Angie,
I am intrigued with this information – I did not have the same experience with my NYDJ which where $100 – pretty pricey in my book. They lasted one year and some of the fabric started to deteriorate. I was sad.
One thing I did NOT do with my NYDJ’s was to hang dry them – and they do have lyra in them. I am now starting to hang dry my “lycra included” jeans and see if that lengthens their wearing life.

Maris

Angie,

Agreed! My Rock & Republic jeans have been my favorites for 2 years. I wash in a garment bag in cold water, hang to dry. I have others in my closet, also in a range of prices from sale Gap jeans to Mavi & DKNY.

I agree, but sometimes you just don’t have $170 for jeans. I recently used http://www.truejeans.com to find jeans that fit (sort of like zafu, but better IMO). i was pleasantly surprised that the jeans they recommended most for me were only $68 and required no hemming! They fit perfectly so I hope they last.

Also recently snagged a pair of 7FAM jeans on ebay for only $40. They were used but in good condition, and hemmed to a 30″ inseam. It’s tricky to find authentic ones on ebay but I have become pretty good at authenticating them. All in all it has been a good week for jeans shopping.

I agree Angie and am forwarding this post to my husband so he can see that I’m not crazy! I spent years of my life trying to find jeans and nothing ever fit. Then when I lived in Italy, I broke down and went to the Diesel store. They fitted me and then hemmed the bottoms. Two years later, the jeans are still in great shape, and they are pretty much the only jeans I wear on casual days (they are cut for flats). That means, from spring, fall, and winter, i wear them most days. I also have a nice pair of 7FAM (my smart casual jeans), which have stood up well over time. The fit of these jeans is amazing. And I have never regretted the pretty penny I had to lay down for both of them.

i have three pairs of jeans from Forever21: rocker skinnies, distressed black, and bootcut dark wash, and they all fit and look great. shocking but true. cold wash, flat dry to make me last.

I would love to get some advice on a pair of jeans I just bought. I’m 5 and 1/2 months pregnant and recently bought maternity jeans from Top Shop for the equivalent of about US$100. They’re not as dark as I wanted but they’re a perfect shape. Like with many artificially faded jeans these days, the middle of the leg is more faded than the edges; the denim is a bit darker around the hips and at the very bottom of the leg. Unfortunately, I absolutely have to get them shortened – I’m about 5′2″ and I don’t wear heels to work most of the time. These jeans look amazing with heels but I want to be able to wear them, which means having them at a length that is suitable for flats. HOWEVER: this also means cutting off the couple of inches of darker denim at the bottom. I considered getting them shortened under the knee but I think that will look ridiculous. Do I have any choice? Do I just have to hack off the bit I like best at the bottom? Help! I can’t buy more than one pair – it just doesn’t make sense for maternity wear!

Update on my maternity jeans comment – I was so inspired by your site that I decided to hunt through my shoes and find all the heels that I could wear with my new, too-long jeans. Today is the second day I’ve worn them to work – the first day with red high heel Dr Scholl’s, the second with light blue fabric platforms. I’m taller, more styley, and I didn’t have to shorten my jeans! Thank you for a great site.
http://simmerdown.wordpress.com

[...] believe that you get your money’s worth when it comes to jeans. I have two pairs of ink blue Diesel jeans that were expensive. They have [...]

I would never spend that kind of money on jeans. For one thing, some of us cannot afford it, but in spite of that, it’s my opinion that there is no pair of jeans in the world that is worth $100+. The only reason they are priced that way is because they can get away with it. In other words, people buy them. That is unfortunate, otherwise they would have to lower the price in order to sell them.

[...] jeans: Expensive jeans are worth the price (also see this thread on the [...]

Hey! I have a question…. I bought a pair of R&R and I was dumb enough to tumble dry + IRON THEM!! They lose their elasticity quickyl… I am wondering If i can save them some how….