Are cheap jeans a false economy?

[EldonAve]

Are the expensive ones that much better?

Depends. I think that really, really cheap ones (supermarket own brand ones) often aren't very well made or nicely cut. However, lots of the high street shops do great jeans. I wear Uniqlo skinnies, Zara, and topshop jeans. I've got one pair of "designer" jeans from T K Maxx (worth a look if you do decide you want to try expensive jeans) for £30 and they are nicely made. I don't get what all the fuss is about designer jeans though.

I am currently wearing £10 Hula ones from New Look. They fit really well, and are comfortable, but they are fading at the knees REALLY fast, so I don't think I'll be buying them again. I am struggling to find ones that fit since Gap changed their sizing though. I've heard loads of good things about the Seven jeans, but something in me just can't bring myself to spend that much!!

EldonAve - my 7 for all mankind jeans arrived today. They seem quite nice but they're very low rise and not a great fit on me, so I'm sending them back. I never have much luck buying clothes online, better to try them on. Am planning on looking around TKMax next.

Until recently I only had one pair of jeans (7 for all mankind). However, I was persuaded by various MN threads to try Hula jeans (New Look) and I have to say I am impressed.

Have not washed them yet, so can't say how well they'll last, but for a tenner you can't go wrong.
I sized up though as IMO cheaper brands tend to skimp on sizing.

Topshop for me too.

The M&S £12 ones are just the right fit for me - and more importantly the right length - there aren't that many that have a short fitting (though if any of you know ones that do, please list!¬ )so I have three pairs - one dark, one light, one black.

They seem to be washing & wearing pretty well, though I'm only wearing them at weekends at the moment - have to see how they are when I'm wearing them every day in the holidays.

I found my 'dream' jeans in River Island about 7 years ago. Dark stretch bootcuts with a thin line down the front and very small bits of distressing near the pockets.

I bought two pairs, wore them into the ground, went into mourning, then went on ebay and found loads of them on there! it was a 'hallelujah' moment.

I won't wear anything else in winter. They were £45 new but you can't get them any more. Roughly £18 on ebay and worth every penny. I wonder if people will laugh when I'm still wearing them in the care home when I'm an old laydee.

I think to be fair, one reason why cheap jeans are crap compared to expensive jeans is that the cheap jeans were bought on impulse, with the price one of the purchasing factors. The expensive ones will be a considered purchase, tried on, thought about in depth etc and so naturally will be a better fit etc as more thought went into buying them in the first place.

The reason that so many of my cheap clothes end up in the charity bag isn't that they are particularly bad in themselves, it's that I bought for the wrong reasons.

my favourite jeans are black skinny high waisted jeans that i bought from ASDA about 3 years ago. I then bought more on ebay for pennies, they are much more flattering than my seven for all mankind jeans which are too low waisted for me now.

MorrisZapp - Good point on the buying cheap stuff on impulse. I think that's where I'm going wrong with 80% of my wardrobe

I'm currently boil washing jeans that are too big, hope it has the desired effect!

if they fit well then no matter how much they cost they're a bargain.
I've had Diesel and 7 for all mankind jeans (can get both at TK Maxx too) but my favourite jeans are usually topshop (also worth buying new from ebay at around£15- usually £40 in shop- I ususally try for size at Topshop then see if they're on ebay if I'm feeling frugal
If you need Maternity jeans then Gap have got some brillo ones in sale for £15! Bargain although i do feel that my sense of style upped and left at around the 12 week mark so take my opinions with a huge pich of salt.
Also if you are lovey and long of limb and skinny of thigh then ANY jean will look fab (as long as it's not a simon cowell high waister of old).

foofi I have the same problem with 7 jeans, but they do a pair in high waist - they are not high though, just sit nicely on waist.

I'm another 7 for all mankind fan. I found Next jeans only lasted me one season so it really was false economy to keep buying and binning them, I have a pair of 7's I have had for 6 years and they are still going strong. The denim gets softer with age but doesn't shrink or lose its shape. They are so worth their money but I've got lucky with sales a few times and usually pay around £80. Be very careful of ebay, I've had fakes off there before and the quality is not great.

Agree that they can be a little low rise though, have to wear a belt or they're indecent!! I rarely buy anything else though now, hope you like yours foofi!

i loved my 7's but they wore out at teh knee after about 2 years constant wear. will buy another pair when i have lost some weight!

I looked in TKMaxx and they had Seven jeans but not the Seven for all mankind ones

I might try some on when I'm next in John Lewis

I've recently binned a pair of £130 jeans, can't spell the make of them. I loved them, they were really soft but they faded too quickly, went from dark blue to white on the knees and arse within a year and at about 1 and half years old the knees gave way completely. I was very sad.

During that time though I discovered French Connection jeans, they are fab.

£150 for a pair of jeans??

All my jeans are Uniqlo - £25 and I love them.

I have worn the arse out of two TopShop pairs since Christmas! and gone back to Levis

Next sale is looking good for the designer jeans but suspect the VIP shoppers will nab them

I have some Next jeans from about 3 years ago which fit great (I'm a pear shape) and are only just starting to look past-it. I've got other Next jeans I've bought since in different styles which are really unconfortable so it depends on the particular jean I think not just the make.

Also got some £6 jeans from primark which fit me well, and my best ever jeans cost £12 from Peacocks. Can't get into them now but am keeping them in the wardrobe should I slim down!!