Monday, August 10, 2015

The Denim Guide Part 2: A Broke Girl's Case for Expensive Jeans

Denim Guide Part 2 
(J Brand, Hudson, J Brand, AG)


A Broke Girl's Case for Expensive Jeans

Last week I shared my opinions on affordable denim brands, and today we are moving on to the pricier brands that are oh so popular! Having worked with designer denim brands such as J Brand, Hudson, AG, DL1961, and Citizens of Humanity I have had the opportunity to try these jeans, own a few, and get to know their characteristics.
While I realize that spending $150-$200 on a pair of jeans is way out of many peoples' price range, I encourage the skeptics to at least consider investing in one pair. I'll be honest, I'm not sure if I would have taken the plunge had I not had an employee discount, but as soon as I did I knew it was one of the best $100 I'd ever spent on a piece of clothing. I've always had a hard time finding jeans that fit me properly but these brands tend to take fit seriously: they are truly made with women's bodies in mind. What you're paying for is not just a pair of jeans, but quality, fit, and comfort, and all of the research that goes into finding the optimal fabrics and fits.
If you're wary of spending so much on a pair of jeans, don't rush it. Try on lots of different brands and styles to find one that works best for you. Invest in a classic jean that you can wear in many different ways, and take proper care of them. I started with a dark wash skinny jean which can be dressed up or dressed down and worn all year round.

My all-time favorite jeans are by Hudson. Their jeans run long enough for me, their denim is good quality, both thick/solid enough and comfortable, and their super skinny is truly ankle-hugging. Some people don't like their back pockets, personally I think they are flattering, but they do make many styles without the pocket as well for a more sleek look.

(Hudson jeans featured in Light Bulb)

J Brand. Some people love 'em some people hate 'em. Personally my only complaint (besides the price!) is that they tend to run a little short on me. Otherwise I love that J Brand offers good quality jeans with such a huge variety of styles, washes, fits, and fabrics. They are always on trend and coming up with new fit technology. Some people complain that their jeans don't hold up well, and I myself had an experience with a pair of their thin fabric jegging-type jeans ripping in the crotch (they were my favorite pair too!) so I'd advise staying away from the super thin fabrics, as comfortable as they may be, and stick to something with a little more stretch. 

(J Brand jeans featured in Soft Color)

AG has more relaxed styles along with the classic fits and tends to be a favorite with women seeking stylish-but-age-appropriate jeans. They have an appeal to a broader range of ages than most brands. They offer good solid denims as well as super stretchy options, and I personally tend to love their specialty styles, such as the seasonal velvet jeans.

(AG velvet jeans featured in Snowflakes and Florals)

DL1961 is known for having great stretchy jeans that keep their shape. As opposed to J Brand which gets many complaints of stretching out after only one wear, DL jeans stay tight through repeated wears. They tend to run really short, so they are great for people under 5'7 but I've never been able to pull them off. They have a following of dedicated customers who love their shape retaining qualities and trendy styles.


Citizens of Humanity is a brand I'm still getting familiar with, but they are widely known for their quality. They have great skinny options, and I personally love the fit of their high rise jean, the Rocket. I find that they are not unlike J Brand in their popularity, variety, and quality, though many people strongly prefer one brand or the other. Citizens offers great classic styles in fabrics from super-soft comfy denim to thicker traditional style denim.

(Citizens of Humanity Rocket High Rise jean)

Keep in mind that all denim will stretch! If the jeans feel tight when you first try them on chances are they will stretch to a comfortable fit, and shrink back when washed. If they are loose (or even "just right") in the dressing room they will only get looser as you wear them. Find a pair that is comfortable in the waistband and snug but flexible through the legs and knees: these are your golden ticket to jean comfort!!

Don't forget to check out last week's post on Affordable Favorites!

xoxo, CC

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