Jeans are like lovers; the good ones are comfy, flattering and accentuate all your best bits. They form to you, adapt, and become your second skin. The bad ones are tight, restrictive, and uncomfortable, they leave their marks on you and all you want to do is get rid of them. It’s hard work finding your perfect match; but once you do you’ll love them unconditionally and never want to let them go.
I’m all about jeans, l wear them almost every day. My Dad told me once, girls look their best in a nice pair of jeans and a basic white tee. Understated, classy. This sentiment really stuck with me and I try to emulate this casual chic girl next door getup each day.
I don’t discriminate when it comes to denim, I’ve worn everything from Kmart cheapies (yes, that’s another Kmart reference) to Bettina Liano booty huggers. My love affair with jeans began with my first serious boyfriend. He had a cool as shit uncle that worked for Tsubi before it was Ksubi, I got spoilt with on fleek freebies, my favourite: a bespoke pair of purple corduroys. I became obsessed with this brand and the cute little crosses. Even after our relationship ended, I bought the same pair of high rise indigo Ksubi’s every year, they were my fail safe favourites. Good quality, good fit, good times.
Next came Nudies, I really tried to like them because they were the staple item for the cool kids, part of the hipster uniform. The first pair I bought set my back $230 and I got a rip near my vagina within the first two weeks. I took them back and was told this was a common fault within the fabric. Right, as if I want to drop that amount of cash on a pair of jeans that customarily fall apart? I was also annoyed I had to freeze the jeans instead of washing, and every time it rained my legs turned blue. The jeans faded and looked dated pretty quickly too.
At the moment I have three pairs of jeans on high rotation (1 black, 2 blue), and their combined cost is still cheaper than that one pair of Nudies. Two are from ASOS, if you haven’t bought jeans from ASOS yet – I highly recommend it. They allow you to get real specific with your sizing, which is great for anyone who doesn’t conform to a standard size (pretty much everyone). I have shortish legs, and prior to ASOS every pair of jeans I owned bunched up at my feet. Now I get a clean cut right on the ankle. ASOS also have a great selection of colours and styles, and they’re actually affordable.
Another good thing about ASOS; it’s all online. Which is fab, because I really hate shopping for jeans in store. I feel styles and size vary so much between brands. I always get sweaty and stressed in the change rooms. I end up feeling like a fat failure and leaving with a great depression and no new denim.
My other pair came from a Cotton On bargain bin, $15, this pleased my skint side greatly. They fit like a glove, have a nice blend of cotton and elastane so I can stretch around and easily get on and off my bike, plus they look pretty damn nice.
So, fuck overpriced brands and jean snobbery. This jean genie is all about feeling good, looking great, and saving the dosh.