2014-08-15

I'm sad to say that today is the last day of Pinterest Told Me To's Birthday Week.  BUMMER.
I've had a blast partying with you girls, and I hope you have all had fun too!
I'm sad to see the week end come to an end, but I am happy to say we've got one more post and one more giveaway!
Today I'm talking about designer jeans from Nordstrom and giving away a $500 Nordstrom gift card!
I figured it made sense to go out with a bang!  :)

When Nordstrom asked if I would be interested in talking about designer jeans,
I totally jumped at the chance, and I knew the last day of Birthday Week would be the perfect time.
With fall just around the corner, we all need a pair of jeans that we LOVE, so I thought I would help everybody along in that quest. :)

You girls know I'm not typically a designer jeans girl (considering how much I love and adore my Vigoss from the junior's section that are under $70), but several of you had started to break me down a bit with your e-mails about YOUR "must have" jeans.
And I have to say, I started to get excited about trying some of these jeans out.
Some of you are just about as bossy as I am.  And I love it.

One reader (Hi Nicole!) absolutely swears by Citizen jeans.
Hi Sheaffer,
I know you named your Vigoss jeans a must have, and I love them too.  In fact, I bought 1 pair last year when you first named them, and then another a couple of months later, and I really do enjoy wearing them. But I want you to try my personal must have jeans. They are Citizens and you can find them by searching item #873126".
They are quite a bit more expensive than your jeans, but in my opinion, they are worth it.
I'm a mom of 3 young boys all under 6 (pray for me!), and these stay put with all of my bending and racing throughout a day.  They also just look great, are super flattering, and even my hubby is a big fan (he doesn't care that they are expensive because they make my butt look good!  ha!).
I would love to hear your feedback if you get the chance to try them!
Hugs,
Catherine

Another reader (Hi Mallie!) recommends AG jeans and Paige.
Hi PTMT,
I know you love your jeans, but I have some jeans you have to try.  I'm a self-proclaimed jean snob (always have been), and for the last several years I've been extremely loyal to the AG brand.  I have 3 pair, and each pair is phenomenal.  They are soft and stretchy, but they also hold their shape very nicely. They are pricey, but worth it. I bought my first pair 3 years ago with Christmas money and just about died spending so much on 1 pair of jeans.  I bought a new pair this year and didn't even blink an eye.  Now I know they are worth it and parting with the money didn't hurt at all this time.
All that being said, my sister is tall and she always wears Paige bootcut jeans and says they are the best.
Thanks,
Mallie

And Rebecca thinks Paige jeans are the be all end all.
Sheaffer,
I'm always taking advice from you, now it's your turn to take advice from me.  I'm a tall girl at 5'10", and your Vigoss jeans don't work for me.  I have however found a brand that does.  Have you ever tried on Paige jeans before?  I'm not sure if they would work for you since you are quite a bit shorter than I am, but I have 2 pairs of their boot cut jeans.  They are basically the only jeans I wear, and I have 2 pair just so I can have one handy when one is in the wash.
Thought your other tall girl readers might want to know about them!
Keep up the good work, I love your blog.
Rebecca Q.

As you can see, I'm not the only bossy one around here.  You girls are pretty persuasive yourselves!
I found myself wanting to at least try some designer jeans.
So it made perfect sense to dedicate a post to my quest.
Today you are going to get to follow along with me on my Designer Jeans hunt.

I tried on A LOT of designer denim.  And I do mean A LOT.
However, if I didn't like the way a pair fit, I'm not taking the time to highlight them.
Along the same lines, even if I liked the jeans, if when I tried to link to them I noticed that the overall reviews weren't great, I'm not going to show those either.
Jeans shopping can be quite confusing and super time intensive, so I'm not going to waste time talking about jeans that I don't love.  This post is to help you try to decide what pair of designer jeans will work best for you, so I've already weeded out the NOs.

Here are the brands I'm going to focus on today:
• AG / • Citizens of Humanity / • Hudson / • J Brand / • Paige

All right, let's get started!

Citizens of Humanity "Arielle" Ultra Skinny Jeans
Size 27
$218
I really really REALLY liked these jeans. Nice color and fit.  I think these would be a great everyday jean.  These are the jeans that Nicole talked about above in the first e-mail!
Only 4 reviews, but all 4 of them are 5 star!



Best jeans ever

Excellent fit,makes the figure look great,I am 5.4 and 127lb, the sales lady recommended 27 for me and they fit me perfectly,I have been looking for jeans forever ,these fit perfect and have the right amount of stretch.i can dress them up or just wear them with a casual t shirt and they look amazing.i think these jeans are worth ever single penny.highly recommend.

Click HERE.


*******************************************************
Rag and Bone The Dre Boyfriend Skinny Jean.
Size 27.
$220
If you like the idea of a boyfriend jean, but never like them when you put them on, give these a chance!  They are not fitted, but they are not sloppy either!  They are a great boyfriend jean.

Great look!

I usually don't take the time to submit reviews, but these jeans fit so well and are so comfortable. If you like a snug fit, buy a size smaller. These jeans look trendy on women of any age. I would definitely buy these again.

Click HERE.
MUST HAVE shirt HERE, nude flats HERE, earrings HERE, pink quartz necklace HERE

****************************************************
AG The Stilt Roll Up
There is a non-distressed pair (that I am wearing) and a slightly distressed pair that are both linked.
Size 28
$215
Only 3 reviews, but they are all 5 STAR.
Click HERE.
MUST HAVE shirt HERE, nude flats HERE, earrings HERE, pink quartz necklace HERE

The color was good, they were incredibly comfy, and seemed to have the perfect amount of stretch.  The length was great too.  I think they look great cuffed (I will probably do a thicker cuff), but they are also skinny enough that they could be tucked into tall boots.
The only thing I'm worried about is if the knees might be too baggy for tall boots.
Click HERE.

*************************************************
AG THE STILT CIGARETTE LEG STRETCH JEAN
Size 27
$225
This was the second pair of AG I tried on, and these are the ones I think I'm going to end up going with.  The knee seems more fitted on these, so I think I could cuff them or tuck them into a tall boot with ease.
I ADORE the pocket placement and design on both pairs of AG jeans I tried on.
And I completely agree with the review below, so I thought I would include it.

Oprah's IT jean!

I've been wearing and loving AGs for years, even before Oprah declared them the best jean ever - but I fully agree!

I hesitated at first because of the way they looked in the photo, like a cropped cuff - I ordered anyway knowing I love AGs and its Nordys so I could take back if not happy with them. But of course I love them. I am 5'4 and a size 26 and they fall to right below my ankle. My friend who is 2inches taller than me ordered the 27 and they fell nicely below her ankle as well; they were not cropped or short on either of us. So don't rely on the photo - go ahead and order. You'll love them.

Click HERE.
#don'teverarguewithOprah
#everybodyknowsthat
********************************************
7 For All Mankind Faded Skinny Ankle Jeans.
Size 27.
Only 4 sizes left (29,30, 31, and 32), but they are 33% OFF for $140.70!
I'm sad that these are sold out in most sizes, because I really REALLY liked this pair.
If they had these in my size still, I would be getting them FOR SURE.  If they have them in your size, grab a pair for yourself before they are gone!
Look how cute the pockets are!
Click  HERE.

***********************************************
Rag and Bone Zip Detail Skinny Jeans.
Size 27
$253
These are obviously a special jean.  Not an everyday jean, but a jean you put on when you want to feel EXTRA sassy.  They were stupid flattering.  ;)
45/76 5 STAR Reviews

The Star of your closet

I love these jeans not only because they fit great and are very flattering but also because they are different. I have so many jeans and these stand out as a special pair. If you are looking for a jean that you can feel great and trendy you need these jeans. You can dress them up or down and have that I look good feeling every time you put them on which doesn't always happen with jeans. They give you a sense of style and confidence even with a basic tee. I can't help but smile every time I see them in my closet.

Click HERE.

*******************************************************
Hudson Colette Skinny Jeans.

Size 28
One pair linked to is regular length ($189), and one is ankle (and on sale for $113!).

The reviews are incredible!
If you are wanting to try out some designer jeans, but you aren't wanting to spend a fortune, these could be for you!

Click HERE.
Studded split back sweater HERE.  I was wearing an x-small in the picture, but I needed a small.
Abalone earrings HERE.

*******************************************************

Paige "Skyline" Bootcut Stretch Jeans.

Size 27

These are the pair of bootcut jeans that were recommended to me by the cute girl at Nordstrom.

She said they are the most popular boot cut they have and are great because they are super soft and they sit a little bit higher on the hips so...and I quote..."you don't have to worry about your crack peeking out."  Ha!  I have to tell you, I appreciated her honesty.

#saynotocrack

Here's the thing you need to know about these jeans.  If you're a short girl, you will DEFINITELY have to get them hemmed.  If you're a tall girl, these boot cuts are made for you!

Best Jeans Ever

This is my first pair of Paige jeans and I don't know why I waited so long to make the splurge. I waited till they were on sale, but they are also worth the money for full price. I am 6 feet tall and a size 28, so often pants are too short but this is perfect length

If I was super type A I would bring them in to get hemmed, but can't really be bothered, the whole laziness factor you know.

These jeans are classy, can wear to work and dress up with a blazer...and they are fun enough to wear out as well.

Really in love. Also they don't lose their shape so fast. A lot of times once you wear jeans multiiple times (I have worn them on 6 separate occasions) they stretch out and don't fit as well. These still fit awesomely.

Big fan of Paige!!

Click HERE.
Look how long they are on me!!!!!  HILARIOUS!

******************************************************
Rag and Bone Skinny Stretch Jean (Kensington).

Size 27.
$198
This is a great dark denim.  Loved the way these fit.  Liked the pockets.

Plan to buy more!

I agree with another reviewer that these are the best jeans I've ever bought. I often have trouble with skinny jeans , but these are so flattering. The stretch is perfect (don't sag and lose shape like another pair I recently bought). I typically wear a 28, but the 27s fit me just right.

Best jeans I've bought in 2 years

Love Rag & Bone. My girlfriend at work said these are her favorite and I finally made my way to getting a pair. The only reason they get a 4 instead of a 5 star is that I think I still bought one size too big and maybe I'm terrible at washing jeans in general, but when I dried them they felt looser--so weird, right? So, the 4/5 is basically b/c I'm an idiot. I love these jeans because they fit perfectly in all the right places, my butt, thighs....all great and the wash is fantastic too, probably the most popular. I wear jeans to work everyday and have been for 3 years now, so this is technically "work clothes" for me and these jeans have surpassed my old favorite--Jbrand Maria--and have taken the #1 spot as my favorite jeans to wear to work (and play!)

Click HERE.

************************************************
Hudson Crop Ginny Crop Stretch Jeans with Cuff.
Size 27.

On sale for $113.40

I didn't do a very good job photographing these jeans (sorry!), but I liked them a lot.  They are only cuffed 1 time in my pictures, but if cuffed twice, they would look like they do on the online pics.
The reviews on these babies are FANTASTIC.
48/59 5 STAR REVIEWS.

My favorite jean

Absolutely LOVE these jeans! Pricey but worth every penny. They're an all year staple for me. I'll even wear them in the winter tucked into high boots. Will buy another pair.

Click HERE.

*****************************************************
Paige Kylie Crop Mid Rise Skinny Crop.

Size 27.

40% OFF right now, which makes them $119.40.
Definitely the lightest denim I tried on, and I liked them!

Click HERE.
Or if you are ore interested in a dark denim, click HERE for the Paige Kylie jean in darker colors.

So, just so you know, even though you I showed you 11 of the jeans I tried on, I probably tried on at least 30 over the 2 different days on my hunt.

I feel like I deserve some sort of certificate or something.

And I feel it necessary to let you know that I almost strained my back on more than 1 occasion trying to get a good butt shot for you.

#i'magiver

Here's a collage with many of the jeans you see above in the post.
a.  rag and bone HERE ($253)
b. ag the stilt roll cuff skinny HERE ($215)
c. paige skyline bootcut HERE ($189)
d.  citizens of humanity HERE ($218)
e.  hudson ginny crop HERE (on sale for $113.40)
f. rag and bone slim fit boyfriend HERE ($220)

So, here's what I've decided.
I'm going to go ahead and bite the flipping bullet and just buy a pair already.  Trying these jeans on did get me excited, and I definitely realized that as far as denim goes, the whole "you get what you pay for" saying does apply.
I'm thinking of going with one of the AG pair.  Specifically, THESE .
The color, the fit, the pocket design, the pocket placement...it's all good.

If we're being honest, I kind of have the shakes, but I feel like it's time...and I'm more than a little excited!  I'm a big girl, I can own designer denim if I want to.

Right?  :)

A HUGE THANK YOU! to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post (it's definitely in my Top 10 favorite posts over the last 2 years), and a big ol' high five to you girls that encouraged me to try all of YOUR must have jeans!
Some of you are seriously passionate about your jeans and are just about as bossy as I am!  :)

Now, speaking of your passion, I really want everybody sounding off in the comments today.
Do you own designer denim already?
If so, are you a total jean snob (like Mallie above!)?
If you are a designer denim girl, what is your favorite brand and why?
Or maybe you don't think you will ever spend over $100 on a pair of jeans.
Or maybe you're like me and you thought you never would...
but now you are convinced to give them a try?!?
Sound off in the comments everybody!
Let's get a discussion going!

And after you comment, don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter!

Good Luck Everybody!!!

Also, if you are in need of make-up and are going to be buying it soon anyway, I thought you might want to consider doing it now in order to qualify for this free gift with purchase that's
happening right now.
Spend $125 and get the gift below!
Click HERE to shop beauty.

Oh.  Last thing.  Promise.

I got an e-mail from Nordstrom last night about NEW MARKDOWNS.

Click HERE for women's clothes.

Click HERE for shoes.

Click HERE for bags and accessories.

Ok.  One more thing.  Dang!
WINNERS from the Accessory Concierge contest last week and all of the contests this week are found on the chalkboard below.
If you are a winner, please e-mail me at pinteresttoldmeto@yahoo.com to claim your prize by next Friday at midnight.  If not contacted by then, I will choose another winner.
Congrats y'all!

xoxo,
Sheaffer :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Show more