No one knows jeans like Jane Herman. The Vogue fashion writer turned designer isn’t just the creative force behind The Only Jane—a line of chic denim wardrobe essentials, from ultra-flattering jumpsuits to meticulously engineered, detail-rich jeans—but she also has an addictive Substack newsletter, Jane on Jeans, devoted to the subject. (Need to find an expert tailor to reshape your vintage 501s, or tips on how to rock a drawstring-waist pair? She’s got you covered.) As the daughter of legendary L.A. retailer Ron Herman, she grew up selling jeans and T-shirts, and that’s more or less the look she’s known for today: an elevated, classic uniform centered around perfect-fitting blues.
Unsurprisingly, Herman’s beauty strategy is as timeless and fuss-free as her signature style: on most days, the products she uses would fit into her jeans’ back pocket. “I’m really into my skin,” she says. And as the mother of two children, ages three and five, “my mornings are insane. I know it’s what so many moms say, but my routine has to be quick.”
Herman pulls from a rotation of just four makeup products for a super flawless complexion. “I’m kind of a uniform dresser, and I’m the same when it comes to skin,” she says. “Once I find something I like, I commit to it.” Right now, she’s committed to Skin Activator serum mixed with her SPF—”it just plumps and hydrates and makes your skin look alive”—or, for more coverage, Complexion Drops in Atelier 1. “It gives a little more coverage than a tinted moisturizer.” To even out darkness or cover spots, she’ll tap on a few strategically blended dots of Vital Skincare Concealer. “It goes on [concentrated], but it just glides into your skin,” she says. And when she’s craving a touch of color, it’s Baby Cheeks Blush (in Petal) “on all the places I want to be rosy” including her mouth for a naturally “plush lip.”
Here, watch Herman share her techniques for surreal skin (including, she isn’t ashamed to note, the art of covering a forehead blemish!), and read on for her top five fall shopping picks for denim lovers.
1. THE CLASSIC STRAIGHT-CUT JEAN:
The Only Jane's The Georgia Jean
"This is my signature fit from The Only Jane. It's a mid-rise with a very relaxed leg and a charm where the coin pocket would be. It's not the kind of jean you tuck a T-shirt into. It's designed to feel really easy."
2. THE SOFT FLARE JEAN:
Jamie Haller’s The Kinickie Jean
"Jamie Haller, who makes some of my favorite shoes, has a new RTW collection and all the denim looks so good. The Kinickie jean—plus her new Chukka boot—will be my new weekend uniform for fall."
3. THE WIDE LEG FRAY JEAN:
"I'm not someone who wears a lot of distressed denim, but when I saw Chloé's Chemena Kamali in these, I suddenly wanted a soft wide-leg with a really messed up hem. Khaite makes this one that gets close."
4. THE WHITE DENIM JACKET:
The Only Jane’s The Trip Jacket
“The Trip Jacket has the integrity of a jacket, with the softness of a sweater. It’s just the easiest thing to wear. Great while the warm weather lasts, and light enough to go under winter coats when it’s time.”
5. THE EVERYDAY JEANS BELT:
Anderson’s The Etched Croc Belt
"I've started investing more in belts and love Anderson’s. This is one I'm currently eyeing, which would be gorgeous with a very washed vintage blue jean.”
