How much are you willing to pay for a pair of jeans?
This past week, I received a newsletter that listed six pairs of jeans that were the author's favorites. The newsletter, I might add, is aimed at every woman -- from college students to new moms -- and is supposed to have smart, simple tips for feeling good from the inside out.
So, anyway, the author's jeans were $11.97, $79.90, $158, $158, $167, and $220. I was gobsmacked at those prices! In her defense, the author did say that some of the ones she had listed were expensive, but she also said that she had a couple of steals. But still, there was only one pair of jeans that was under $50! Seriously, does she consider $80 for a pair of jeans a steal? Is this the status quo? Am I the one who is way off base?
I know that I don't spend a whole lot of money on clothes. I tend to buy something when it's on sale, and I try, whenever I can, to get the best deal that I can. I don't shop in high-end boutiques, and I'll buy clothes at thrift stores, and so on. But I also tend to have expensive taste.
Sometimes, and unfortunately for my pocket book, I even have very expensive taste.
So even though I may buy my clothes cheaply, my clothes aren't cheap. I'm not saying that I have all designer brands, because a lot of my clothes are from discount stores. But discount clothes can be made well.* Just because something is cheap, doesn't mean that it is necessarily of an inferior quality. I'm also not about to sacrifice fit or comfort in my clothes for the sake of saving a couple of dollars. And whereas you can sometimes save money by buying cheaper quality clothes, that's not true for jeans. I simply wear them too often to not have comfortable, nice-looking jeans that are not going to hold up.
That being said, I don't think that I've ever paid paid more than $30 for a pair of jeans. And I don't think that I could ever -- no matter how well they fit -- pay more than $50. There are just too many alternatives that fit me well and are not expensive, and they are jeans, for crying out loud!
You be the judge. Are my jeans fabulous? or are they frumpy and ill-fitting? I think these were $39.50 (plus it was a buy one, get one at half off).
*I sewed a lot of my own clothes when I was growing up, so I can tell if a dress or a shirt is made well. And sometimes you don't need something that is going to last forever, sometimes you just need an item that will serve your purpose.
shirt -- Cherokee (thrifted)
jeans -- Morgan (Delia*s)
shoes -- Dansko (outlet)
belt -- handmade in Guatemala (thrifted)
Some more goofy pictures -- just having fun.
Your jeans ARE fabulous. I have never bought an expensive pair, although I've purchased new jeans from a local western outfitter. In the past couple of years, I tend to buy my jeans in the men's department. i want real (not stretch) denim. And they fit. Sometimes, I think the expensive jean makers want us to spend money on the brand. The only expensive jean I'm even remotely interested in is one sold by Nordstrom, 7 Peoples, or something like that.
ReplyDelete@Terri -- thanks! Mine are stretch denim. I was/am a runner, and I had/have big thighs with a small waist, relatively speaking :-) not so small these days thanks to menopause. So if jeans fit me in the legs, they invariably gapped at the waist, so I welcomed stretch denim. weird thing though is that I would have been in style these days because the jeans I used to wear were really a true boyfriend cut :-). I also like the low risers. I have a better chance of getting jeans that fit in the hip and the legs. That being said (gosh I say that a lot ), I love my 501s.
ReplyDeleteI don't think your jeans are at all frumpy, and that belt is to die for.
ReplyDeleteI'd rather not spend a lot of money on jeans but given my height and size I usually have to spend more than $30 - although I did get some grey skinnies at Target today for less than $7. I have to have a long or tall inseam and not many places carry those. Or, if they do, they are junior sizes or only go up to a 10 or 12. I'm a 14, so I shop at Gap and Banana Republic for their long lengths.
That being said, I won't spend $100 or $200 on jeans. Yes I wear a lot of denim, but I don't think I'd spend that much. Even if they fit, which they don't. The fine minds at 7 of All Mankind and other super-expensive jeans don't usually carry bigger than a 12, so I guess I got lucky.
Wow, that was really long. Sorry about that.
Gracey
http://fashionforgiants.blogspot.com
@Gracey -- no need to be sorry! You had a pair of jeans on the other day that made your legs look soooo long! They looked great on you. And I do realize that there are some people who do have to pay more for a pair because of fit, and the other thing is that I have to dress up for work, so I haven't had to buy jeans in a while. I also know that prices are going up, so the next time I go jeans shopping, I may get a rude awakening -- not looking forward to that. Isn't that belt great? I swear, you just can't beat thrifting!
ReplyDeleteThose jeans are great!! They fit you very well. I will admit I normally pay between $80-$128.00 for jeans but that's because I'm very tall and need a 38" inseam. I don't do high waters *rolls eyes with hands on hips*
ReplyDeleteThose jeans are great!! They fit you very well. I will admit I normally pay between $80-$128.00 for jeans but that's because I'm very tall and need a 38" inseam. I don't do high waters *rolls eyes with hands on hips*
ReplyDeleteThose jeans are great!! They fit you very well. I will admit I normally pay between $80-$128.00 for jeans but that's because I'm very tall and need a 38" inseam. I don't do high waters *rolls eyes with hands on hips*
ReplyDeleteThose jeans are great!! They fit you very well. I will admit I normally pay between $80-$128.00 for jeans but that's because I'm very tall and need a 38" inseam. I don't do high waters *rolls eyes with hands on hips*
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