I have been on the hunt for a non-premium denim pair of straight-leg jeans, with no success. Gap's version had terrible highlighting fading on the dupa, AT only had bootcuts that I could find, BR's pockets were excessively wide across the dupa...all were sadly returned.

On Friday I stopped at Kohl's to return a top and stopped to check out their selection; someone had recommended the Dana Buchmans bootcuts so I wondered if there was a straight-leg version somewhere. I miraculously found a pair of Levi's straight-leg in dark wash -- I say miraculously because it was mostly hidden elastic waistbands, relaxed fit, light wash, or bootcuts available. This was just about the only one in all the piles -- and for $32! I grabbed 'em and ran.

The next day I went to the mall, on a mission to stop at every store that carried jeans and just try them on (and to return the Gap ones LOL). Martin + Osa was the first stop on my trip; it's not a store I frequent because I think the prices are too high, but I know Sarah (who is close to being my body/style twin these days) has been having a lot of luck there so I was determined to give them a try. They have a new set of denim styles now, and the slim cut is their only straight-leg version. But at the back of the store they had their old version of straights on sale, and VOILA!! It was the jeans I have been looking for!

I scooped up two pairs of dark wash, one long and one regular --- each for $35! They were marked down to $49, and there is an additional 30% off sale prices going on. (I also got the whites but have reconsidering now that I am home; they just don't fit as well as the darks). So now I have 3 pairs of great-fitting straight-leg jeans. I am all set for fall and winter, whoohoo!

Moral of the story: try on everything, even at the stores where you don't expect to find success.