Style Notes: On The Fringes
& Fine-Whatever Link-Up

Nine years ago, I tried my hand at a little DIY, a fringe hem project inspired by another blogger’s creative take on cropped jeans. It was one of those spur-of-the-moment experiments where curiosity meets opportunity, impulse, and a pair of scissors. I liked the result well enough to write about it, tuck the jeans away, and move on to other things.

Now, almost a decade later, I’m back on the fringes, literally and figuratively. I recently rediscovered one of those pairs of jeans, which led to taking another look at that post, and then deciding to revisit the idea with a new perspective. Back then, I was testing a trend; this time, I’m exploring how something once trendy can evolve into a quiet signature.

The Project: Hands, Fabric, and a Few Lessons Learned

When I first customized those jeans, I was still figuring things out: about style, about proportion, about balance. I snipped the hems, tossed them in the wash, and hoped for the best. It worked, more or less, though the fringe initially turned out shorter than I’d intended, which I later remedied.

Fast-forward to today: while finally going through a box of clothes I’d packed up seven years ago before the move to our current home, I found those same blue jeans again. To my surprise, they still fit… just barely. The funny thing is, what once felt like the perfect cropped length now looks, well, a little too cropped.

Revisiting this DIY reminded me that creativity works best when you slow down a little and pay attention to the process, lessons I won’t soon forget.

• Lesson one –  don’t cut too short; take time to plan before the first snip.
• Lesson two – trust your instincts, but maybe double-check the tutorial first.
• Lesson three – trends may come and go, but the impulse to create never does.

With those in mind, I picked up another thrifted pair of jeans to give this project a proper encore. I’ve been leaning toward longer lengths lately, so I thought I’d see how a fringe hem would work with that in mind. Shown in the photos below, the jeans from the original DIY project are on the left. I used them as a bit of a guide, but I also rewatched the how-to video. Both pairs of jeans are from Old Navy; Sweetheart is the style name of the older pair, and the newer ones are Midrise WOW Boyfriend.

The outcome of this project has been a pair that not only fits better, it also reflects where my style is now.

Style Reflection: Living on the Edges

Maybe it’s fitting that a project about fringe brought me back to what I’ve always gravitated toward, the little details that make an item feel special. I’ve never been one to chase every trend, but I do love finding the element that sets a piece apart; an interesting embellishment, an unexpected texture, a unique hem that hints at personality. Those small distinctions are what pull me in.

Fringe, for all its loose threads and movement, captures that perfectly. It adds just enough whimsy to ordinary denim — a wink at creativity without crossing into costume. And it reminds me that individuality often shows up in the finishing touches, not the statement pieces.

When I DIYed those first jeans, I was following someone else’s lead, hoping the look would work for me. This time, I’m guided by my own instinct, searching for what feels unique, not necessarily what’s currently in. Maybe that’s what “on the fringes” really means: noticing the overlooked details and making them part of your story.

Outfit Notes: Forever Fringed

I’ve put together three looks, edited down from the half dozen or so I had swirling in my head. At first, I was a little stymied at how to style my fringed jeans since I no longer have anything close to the stiletto pumps that I originally wore with them. Once I started considering my current options, it seemed I couldn’t stop thinking up different looks to try. And every item in the looks below was shopped from my closet.

Just For Fun

Fringe and Western flair go hand in hand, so I let that spirit lead this look. The cardigan, a Western-patterned piece I’ve owned for more than 25 years, now qualifies as vintage, but its colors and texture still make me smile. I tied up a chambray shirt, slipped into my trusty Western-style red boots, and let the fringe jeans do their thing. The mix feels playful and a little nostalgic, proof that old favorites can still bring new joy when you give them a fresh spin.

Too Cool For School

A leather jacket has a way of changing the whole mood of an outfit, and this one brings just the right dose of attitude. Paired with the cranberry eyelet top and black moto-style boots from my Fall 2025 collection, the fringe hem takes on a sleeker, more modern edge — less rodeo, more rock-and-roll.

It’s a simple mix, really, but one that feels effortlessly cool. The kind of look that makes you stand a little taller without trying to prove anything; comfortable, confident, and ready for wherever the day or night leads.

Dressed, Not Stressed

Last but not least, it’s the shoes that take the lead in this look. They’re a thrift store find, and oy, what a tale goes along with that discovery. But I’ll save it for another time. When I wear them, I’m not sure if I should be doing a shuffle-ball-change or trying to pick up a 7-10 split. Between their playful pattern and the sharp structure of a plaid blazer, the result walks that fine line between dressed up and delightfully unexpected. A perfect match for my fringe hem jeans.

The blazer, by the way, has history as well. It was one of my favorites back when I was still working, and one of only a handful of “career clothes” I never parted with. I’m glad I kept it. Its tailored shape adds just the right amount of polish to the look while keeping the spirit easy and relaxed; very much in line with the dressed-not-stressed mantra.

I’m still playing with other ways of styling my fringed jeans; maybe a look with a bit of shine (a sequin jacket, metallic shoes) or maybe one leaning into texture with something fringed up top. I’ve learned not to rush these choices; the best pairings usually reveal themselves once the camera’s ready and I’ve stopped overthinking it.

What I do know is that this new version feels more intentional than the original — less about testing a trend, more about refining a favorite idea. It’s the kind of update that mirrors where I am now: still curious, still experimenting, but with a clearer sense of what fits me, in every sense of the word.

Fringe seems to keep popping up in my wardrobe and honestly, I’m not mad about it. Along with the three new looks I styled for this post, a couple of my recent posts also featured fringe in a starring role, and I found a couple of favorite fringe pieces from farther back. Each of these examples shows how fringe has woven its way through my style — sometimes front and center, sometimes just along the edges.

L to R: Fright Night, Every Night, Pink-A-Boo, I See You, Somethings New, Somethings Old, The Ol’ Closet Switcheroo

Threads That Connect

Pulling at the threads — literally or figuratively — can be risky business. You never know what might unravel or what might reappear. But sometimes revisiting an old project, or an old part of yourself, reminds you just how far you’ve come.

Those jeans from nine years ago tell a story of curiosity and courage, even if the proportions weren’t quite right. The new pair tells a story of patience and precision, proof that you can still enjoy the process of making something your own while embracing the changes time brings.

Maybe that’s the real lesson hiding in the fringe: it’s the imperfect edges that make things interesting. The worn bits, the loose threads, the small decisions that give a piece — and a person — character. So yes, I’m still on the fringes. And it turns out that’s exactly where I feel most comfortable.

What’s something from your wardrobe’s past you’d like to rework or restyle today?

Stay well and let’s keep in touch! Subscribe, follow, friend, pin … all options are available. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

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Photo credit: MMPerez

Note: This is an unsponsored post; however, some or all of the links to clothing items are associated with an affiliate program, where I earn a small commission for each click at no additional cost to you.

Now, onto the Fine-Whatever link-up. The featured post from last week’s link-up, I Put A Spell On You, was contributed by Suzy, who you’ll find writing about her magical life in sunny Portugal at Suzy Turner, The Grey Brunette.