This winter I embarked on a quest to find the perfect pair of jeans for my body. In this blog post, I spill all my secrets on how I found my dream jeans and how you can too. Firstly, setting some criteria for what you want your dream jeans to look, feel, and cost is essential. Listed below are the must-haves that I wanted in my dream pair of jeans.
- Dark Wash (must look classy and elegant enough to fit a smart casual work dress code)
- Mid-Rise (must fit comfortably around my waist)
- Must have a 32″ or 33″ inseam
- Bootcut Style
When I was 19, I was a division 1 rower and found that my Hollister jeans, which I wore since I was 16, did not fit anymore. I wore skinny jeans that were too tight around my calves and left marks on my calves when I took them off. On my 19th birthday, I decided to treat myself to a new pair of jeans. I went to Lord and Taylor to search for a pair of jeans that were comfortable and made me feel confident. I bought a pair of dark-wash Manhattan bootcut jeans from Paige. I fell in love with those jeans and wore them almost every day for four years. I am 5’10” and Paige denim typically has 34″ inseams. Over time, the jeans became too big for me, and the slightly too-long inseam became distressed at the hem. I loved my pair of Paige jeans so, when I started to look for a new pair, Paige was the only brand I wanted to try. Finding Paige jeans was harder than expected so I decided to take a chance and try on a competitor’s jeans.
Frame Denim
Trying on my first pair of Frame jeans was the gateway to exploring other denim brands. I walked into the Frame store, told the sales associate my criteria for my dream pair of jeans, and she gave me the Le Mini Boot jeans in the colour Parkway. I tried on the jeans and was immediately impressed. The fabric was super stretchy and comfortable. The rise was a perfect mid-rise. The inseam fit my legs perfectly. The back pockets were perfectly positioned and shaped to make your butt look great. The bootcut was flattering, and the leg opening was not too wide. I really liked the jeans but in the back of my mind, I was wondering if I should try other denim brands before making the commitment.
Rag & Bone
With an open mind, I left Frame and walked into Rag & Bone. Again, I tried on a mid-rise, dark-wash pair of bootcut jeans. I immediately knew the jeans were not for me. The Rag & Bone jeans were a stiff material and the back pockets were too large and wideset and were not flattering to my body. Another thing I noticed was that I had to size down in Rag & Bone jeans. Every single pair of jeans fits differently so I recommend going into a store to find your perfect fit and size.
Online Search
After my trips in-store to look for jeans, I decided to conduct some research to see what else was on the market. I looked at Mother, AG, 7 For all Mankind, Citizen of Humanity, and Reformation. None of these websites offered exactly what I was looking for. I noticed that many designer jeans have a 34″ inseam which, through experience, I learnt is too long for me. I also noticed that the denim brands did not offer many mid-rise, dark-wash bootcut jeans. I easily eliminated these other designer denim brands because their product offerings did not meet my criteria for my dream jeans. I slept on the idea of purchasing the Frame jeans. I kept thinking about them and knew that they were my dream jeans. A few days later I went back to the Frame store and purchased the jeans.
Designer denim is expensive but I believe it is worth the investment because I wear my jeans on a daily basis. When I purchased my jeans I asked the sales associate if she would honour the “15% off your first purchase” that was advertised online and she said yes. I highly recommend asking if you can apply first-time discounts, which are usually only advertised online, in-store. I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to receive the 15% discount and it made me view Frame denim in a positive light.
After my quest to find my dream jeans, I learnt that it is important to first set your criteria for your dream jeans and stick with your criteria. I recommend conducting online research to see what denim brands are offering and narrowing down some options before going into stores. My biggest piece of advice is to try the jeans on in-store because every pair of jeans will fit differently. Lastly, be open-minded when shopping for jeans and be open to trying new brands because you may magically stumble upon your dream jeans like I did.
XO, Alicia
