I was listening to Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me over the weekend, and a random question was how many pairs of jeans do Americans buy each year. Can you guess? It was astounding, the number somewhere around 1.something billion if I recall correctly (maybe it was in the millions? all I remember is that I was stunned). Basically each person buys 3-5 pairs of jeans a year. Whoa. (I have no idea where they got that number)
Of course when I think about it and analyze my own denim habits, it seems about right. Ugh. But the struggle to find a great pair of jeans is real, and one that I am constantly fighting. I also LOVE jeans. Love the look, love to wear a great pair, etc. etc. But creating a pair of jeans is one of the most water-intensive, environmentally destructive manufacturing processes in the apparel industry. Everlane tried to address that with their foray into jeans, but in my opinion failed miserably in terms of fit and styles.
- How many pairs of jeans do you have? Do you tend to favor one particular brand?
- What is your FAVORITE pair? how often do you wear jeans?
- What style do you prefer? (skinny, straight, wide leg, boyfriend)
- 100% cotton? or with stretch?
- How often do you wash your jeans?
My answers:
- Chimala “white” pair, Rag & Bone Wicked, 6397 Shorty jeans (2 pairs, one black, one blue), Rachel Comey slim legion, Rachel Comey Steer (grey), 3×1 cropped flare. I have a pair of denim Ulla Johnson overalls…does that count? 😉 So, 7 total. I think I added five pairs this year. And one on the way. Ugh again. At least all my jeans are pretty different styles or colors…
- I love all my jeans except the 3×1 pair because they’re really stretchy and don’t look great on my legs. They’re ridiculously comfortable though, and my only “slim” pair, so I wear them on occasion and have had them for many years. I am desperate to find a “slim” pair of jeans that are not stretchy, but that are also comfortable. I thought the Rachel Comey slim legions would be those, but they’re not – I love the way they look and feel when I’m standing up, but sadly, that’s about all they’re comfortable for. So…favorite pair? I don’t have one. They’re all really comfortable, and great jeans, but I don’t think any of them are particularly amazing on my body. I’m not sure how often I wear jeans, maybe 50% of the time? I don’t know why…
- I love the way straight leg jeans look on women who are rather straight of body – and I keep trying to find a pair that looks like that on me, but it’s not possible, because I have such a waist/hip differential and rather thick/muscular legs. I prefer cropped, and a slightly flared leg, but really more straight. I like wide leg styles too, like my Chimala pair, but I wish they weren’t so freaking big around my waist/hips.
- 100% cotton all the way. But honestly, 100% cotton jeans are the hardest to fit/wear I’m finding. They’re either too tight at the waist/hips when I sit like the Rachel Comey slim legion jeans, or stretch out too much with wear like her steer jeans. I prefer only 2% polyurethane if anything (like my blue 6397 shorty jeans) to super-stretchy like my 3×1 jeans. I like jeans to feel like jeans…
- never. I mean, not never, but hardly ever. I honestly can’t remember the last time I washed any of my jeans. I guess the Rachel Comey Steer jeans I wash more than any because they stretch out so much. I don’t think I’ve washed my slim legion jeans yet, or my Chimala jeans…If I do wash them, I always hang to dry.
Your turn!!!
1. How many pairs of jeans do you have? Do you tend to favor one particular brand? I have 6 pairs and I don’t favor any particular brand; J brand, Levis, Re/done, Nudies (X2), Mother
2. What is your FAVORITE pair? how often do you wear jeans? My favorite pair are my Nudies Tilted Tor. The waist hits at the right spot, just under my belly button, and they don’t gap at the back. I wear them almost every day, but only for a couple hours here for errands because I work from home.
3. What style do you prefer? (skinny, straight, wide leg, boyfriend) I prefer straight leg. Like you, I’m bored of the skinny fit style.
4. 100% cotton? or with stretch? 98% cotton with 2% stretch
5. How often do you wash your jeans? I rarely wash my Nudies, but I wash my Levis and Re/done jeans every couple months because they’re 100% cotton and tend to stretch out.
what pair of re/done do you have? i’ve tried some pairs on in person and they are just so small…but i want to keep trying!!
Such a great post, Grechen. Talk about “ugh”. I adore Jeans, and therefore they are one of the items I have the hardest time paring down in my closet.
1. I’m embarrassed to say that I have 18 (!) pairs of jeans — oy, reprehensible, I know, but I’ve had several pairs for more than 10 years. 6 of them are Levi’s. I have 3 from The Gap, 3 from Madewell, 1 pair of Alexa Chung for AG, 3 from Old Navy, 1 pair of 6397 flares, and 1 pair that are Citizens of Humanity. Some of them are jeggings, some straight, but most of them are skinnies.
2. Like you, I really do love all of my jeans. I’m especially partial to Levi’s by I’d have to say my Madewell high rise skinny’s are probably my favorite pair, because they are sooo flattering and incredibly comfortable, and I can always count on them to make me look sleek. They’re definitely the ones I reach for the most. I wear jeans practically every day, with everything.
3. As for my favorite style, the one I love the most on other women is the boyfriend style . It’s just how I think jeans ought to look on everybody. But unfortunately, the boyfriend style isn’t good on me. I’m 5’2″ and have a big bum and thighs, and I can never get that slouchy cute look of a boyfriend jean. Somehow, high rise skinny styles look the cutest on me and make me feel the best, so that’s my favorite for me.
4. I love the IDEA of 100% cotton, but only 4 of my jeans are 100%. I prefer the look and feel of 98 – 99% cotton, and 1-2% elastane. Not more stretchy than that, though.
5. I probably wash my jeans about once every fourth or fifth time wearing them. I only wash them turned inside out, in cold water with liquid Tide, and hang to dry. I NEVER put them in the dryer.
Do you have any advice as to how I might bring myself to part with some of my 18 pairs? I really admire how disciplined you are about how many pieces you allow in your wardrobe, but I seem to have a mental block about letting go. Thanks.
1.How many pairs of jeans do you have? Do you tend to favor one particular brand? I have a pair by J. Crew high rise skinnies that I bought a couple of years ago on sale, a pair of denim “leggings” by Prairie Underground, and a pair of Lee’s that I got at my local Goodwill a few years ago. I’m trying to transition to mostly non-denim these days, but I almost never have more than 2 pairs of jeans (I’m a minimalist in that regard, at least!). Until they changed their styles, J.Crew was the one brand that I could order online KNOWING they would fit and they last a good few years for me, so I always felt their jeans were a good purchase for me even though they’re a “big brand”.
2.What is your FAVORITE pair? how often do you wear jeans?
Right now, I wear jeans on the days I work with kids, and I wear them on weekends — so 3 days/week… I used to wear them daily, but I’m finding that my Clydes can do weekend wear and workwear more easily these days than my jeans can, and I don’t have the urge to jump out of them as soon as I get home.
3.What style do you prefer? (skinny, straight, wide leg, boyfriend)
I certainly prefer high-rise, hits just above the ankle, and I’d like to find something in between straight and skinny, but no such luck as of yet. I’m over the look of my skinny jeans but haven’t found a good replacement, although I am re-realizing how convenient skinny jeans are in winter with boots…
4.100% cotton? or with stretch?
Either? If it fits the way I want it to, I’ll wear it. Not TOO much stretch though, I don’t like my jeans feeling like leggings.
5.How often do you wash your jeans?
Probably once every 5 wears or so… so maybe every other week.
OH! I forgot I have a pair of COH Carlie jeans where I cut the bottoms to have a raw hem, but I almost never wear them…
I feel like I have a lot of jeans, but I only have 5 in rotation right now. Three are 501s, and two are from Boden. This year, I turned two pairs into cut-off shorts (old black 501s and light wash Lucky’s), one pair gave up the ghost (ancient Red Engine bootcuts). Those were all 100% cotton. My only spandex-containing jeans are the two pairs from Boden, which are 98/2 I think. They’re the “Cavendish” fit, which is supposed to be a boyfriend/girlfriend fit, but sized down they look like a flattering slim-straight on me. I have a few pairs on the way, actually: two from Frank + Oak, one from Taylor Stitch (trying the Rosie’s again in larger size). I also have a pair of Gamine dungarees, but I’m on the fence about keeping them. The rise is just too low to be comfortable, and they are too slim in the calf — recurring fit problems for me. I may end up selling or consigning, but with Cone Mills closing, it seems sad to pass on a pair of Cone jeans. Maybe I can alter them into something more comfortable…
1. I have 6 pairs of jeans. Two skinny jeans I love (Madewell high rise, regular length and tall length), one pair Caron Callahan Stewart wide legs, one pair Rachel Comey lure pants (the least traditional “jean” jean) and I guess you can count the skinny crop denim from Ann Taylor although they are a khaki color. Also included in my number is an uncomfortable pair of 100% cotton vintage Wranglers I hate. Would like to add a pair of high rise black slims.
2. My favorite pair is either the Caron Callahan wide legs or one of the skinnies. Both are so comfortable and go with everything!
3. I think they all have their place! Skinnies with blousy tops, wide legs with a fitted tucked in top. The wide legs are definitely fun to wear.
4. I think 100% cotton jeans are the devil. Give me 2% stretch please. It’s the “standing up is fine but sitting is torture” problem. Comfort is so important! I’m trying to offload the Wrangler mom jeans I bought in a fit of “everyone is wearing 100% cotton denim and I should too” but unfortunately stained them a little the one time I wore them. The Caron Callahans might be 100% cotton, I can’t remember, but the fit is spot on and with the ample high rise, they remain comfortable even when sitting. I think the overall looser silhouette is helpful here.
5. I wash my jeans probably once every 10 wears or so, after they’ve acquired enough grime to need a rinse. Tumble dry for a few minutes then hang to dry the rest of the way.
1. How many pairs of jeans do you have? Do you tend to favor one particular brand?
I have 11 pairs of jeans: 5 pairs of Acne Studios, 2 pairs of Chimala, 1 pair of Rag &Bone, 1 pair of R13, 1 pair of Toteme, 1 pair of Proenza Schouler. Half of them is 100% cotton, the other half 1 or 2% stretch but still not too stretchy. My favorite brand is Acne Studio.
2. What is your FAVORITE pair? how often do you wear jeans?
I wear jeans every day. My favorite pair is 100% cotton Chimala straight leg (but they look more like boyfriend jeans on me) in medium/light wash with slight distressing.
3. What style do you prefer? (skinny, straight, wide leg, boyfriend)
I feel like I am too skinny for skinny jeans, so all my jeans are either straight or boyfriend style. Because I prefer 100% cotton the boyfriend style is the most comfortable for me and I wear them the most often.
4. 100% cotton? or with stretch?
I prefer 100% cotton no doubt. As far as jeans with stretch Acne Studios has the best jeans with stretch in my opinion as they keep their shape and size very well (the same R13).
5. How often do you wash your jeans?
I wash them when they need to be washed, depending on weather and how often I have wore a given pair but not after every wear as I heard some people do (unless I pour something on myself, which never happened so far?).
How many pairs of jeans do you have? Do you tend to favor one particular brand?
I have 7 pairs– 3 pair vintage levis–1 straight leg, 1 bootcut, 1 flared. 1 pr American Eagle straight leg. 1 pair Junarose destroyed straight leg (patched). I pair Lysse jeggings and 1 pair NYDJ jeggings (both dark wash; the Lysse pair have side panels and ankle zips).
What is your FAVORITE pair?
I love all the Levis but embarassingly, my true fave is the AE jeans pair, which are perfect on me. Of all the jeans in all the malls in all the world, lol.
how often do you wear jeans?
90% of the time.
What style do you prefer? (skinny, straight, wide leg, boyfriend)
Straight or wide leg. Skinny is OK but I have really skinny legs anyway and usually I’m trying to deemphasize my inverted triangle. I like the idea of boyfriends but on me, the slouchy look doesn’t work.
100% cotton? or with stretch? I don’t care really, I go pair by pair.
How often do you wash your jeans?
When they smell or get too stretched out.
They are the high rise ankle crop stretch 01 in Ghost wash and the style # is 721-3WHRAC (link https://shopredone.com/products/hrac-stretch-01-ghost?variant=42862342726). I thought they were 100% cotton, but just checked and they have 2% elastane. I really like the fit, but wish they weren’t so distressed.
1. How many pairs of jeans do you have? Do you tend to favor one particular brand?
4 pairs? I can’t wear “fancy” jeans because they don’t fit my size 14-16….My favorite is what fits that day. 1 pr (no clue brand) skinny stretch, 1 pr Talbots white ankle (almost never wear because – white – but they are comfy and only $12) 1 pr Lands End slin fit dark rinse ankle, 1 pr from Target (can’t remember which brand) also slim fit dark rinse.
2. What is your FAVORITE pair? how often do you wear jeans? Lands End. I almost never wear jeans, maybe once every 2-3 weeks.
3. What style do you prefer? (skinny, straight, wide leg, boyfriend) Slim leg ankle fit (I’m short, so cropped can be ankle on me and ankle are often full length….)
4. 100% cotton? or with stretch?
With stretch!
5. How often do you wash your jeans?
When they need it. Every 3-4 wearings? (which is what, twice a year for me? 😉 Probably every time with the white, because again – WHITE 😉
I tried on a ton of jeans in Oct & Nov – low end, high end (well, as high as I could go at my size) and didn’t like anything. Part is that I’m unhappy with my body right now and working on that again, but for now I’m staying away from clothing that doesn’t make me happy….
1. How many pairs of jeans do you have? Do you tend to favor one particular brand?
I just bought another two pairs. That takes me to nine pairs (although one pair is definitely only for gardening now). Four pairs are Levis, the rest are a mix of Lee, CK, Mavi and Max.
2. What is your FAVORITE pair? how often do you wear jeans?
My favourite pair are my black Levis. I dunno what it is but I feel like I could take on the world when I pull them on.
I wear jeans pretty much everyday. My work uniform is jeans + t-shirt + cardigan + Chucks. I work in a soil lab….we’re ultra casual.
3. What style do you prefer? (skinny, straight, wide leg, boyfriend)
100% cotton? or with stretch?
All of my Levis are the 312 Shaping Slim. The rest are skinnies. The CK’s I just bought are boyfriend. I used to be a bootleg devotee but I’ve been converted to slim/skinnies (mostly cos I can’t wear any kind of heel anymore and I found that the bootlegs swamped me).
I like a bit of stretch. Again, my work dictates that.
4. How often do you wash your jeans?
Very rarely. Mostly only if I’ve been doing something really dirty at work.
I generally just hang them outside to air.
1. How many pairs of jeans do you have? Do you tend to favor one particular brand?
2 denim pairs that I wear regularly + 1 black pair (that’s really not technically denim, but I think it falls in this category). Another 2 that are camping/working jeans. I don’t have a favorite brand, and I tend to buy secondhand.
2. What is your FAVORITE pair? how often do you wear jeans?
A new pair I recently bought from Banana Republic. It shocked me too, but they fit perfectly. I wear jeans 4-5 times per week.
3. What style do you prefer? (skinny, straight, wide leg, boyfriend)
Skinny. I know, nobody else likes them anymore, but I still do!
4. 100% cotton? or with stretch?
Stretch! When it comes to skinny jeans though, I think stretch is almost necessary to actually fit properly. Or, at least on me.
5. How often do you wash your jeans?
Depends on the pair. Whenever they’re dirty and/or stretched out at the knees (my biggest pet peeve!)
Oh Grechen I’m with you I LOVE jeans. I am old school and love a straight leg 501’s . I also like Citizen of Humanity Emerson cut, another straight/boyfriend style. I like 100 percent cotton, no stretch, button fly better than a zipper. I wear jeans sometimes everyday until it gets too hot or too cold, then I would change up and wear wool trousers or linen and put silk longjohns on under the jeans if it was cold. I have (just counted 27 pairs in all shades of indigo including 2 pairs of white and two pairs of black. I don’t wear the black ones often maybe once or twice a year. I have Gap, Citizens and Levi’s mostly. My favorite right now is a dark wash pair of high waisted 501’s button fly with raw edge. I wash my jeans every 4-5 wearings depending on how dirty they get. Im an elementary ed classroom teacher and I also take the NYC subway. The gentleman who owns Levi’s said the best way to ‘clean’ jeans without any stains is to put them in the freezer to kill bacteria.
Thank you Grechen !
1. I currently have 7 pairs of jeans. That is actually a low number for me. I no longer keep “duplicates” of the same style and I don’t wear jeans every day anymore. One day I would love to be satisfied with 3 pairs. I have 3 BFs (the 6397 I bought from Slowre and 2 old original Current Elliott – 1 with holes, the other without), 2 petite AG straight leg jeans with a raw edge (one dark, one light but exactly the same style) from Anthro, 1 high waisted flare raw edge petite Pilcro from Anthro and 1 highwaisted skinny Mother Looker.
2. The Mother high waisted is my favorite. Pricey but well worth it. If I could only keep 1 pair of jeans, this would be the one.
3. I like all the different styles. It is easier to look polished in a skinny or straight but I love the edgy and arty look of a huge BF jean and the boho look of the flare.
4. Stretch.
5. When I feel the jean needs to be washed, which is definitely > than 1 wear.
1. This is easy… Zero. I am one of those oddballs that does not own or wear jeans. I think I maybe have two old pairs in storage– I just haven’t donated them yet, which I suppose I ought to do — but I don’t remember when I last wore them. I don’t find them comfortable, I’ve never found a pair that fit right (I prefer skirts/dresses over pants, generally), and at this point, I just don’t feel like bothering trying to find ones that I like. (The last jean-adjacent pair I bought was because I felt like, well, maybe I should have jeans, so I went to Barney’s. I think I wore them two or three times, left them hanging in my closet, then sold them on Poshmark.)
2.-5.: n/a!
1. I have 3 pairs of jeans. I am sometimes on the hunt for more, but 3 works for me. I have two pairs of Eileen Fisher boyfriend jeans (one pair in a dark wash and one that is lighter) and a pair of grey Paige Denim jeans. I love the fit of Paige Denim Jimmy Jimmy Skinny Boyfriend Jeans, but the quality is extremely poor for the price (the inseam tears after just a few months), so I switched to Eileen Fisher which is much more durable.
2. I wear the darker Eileen Fisher jeans 99% of the time, literally every day when it’s not hot. The Paige brand are my most favorite fit, but I refuse to buy them now. The EF jeans are great, though not quite as flattering as Paige.
3. I love a boyfriend jean that is not too baggy. I’m over skinny jeans and refuse to wear them. Who wants denim leggings? Not me.
4. With stretch definitely.
5. I try to do the “10 Wears” before washing, but don’t always make it. The EF jeans get a little baggy with wear, so I spritz them with lavender water and put them in the dryer on the refresh cycle. That does the trick until I actually wash them. I don’t have issues with shrinking or tearing.
I am a size 14 or 32 in jeans. I really love the fit of Paige Denim’s Jimmy Jimmy Skinny boyfriend jeans and they work well with curves. I found that my pairs ripped in the inseam not long after buying them, but for occasional wear, they might work. I’ve also had good luck with Eileen Fisher jeans and they tend to run large enough to size down.
1. Seven not counting a pair of DL1961 Mara jeans I recently got on sale and haven’t committed to keeping. 1 pair AG (skinny, dark denim that are old and losing shape and slightly too small so need replacing), 1 pair Paige (cream and black patterned), 2 pairs Joe’s jeans (one cropped wide leg, one faded black straight leg), 1 pair Prana Kara jeans (dark blue with a subtle black snakeskin-ish pattern), 1 pair Prairie Underground Glove leggings (black cropped and ruched skinny denim leggings), 1 pair Big Star Brigette (light blue slim straight with holes). I thought I just ordered another pair of the Prana jeans in olive green on Black Friday, but I can’t find the order confirmation so I guess I didn’t. (Oops!)
2. I wear jeans probably about 3 to 5 days a week. I’d probably wear them more if I had a dream pair. My favorites are the Prairie Underground Glove leggings, which are super comfortable and sexy despite tending to need to be pulled up here and there (I have to buy them a size large to get over my hips). I also really like the Prana jeans. They fit me really well and are quite comfortable.
3. I think I’d say a slim straight would be my favorite. Been searching for a perfect pair of those. I actually like the fit of the Big Star jeans I have but don’t love the distressing on them and find the waist just a little too high for my liking.
4. Definitely cotton with stretch. The Pranas actually have a fair amount of recycled polyester mixed in with organic cotton, which wouldn’t be my ideal, but they feel nice and look good.
5. I wash them pretty infrequently. Maybe every few months or if I get something on them.
How many pairs of jeans do you have? Do you tend to favor one particular brand?
I have about 16 pairs, which i don’t find excessive since I wear them often. Plus I love them and have a bit of a collector mentality when I look at jeans. About a third of them dating back to my years working in the Diesel store during my college days 10-13 years ago. I still wear all of them even though they’re more low rise than it’s currently fashionable – great fabrics and washes (Diesel is less trashy than most people might think) and they’re all in a straight cut that’s perfect for me. The rest of my jeans come from all over – a pair of white Gap boyfriend jeans, a pair of G-Star raw skinnies, a pair of raw Nudies, a couple pairs of vintage Levi’s that I had altered to fit, a pair of Uniqlo wide leg jeans from 10 years ago, a pair of H&M skinnies also from 10 years ago, a pair of black skinnies from Mango that’s about 11 years old, a pair of oversized Sevens I found in a sale ages ago and had tailored into my perfect boyfriend jeans. More recently I bought a pair of Vince straight cut jeans with a mid/high rise.
What is your FAVORITE pair? how often do you wear jeans?
I wear jeans almost every day – I rotate about 7 pairs for months to a year, and then I switch to another batch of 7-8 pairs. My current favourite are the Vince ones because everything about it is perfect (fabric, finish) and the shape is also quite “now” so I suppose they’re still feeling fresh to the eye. My all-stars are my H&M skinnies – this was from the time when even fast fashion brands sold decent denim with minimal stretch that actually feels like denim, not elastane. In today’s context they’re more like skinny-straight. They’ve aged beautifully and the fades are every bit as beautiful as the ones I get from my fancy raw denims. I wear them cuffed to show a bit of ankle.
What style do you prefer? (skinny, straight, wide leg, boyfriend)
Actually I wear them all. In order of frequency it would be straight, boyfriend, skinny and then wide leg. There’s a pair for every mood, I feel.
100% cotton? or with stretch?
100% cotton. It’s true that the very thick ones are less comfortable to sit in but I’ve no problems with lighter weight ones. I also tend to buy them with room to move in. Some of my skinny jeans have stretch but they’re the exception. I think I’ve spent so many years in 100% cotton that I’ve gotten used to it. I love the way they look and feel and they age much better.
How often do you wash your jeans?
Between 6 months to a year. It depends on whether I spill food on them. I live in the tropics so the days do get sweaty but letting jeans breathe a few days between wears seems to work.
Thanks – I’ve been considering trying Eileen Fisher as her other pants fit me well, but I come into a 2nd problem – since I don’t wear jeans often, going to a premium brand means my cost per wear is going to be pretty high, and I’m not sure I’m comfortable with that….Maybe if I try them and really love them, I’d wear them more often?
so crazy how your comment came in at an interesting time – i had just finished watching elizabeth suzann’s instagram story where the staff, and her, are modeling some of the new sig 4 pieces and was thinking why do i need to try so hard to find jeans that fit when i absolutely love the fit of my elizabeth suzann pieces???
jeans are too much work. i think you’re onto something 😉
first, i don’t think it’s “reprehensible” that you have 18 pairs of jeans! you’re allowed to have as many pairs of jeans as you want 😉
the question is, how many pairs do you actually wear? jeans were really hard for me to get rid of also, mostly because i spend so much $$ on them!! but what i did with some was cut them off and make shorts (didn’t turn out really well, but it was a way for me to hang on to a beloved pair). other than that, i seem to just sometimes hold my nose and get rid of the ones i just know aren’t good for me and that i no longer need. it’s never easy to get rid of clothes!
it’s shocking at first, but honestly, i’ve never regretted anything i decided to get rid of. i just do it and never look back.
i can say “they’re just jeans” but i know it’s about more than that 😉 but at the end of the day, they really are JUST jeans – they’re replaceable, and maybe even with something better some day!!
Funny– I’m actually wearing Elizabeth Suzann pants (the now discontinued Crescent Pant) right now, which are super comfortable and way more versatile than jeans would be for me.
All are welcome in the No Jeans Club!
haha! thanks, i might be ready to join!!!
I own about 7 pairs. Maybe 8. They all reside in the one drawer I keep for pants.
True Religion Halle mid rise skinny are the ones I like most. They have some stretch in it which I find very comfortable.
I prefer skinny to other styles; perhaps liking boyfriend second.
I like black denim most, as I tend to wear black most of the time. I wear jeans every day, I own no other pairs of pants!
I am an obsessive launderer. I wash every other wear. On sweaty occasions I wash after each wear, as I would all my other clothes. I really am sensitive to the smell of unclean (I have high standards) clothes. I know this goes agains the rules but in my option, nothing beats the smell and fit of fresh laundered pair.
I totally understand. I also thought of Universal Standard, which goes to size 28. Their jeans are $90, which is better than EF or Paige.
I usually just lurk on your blog, but it was just so weird that I bought a new pair of jeans and was having all kinds of jeans thoughts the day you posted this! So hi!! And here we go.
1. How many pairs of jeans do you have? Do you tend to favor one particular brand? I have seven pairs of jeans. Though I actually don’t own non-jeans pants (aside from some linen summer pants, but they are not very structured so I’m not counting them). Ideally I’d like to own less pairs, but I also love jeans and wear pretty much only jeans aside from the middle of summer when it’s just too hot to have anything on your legs. I’ve had a thing for levis since I was in high school and their revival of a lot of their classic styles has gotten me back into them. All of my pairs are levis accept for one that is rag and bone. I own two pairs of levis 721s which is a skinny high rise, one in blue and one in black. I also have grey wedgie cut levis, white distressed boyfriend levis, and their 715 bootcut in a dark wash. my one pair of non levis is rag and bone the Dre which are distressed with let down hems and are a slim fit low rise. The pair I just bought is a pair of 501 levis I found in store for ten dollars! Super exciting. I’d been looking for a vintage pair, but couldn’t pass up the new pair since they had just that one in my size. Shopping magic.
2. What is your FAVORITE pair? how often do you wear jeans? My favorite pair of jeans are probably my black skinnies. They just look great with anything, can dress up or down, and I always feel hot in them. Plus they are super comfy. I wear jeans pretty much everyday when the weather is on the cool side.
3. What style do you prefer? (skinny, straight, wide leg, boyfriend) I tend to prefer skinny jeans, but I’ve owned just skinny jeans in the past, and have learned I really enjoy having some variety in cuts and colors. I have been wearing more boyfriend style cuts a lot lately too.
4. 100% cotton? or with stretch? It really depends. The pair I just bought is 100% cotton and they are nice and comfy, but I had a pair of Imogene and willie jeans at one point in 100% cotton that I hated. Raw denim is not for me. I’ve most consistently liked 98-99% cotton jeans for just a hint of stretch and many of the benefits of all cotton. Mostly cotton certainly holds up better through years of wear. I thought it was interesting above someone saying Paige jeans were flimsy because I totally agree! I had a grey pair a few years ago right when I first started buying nicer clothes in the hopes that they would last longer, and they lasted less than a year! it was like the elastic wore out so they had all these weird bubbly stretch marks. Super disappointing when I felt like they were in ‘investment’ piece.
5. How often do you wash your jeans? When they seem dirty? It probably ends up being about every ten wears.
My fantasy is that Elizabeth Suzann will release a denim of version of Florence pant or the Wyde Clyde or even the Clyde work pant. I would wear all of those all the time.
I just started wearing denim again after years of avoiding them. I have an hourglass figure and could not wear the low rise skinnies so popular for years. Now that there are so many options, I’ve been having fun wearing different styles.
How many pairs of jeans do you have? Do you tend to favor one particular brand?
I have 7 pairs of jeans – 3 white, 1 black, 3 regular denim. This is the most I have ever owned at one time.
What is your FAVORITE pair? how often do you wear jeans?
I wear denim almost daily when the weather cools down. My most comfortable jeans are AG Jodi crop in black – the fabric is just so soft and flexible. My favorite jeans are JCrew high rise billie demi boot crop because they look good.
What style do you prefer? (skinny, straight, wide leg, boyfriend)
Of the 7 pairs of jeans I own, 6 are high rise, flared crops. my seventh pair is a wide leg cropped which are fun but I haven’t figured out how to wear.
100% cotton? or with stretch? – Stretch only.
How often do you wash your jeans? – All the time!
YES!!!!!!!!!!
Aww, thanks, Grechen! I really appreciate the good advice. Have a beautiful day.:)
xoxo
How many pairs of jeans do you have? 10 but in double (one pair in my travel bag since I am often on the road for work)
Do you tend to favor one particular brand? Madewell and Muji only.
Grey 9 in skinny skinny madewell, blue button front 9 inch skinnny madewell, Muji skinny in blue and black, a couple of older 9 inch Madewell and a pair of skinny overall. Muji is a lot cheaper than Madewell, comfier for me but less flattering than the 9 in. I still find myself wearing the muji style. I go one size smaller in Muji than Madewell.
What is your FAVORITE pair? how often do you wear jeans? My favorite pair is the button front 9in from Madewell (sold out). Almost everyday if I am not in a James Perse dress or on a rare occasion in a leather pair from Madewell (scored at a great deal last year)
What style do you prefer? (skinny, straight, wide leg, boyfriend) 9 in Skinny from madewell or muji only.
100% cotton? or with stretch? Anything from the Candiani Mill which is 92% or more cotton from Madewell is the perfect feel of denim without too much stretch. 100% is impossible to find in a flattering cut. now that I have found my fit in Madewell, I wait for the right denim (see above) to order.
How often do you wash your jeans? Every week or 3-4 wear and I dry them.
3 pairs of jeans total
one apc japanese denim and two levi’s 501ct jeans
It is very hard to find good fitting jeans =(