I think every collegiette should have at least one pair of jeans in her closet that makes her feel absolutely gorgeous. As a self-declared jeans fanatic, I can give you well-researched advice on how to find affordable, luxurious designer denim.
Why do I only buy designer jeans? They last much longer, hold their wash better, don’t stretch out, and flatter my derriere 24/7. The best part? You can find an affordable pair of designer jeans from many different places! Before shopping, do a little research to find the best brand for your figure.
Selective Secondhand Stores
Based on my experiences with secondhand stores, you can usually find a pair of designer jeans between $20-$65 depending on the store and the condition of the jeans. Women discard jeans fast with the changing trends and with weight-changes, so you might find a pair of almost new designer jeans for a third or fourth of the retail price. Used designer jeans are great because you get what you see– they won’t shrink or stretch out since they’ve already been worn and washed. Their superior quality also holds up better to wear and tear (just check the thickness of the material around the rear and crotch-area). Where to go locally? Boheme Hip Used Clothing in Downtown Davis carries designer jeans from $18 to $45, an amazing deal compared to the average price of $60 for used denim in Monterey, where I shop at home. They typically carry Hudson, Joe’s, Lucky, Citizens of Humanity, Paige, and Rock & Republic, among others. You can contact Boheme Hip Used Clothing (530-341-2004) if you are looking for a certain brand and size– they would be more than happy to notify you when that perfect pair of jeans comes in (Dawn, the store owner, is the sweetest!). Take advantage of excellent customer service and college-town prices.
6pm.com
6pm is a wonderful website to find majorly discounted designer jeans. They also provide free shipping on all orders and give you 30 days to return your item if it doesn’t fit. They carry AG, 7 for all Mankind, Lucky, True Religion, Hudson, and Joe’s Jeans, and most prices fall between $50-$100 (depending on the brand and how marked down it is). I recently bought a pair of soft, chocolate brown AG jeans on sale for $65 at a boutique (originally $160), then found the exact same pair at 6pm.com for ten dollars cheaper!
Marshalls and TJ Maxx
I am a huge fan of Marshalls and TJ Maxx, and of snagging a precious handful of the designer jeans that hide in the racks of the women’s department before they get snatched up. Most of the designer jeans here get marked down to between $60 and $90 (although I’ve seen lots of Lucky jeans marked down to $30 and $40). You also have the convenience of trying them on in the store to see if they fit.
Outlet Stores
While some outlets do not offer the same quality as the original stores, others are legit and sell premium quality jeans from past seasons. My favorite go-to place for fun jeans is the True Religion Outlet in the Gilroy Outlet Mall. Even though it’s not a particularly classic brand, as a girl who weighs around 100 lbs, I appreciate that they carry a size 23 that fits snugly at the waist, hips, crotch, and rear ( True Religion outlets also occasionally carry petite sizes– you can call your local outlet and ask to be notified when they are in stock). I once spent $105 on two pairs of jeans here when they had a buy-one, get-one-half-off deal (if I had bought two pairs of jeans from the $50 clearance section, I would have only spent $75 for two pairs). Both of the pairs I bought retailed at $240 each. Talk about serious savings for someone who can never find pants that fit!
Care Advice
Once you find that amazing pair of perfectly-fitting designer jeans, here’s a bit of advice on how to keep the wash from fading and the denim lasting for years. When washing, use cold water and turn them inside-out. Once your jeans are washed, lay them out to dry. Never, ever put your jeans in the dryer. The drying process will steadily destroy the denim over time and will leave you on the hunt for another pair of jeans!