ISO new-to-me brands of Jeans - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

ISO new-to-me brands of Jeans

Chris987

Veteran

I’ve lost some weight, done a big edit of my pants/jeans collection, and want to buy a few new pairs of jeans this fall.

Body type & fit/style preferences:
5’1”; pear shape with wider thighs and “average” hips; mid rise (9 – 9.5”); prefer full length slim or straight legs (maybe bootcuts as a lower priority); 29-30” inseam. I like just a bit of stretch. Surprisingly given my height, I usually find regular sizes fit better than petites, because petites often have too short an inseam for my preferences. Would love to try some trendier details like a side stripe, released hem. No high rises, skinnies, crops, wide styles.

I’m totally ok with taking in the waist or shortening the hem to get a good fit, but the rise and thigh fit have to be right

Brands that have worked well for me and I’ll try again: Levis, Lucky, Kut from the Kloth, Loft, Style & Co and Inc (both Macys), Ralph Lauren, Talbots, WHBM, and Democracy.

What other brands should I try? I have assembled this list that might work for my body type, based on reading YLF posts about jeans: AG, COH, DL 1961 and Pilcro (Anthro). (No to Nordstrom store brands)

Also, for those who wear “premium” brands, which ones do you like and why do you think they are worth the price, as compared to more modestly priced brands? I’ve never tried premium denim but am considering it.

Thanks in advance for all inputs!

Dressing

24 replies

Latest reply was from Chris987

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Did you see Angie’s post on Warp + Weft? They might be worth a shot.

In my experience, premium jeans are often less sturdy and don’t wear as well as well as less-expensive brands, but the fits can sometimes be trendier and more flattering. Same with the washes and distressing—premium jeans often offer more nuanced takes on those features. None of that is absolute, of course!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I second Jenn. Try some Warp + Weft styles!

https://youlookfab.com/2020/08.....warp-weft/

I want to try these next - in coral:

https://warpweftworld.com/coll.....81k4_rc5k5

I'd add Wit & Wisdom, Paige Premium, and NYDJ's to your personal list, Chris.

My own jeans brand list:

Premium: Frame (my BEST!), Johanthan Simkhai, GRLFRND, Pilcro, COH - really good fits, excellent quality, robust, fun styles.

Non-Premium: COS, Everlane, Banana Republic, KUT

slim cat

Veteran

I've got good feedback from some customers about 7 For All Mankind
Kimmie Straight Leg Jeans. They run long though and need to be shortened.
https://www.bloomingdales.com/.....slim-illus
And then there is Rack of course:
https://www.nordstromrack.com/.....eans?color
No personal experience - still wearing my Lucky Brand sweet straight jeans ( mostly old styles, new ones felt tighter in the leg, slimmer ).

Chris987

Veteran

Thanks Jenn and Angie.

I looked at the search function on Warp+Weft. When I did a search for mid-rise, straight leg, 30" inseam, I find one option - the "modern straight" in 3 different washes. I'll give that some thought.

Angie I'll add Paige Premium and NYDJ to my list, although I've found NYDJ to mostly have a rise that is just a little too high. I'll also take a look at the other ones you listed, thanks.

I think Wit & Wisdom is a Nordstrom-only brand, is that right Angie? I have one pair that I didn't get rid of that fits ok. However as a Nordstrom brand it's not for me. I have seen that the brand might be also sold under the name Democracy, if that's true that's already on my list.

I did a search of mid-rise jeans at Anthro and their search is awful, it brings up several high rise jeans along with some mid-rise ones For the pilcro brand, they are ALL high rise except one embroidered boyfriend jean, one slim boyfriend jeans with some distressing, and one pair of skinnies. Don't want embroidery or distressing. So Pilcro is out.

Thanks Slim Cat, I'll add the Kimmie to my list. Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack are not options for me since they fired me as a customer. Lucky Sweet Straight is one I already have in a size that fits pretty well, might consider adding another one in a different wash.

Aquamarine

Veteran

I like AG jeans a lot. I find them soft with just the right amount of stretch, yet they do not bag out. My favorite is the Harper, a straight-leg style with a mid-rise.

Chris987

Veteran

Thanks Aquamarine, I'll definitely give the AG Harper a look. I found them on Zappos, which BTW does a great job giving all kinds of measurements for the jeans they sell.

DonnaF

Veteran

Another vote for NYDJ, but try both Petite and regular sizing. Big Star? I think we have overlap in brands that work for us, but I find that it still can be hit or miss even with styles of the same name. I’m looking at you NYDJ! Also consider thrift stores; you might find a pair where you can release the hem yourself.

greycat6

Veteran

Have you considered GAP jeans? Their girlfriend cut has reliably worked for me and we have similar body modifiers. Not premium but serviceable.

Good luck!

Joy

Veteran

I like Paige jeans as far as premium jeans. Try some. AIso COH have served me well with lots of wears over many years. .my first YLF purchase.. I have some AG but do not prefer them over KUT or NYDJ.

Style Fan

Veteran

My best fitting jeans are COH and Fidelity. I had a pair of Paige jeans which I liked but they wore out faster than other jeans.
I have a pair of Frame jeans and they are heavy denim without much stretch. They have not shown much wear after several years. I love the wash on them but the fit is not a 10 out of 10. They are beautiful jeans though.
For me personally Fidelity wins for fit. My best fitting jeans have always been Fidelity. They are available on the Fidelity website.

Liesbeth

Veteran

I’d give Gstar a chance too. They have trendy styles and work for me. I tend to have a gap at the back with my pear shape but not in their boyfriend style.

Chris987

Veteran

Thanks DonnaF. I have found NYDJ to have slightly too high a rise for me even in petite sizes but I'll study the possibilities. Thrift stores are a great idea, and there is a really big one near me, but for now with Covid I'm avoiding it because it tends to be crowded.

greycat6, great suggestion on GAP. I've recently had some great success with their girlfriend chinos and I suspect their fits are pretty consistent across types of pants so will give them a go.

Thanks Joy, good to know.

Style Fan, interesting to hear about Fidelity. Here in New England that name brings to mind a large investment firm I will take a look.

Thanks Liesbeth, I'll put Gstar on my list. I have a gap at the back on most pants but am ok with doing the necessary alterations.

Style Fan

Veteran

Chris, I have heard of the Fidelity investment firm. I don't think they are related.
Actually, try the websites for jeans you are interested in. I have looked at the COH website. I find there is a much better selection and sometimes a discount for the first purchase. It is more difficult for Canadians to do returns but you don't have that issue.

LaPed

Veteran

I wear a lot of Levi's as well and have had good luck with Lucky in the past. Lately, I've been really happy with Everlane; they are a super bargain. They work for my 10"+ hip/waist difference and relatively large thighs, and I haven't even tried their newer curvy cuts. You could also have a look at Madewell; they have a good range of rises, inseams, and curvy options.

If I buy another pair of jeans this year, I'd like to try a pair from Agolde, something like the 90's jeans in the Find. But I have yet to keep a pair of premium jeans because there seem to be plenty of just-as-good options at lower prices.

AGOLDE The 90's Jeans

View Info

Top Pick

2

AGOLDE Mid Rise 90's Loose Fit Jeans

View Info

Top Pick

2

Chris987

Veteran

Style Fan, you are correct, Fidelity jeans NOT the same company as Fidelity investments. Thanks for the tip on the COH web site!

Thanks La P, I'll definitely give Everlane a look. The last few times I've looked at Madewell they were almost ALL high rise, at least for straight/slim leg styles. I'm finding a strong pattern across many brands of current offerings being medium rises paired with skinny legs and bootcuts; high rises with straight legs and flares. What I want is med rise with straight/slim legs. And you make a good point about mid-price vs premium jeans.

cindysmith

Veteran

My AG legging jeans have been my favorites, but you don't want skinnies. I have Hudson straight leg and flares that I like, and I acquired a bunch of 7FAM and COH Jean's right about the time it got too hot to wear jeans because of course I did LOL

My AG jeans seem to be weathering the laundry really well, but I've also had H&M denim that held up to laundry abuse so there's that.

rachylou

Veteran

I’m not a jeans wearer but I will say that I’m down to just Paige jeans now, they’re the only ones I ever wear. I did have a pair of Armani’s from Saks from like 20 years ago that I absolutely loved and miss. Probably the most comfortable and flattering that I ever owned. But lol, that was 20 years ago!

Chris987

Veteran

Thanks CindySmith, I'll add those notes to my consideration of the AG brand. I have looked at the occasional Hudson jean in TJMaxx and they look like they run very narrow... I should probably try then next time I see some.

Thanks Rachy - wow I never knew Armani made jeans! But then again I wasn't particularly following designer brands 20 years ago. I'll add your comments on Paige to my notes.

Aquamarine

Veteran

Chris, the AG Harper colors I prefer are made up of 98% cotton, 2% polyurethane. I had a black pair that was a different fabrication and I ended up giving those away.

RobinF

Veteran

I have a lot of the same jeans requirements as you and have had good luck with Target lately (obviously not premium - hah). They often come in a short length but normal rise which I like and a good selection of mid-rise options. My figure is different than yours in that I need narrow hips and a thicker waist and like the Universal Thread brand but their other brands may fit your figure better.

Chris987

Veteran

Good to know Aquamarine. The fabric content varies so widely across jean brands and even different colors within the exact same style. I'm guessing that's sometimes because of how diff fabrics absorb dye. It's s tough to sort it all out sometimes!

RobinF good suggestion. I rarely look at Target clothing because it mostly does not fit or is not styles I want, but I'll reconsider.

ropeball

I don’t know if you have checked out Boden. Sometimes, they have some trendy pieces and not skinny jeans. I have not look at them this season, but in the last season, they had almost like a tuxedo stripe and another, cuff jeans, which I got. They are not premium brand, but the denim quality and detail are pretty good.

Anonymous

My current pair is D Jeans, found at Marshalls- 79% cotton, 19% poly, 2% spandex. Lightweight and stretchy! Yes I hear everyone shouting "that's not real jeans" ...
I've had luck with NYDJ, Chicos, and Loft Modern too for jeans- but the pair I have now is more comfortable than those were.

Chris987

Veteran

Ropeball, thanks, and no I've not considered Boden - good idea.

Suntiger, I will gladly call yours :real jeans" :-). I shop at TJmaxx a lot, and would gladly buy jeans there if I liked them, regardless of brand/fabrication etc. What I see at Loft is that all the slim/straight ones are high rise...so no to those.