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The Braxtons

I’m really not a pack rat even though I’ve been hanging on to one particular pair of jeans for about 15 years.  The Braxtons.

I bought The Braxtons at a thrift store when I was a teenager because I thought they were cool. They have TRIPLE gold stitching going down the legs and around the back yoke.  Cool designs on the pockets which I’m sure inspired the 7 Jeans designers.   A red little tag with a lion on it peeking out on the hip seam.  Best of all they have this unique little beauty mark on the butt where someone dropped a drop of bleach.

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Back in those days I wasn’t brave enough to wear a long skirt to try on pants underneath while hiding behind the racks of musty clothes in thrift shops. These days I have no shame. Or class. So I bought The Braxtons sure they would fit. That wasn’t the case. “I will fit into these someday,” I thought and put them away. Over the next few years I would periodically try them on. No luck. I even took The Braxtons with me to sunny California when I moved for college but still no luck. In fact, over the ensuing years they got smaller and smaller.

Last year I pulled out all my old pants and discovered that just because  the shoe fits doesn’t  necessarily mean you should wear it.   However, The Braxtons were one pair that still didn’t fit.  So while I gave away all my other “keepers” I tenderly folded up The Braxtons and hid them in the back of my closet with hope.  But this morning in a moment of confidence I pulled them out and was overcome with a mix of loving familiarity, hope, triumph, and disgust.  The Braxtons fit!!!   But they looked ridiculous.  Beyond ridiculous.

For years I’ve imagined one day being able to fit in The Braxtons.  I would wear them proudly strutting around in my flip flops.  (Because flip flogs are perfect for strutting.) I imagined people would ask me questions like, “Wear did you get those jeans?? So cool!”. Or make statments like, “Those jeans look really good on you.”  In my dreams.  High waisted jeans are not for short people with thicker thighs and full bums and 8 inch zippers should be illegal.
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I’m trying to decided what to do with the Braxtons.

As you can tell I’m rather attached to these old jeans although I’ve worn them once for about 5 minutes.  Why?  The Braxtons symbolize hope to me.  I held onto to them out of belief one day I’d be able to fit into them.  The symbolize determination and perseverance.  It took me 15 years to be able to slide into them instead  nearly passing out from exhaustion trying to hoist them over my thighs.  I’m trying to decide what to do with The Braxtons.  Thinking about taking them to a tailor to see if they can lower the rise and shorten the zipper.  Or maybe I’ll just say screw it and wear them with pride.  In either case I’ve decided to document this day with some very chic photos.

The Braxtons: Moody and Complicated.

The Braxtons: Moody and Complicated.

The Braxtons: Intense.

The Braxtons: Intense.

The Braxtons: The "cat's" meow.

The Braxtons: The "cat's" meow.

The Braxtons: Confident and Cool.

The Braxtons: Confident and Cool.

Hugs and High Fives,
Jenn

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About jennincat

I'm so happy you stopped by my little corner of the web where I write about fitness, food, and amazing women I "meet". I live in California with my wonderful husband and two rambunctious boys. I'm a personal trainer and dreamer. I enjoy most things but some of my favorites are reading, acting, camping, cooking, music, writing, traveling, and being in the moment with my favorite people! You can read more about me here! I hope you stop by often!
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20 Responses to “The Braxtons”

  1. On June 25, 2009 at 2:15 pm Marthab responded with... #

    Any higher and you wouldn’t need a top. LOL That is very cool and not only do they fit, they look loose-ish. Yeah Braxtons!

    Reply
  2. On June 25, 2009 at 3:09 pm jennincat responded with... #

    LOL!!!! You’re are so stinkin’ FUNNY!!!

    Reply
  3. On June 25, 2009 at 3:30 pm Aimee responded with... #

    One word Jen… “Awesome!!!” You are awesome! I laughed so hard at those pics. Kudos to you for persevering and achieving your goal. I say get them tailored! You deserve it!

    And Martha you are hilarious!

    Reply
  4. On June 25, 2009 at 3:54 pm janetha responded with... #

    you just single handedly made my day!!!!!

    Reply
  5. On June 25, 2009 at 4:24 pm Marthab responded with... #

    PS: The pictures are seriously the best ever!

    Reply
  6. On June 25, 2009 at 4:31 pm jennincat responded with... #

    Thank guys!! I’m glad The Braxtons are bringing smiles to more faces than mine!

    Martha – I’ll let you borrow The Braxtons for Saturday if you’d like!!!!

    Reply
  7. On June 25, 2009 at 6:29 pm jess responded with... #

    These pictures remind me of an awesome photo shoot of you and Reanna in mom’s garden. Except then you were wearing your silk hammer pants.

    Reply
  8. On June 25, 2009 at 9:51 pm jennincat responded with... #

    Ahhhhh the silk hammer pants. GOLD silk hammer pants nonetheless. I think that’s another post.

    Reply
  9. On June 26, 2009 at 3:32 pm Michelle in CA responded with... #

    OMG – loved it! Hysterical! I say tailor the waistline and make them into cut-offs!

    Reply
  10. On June 30, 2010 at 2:17 pm jess responded with... #

    Dude. Hilarious.

    Reply
  11. On August 13, 2010 at 5:15 pm Deb (SmoothieGirlEatsToo) responded with... #

    OK, we’ve been friends for mumblemumble months now and I’ve been meaning to read this post for.ever. Now that I have and I’ve guffawed all of the cats out of the room, I’m sooo glad I did.

    First of all: CONGRATS on fitting into them. And by NOW, they are probably hanging off of you.

    Second, I was laughing hysterically at the photos- and of meow cow’s cameo- hope he didn’t charge you too much for that.

    Third, do you even KNOW how ‘in’ boob-high jeans are these days? I’m not daring enough to wear them, but supposedly they are the beez-neez.

    Fourth, if you just can’t do it (wear them, that is) there is a place that does that for a living (Ruff Cut) on Pico & Sepulveda. He specializes in Levis’s but I’m guessing that the zipper wouldn’t throw him for too much of a loop (ha, did I make a tailor-themed funny?).

    Loved.this.post.

    Reply
    • On August 15, 2010 at 7:33 am jennincat responded with... #

      No I didn’t know boob-high jeans were in. My backside is not made for high waisted jeans. There is a reason I didn’t post pics from that angle. 😉

      Reply
  12. On November 7, 2010 at 3:57 pm Katie responded with... #

    Wow. There are no words to describe how truly awesome and amazing this post is. Really. Those pictures speak for themselves.

    Reply
  13. On June 13, 2011 at 12:43 pm Christie responded with... #

    This made me laugh out loud! Are those now considered ‘mom jeans’ ??
    Congrats for finally getting into them — way to persevere!

    Reply
    • On June 14, 2011 at 12:07 am jennincat responded with... #

      I still have the Braxtons. Haha! They are totally mom jeans! 😀

      Reply

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Old Mother Hubbard | Competing to Lose - June 28, 2009

    […] My friend and I decided we would leave early so I rush backstage eager to put on my new jeans.  I hike them up over my thighs and button them pleased as pie to be wearing a size smaller than before.  Then I squat down to pick something up off the floor and RIIIIIIIP.  No joke.  My new ego inflating jeans just deflated my ego like someone letting go of an unknotted balloon filled with air.  I don’t know wether to laugh or cry.  I decide to choose laughter because there is SO MUCH more to life than the size of the my jeans.  Besides who needs those stupid old Joe’s Jeans when I have The Braxtons. […]

  2. “Take the Stairs” | Competing to Lose - August 17, 2009

    […] my mental health (depression), to age well, to fight off disease, to help shape my body and for The Braxtons because vacuuming like a madwoman won’t change the shape of my behind.  Nevertheless, this […]

  3. Between a (900 Pound) Rock and (a Half a Pound) Hard Place | Girl Heroes - August 9, 2010

    […] I try not to share my weight but today I’ll make an exception since this has nothing to do with smaller jeans.  I’m REALLY close to the cut off.  Super close.  The catch is my weight fluctuates 1-3 […]

  4. Score! | Girl Heroes - January 27, 2011

    […] to share this on my blog but, seriously, I love it so much and you guys are my friends and if I show you pictures of The Braxtons well then I can show you […]

  5. What is functional fitness training? | Girl Heroes - March 24, 2011

    […] am to see skinny jeans go?  I will totally rock those bell bottoms.  I may even have to bring out The Braxtons. Hugs and High Fives, […]

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About this article

  • Posted on June 25, 2009
  • Archived in Best of GH, Musings
  • There are 20 responses.
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