When it comes to my denim game, I'm starting to realize how much I still subscribe to my west coast mentality. I love a pair that's perfectly lived in, transitions easily from work to evening and has a certain whimsy to it -- a unique detail that feels innately me. Not overly fussy, definitely not overly showy or trendy and just the right amount of cool (like this cropped flared pair by Express). Granted, I've never really considered myself a "cool" girl per se, but I like to think the right jeans can help you pull it off (and no one has to be the wiser for it).

In a lot of ways, I like to think how you approach jeans reflects how you approach life. (Bear with me here, I know this is a melodramatic analogy.) But in a lot of ways, I think you'd agree with me. Think about it. It's the one clothing item you more often than not, spend a disproportionate amount of time in -- you reach for it when you're in doubt. You live in them.

And here's where my tangent comes in (but hopefully it makes sense in the end): If any of you read Amy Poehler's "Yes, Please," or Tina Fey's "Bossypants" you may recall the phrase "Yes, and" which both authors bring up when referring to a mental practice when you're active in improv. The idea that there is no wrong answer or scenario in improv -- there's only "yes, and then..." meaning you constantly have to build on whatever your improv group has thrown out. While I'm probably the last person you want to see in an improv skit (deer in the headlights anyone?), I like to think about this approach whenever I'm faced with situations that test me, professionally or personally speaking. It's easy to lose perspective at times, and I'll be the first person to admit that I lose sight of it often, but as I get older, the more I try to remind myself that nothing is ever really a dead end. It's just an opportunity to make a U-turn.

And I like my jeans to follow suit.

OUTFIT DETAILS: Express suede sleeveless trench // Express bodysuit // Express cropped flared jeans // Express ankle strap heels // Chanel bag // Celine "Audrey" sunglasses 

This post was in collaboration with Express. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!

Photos by Lydia Hudgens