woman, standing in front of a brick wall.

Still, this is real life guys. These jeans are what real life is all about right?

To relax into things, Bee thought it might help to give me a bit of direction.

“Why don’t you do something a bit moody?” she said. “Like you’re in an Adele video?”

“I’ve never seen an Adele video,” I said, “what do they look like?”

“Just sort of look distressed.”

“Like this?”

George jeans Asda

“Ergh, no, not really,” she said.

“Never mind,” I said, “I have a photo of this outfit already – the weird face one I took this morning – so I’ll go and put something else on.”

This is a picture of a cat that Bee took while I was getting changed:

cat

“What’s this look then?” Bee asked, as I reappeared in the same high waisted jeans, but this time with a bright red wrap top.

“Stop taking random pictures of me in the street!” I replied. “We need the wall remember? For Instagrammability.”

George Jeans Asda

This I decided was my ‘evening look’ – I put a necklace on you see. The top is still really comfortable, but it’s a lovely floaty fabric, which has more of a ‘nice meal out with friends, not at a Wetherspoons’ feel about it.

Bee had more poses in mind.

“You look a bit like Carol Vorderman in that,” she said. “Why don’t you pretend to be a contestant on Countdown?”

George Jeans Asda

George Jeans Asda

It was time for another quick change, this time into a pair of red cord jeggings and a casual knotted bottom t-shirt. I’m a bit fan of a jegging, and I liked these a lot. The t-shirt was great too – nice and slouchy, perfect for messing about at home at the weekend or a casual day at the office. Bee thought I looked like Father Christmas but I thought she was being unnecessarily critical.

“Why don’t you pretend you’re mates with that bin?” she directed.

I don’t think this was our best work.

George Jeans Asda

My final pair of jeans were a flared pair, which I wore with a pair of very bright ballet flats from George. The top is my own.

“I might call this my ‘colour pop’ look?” I suggested to Bee.

She raised her eyebrows.

“Don’t,” she said.

“But look at the shoes!” I said. “Aren’t they glorious?”

George Jeans Asda

I’ve always been a fan of a flare. In fact, until a couple of years ago they were the only style of jeans I ever wore. I’ve always felt that there was something about a wide bottomed pair of jeans that was better at balancing out my own wide bottom, and I like the scruffy edge of these, that looks a bit like the hem has fallen down but hasn’t. This is a really versatile pair of jeans, that could be worn casually with flat shoes and a t-shirt, or dressed up with heels and something a bit more sparkly.

Bee decided it would be good to finish on a high.

“Jump,” she instructed.

“What?”

“You know, jump, like they do in Glee.”

“I’m not sure I can jump,” I protested.

“Give it a go,” she said.

So I did.

George jeans Asda

I was sent these clothes from George at Asda for the purposes of this post. All opinions are my own.

 

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31 Comments

  1. Lucy
    21 April, 2016 / 12:12 pm

    Haha! I loved the jeggings so much after seeing you in them last week that I bought some myself…

    • Jo Middleton
      Author
      21 April, 2016 / 12:13 pm

      Well there we go you see – George were right to come to me! They ARE comfy though aren’t they?

  2. 21 April, 2016 / 12:21 pm

    Oh this post is too too funny and the commentary really really makes it. Me and Aaron have HILARIOUS conversations on the way home from school but my brain has died so I can never retain them enough to type them up so well done you. Love the pics and that video is superb. I have watched, liked and subscribed on You Tube.. I only currently have one pair of jeans and they are maternity despite having my lil lady 12 weeks ago. Need. To. Go. Shopping.
    xxx

    • Jo Middleton
      Author
      21 April, 2016 / 12:26 pm

      I honestly can’t recommend the stretchy skinny jeans enough Liska, they are just so comfortable! I love them. Thanks for reading :-)

  3. 21 April, 2016 / 12:25 pm

    Loving the sound of those jeans, comfy and stretchy and holding everything in! Genius. Loving your poses, great direction by Bee I say

    • Jo Middleton
      Author
      21 April, 2016 / 12:51 pm

      She is clearly a natural at it Alison as I personally think these could feature in any glossy women’s monthly.

  4. 21 April, 2016 / 6:22 pm

    I absolutely love Asda clothes and love their jeans especially. I’m not sure I would have been brave enough to style their jeans though! x

    • Jo Middleton
      Author
      22 April, 2016 / 10:24 am

      Well Donna, not everyone can be a natural model type like me ;-)

  5. 21 April, 2016 / 8:29 pm

    Ha ha, I love this. TBH ,I much prefer your alternative shoot (much as I’d imagine one of mine going especially with N doing the photos!) than the slick fashion bloggers versions.

    I’m a bootcut/flare jean girl all the way because I have big calves. Even in bootcuts they sometimes cling (I’m sure they’re never as boot cut as jeans used to be!), so skinny would be a definite no no unless I had a long dress over them (very Trinny & Susannah)

    • Jo Middleton
      Author
      22 April, 2016 / 10:23 am

      You see now I always thought that Emma, so avoided the skinnies for ages – I have good chunky calves too and can never find boots to fit or anything like that, but actually a good pair of skinny jeans can work really well as they are stretchy all over, so you don’t get that clingy calf thing.

  6. 22 April, 2016 / 1:54 pm

    Great post, I love the jumping and wheelie bin shots! All the jeans look fab! I hope you have a great weekend. x

  7. 22 April, 2016 / 7:52 pm

    Such a fun post! I love the flared ones they look like a great fit This is much more fun than normal fashion posts x

  8. 22 April, 2016 / 9:33 pm

    LOL! Oh brilliant!! I think your mate the bin and the glee-esque jump are my favourite!! And dont worry, I get a bad case of Chandler face in photos too! xx

  9. 25 April, 2016 / 1:28 pm

    haha! this was so funny. the red wrap top and those jeans look ace on you!

    • Jo Middleton
      Author
      26 April, 2016 / 8:47 am

      Thanks!

    • Jo Middleton
      Author
      26 April, 2016 / 8:47 am

      YAY! Thank you so much :-)

  10. 25 April, 2016 / 8:00 pm

    nailing that jumping shot! haha love it, George do some great bits don’t they, I bought tons of stuff from there when I was pregnant x

    • Jo Middleton
      Author
      26 April, 2016 / 8:48 am

      I am in the stretchy jeans AGAIN today – I just love them.

  11. 25 April, 2016 / 8:46 pm

    Ha ha you look like you’re having such a laugh with Bee and you’re right, jeans are all about the everyday wearability. I do love the way you styled the pair with the red evening top! P.S The Forge looks like such a nice place. xx

    • Jo Middleton
      Author
      26 April, 2016 / 8:49 am

      You would love The Forge Kat, it’s bricks galore!

  12. 25 April, 2016 / 8:55 pm

    Loving the jeans! And everyone needs a Bee for this kind of post :)

    • Jo Middleton
      Author
      26 April, 2016 / 8:49 am

      She was ace wasn’t she?! A fashion photographer in the making I reckon…

  13. 26 April, 2016 / 10:10 pm

    I bought myself a pair of skinny jeans at ASDA myself a month or so ago after realising I couldn’t get my old jeans up past my hips. Umm, yeah! :/

    They’re great as you say. My bottom seems to have grown and now have a small waist/big bottomed look (we’ll just call ourselves the Beyoncé look ;) ) and they’re super stretchy and so slimming.

    You look great in all of these photos and looked like you had a ball with Bee during your street fashion parade.

    • Jo Middleton
      Author
      27 April, 2016 / 9:54 am

      They big bum look is ACE Lisa – we need to embrace it!

  14. 29 April, 2016 / 10:44 pm

    Are you sure you’re not a fashion blogger?

  15. 2 May, 2016 / 6:48 am

    Perfect pictures …One thing that matters is comfort and happiness….I can see how much comfortable and happy you are feeling in this…Keep enjoying :-)

  16. 5 October, 2016 / 2:36 pm

    I love the cat and your red top. You are so quirky by the way. :)

    • Jo Middleton
      Author
      5 October, 2016 / 3:16 pm

      Thanks :-)

  17. 10 October, 2016 / 6:15 am

    Beautiful post Jo. I really love your orange shoes!

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