polyester content in jeans? - YouLookFab Forum

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polyester content in jeans?

Queen Mum

Veteran

disclaimer... I'm not abandoning my shopping ban but I'm still deciding on a pair of bootcuts I got from NAS and went to the Rack yesterday to do some comparison.

anyhow... tried on (and brought home) a pair of Cookie Johnson and Paige Premium jeans and the one thing I noticed was how stretchy they seemed. I looked at the fabric content and they both have about 25% polyester, 2% spandex and the rest cotton. They are both bootcuts so it's not that they are jeggings.
I've never noticed premium denim having polyester in them. Is this a good thing? bad? indifferent?

Dressing

15 replies

Latest reply was from Barbara

Queen Mum

Veteran

okay, so maybe I'm a dough ball cuz I went investigating and it seems that many premium denim brands have polyeste in them. I just don't want to make a premium denim faux pas and wear "old lady" stuff

MNsara

Veteran

I have noticed that too, Kim. It seems there are tons of premium denim that are 98ish% cotton with the rest spandex/elastane/elastin (or however it is spelled - and I don't know the difference between them).

Then there are plenty that have polyester with the cotton and stretch ingredient. I actually ran upstairs and sifted through my better denim pile and, lo and behold, I only found CK jeggings, T Tahari skinnies, and ATLoft skinnies had the polyester. I know I have tried on Paige/Joe's/ and others that had it, but I must have returned those. . .

I actually hoped that the polyester would help them stay more stable for stretching, shrinking, and color retention.

Maybe a denim expert can enlighten us

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I have bought CJ straight leg jeans and they do not have polyester in them, just 2% spandex. Spandex /elastan/lycra in 1-2% usually - this is what makes them stretchy - but I have never seen polyester...

Scarlet

Veteran

That seems a little weird. None of my jeans have polyester, just the little bit of spandex. Kind of sounds to me like they are saving money on the fabric and still charging $$$. But I am not a jeans expert. Maybe there is a good reason for it.

Megan

One of my pairs of Paige jeans has polyester in the blend. They are a lighter weight jean and seem to wash up really well. Overall, I'm fine with them for spring jeans.

April

Veteran

Kim, I grabbed several pairs to check, and here's what I found in terms of polyester content:

Citizens of Humanity -- no
Rich & Skinny -- yes
Cookie Johnson -- yes

Actually, the ones with some poly feel a lot softer and more noticeably different from ordinary denim than the others. I think those of us who remember the 70s feel snobbish about polyester, but as MNS suggested, it probably helps make the jeans more stable and less subject to the "shrink in the wash, grow on your body" phenomenon.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I thinks its debatable whether CJ jeans are premium :0)

I have heard of jeans having a small polyester content - but more authentic jeans do not.

MNsara

Veteran

FWIW - I was at Nordstrom Rack this afternoon and specifically looking at Paige Premium denim and found at most of the styles I looked at had polyester in them: some Peg jeans, Monte(?) Bootcut, Verdugo jeggings, and another straight leg (maybe Skyline). I noticed that these were styles that were done in dark indigo or black dyes.

I wonder if the poly is to help retain the super dark color?

Queen Mum

Veteran

I was wondering that about the CJ... they were quite low in price (but fit nice)

Sara- yes both of these that I brought home are a real dark rinse.

Angie- would you say to avoid the polyester content jeans?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I wouldn't go as far as saying avoid, Kim. If it fits and its fab - wear it! But authentic jeans are 98% cotton and 2% Lycra - or thereabouts.

crazyone

Veteran

Personally, I'd shy away from polyester content in skinnies/jeggings if I'm paying premium price. My H&M skinnies have some polyester, and occasionally I find them itchy because of that, but I only paid $20 for them...I wouldn't want to pay $100 or thereabouts and find that my jeans itched.

Lisa

Veteran

I think I'm missing something, but why would polyester be bad for jeans? Does this make them bag out during the day?

Carole

Veteran

Very informative post, I am taking notes!

Queen Mum

Veteran

Lisa- I actually think the polyester helps them keep their shape better. I have a pair of CK jeans that I got at Costco last year and they don't bag at all and haven't faded one bit. (sadly they also are not as accomodating of this 5 pounds that has found it's way to my hips and thighs BUT, they also don't feel like "real" jeans. For $20 though I never lost any sleep over that fact.
The Paige I brought home from the Rack are a different feel, and more stretchy but have a quite dark wash and don't show the weave of the fabric in the same way that their 98% cotton counterparts do. I'm just afraid of keeping "grandma" jeans. I tried them on again last night and they are quite comfy, lightweight and *I* think flattering. They would function well as a dressy jean actually. Kindof like a trouser jean maybe. I hope to get some pictures take today

Barbara

Veteran

Hi Lisa. A minimal polyester content in jeans keeps them lighter weight and prevents shrinking. Which can be a good thing. But polyester will sometimes make the jeans baggy in the butt after wearing. Lately, I have noticed more use of polyester in ALL jeans, not just premium denim. Polyester may negatively affect dye absorption in some denim. I really don't want splotchy, unevenly dyed jeans unless they are supposed to be that way!