Denim Diaries
My Most Worn Straight Leg Jeans
A good pair of jeans is the hardest working piece of clothing in my wardrobe. From work to dinner to grocery runs, jeans get me through it all. Finding the right pair of jeans took me a lot of trial and error as my body changes over time and silhouettes go in and out of style.
While I like to dabble in trendier styles, one style in particular is a true classic that reigns supreme: the straight leg. Straight leg jeans strike the perfect balance of cool, relaxed yet polished and classic depending on how they’re styled. In today’s post I wanted to share my top three pairs, the cream of the crop out of the designer straight leg jeans I have tried over the years.
Fit Note: I have narrow hips and I am 5’5. I usually wear a size 25-26 in jeans and I take size 25 in all of the styles below.
Citizens of Humanity “Charlotte”
This is my third year owning these jeans and they still look and feel just as amazing as they did when I first bought them. I have worn them so much, I definitely have gotten my money’s worth out of them. They are 100% cotton (but not all colors in this style are, so double check the composition to make sure as the elastane blends have more stretch and softness to them). Initially they felt snug but have loosened up over time to offer supreme comfort. The cotton is sturdy but not too thick; a great weight for wearing year-round. I do like to wear them rolled for a slight crop if I’m pairing them with flat shoes. If I have a bit of a heel on, I wear them full length. The wash I own is called “Wynwood”.
Hands down, the most comfortable of the bunch. I could sleep in these - they’re that comfortable. Gross? Maybe. But they’re amazing. Goldsign has been around for a while but had a brand refresh in 2017 with a renewed focus on sustainability. The Benefit style is a classic high waisted straight leg style composed of 98% cotton and 2% elastane for a touch of added stretch and softness. Despite the addition of elastane, the jeans are still super thick and luxurious. They don’t feel like stretch denim at all. They have somehow managed to maintain the look and structure of 100% cotton but with added comfort. These have been worn at least once a week for the last year that I’ve owned them and they still look and feel just as good as when I first bought them.
These are the most high end feeling of the bunch and my most recent purchase. They also were the most expensive. They are 100% cotton and the cotton is very thick, making these a perfect jean for fall and winter for me. The cotton is incredibly rigid and sturdy; these jeans feel like they’ll last decades. They are still quite snug on me as they are relatively new (I bought them in January). However when buying jeans that are 100% cotton, it’s important to get a snug fit in the beginning because they mold to your body over time. The Acne Studios Mece jeans come in three different lengths; I am wearing length 32 which is perfect for my height. Although they make a pure black color, I opted for “washed black” for a more casual vibe.
I hope you’ve found this guide helpful and I am intending on keeping it updated if anything new comes my way that is worth a mention. While we’re at it I thought I’d also throw in the styles I’ve tried that didn’t make the cut.
Some Honorable Mentions, Some Disappointments
Loved them and wore them lots for about a year until they ripped under the butt on both sides. The denim felt a lot cheaper compared to the Acne Studios jeans. They fit large to size and were quite cropped on me which is fine, but it ultimately made them less versatile than the Citizens of Humanity style I mentioned earlier.
I still wear these from time to time, although they’re a bit snug on me now so I haven’t worn them in the past year. I bought them 5 years ago and they still look fantastic in terms of wash and wear. They are a higher cotton elastane blend for a more added comfort but the rise isn’t as high on my body and the fit isn’t quite as flattering as my top 3.
Re/Done “High Rise Stove Pipe”
I returned these, they looked horrible on me and didn’t feel as good as my top 3.
Levi’s “501” and “Wedgie Straight”
The inconsistencies in this style make it very confusing to navigate - some are 100% cotton, some have varying amounts of stretch. They also come in a variety of length options. It seems like the vintage 501s are the gold standard but I have never found a pair that fits me right. The Wedgie style looks amazing on curvier hips, though!
