I’m always on the hunt for great jeans. With denim being such staple in my wardrobe and I’m sure your’s too, I think they should be trendy, comfortable and affordable. When I go shopping here in Vancouver, I have a few staple stores that I head to when looking for jeans.
1. Top Shop
Top Shop’s denim ranges from $60-$90, which is a very fair price for denim. At The Bay, in downtown Vancouver, the Top Shop store is located in the basement, and their denim is nicely organized in one section of the store. They have a ton of different colours, their skinny jeans are actually skinny no matter what the waist size, (being curvy, I find a lot of denim makers think the larger the hip the fatter the legs, which makes for more of a straight leg than a skinny leg!) and they have great stretch with lots of different rise options. If you’re looking for high-rise jeans, this is the place to go!
2. H&M
H&M is great when you are on a budget. Their denim ranges from $20-$60. At that price, you can’t go wrong! They have lots of trendy styles, and a variety of different fits. The main disadvantage when denim shopping at H&M is customer service. Trying denim is like trying on bras, you don’t want to be constantly running in and out of the change room hunting for your size, that is the job of the sales person! However, the reason H&M keep their costs that low, is partially because you are paying for something to be mass-produced with minimal sales costs. So, just be prepared to hunt down styles on your own when at H&M. I’d also suggest bringing all the sizes you think you might need into the changing room with you, just so you don’t have to keep running all over the store while trying on.
3. Urban Outfitters
Urban Outfitters in the place to go for high fashion, trendy jeans. They do not carry a ton of basics. But that’s not really their specialty! Their in-store brand, BDG ranges from $40-$70. They also carry other brands like Cheep Monday, Levi’s and Silence & Noise. What I like about Urban Outfitters is that I know I can find styles that I see in magazines. They’re really on top of trends. The only issue for I’ve noticed with their BDG denim is the fact that the fit isn’t consistent. Some washes have less stretch but are still labelled to have the same fit. Ultimately, Urban Outfitters is a great first stop since they have such a huge selection with a wide range of fits and styles!
Here are a few final tips when denim shopping:
- When trying on denim, always ask the sales associates if they stretch out. Most denim these days has spandex in it, which is great, but often can lead to stretching up to 1-2 full sizes! If it has a large percentage of stretch, (look at the label, anything above 3% is pretty high) then try to go down a size.
- Always fit your denim to the widest part of your body. If that’s your booty, then make sure you invest in a good, cute belt, as I’m sure you’ve experienced a bit of gaping at the waist. Also, try different rises, as this may help eleviate the gaping problem!
- If you have any insecurities about your stomach, or you just don’t like pulling up your pants all day long, you should consider buying a higher rise. You don’t HAVE to tuck your shirt in with this style to get the benefits of your denim holding everything in for you! Although, it does look pretty cute with a tucked in top!
- As soon as you purchase, walk your new pair over to your nearest tailor. All shopping malls have a tailor! The chances of your denim being the perfect length are very rare. You want your jeans to graze the floor when barefoot.
- Consider how skinny the calves are, and how you want to wear this pair. Do you want to tuck them into a cute pair of boots? Then make sure they stay skinny all they way to the ankle. No one likes uncomfortable bunching inside their boots!
- Right now, skinny jeans, vintage flares and straight leg boyfriend jeans are in style. If you are still wearing your mid-rinse boot cut jeans, please donate them! EVERYONE can wear skinny jeans, you just have to find the pair that’s right for you, and style it with the perfect top! See my previous post here for more details and here, for styling tips.
Where do you like to shop for jeans? Have you ever dared to purchase a pair online? If you want more shopping tips and ideas please take the time to follow me on Twitter!
