Hahahaha, Krish, you made my day with that pean to the perfect jean!!

I think I *do* need to go back for a second fitting. Though it will be a month before I'm in the city again, alas...and who knows if they will have the jean in stock then. Sigh....

But shipping is free until midnight. Still, if I am not careful I could end up with an even bigger credit note! Their return policies are so strict that if you don't get it back to them virtually on the day it arrives on your own doorstep you wind up with a credit note rather than cash in pocket or return on your card! That's how the first one happened.

Jenni, it is so true -- sometimes we just can't guess what will become a real workhorse. I only wish we could. I think even Angie makes a few mistakes on that. Probably fewer than my mistakes.

Denise, I haven't tried Frame, but I noticed you mentioned them and have been curious about them already for a while. I must try some out. Ditto for the Uniglo denim. Oh for big city shopping!!

The Racer was my favourite low waist style in Citizens and was my gateway premium jean. How I loved them! But I know that a low waist jean is not my best look, with my short legs, and as styles have shifted, so have I. I next tried the mid-rise Arielles which are okay but not true love; they have more stretch than I like and are a lighter-weight fabric than my Racers in Patina wash. I still have them and wore them a fair bit this year. Then I had the Agnes crop -- loved those ones, too, and wore them out. I also have the Elsas in white (love!) Bought the high waist Cara cigarette style in the fall and wear them a lot but again, it's not true love -- they are a bit "straight" in the hip/waist area for me. I bought the Rocket skinnies from forum member Sarah and those are great for skinnies -- same fabrication and feel as my beloved Racers, but higher waist -- but I don't always want a skinny.

100% denim is definitely a different feel. I'm not sure how I'd react to it over the long term...

Aritzia sells the Levis Wedgie (oh how I remember RL wedgies from the 80s jeans, ugh!!) but the SA told me she didn't like hers as much as the Drees. It is all personal of course. What I loved about the Dree was that it was high-waisted without the "wedgie" feeling (on me) which can be an issue with higher waist styles, I have learned. Despite the very high rise this was comfortable sitting and standing. I sized up, which is the opposite of what people say to do with this style, but I preferred the fit -- very easy up top and slim but not skinny at the bottom. I did have to cuff to get a true crop but that can be fixed with alteration.

I will check my note for expiry -- I don't think it expires, though.

Style Fan, you'd look great in this style I think!

Krish, you are right about the waist in the sense that both are high waisted and also there is more "curve" cut into the design than perhaps in the Caras.

gryffin, those are great questions. I wish I'd had more time to deliberate in store...they felt great when I put them on and sat/ stood/ walked, but it was a rather short try-on session and the store was very busy so I didn't like to hold up a room for too long with my deliberations. I agree with you though that if they really are "the ones" the price will seem negligible very soon, particularly since I've already shelled that money out!

LaPed, they look less faded/ distressed in person -- more of a dark medium wash. But broken in. That's probably what made them comfy.

Thanks all for the comments on this style. That is helpful.

Krish! That is hilarious. No wonder you spend alot on jeans with those specs.

Love the white - get 2 pair?

The white is not so much cheaper (if at all) in the end because that price tag does not include duties, taxes, or delivery. So I think I will wait on those. (Not available at Aritzia).

Still debating...thank you all for weighing in on this...it's a tough decision! Going back to check my credit note again....

gryffin, for anything or anyone to logically brighten someone's day when they are under 8 inches of snow in April, it's a feat! I am happy if I did and I commiserate on your weather. And I thought I had it bad over here...!

I'm cringing at that price tag and from a place with unfriendly return policies, for me it would be a no go. But I just bought a gently used pair of COH jeans on ebay for $22. And I love them. They are not the current trendy style of course, just a regular pair of slim fits. I have a hard time supporting stores that make it a challenge to return items. But I'm focusing on reducing my own clothing budget so I'm speaking from a different view point. I guess I would ask myself how strong my need is for this new pair of jeans vs. what else I might find for that budget.

I’d probably go for it just to get rid of the annoyance of the credit note hanging over my head - it sounds like you’ve lost hours trying to redeem it!

Get them.

I got Levi's wedgies and I wish I'd spent the extra to get Citizens Liya jeans instead (they fit me surprisingly well). You wear jeans as much as I do. A good pair is worth the money if you know they're winners - my problem is always trying to identify which will be winners before I commit!

And yeah I stopped shopping at Aritzia because the return policy doesn't work for me and my forgetfulness. So easy to miss the deadline. It's too bad, since they've just expanded their San Francisco store.

Hi Suz --

If the credit expires soon and/or it's burning a hole in your pocket at this point I'd probably suck it up and get the jeans. COMMIT TO RETURNING if they don't stand up to memory.

I have to say the CoH bootcuts I mentioned on another thread are old-skool 98% 2% lycra and compared to their newer fabrications (circa 2015-6) they're of course stiffer and thicker, but they still drape well. And they're holding up at least 10 years post-purchase....

Not sure how I'd feel about 100% cotton unless it's been pre-washed into malleability but sounds like these weren't like TRUE old-skool Levi's (put 'em on, soak in tub/shower).

yep, it's a lot of money....but, right now they have all the money and you have nothing, and it sounds like its been that way for a while. if you get the jeans, at least you have something.

Agreeing with @Vix and @Kkards!

Suz, I think I need those jeans. I hope I experience what Krishndioux describes. I may never take them off. Now to find a professional ballroom dancer.

Suz I think if your gift card was issued from a Canadian store it will not expire - I believe that the law prevents it but need to double check that.

Glory, you're right -- I can't see an expiration date on it. So it's good for a while.

Still debating.

Is the white actually white? It looks like super bleached blue ..... look at the seams. Which, to me, is very, very cool. If I had the budget I would order the white/not white ones right now.

But as I don't have the budget for the white ones, the blues feel just out of this world spendy to me, honestly. (But the credit thing does make a difference...)

They're all crazy money.... sigh...

I just wish there was something else I'd want at Aritzia...

Suz, I've had bad luck there too. Can't ever find something that fits propoerly, or when they do, the quality is below par. I'm sorry you're stuck with a credit from them and that you feel you have to get something or loose your money all together. That's a terrible situation. I would certainly get the Citizens pair from them, because no matter what happens, at least you will have had something for your money: if the denim is of such high quality, then at worse a little nip and alteration from a trusted seamstress could bring them to the next level.

Suz, have you seen the JW Anderson collection coming to Uniqlo on April 19th? There's a pair of high-waisted, straightleg jeans in it that look very much like those Drees--and they cost $39! I'm tempted to order them myself, and suspect that they will sell out quickly. Just wanted to let you know, in case you decide that the Aritzia price (which unfairly seems to be $100 higher in Canada than the U.S.!) is just too steep. Then you could get the blue/white ones, too!

Ah, sorry, just realized that the white jeans are from a different store...

I think that they look great but I cannot get past the price tag

Remember cost per wear then again you look sincerely Fab in er'thang