If you’ve ever wondered what jeans other people are buying, you’re not alone. We’re endlessly obsessed with finding a pair in the correct wash and colour, with just the right amount of stretch and the elusive perfect fit. THE GLOSS editors share the brands and styles they rate above all others …
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Aislinn Coffey, Style Editor
A mid-rise, straight-leg cut is my denim go-to – sometimes a mini bootcut either. In general, I like brands like Paige and Frame. I do also love a cropped leg. Alternatively, I gravitate towards flares like Victoria Beckham’s wide legs below, however I do always wish the rise was lower. Tip: Victoria Beckham jeans tend to fit quite small, so I would size up when buying them. Equally, I love the idea of trying a brand like Denim Studio, the French denim brand that’s currently stocked at Havana, Donnybrook – the jeans are a great price point. As a general rule of thumb I always buy jeans in a dark, inky blue wash – or I’ll go as near to that as I can. Another tip: jeans in rigid fabrics tend to be less forgiving, I tend to steer clear! If you are trying something new, I’d recommend visiting Ema Florea @emafloreaofficial at the Brown Thomas denim department, who is a godsend.
Blue marble wash Alina high-rise jeans, €450; www.victoriabeckham.com.
Blue Amber mid-rise straight-leg jeans, €303.95; www.paige.com.
Sarah Halliwell, Beauty Editor
Late one summer, I found a single pair of Frame Le Palazzo jeans looking rather forlorn at the very end of the Brown Thomas sale, and they just happened to be my size. They are very flared and high-waisted which I’ve found – after decades of denim-wearing – to be the most flattering option (they are so expensive full-price though, so wait for the sales). They do drag through the mud on a wet day so they’re best worn with heels, but I like them tucked in with big socks, too. In a dream world, I’d buy Mother jeans, too – so soft, strong and in cool shapes (find them at Electra boutique). A skinnier pair works best with a looser top and longer jacket, while in summer I’d go a bit shorter in length. I feel it’s worth hanging on to every pair of old jeans that suit your shape – the style or shade will come back round eventually (even bootcut – and surely J Brand’s Houlihan cargo pants will be back soon?). I’ve always held on to pairs until they’re falling apart, as I love the softness of the fabric. I hunt out jeans in the sales, as I wear them pretty much every day, dressed up or down; if you know your size in the brands you like, you can pounce when you find them. Great jeans with a well-cut jacket and a red lipstick will take you anywhere.
Blue Le Palazzo high-rise wide-leg jeans, Frame, €290, at Brown Thomas.
Penny McCormick, Deputy Editor
Currently I’m living in a pair of 70s-style flares by London’s ‘jean queen’ Donna Ida. I always wash them inside out on a low temperature to keep the colour intact. For tall girls like myself, I also recommend the edit at Me+Em and Topshop. In summer, I opt for shorter, straight-leg, cropped styles per my style muses Jackie Onassis landing in Capri and Ali MacGraw at Camp Tuckahoe in Love Story. On my wish list for next summer is a pair of The Hustler Ankle Frays by Mother Denim, though M&S’s Magic Shaping Straight Leg Jeans, €65, below which come in all colours of denim including white, deliver on promise and price point. I once had a consultation with a denim doctor who recommended a high-waisted, flared style as the most flattering for my height and shape. Frame’s classic Le High Rise style in a dark denim is a case in point and a longstanding favourite in my wardrobe, which I wear from desk to dinner.
Blue Kate The High Top relaxed wide-leg jeans, £230; www.donnaida.com.
White Magic Shaping straight-leg jeans, €65; www.marksandspencer.com.
Sarah Macken, Contributing Editor
I don’t need much convincing to buy jeans – whether it’s a turning of a new season or the fact that there is a great sale on, I will always be able to justify adding denim to my wardrobe. Not because I ‘have a problem’ but simply I wear jeans so much that I don’t think a good pair will ever be wasted. Although, that being said, I still feel like finding the elusive perfect fit is very much a journey. Right now, the sweet spot is a pair of high-waisted jeans in rigid fabric that are a wide-straight leg: that is to say the leg is a nice middle ground between a totally straight shape and a leg that is super baggy. These have a 70s leaning and still manage to look polished. I’ve always liked high waisted as they’re more flattering, but I’ve learned recently, thanks to this season’s puddling hems, that the higher the waist the lower the probability, with some brands, of having to have them taken up (a girl of average height can dream). At the moment, a pair of white jeans with blue needlepoint stripes by Ganni have been my big investment of the season. However, a recent sale on The Outnet meant I nabbed a pair of Re/Done jeans, a brand I’ve always wanted to try, for an excellent price. The fabric looks so expensive, I feel like they’ll elevate everything I wear them with. Lastly, on the high street Arket’s straight-stretch jeans are what I wear most days when working from home. Size up when buying them – they look far cooler.
Blue faded high-rise wide-leg jeans, Re/Done, €170; www.theoutnet.com.
