Last week we discussed $30 jeans.
I posted a bunch of photos of myself done by sophisticated jury rigging of my iPhone to capture me looking awkward as I ran around and posed for the timer.
They were spectacular. And, by spectacular, of course I mean ridiculous.
But then I challenged you (because I like a good challenge as much, or possibly more, as the next chick): could you pick out the $30 jeans?!
And that’s when things got interesting.
Some of you knew right away.
Some of you had no idea.
Some of you wanted a booty shot.
Some of you probably just wanted to check out my booty.
So, fine.
Same jeans. As I back it up…
Now, let me just digress a bit here and let you know that it is really hard to take photos of yourself. I have to get into all contortionist type of positions. Or just use my annoying camera timer app. And then, I wind up snapping at least like 50 shots every time because I have a crudy face, or a weird back roll, or my hand is in the way, or my dog is humping my leg. I need a personal photographer to follow me around. And document my life. So we can then turn it into a show or something.
Anyway, after doing some seriously high level mathematics, I’ve determined that about 55% of you guessed that the boot cuts were the Old Navy jeans.
Which, if I break it down comes to, um, I don’t know the exact number, math hates me, more than half of you being wrong.
The Old Navy, $30 Diva Jeans are the skinny pair. I bought them in short because that’s the only cut they had in my size (which is currently a 10 incidentally) and I really only wear them when I wear my boots so no one really notices that they are all croppy looking. I like them because they aren’t torture to get on straight out of the dryer and they sorta make my booty look bangin’. I hate them because, after wearing them for a couple of hours, I look all drop crotchy and my back hurts from pulling them up so much.
In the above photo, they are the two pairs on the top of the collage.
The Joe’s Jeans pair are the bootcuts. I got them courtesy of my appearance on What NOT to Wear. They cost $125 and the show paid for them. I like that they have fancy pockets (you can’t really see it in these photos or in real life, but I know it’s there) and the color is pretty steadfast. I don’t like that my booty looks like my granny’s in them and that the waist is short so my muffin top gets to come out to play.
In the above photo they are featured in the two photos on the bottom of the collage.
I don’t generally have it in my budget to purchase jeans at such a high price, even though I realize the benes of a good pair of jeans. Whether it’s fit or longevity, it’s worth it to have one or two really good pairs.
And, in an effort to get down with that, I do have a pair from Madewell on my holiday wish list that are about $98 or so. I want them badly.
The cut, the fit on the waist, down the thigh, and in the butt, the way they hold everything in and keep it from jigging everywhere… amazing.
I tried them on and actually considered running from the store with them. And then I remembered they take your clothes and give you butt-ugly-orange jumpsuits in the clink and figured that was a bad idea.
But, man do I want them.
I’m of the belief that, if a jean expects me to pay over $50 for it to come live with me, it better be timeless (skinny jeans aren’t really timeless, they are trendy), made of good stuff (not the stretch-me-to-hell denim that is mostly spandex), and fit well (at my belly button, not all droopy in the butt, not like a tourniquet on my thighs).
Jeans under that price can be trendy, and fun, and even only comfortable for a night before they need to be washed to get their shape back.
So, I have room in my wardrobe for both (clearly)!
Where do you snag your favorite jeans?!
I own a few really expensive pairs of jeans, but two favorites are a pair of Denizen levi’s sold at target for like $25 and for more expensive J. Crew Matchstick. I think they are around $100. I like the Sevens the best for more expensive jeans. I think I have a jean problem.
My mom LOVES Denizen jeans (thanks to me of course). I need to try those J.Crew out; a couple of people have mentioned them.
I like Denizen too because their skinny is a true skinny for a skinny girl. Even my 9 yr old is happy (straight up and down and couldn’t find a skinny that fit her the way they fit her sister until we found Denizen so now all the tween girls can be happy along with their mamas.)
I too am a fan of the J Crew Matchstick, and if you get ‘em at the outlet you can sometimes get a good deal. (btw isn’t Madewell a relative, somehow, of J Crew?) But shop the material of the Matchstick carefullly, bc I have one pair that stretches out HORRIBLY and one pair that stays awesome the whole day. Go figure.
Funny how that works. I live in the boonies, I might have to order these bad boys online.
The most that I have ever paid for a pair of jeans is $50 and that was way before kids. Now my favorite pairs of jeans are The Sweetheart straight legs from Old Navy and an old pair of ANA bootcut jeans from JCPenney. Yes, I said JCPenney.
JCP awesome! My mom is always telling me to go there or Sears for stuff. I have those ON Sweethearts too!
I am such a jean dilemma. I buy jeans, they good in the fitting, I bring them home and hate them after one day. I really, really, really want a pair of jeans that don’t have extra bunchy fabric in the tummy, but are cut with room through the thigh. I am size 8-10, depending on the jean. Currently I own one pair from Old Navy and one pair from Kmart. I’m not in love with either, but I must put something on my body. I just don’t have $100 to spend on jeans. I wish I did though. :-)
~FringeGirl
Yeah, I feel you. I have had good success with the Denizen jeans at Target. Maybe try those?
Woah, wait, hold up. I didn’t know you were on What Not To Wear! That’s is kind of amazeballs!
Back to jeans– I’ve NEVER owned an expensive pair. Isn’t that kind of sad? I think the most expensive I’ve gone is a pair from the Gap and on sale. My current faves are Old Navy Flirt skinnies. Although they do stretch out and have me constantly tugging to keep the muffin top under wraps.
Well, it’s amazeballs after the fact, not so much before! But yes, I was and I’m a little bit concerned that you didn’t stalk me well if you didn’t know:). And jeans, I have the Flirt too. I think I’ve owned every single pair of ON jeans they’ve made, including their current fave, the Rockstar. Which made me look like the cracked out version of Macy Gray which isn’t very rockstar at all. The jeans that fit everyone really just don’t!
And I was wrong. See, this is why I’m not a fashionista. :)
Well, most people were wrong so don’t let it get to you!
Jeans are the bane of my existence. I never get a good fit unless I try on the expensive ones $60 and up is expensive for me. I’m 5’6 1/2 with long legs, a short waist, straight hips, and chunky thighs. So jeans are generally made with a feminine curve cut into the hip, waist, and a bit of room for torso length. I have no torso, no hips, and a bit of extra flab in the waistline so traditional cuts of denim don’t serve me well. My shopping experience tends to be really frustrating. Stretch is both my best friend and my worst enemy because while I need the extra room in some places, it totally ruins the fit in my less than perky rear. I haven’t found a brand that consistently looks great so I just go to TJ Maxx and try and try and try until something happens to work. In the past though, Sevens work well but they’re never long enough. I had a pair of 7 for all mankind that were great, but I can’t afford them now. I also remember liking Joe’s Jeans and Citizens of Humanity. My current favorite is from Silver Jeans Co. I got them on clearance for $23 from TJ Maxx, They’re nice and long, a have a heavy premium denim feel, they don’t curve in too much on the waistline, and not too much stretch in the hip and rear. I’m currently losing weight and if I would definitely have these tailored if I lost too much weight to fit them.
I am never able to find jeans at TJ Maxx. I think I just get frustrated before I give it a chance. I buy nearly everything else I own from there, Marshall’s, Ross, or Target. H&M is where I go for a treat. I am a low budget shopper for sure.
OMG you & I are exactly the same I still after all thee years cannot get behind spending astronomical amounts of money on jeans. I know I live in them, I know good ones are worth every penny, but they need to be A-Mazing to spend over $50. Now you have me thinking I need to go try on some Madewells. I will say that the best jeans to date for me are my Miracle Jeans, but like you they were given to me, and I did not pay for them. Would I buy another pair? Hell yeah! Have hunkered down to spend that kind of money? Hell no!
I am getting those Madewell’s for Christmas. I told Santa and he knows I won’t let him sleep in my bed if that magic doesn’t happen:).
I really struggle with finding jeans that fit me. I am short so most of the jeans are wayyy too long for me…even if they are sized for short. The only luck I ever have is at Old Navy, Arepostole and Deliah. I have tried again and again to find GAP jeans that fit with no luck. BTW your fashion posts inspired me for my fashion post today. :)
Yes! Off to check out your post. And, secret fact: WNTW hemmed my jeans and all of the slacks they got me. I’m short too, but I have a waistline that says I should be taller. Or something.
This:
“I tried them on and actually considered running from the store with them. And then I remembered they take your clothes and give you butt-ugly-orange jumpsuits in the clink and figured that was a bad idea.”
Cracked. Me. Up.
I {Heart} You.
And….I’m pretty sure I was right.
You were. I remember hi-fiving you in my mind when I saw your answer:)
My favorite jeans have come from the consignment. There, I get to choose from expensive brands. Of course, I have no control over what they’ll have from visit to visit. The recently retired, favorite Banana Republic jeans were purchased for $12. They run $89.50 online.
I have yet to find a consignment store I like. We have a ton in town but a lot of them are the kind that are all, even though we took this off of a dead person, we are going to make you pay pretty much what they paid for it before they died in it. I don’t like that. I want used clothing at used prices. Then we have the opposite where everything inside looks like it was donated in 1979. And smells like it too. We do have one where all of the cool people go, but I feel so uncool everytime I go in I usually just buy a necklace and leave. Ahhh, Target is my happy place.
Next time you are in my part of town, we have a great consignment store that sells great jeans for not very expensive. I got my first pair of Matchsticks there. It is in the Rockville/Gaitersburg area..”My bestfriends closest.”
I love a good stretch in my jeans, but I hate the bagging and having to pull them up every five seconds. I have discovered that the ones that are a cotton poly blend with 1% spandex hold their shape better. And even 2% spandex in anything cotton is too much and will not hold it’s shape. ;) My favorite jeans are $12 pull on denim jeggings from walmart. Crazy, I know but they are super comfy with just the right amount of stretch and they stay up without a belt or my constant tugging. :)
I need to check those out. Of course, the thought of going into my Walmart makes me a little ill, but I might have to just down some Pepto and go for it!
I’ve never owned really expensive jeans. You know the kind people think is totally worth $100s because their ass looks amazing. One day when I lose like 30 lbs I plan to own one of these absurd pairs of pants. Ideally in the same scenario I will also be very rich. Lets keep hoping for that. In the meantime I will wear my express jeans in size 10 that I bought with lots of coupons.
I haven’t tried the Express jeans yet. And, I am hoping I lose weight before Christmas so I can be sure Dumb Dad gets the right size jeans.
Le sigh.
I’m a diva Old Navy wear-er, too.
But that’s because of budget.
One day, you and me are so going to rock expensive jeans together.
And by that I mean, you’ll tell me what to buy and I will listen. :)
(Love the bangin’ booty shots!)