<p>Gotta say…in my opinion, the addition of 5% spandex is a huge improvement to the jeans. I will never buy a pair without it again. They fit well, and never get that saggy baggy look. They are simply more comfortable. My favorites (bandolinoblues, and Ann Taylor Loft) all have that tiny bit of spandex in them. I don’t think most Levis do.</p>
<p>“The last time I went looking for jeans, I was horrified at the quality of the fabric and the manufacture.”</p>
<p>Yes, even the upscale makers such as Burberry and D&G are using inferior denim. That’s why I like David Kahn jeans - quality denim and craftsmanship. I’d rather buy one expensive pair and keep wearing them instead of looking for new jeans every 6-12 months. My surprising quality denim find at Nordstrom Rack was a pair of St John jeans discounted to $90 from $300. They fit perfectly, and I expect them to last a few years.</p>
<p>I’m used to boot cuts, Levis 550’s, which do have some spandex in them. Evidently they’re not very fashionable. D talked me into buying a pair of Matchstick jeans at JCrew yesterday. Not entirely sure that I can “rock them” (as she puts it) but I will try. Now I will try to get a cute pair of boots or flats to wear with them. Time to go over to the dressing young thread and see what the shoe gurus are looking at.</p>
<p>Even the Levi 501 shrink to fit that H wears is of lighter weight denim than they used to be. I got him to try some carhartts but they are looser in the leg than he is used to.</p>
<p>D gave me her size & preferred wash & style so now I can be on the lookout. </p>
<p>Since I am saving money by wearing her castoffs I guess I can reason that we can afford to get her something she will wear.
(considering she wore the same thing everyday for at least a year when she was 9 and it used to be very hard to get her to wear a coat let alone zip it up, I should appreciate that she is always dressed & decent now) ;)</p>
<p>Crizello:</p>
<p>You may be referring to “Not your Daughter’s Jeans” that are found at Nordstrom’s and other stores…They are very comfortable and usually pricier than $50. Usually double that. So if you bought them for $50, you got a good deal. I have two of those pair, one a black denim and one a boyfriend capri for the summer. Love the stretch in the Jeans.</p>
<p>Sometimes I’ve found a good pair at J Jill. I agree with the other posters who said that the little stretch in the Jeans makes it fit like a glove and gives it longer lasting wear.
I have an extremely small waistline, so no matter what I buy they always have to be tailored (taken-in) at the waist.</p>
<p>Sometimes, with my college age kid, if he has a part time job and he wants something fancier than I want to spend, he will chip in. </p>
<p>I also just bought a pair of Christopher Blue (Don’t think it’s the same as BandinoBlue!) and they are a suede-ish courderoy in charcoal grey. On sale. Never pay full price even for expensive blue jeans!</p>
<p>Ugh, I really hate jeans. I own one pair that I got at Eddie Bauer and I only wear them when I absolutely have to. If I can get away with it like “jean friday” I have some trouser cut pants that are demin-like. I can’t imagine paying over $100 for a pair of jeans. Someone wrote in my college yearbook “the only girl I never saw on campus wearing jeans.” (I didn’t own any.) I always figured the guy that invented bras and pantyhose came up with the concept of “jeans” for women.</p>