Update 10/27: Angie asked me to post photos of the Kut jeans in their original unhemmed state before I cut them.....here they are. I do need to take in the back waist. I thought the cuffs made them a little too tomboy for my preferences but now I'm not so sure. I'll wear them this way for a while.

Comments welcome!

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Original posting 10/3

As stated previously, I’ve been buying new jeans after getting rid of a bunch that were too big after losing some weight. After donating the
too-big ones I was left with 4 (2 blue, 2 grey) slim/skinny that work with
loafers/sneakers, and 4 (3 blue, 1 black) in a wider/longer leg that work with boots with a small heel. Some of the 8 are borderline too big. I wear jeans daily and although I don’t have a specific quantity in mind that would be just right, I know that this collection is too small.

I’m looking for 9-9 1/2” rise, 29 or +” inseam, slim/straight shape, not destructed, solid wash, minimal whiskering, mostly darker colors. I’ve relaxed my requirements a little and will include a few skinnies.

I’m doing it almost exclusively online. Some vendors have great search capabilities, others do not. It takes orders longer than normal to arrive. Fittings rooms still not open most places. Opening up the package and trying them on is the FASTEST part of the entire process! The trends I see are high rise, “ankle” (inseam length of 27”) or “crops” (even shorter), flares/bootcuts/wide legs, and distressing. The high rise revolution has even made it’s way to fitness/gear leggings…ARGHHH!

I’ve found 5 new ones, and that's enough for now. I 'm exhausted and need a drink...umm... meant to say I need a BREAK

SUCCESSES (see finds) all found at TJmaxx or Macys

4 of the 5 are brands/styles I've worn before. Tried and true for the win!

• 1882 light wash cuffed crops. I unstitched the cuff and they are full length now. Very thin fabric so won’t work for winter. Similar to the find shown. I mentioned these in my earlier post
• Democracy Ab-solution skinnies in indigo. Fit is fabulous. Quite stretchy fabric but substantial. I knew this brand might work because I have bermuda shorts from them.
• Democracy Ab-solution straight leg in black. Same fit and similar fabric as the skinnies above. Need to shorten them.
• Lucky Brand Lolita Skinnies in a darker wash and one size down from the ones I’ve had for a few years. I can’t believe I found skinny jeans that are well made, fit just right and look GOOD on me! They are sort of halfway between leggings and "slim" jeans as far as leg tightness, just perfect for my not-skinny legs. I may well duplicate in other washes. Will also keep the looser ones that have become more like a “girlfriend” fit. I have had good success with Lucky tops, boots, and jeans.
• Kut from the Cloth Catherine Boyfriend jeans. I have one other pair by this brand that are a tad too big. These are the slightly wider leg style. Fit is great. Nice denim. Even with the full cuff, they are full length on me, not cropped as in the photo. I don't really care for that cuff and will shorten them overall.

MORE POSSIBILITIES

• Madewell (they had one style that might work)
• WHBM (they had 2 options that were sold out in my size last time I checked)
• Talbots
• LLbean (if they will give me exact rise measurement via chat session, which they have done in the past)
• Sliver Jeans brand carried at Macys
• Everlane. Haven't looked yet
• Boden. They do give rise measurements but you have to look at the detailed measurements for each item separately, there is no way to select all that are “mid rise” for example. I might do this later but for now its way too much work.

• and these 2 that cost around $200 but I want to exhaust the less pricey options before I go there…
• AG Harper
• COS Skyla mid rise cigarette pant

FAILS & BRANDS ELILMINATED

• more from TJmaxx that didn't work out (t tharii, republic, kensie)
• 7 of all mankind (blair) kimmie is out. They run really small so I ended up with the wrong size, but even taking that into account their idea of “straight” leg is way too skinny. I don’t feel like trying to figure out if they have other models called straight leg that are not so skinny
• Ann Taylor, Anthro, DL 1961, Loft, Banana Republic, NYDJ out of the running because they don’t have any that meet my requirements.
• Old Navy, Target, Eddie Bauer are out because they don’t give exact rise measurements
• Warp & Weft is out because the “modern straight”, which could work, only comes in a super dark wash that doesn’t appeal to me.
• L&T because they are doing final sales only as they go out of business (SOB!!!)
• Nordstrom & Rack because they fired me in June