Jean Buying Guide

Getting started

Marketers might deserve a special place in hell for turning blue jeans into a luxury item. But is there any real difference between a $20 pair and a $240 pair? Our textiles expert evaluated seven women's cotton/spandex boot-cut jeans in that price range, looking for sewing and fabric flaws, washing one pair of each five times, opening stitching at the waist to examine construction, and checking zippers. She found:

Some of the less expensive jeans have better construction features, such as interfacing under the waistband. The two cheapest jeans have stitching under the waistband to limit stretching.

Midpriced Lucky was the only pair that didn't shrink at all. (However, it was so "distressed" that you could lose change from a holey back pocket.)

The biggest shrinkers would have lost about an inch in width on a 40-inch hip and almost an inch in length on a 30-inch inseam.

With the True Religion jeans, you get silver bling (on back pockets and, for some reason, hiding inside a front pocket), a nice print fabric for the pocket bags (where it can't be seen), big white stitches as an accent, and a zipper that won't stay up unless it's locked down.

Bottom line

You pay a lot for fashion and hidden details. Buy what pleases you.

Fit tips for every woman

If your jeans are more than three years old, it's time to take a good look at them--and probably buy some new ones. When you're ready to shop, use our advice on finding the ideal jeans for you.

Boot-cut jeans look good on just about everybody. So does dark denim because everything looks smaller in dark colors!
Surprisingly, straight-cut jeans are better for curvy women, and so are lower rises. As long as they cover your tummy, lower-rise pairs elongate your torso and make you look slimmer.
"Boyfriend" jeans are comfy, but they're best on slim women because they can add bulk.
A little stretch is everybody's friend, so look at material labels.
You shouldn't have to suck in when you zip your jeans! And if you've got a muffin top, chances are your jeans are too tight in the waist or too low in the rise. A higher rise will usually eliminate any overhang and make the waist look smaller