How to Rock Colorful Jeans

Looking for a simple way to step up your style game? Try throwing on a pair of colored jeans. Perfect for night or day, these playful pants lend a bit of fun and a lot of fashion to any look. Whether you choose bright coral like Carmen Electra (pictured), gorgeous green like Jamie Chung, or sunshine yellow like Rihanna, these tips will have you looking stylish and sexy in any shade of colored jeans.

Think a colored jean will look unflattering? The only way to prove yourself wrong is to try them out, says Deborah Boland, a Toronto-based style expert and creator of the style website Fabulous After 40. "A lot of women are very afraid of color," Boland says. "But once they start wearing colored jeans, they find they are a fabulous wardrobe staple," like the emerald green ones Jamie Chung wears here at an event in Park City, Utah.

The best way to keep colorful jeans in check is to let them be the star of the show, says Megan Kristel, an image consultant based in Conshohocken, Penn., and creator of Kristel Closets. Pair them with fitted T-shirts, boatneck tops, chambray shirts and even denim jackets, she suggests. Boland also recommends pairing them with a top or jacket in black, navy, white or other neutral tone, like actress Daisy Fuentes does here at a charity event in Los Angeles.

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If neutral isn't your thing and you like to add as much color as possible, Kristel suggests pairing shades that are in the same color family, like actress Noureen DeWulf does here at an event in Beverly Hills, Calif. If lighter shades are more to your liking, try wearing lavender jeans with a dusty gray tank or cardigan, Kristel says. "It works because all the colors are grayed out."

While color does draw attention to your legs, it doesn't have to be bad news for ladies who want to look slimmer. To elongate the line of your legs, Kristel says to opt for a colored jean with a consistent wash throughout, like singer Rihanna wears here at an appearance in New York City. "Also watch the length," she advises. "A straight leg in an ankle pant with help you look slimmer."

Though brights are fun and exciting, darker colors and washes often work best if you're self-conscious about your legs, Boland says. "Dark shades recede, making you look smaller where they are worn," she explains. She says a deeper color, like burgundy or the dark green that actress Demi Moore wears here at an event in Los Angeles, will slim you down more than a bright shade of red or green.

All any lady needs for a stunning day-look is to pair a simple tee and ballet flats with a gorgeous colored jean, like the look shown here at the DL 1961 Premium Denim Spring 2013 runway show in New York City. "You can roll the hem if you like to and add some interesting accessories to finish the look," Kristel says. Boland also suggests pairing day jeans with loafers or wedges.

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Spice up your colored look for a night out by sticking with a classic color, like the bold red that singer Christina Milian wears here at an event in Hollywood, Calif., Kristel suggests. "Wear a red straight-leg or skinny jean with heels, a blazer and an interesting clutch," she says. Boland says a sexy, strappy heel or pointed pumps or booties can elevate the look for a night on the town.

Though colorful jeans don't quite cut it in a corporate environment, they can work in a more casual office when styled correctly, Boland says. "Make sure they are neat and clean, and wear a blouse … and neutral jacket," like singer Emma Bunton does here at the 2012 TRIC awards in London. Boland says a jacket, paired with a low heel, adds "instant credibility in the workplace."