Editor’s note: “How Much is Too Much?” offers guidance to make informed shopping decisions across a variety of categories, including fashion, beauty, luxury and more.
CNN
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When actress Blake Lively wore a pair of $19,000 designer jeans to a screening of her latest film, “It Ends With Us,” this summer, the look garnered multiple media coverage and plenty of attention — and the price tag, too. Naturally, it prompted some surprised comments on social media, which was to be expected, but the moment also raised a legitimate question: how much money is too much to spend on jeans?
The jeans, from Italian fashion house Valentino, featured cutouts from the thigh to the heel and embroidered hibiscus shapes, and were paired with a simple white tank top, Christian Louboutin heels, hoop earrings, and Livry’s trademark long, tousled hair. The jeans were a bit of an outlier, no doubt designed with celebrities and the 1% in mind. They were conversation starters, fantasy-themed jeans, not meant to be worn to or from school.
The most expensive jeans listed on fashion retail websites like Net-a-Porter and Ssense aren’t all that expensive, with top prices from brands like Jean Paul Gaultier, Dolce & Gabbana, and Ralph Lauren mostly ranging from $2,500 to $3,500. At the time, the next most expensive pair of jeans on Valentino’s own site was priced at $2,700 (down from $4,500). Still, that’s a lot for most people.
There are plenty of cheaper options on the market, from classic $100 Levi’s to newer denim brands like MUD Jeans and ELV Denim that emphasize being sustainable or circular (jeans in this category tend to cost around $200-$500).
So the real question is probably: With so many options and a wide price range, how do you decide which jeans are right for you? And what do you actually get for your money?
Shopping for new jeans can be a daunting task, and from the style of cut to the denim wash, there’s a lot to consider beyond price.
For stylist Becky Malinski, it’s important to know what your jeans are going to be used for: “Is it for work, is it for hanging out with the kids, is it for going out to dinner?” she said in a phone interview.
A quick Google search can give you a ton of brands and styles to choose from. Malinski, who also writes the popular newsletter “5 Things to Buy,” looks at some “standout” denim brands and see what they’re doing with shapes, silhouettes, and colors. From there, “consider where your body type fits into these trends,” she says.
“I always look to brands like Citizens of Humanity as a reference point. I think they’re really good in terms of fashion and fit. I love classic Levi’s and always recommend them to my customers. I think the prices are right too. I also keep an eye on what designers are doing. The Row is really doing well in denim right now,” she said.
When you’re shopping, don’t just try the jeans on – stand, walk, and sit in them. If you plan on wearing your newly purchased jeans often, comfort is essential.
Malinsky also stressed understanding how to balance style and comfort: Generally, the more stretchy the garment, the more comfortable it will be, but too much stretch can cause the garment to lose its shape.
“If people want a little bit of stretch in their jeans, I always tell them to look for straight-leg jeans or something a little wider, so they’ll be comfortable in the waist but won’t stretch like jeggings.”
Also, consider going up a size in jeans and having them tailored to fit your body type. Whether you’re tall and slim or short and curvaceous, finding a good tailor can help you make sure any outfit fits you perfectly.
If you’re wondering how to judge the quality of a denim product, Malinski says the feel is very important: “If it’s too soft, like touching a T-shirt, it’s not going to be durable. You want to look for something that has a bit of resistance in your hand.”
When shopping for men’s jeans, Malinsky recommends avoiding the “worn” look and instead opting for clean, classic cuts in dark washes, noting that Syd Marshall is a great choice in the menswear category.
Generally speaking, if you’re looking for a pair of jeans that will stand the test of time (and we all should if we want to be more thoughtful, sustainable consumers), avoid exaggerated styles like super skinny or super wide leg, rips, or embellishments. Straight or slightly tapered, mid- to high-rise, medium or slightly dark wash jeans will never go out of style.
No one is saying you should give up that down payment on your first apartment for a pair of jeans, but there are those who say you should spend a bit more.
“It takes a lot of resources and a lot of people to produce a pair of jeans,” says Sandra Caponi, co-founder of sustainable fashion site Good on You, “so if we’re buying denim at a bargain price, someone or something is paying the price.”
“And when you consider the cost per wear, spending money up front on high-quality items you’ll wear over and over is often the best choice for both your wallet and the planet,” she adds.
The Good on You website has a brand directory categorized by price and ethical credentials: Currently, the site features 21 “great” denim brands (ranked from “great” to “avoid” at the highest level).
“The price range for denim is incredibly wide,” Ani Wells, a spokesperson for the denim industry watchdog group Transformers Foundation, said over Zoom. “There are $20 jeans and there are $20,000 jeans. If you’re looking at a $20 pair of jeans, you know that hundreds of hands have touched those jeans, and it’s clear that the labor behind them is not up to the standards that we want to uphold. It’s not hard to imagine that the people on the other side are not being paid a fair wage, and it’s also not hard to imagine that the materials being used to achieve that price are much cheaper.”
Wells believes $100 to $400 is the “sweet spot” for jeans: “I personally think there are a lot of sustainable brands that make really good jeans for around $150 to $200, but once you get past $400… I think you’re really paying for the brand.”
Malinsky largely agreed with that assessment, but reiterated his warning that jeans are typically made very cheaply.
As a consumer, is it okay to pay a premium to buy your favorite brands? Absolutely. If you have the cash to spare, or can afford it, treat yourself to a pair of posh jeans or Lively’s Valentino (but hurry, as various sizes are already out of stock online).
“If you plan on wearing these jeans a lot and they’re going to be a staple in your outfit, then for some people, it’s worth it (the price of designer denim),” Malinski said.
After all, you can’t put a price on your perfect pair of jeans that you’ll wear multiple times a week and always feel good in, so shop wisely, be skeptical of prices under $100, try everything on, and don’t worry about how much everyone else is spending.
That being said, if you’re still scratching your head in disbelief at the sight of $19,000 jeans, remember: last year, someone bought Kurt Cobain’s worn-out Levi’s for over $400,000.
