The Denim Roundup
If there’s one wardrobe staple that I just could not go without, it would have to be a good pair of denim jeans. I’m not much of a skirt or dress person (except on occasion) and in general and trousers are lovely but usually a bit too dressy for my day to day so denim hits the sweet spot for me. You may have guessed that I’m partial to a high waist and straight leg jean for it’s unbeatable comfort and laid back vintage feel. The other major benefit of denim is that there are so many great options at budget-friendly price points, so you definitely don’t have to invest in designer denim to get something that will last. Today, I thought I’d do a denim roundup of my favorite shops for great jean so you to can find the best fit at your price point.
Levi’s: Truly the epitome of classic cuts and cool girl vibes, Levi’s has put out some awesome new styles recently. I’m wearing the Levi’s Wedgie jeans in the shade ‘Bright Side’ and I finally get the hype. They have a button fly and a thick, slightly textured and non-stretchy denim material that has a really vintage feel to them. They have one of the best straight leg cuts I’ve found, not too boxy, perfectly tapered down the leg and pretty flattering on the butt, as the name would suggest. I’m also itching to try out their Ribcage Straight Ankle Jeans style as it’s another straight leg cut and their most high waisted style. I like the Ribcage jeans because it’s a bit more of a barrel leg compared to the tapered Wedgie. At first I found the sizing a bit confusing, but after trying on a few pairs I would suggest, at least with the Wedgie, to go true to size for a slightly more relaxed fit and consider sizing down if you’re looking for a tighter fit.
Everlane: If you’re looking for a great sustainable option with tons of styles at a pretty reasonable price, your best bet is definitely Everlane. If you’re considering a straight leg option, check out the Cheeky Straight Jean or the 90’s Cheeky Straight Jean. The main difference being the 90’s Cheeky Straight Jean has that great, rigid, non-stretchiness to it that really caters to the more vintage inspired cuts, while the Cheeky Straight has a bit more stretch. Or if you’re a fan of my other favorite denim cut, check out the Kick Crop Jean, which is slightly cropped and flared with a frayed hem. I would also really recommend Everlane to those of you who are shorter, or at least shorter in the torso area. Their high-waisted cuts are oh-so flattering and they have cropped and regular options. All of their styles come in a range of washes so you’re bound to get exactly what you want.
Topshop: A cornerstone of quality high street denim is of course, Topshop. This is a great place if you’re looking for on-trend and affordable denim that will last. One thing to keep in mind is that Topshop uses UK sizing (aka even sizing only) so you might consider sizing up or down depending on the fit you’re going for. Some of my favorite styles that they do are the Straight Jeans that come in some lovely shades, including an off-white Ecru color that is very of the moment. I also love the Mom Jeans that are similar but have a more relaxed fit at the seat, similar to a vintage-inspired Girlfriend cut.
Urban Outfitters: The BDG jeans from UO have long been a favorite of mine. I discovered their high waisted skinny jeans around high school and never looked back (close to 10 years ago)! One major difference between these and the brands mentioned thus far, is that the denim is much thinner and stretchier, so as you can imagine, these tend to loose their shape over time, but not without a fair bit of use. I’ve raved about the High-Rise Cropped Kick Flare jeans in the past and I am still a huge fan, as these are my go-to comfort jeans. At the moment they don’t have a classic straight leg style but this is a great place if you’re going for more of a skinny leg or mom jean.
Zara: One of my most worn pairs is the Hi-Rise Straight Leg in light wash and I also have them in black but this one is slightly more of a barreled leg. I sized down with this style and they fit really well and there is little to no stretching. Zara has a ton of skinny and culotte styles as well.
Weekday: I’ve heard great things about this Swedish brand with it’s cool Scandi vibes, and it’s available from Asos. I especially love the Row which is described as a Slim Straight style but is actually a bit wider leg and the Voyage which is a a classic straight leg all the way down. I am gravitating more towards wide and looser legs these days and I am really looking forward to trying out Weekday one of these days.
