When my mother took me to get my first pair of Levi’s Strauss at Macy’s, I don’t think she ever expected me to have a “denim addiction.” My wardrobe encapsulates the 90s trends of blue jeans and denim jackets.
Throughout my years, I have been searching for the best pair of denim, searching through different brands to find my favorite wash, style and price. However, I don’t have an absolute favorite pair of denim. I do have an assorted taste for various brands and styles that are a must for any wardrobe.
Brands:
Levi’s Strauss
Denim Forum
Rolla’s
Agolde
American Eagle
Ksubi
LEVI’S STRAUSS
My favorite jeans:
1. Wedgie Straight Leg Jeans
Size: Down 1
Price Point: $89-90
Sales/Discounts: Yes
2. Levi’s 501 Skinny Jeans
Size: Down 2
Price Point: $90-108
Sales/Discounts: Yes
Levi’s will last you a lifetime. I have one pair of Levi’s skinny jeans that I got in middle school that still fit me to this day and have very little tearing around the inseam. The nice part about Levi’s is that they are an affordable brand of denim, always doing sales during the end of the season. If you sign up for the Reb Tab you can be informed about all the latest sales, which include marked down jeans with an additional 50% off discount code applied at checkout. I got a pair of 501s that were originally marked at $108 for only $22.
DENIM FORUM
My favorite jeans:
1. The Farrah High Rise Wide Leg Jeans
Size: 1 size down
Price Point: $110
Sales/Discounts: Summer Sale (depends on the wash)
2. The 90’s Joni High Rise Loose
Size 1 size down
Price Point: $110
Sales/Discounts: Summer Sale (depends on the wash)
A new face to the denim world, Denim Forum is Aritiza’s jeans brand. I love going to Aritiza, but I do have to say it is an expensive place to shop; however, they have some of the best material! I love the wash of their jeans and the material is very sustainable. You can tell the jeans were made from quality material and they don’t stretch or shrink when you put them in the wash. These jeans rarely go on sale, so when you see them priced down, buy them!
AGOLDE
My favorite jeans:
1. 90’s Mid Rise Loose Fit
Size: 3 sizes down
Price Point: $198.00
Sales/Discounts: None or Rarely
2. Riley High Rise
Size: 2 size down
Price Point: $188.00
Sales/Discounts: None or Rarely
3. Mia Straight
Size: 2 sizes down
Price Point: $198
Sales/Discounts: None or Rarely
Agolde is a designer brand jean from California. These jeans are very expensive, but are made from very good material that will last you a lifetime. The one problem I have with Agolde is that they are very baggy jeans and you have to sometimes size them down by 3 sizes just to get a tight fit. Personally, there are better jeans to spend your money on, but if you want one designer pair of jeans in your closet, I would get Agolde.
ROLLA’S
My favorite jeans:
1. Eastcoast Flare
Size: don’t size down or 1 size down
Price Point: $119.00
Sales/Discounts: Sometimes
2. Original Straight Leg
Size: don’t size down or 1 size down
Price Point: $109
Sales/Discounts: Sometimes
These jeans are from Australia and started to become popular when stars like Sophie Richie, Heidi Klum and Kacey Musgraves were captured wearing this particular brand. Rolla’s does a really good job with ripped jeans and flares. The first pair of Rolla’s were the Eastcoast Flare and I absolutely love them. Personally for me, straight leg jeans have a longer length which is why I prefer Levi’s Wedgie Straight. I love the modern vintage look of the flare jeans and when it comes to stretching of the waist, they barely stretch at all.
KSUBI
My favorite jeans:
1. Brooklyn
Size: 1 size down
Price Point: $220 – $340
Sales/Discounts: Sometimes
2. Playback
Size: 1 size down
Price Point: $240 – $340
Sales/Discounts: Sometimes
Another brand that comes out of Australia and is slowly starting to make its way into a designer brand. Ksubi is one of the most expensive denim brands on the market and is famously worn by a lot of rappers in the music industry, such as Lil Uzi Vert, Playboi Carti and A$AP Ferg. These jeans can go upwards of $300, which is why you should wait until these jeans go on sale. They are made of high quality material that will last forever and are better than Agolde. I love the light wash and it’s one of my most favorite pairs of jeans that I have in my closet. The only problem is the length, as the jeans are not made for people who are petite. If you are going to spend big bucks on a pair of jeans, I highly recommend getting a pair of Ksubi.
AMERICAN EAGLE OUTFITTERS (AEO)
My favorite pairs:
1. Baggy Wide Leg
Size: 2 sizes down
Price Point: $50 – $70
Sales/Discount: Always
2. Boyfriend/Tomgirl
Size: 1 size down
Price Point: $50 – $70
Sales/Discount: Always
These are the jeans that became popular because of the rise of jeggings. I remember in middle school that everyone had a pair of AEO jeggings and the rule was “the more ripped the better.” The jeans would be ripped all the way up and down the leg. I never cared for the trend, especially now that I’m older. If you want to spend the minimum amount of money on a pair of jeans, then shop AEO. They are always doing sales on their jeans and you can trend in an only pair and get $10 to spend on a new pair of jeans. The jeans don’t last as long as Levi’s or the higher brand labels (Agolde, Ksubi and Rolla’s) because of the cheap used material. They rip around the inseam after 2 to 3 years of wear and personally there are better labels to spend your money on. It’s better to have a pair of jeans that last you a lifetime.
Other brands to check out that were not mention: Wrangler, Urban Outfitters, Good American and Frame