In an exclusive collaboration between Cosmo ME and Abu Dhabi Retail, a phenomenal 12-week series of events is taking place across Abu Dhabi’s finest malls as part of Abu Dhabi Summer Shopping Season – Summer of Style. We’re absolutely delighted to have checked off 10 *massively successful* events thus far.
The antepenultimate event of our Abu Dhabi Retail summer took place at American Eagle, Yas Mall. With upbeat indie music echoing through the sleek store’s walls, the good vibes were at an all time high. A wide selection of denim was available throughout the store, 28 fits and 221 washes to be exact. As a welcome gift, our invitees were offered customizable American Eagle tote bags which they were at liberty to decorate at the customization station. We sipped on our American Eagle coffee cups and enjoyed delicious bites courtesy of Ladurée as we eagerly awaited the styling session ahead.
Cosmo ME‘s very own Digital Editor Sara Al Humiri and our event’s leading lady Rania Jamal discussed what makes American Eagle so iconic. It’s a brand that you can’t *not* have in your closet, expresses Sara. Both ladies agreed that no other jeans could flatter their individual body type with such unparalleled comfort and versatility.
The best way to find out more about American Eagle is to directly ask the brains behind the brand, which is why Sara invited two American Eagle experts to the stage.
Our experts shared that American Eagle’s core values are comfort, inclusivity, and sustainability. A denim-focused brand since 1977, American Eagle has crafted every pair of jeans that you could possibly think of.
The brand consistently innovates in their fabrication process, weaving the most comfortable and sustainable technologies into their denim in order to provide the highest levels of comfort season after season. This season, American Eagle launched a new technology called ultrasoft which, as the name suggests, creates jeans that are profoundly flexible, soft, and comfortable.
For our Cosmo ladies in particular, American Eagle’s women’s wear additionally incorporates the stretch factor. Featuring precisely 17 fits and 177 washes that draw inspiration from the market’s current trends, the women’s selection at American Eagle includes 5 different levels of stretch to suit your body type.
They’ve named their newest stretch strigid, an American Eagle-esque portmanteau which combines the attributes of stretch and rigidity. Stretchy in the front while rigid and firm in the back, these jeans offers the ultimate vintage vibes while guaranteeing comfort and flexibility in movement.
At American Eagle, a brand that consistently stands for inclusivity and versatility, every Cosmo girl can find the pair of jeans that fits her best. With a wide array of fits, stretches, styles, and fabrics, American Eagle carefully tailors each pair of jeans to a particular kind of Cosmo girl and a particular body type. To prove it, fabric guides and fit guides are plastered all over the store, offering customers a helping hand in attaining the fit of their dreams.
But that’s not all, what sets American Eagle apart from other denim-focused brands is the abundance of complementary clothing items to go with their jeans. Whether it be graphic tees, polo-shirts, or denim vests without being exhaustive, there’s no limit to the versatility that American Eagle’s clothing offers.
To help us style the plethora of pieces to which we’ve been introduced, Sara gave to floor to Cosmo ME’s very own Fashion Editor, Imogene Legrand. Imogene equipped us with all the tips and tricks we need to attain maximum comfort, aesthetics, and wardrobe mileage from American Eagle’s timeless pieces.
Our American Eagle styling session with Imogene Legrand…
Imogene prefaced the styling session by explaining that, when it comes to styling denim, there are three things that we should focus on: Proportion, colour, and mood.
We know that Imogene is the queen of mixing and matching, which is absolutely ideal when it comes to denim. After all, denim is the most versatile clothing item in your wardrobe. With just one pair of jeans, the outfits that you can create are endless.
Outfit #1: Dressed down high-waisted straight jeans
AE STRETCH HIGH-WAISTED STRAIGHT JEAN, Dhs150
Imogene’s styling tips: This pair of jeans is particularly flattering if it cinches in at the smallest part of your waist. Being a full length jean, this piece offers a lot of flexibility in terms of shoes. You can pair it with sneakers or boots for a perfectly dressed-down casual look.
Why not go for one of American Eagle’s fantastic oversized t-shirts? Remember, proportion is absolutely crucial, so it’s advisable to balance out the rather tight bottom with a loosely fitted top (or vice versa). You could tuck it in or out, half-in or half-out, depending on your mood.
Outfit #2: Dressed up high-waisted straight jeans
AE OVERSIZED MUSTANG GRAPHIC TEE, Dhs75
AE LONG-SLEEVE BUTTON-UP SHIRT, Dhs125
Imogene’s styling tips: Attesting to the versatility of American Eagle’s pieces, you can dress up the same pair of jeans with a button up top. The look is super feminine but still edgy and smart.
Contrast is very important while styling, so it’s advisable to create an element of contrast or layering in your look whenever possible. So why not unbotton the top and wear a graphic tee underneath? Again, you can tuck it in or out as you please. The point here is that with a single pair of jeans, we’ve already created 3 different outfits. Versatility for days!
Outfit #3: High-waisted jeggings, but not too casual
AE Next Level High-Waisted Jegging, Dhs128.41
Imogene’s styling tips: With these jeggings, we want to avoid them looking excessively casual or exactly like leggings. Wearing a dark wash is an excellent way to do so as it slightly more formal than a light wash but still casual. Rania absolutely rocked these jeggings at today’s American Eagle event.
It’s important to note that while denim-on-denim is super feminine and stylish, you must ensure that there’s enough contrast in your outfit. A helpful rule of thumb is to make sure that there’s at least a 3-shade difference between the two shades of denim. If you go for that denim-on-denim look with two super light tones or two super dark tones, the lack of contrast will be off-putting.
Outfit #4: High-waisted jeggings with a long dress, the American Eagle way
Imogene’s styling tips: Why not style the same pair of jeggings the American Eagle way, with this half-unbuttoned casual and airy dress? To dress it up, you can pair this look with gold hardware jewellery such as chunky necklaces and earrings. If you’re going for a more casual look, feel free to pair this with a straw hat, some sunglasses, and some flip flops.
All images shot by Efraim Evidor
Click here to check out the full schedule for Abu Dhabi Summer Shopping Season – Summer of Style, and sign up here.
Hang tight for the next exciting event at Michael Kors, Yas Mall, on 6th September 2023.