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Original poster

High street or premium denim?

30 replies

ToastedTeacakes · 08/05/2013 10:23

Curious to hear your opinions. I'm not after purchasing at the moment, but am intrigued as to what other people think about the quality difference, and if you think there even is one.

I have a pair of 7forallmankind jeans, about 2 yrs old now, and love them to bits - great fit, perfect for my shape, etc. But my 5 yr old Tophop Baxter's are still going strong and are absolutely not inferior to them in quality. They wash well, wear after wear and the denim is still lovely.

Problem is, in my opinion, it's totally hit and miss with high street. I have noticed that current Baxter's are thinner and the sizing has gone nuts, so maybe premium is more reliable?

Thoughts?

OP posts:
dexter73 · 08/05/2013 10:28

I have a pair of Goldsigns and 7FAM but I prefer my Levis and Uniqlo jeans. They fit better and I prefer the feel of the denim. I think premium denim is a bit 'emperor's new clothes' tbh.

Hopefully · 08/05/2013 10:44

I don't think premium is necessarily better quality - it seems to be fairly hit and miss anywhere nowadays! My Baxters (one pair is a year old, one pair quite new) seem to be holding up just as well as my couple of pairs of J Brands - I would only buy premium now if it was a cut or colour I absolutely couldn't get anywhere else.

MrsCampbellBlack · 08/05/2013 10:47

With white jeans, I think high street is great. But what you get from premium is more interesting and subtle rinses and cuts.

I love J Brand and Rag & Bone for premium but never pay full price.

But 7FAM and Goldsigns do not work on me at all - I think it just depends on finding the right cut for your bodyshap. And in the sales, premium is often the same price as high street.

DewDr0p · 08/05/2013 10:52

I agree it seems to be a bit hit and miss everywhere now. I had a pair of Diesel jeans a few years ago that were amazing though, they were so well cut and really good quality denim, they lasted so well. At £150 they were way way more than I usually spend. Haven't had a cheaper pair that have been half as good, although dh bought some from Diesel more recently that were pretty average tbh.

Original poster
ToastedTeacakes · 08/05/2013 10:52

I always miss the sales Sad

Any thoughts on River Island?

OP posts:
MrsCampbellBlack · 08/05/2013 10:56

River Island have indeed increased their sizing and also added random studs to the lovely amelie jeans which is annoying.

Topshop have also changed the fabric of the Baxters sadly.

I do think my premium denim lasts better and as I said, I never pay full price.

foxysocks · 08/05/2013 11:16

i love premium denim but i never ever pay full price, usually around the £50 mark but i'd go to £100.

i wear jeans at least 5/7 each week so the CPW makes sense. i have a pair of james jeans that are 12 years old, the diesels I'm wearing today are four years old. the gap jeans i bought lasted six months, bagged at the knees and waist and I was constantly hitching them up.

it's about fit too. if high st jeans fit you well and stay up, brill. but i do not want to be adjusting my jeans all day. for my body shape the best brands are paige, j brand, goldsign and diesel.

foxysocks · 08/05/2013 11:17

that's gutting about baxters - i was considering them for my white jeans purchase.

Original poster
ToastedTeacakes · 08/05/2013 11:21

The only white jeans ive tried which were decently made were from Oasis, oddly enough. Spent a full day in Manchester, selfridges, HoF, etc and wound up with the Oasis cherry crops.

Recently tried next, NewLook and DP's for white jeans and they were see-through and horrible.

OP posts:
Original poster
ToastedTeacakes · 08/05/2013 11:22

not tried premium white jeans. wouldn't bother as i dont wear white jeans often enough to justify it.

OP posts:
AmberNectarine · 08/05/2013 13:16

I've got a lot of premium denim and I really do rate it above high street. Topshop can be ok but quality is decreasing. My best pair of jeans in terms of holding their shape are Nudie High Kais, which stay tight all day, and at the £95 mark aren't as ridiculously priced as most. My most comfortable are Goldsign high rise Virtuals which feel like a second skin, and I was recently given a pair of Paige boyfriends which are lovely to wear. I also like J Brand, though I don't find the fit as good as those other brands. I also have a nice pair of Citizens of Humanity skinnies which are very comfortable.

AmberNectarine · 08/05/2013 13:17

That said I have a 5 year old pair of Uniqlo crops I wheel out every summer which are fab!

Hopefully · 08/05/2013 13:23

Foxy I have white baxters (which are actually off white, for anyone considering them, but then I think most 'white' jeans are) and I'm really happy with them Grin

dexter73 · 08/05/2013 14:14

MrsCB - there is a Rag & Bone opening at Bicester Village if you ever in that area.

Corygal · 08/05/2013 15:59

Both, surely. Primark supersoft skinnies and 7FAM, Joe's and Citizens for me.

I am on the fat side and these are the makes that do me proud. If I had to choose one pair, it would be Joe's Honey jeans, which are insanely comfortable, sexy and come in lots of washes and fabrics.

MarshaBrady · 08/05/2013 16:06

I go for premium on sale, about the same price in the end. The outnet is good. And Donna Ida sale.

MrsCampbellBlack · 08/05/2013 16:22

Oooh Dexter, I often pop in there as is on the way to visit family. They may get a few more visits now I know that.

Original poster
ToastedTeacakes · 08/05/2013 16:57

I always dread needing to search for new jeans!

OP posts:
MrsCampbellBlack · 08/05/2013 17:10

I tell you one way to kickstart the diet is to try on some pale blue super skinnies in miss selfridge. Oh dear, it was ugly, very very ugly.

YoniOno · 08/05/2013 19:55

I have some J Brand 811s in taupe from Donna Ida sale and love them, so soft and comfy. Plan to get them in other washes when sales reappear. I have had Diesel and wore them to death. Keep meaning to try Topshop for basic jeans - River Island are a good alternative to Diesel if you like the whole low-rise, distressed, edgy look. I do

I do think premium is def better, but in honesty my £7 Primark olive skinnies probably look as good as my J Brands. It is a bit label-love, emperor's new clothes type thing isn't it. Jeans look best on slim, toned bums and legs. Saint Laurent are selling jeans for £300 - that's just bonkers, people thinking they will be magically gorgeous or stylish if they buy them.

santamarianovella · 08/05/2013 20:21

i prefer premium as they last longer,but not all premium brands are good,i didnt like rag and bone at all,
zara denim is really good,i bought a coral pair from them last year as i didnt want to splash on premium ones,and they are still great.

MrsCampbellBlack · 08/05/2013 20:24

Which brand suits you depends on your bodyshape so much. Also I like some washes/fits from some brands but not all their styles.

But I do love the rag&bone's I got which I shamelessly copied off Gwyneth. Because obviously I look exactly like her in them Wink

santamarianovella · 08/05/2013 23:57

mrsCB,I agree not all brands suit every body shape.
R&B's gwynnie are considered the best jeans out there,but for me it just empasized my hips,not a good look. but James jeans twiggy works like magic on me.

MrsMarigold · 09/05/2013 00:16

I recently got some Uniqlo jeans and they fit brilliantly and were only £29.90 - a real revelation to me! I haven't bought jeans over the past few years because I've spent most of the time pregnant, but before that I liked Sass & Bide but I've no idea what they are like these days.

MrsCampbellBlack · 09/05/2013 09:17

Now you see I just ebayed twiggys as they didn't work on me at all - think I need more containment in the thigh area Wink