Denim is at an all time high in price and prestige. The price of jeans reflect this.
Sure you can still buy a decent pair of Levi’s at some discount department store for under $25, but the jeans that are turning heads can cost hundreds of dollars.
High fashion jeans cost $300-10,000. These jeans are often highly embellished with beads, precious gems or embroidery. They have labels such as: Escada, Chanel, and Dolce & Gabbana.
The must-have labels are selling between $150 and $300 at high-end department stores, such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s or Neiman Marcus. Seven for all Mankind, Citizens of Humanity, and True Religion have been status-symbol jeans for a few years now. But newer designer jeans that are taking hold are J Brand, Joe’s and Rock & Republic.
Where to buy “must have” jeans for less:
To spend $250 dollars or more on premium jeans can be a little pricey for bargain-hunting fashionistas. If you love designer denim, there are lots of ways to score a pair of cheap designer jeans without blowing your rent money.
Consignment Stores
Designer consignment stores carry a lot of designer jeans for cheap. On a recent trip to The Designer Consigner in Glenview and Selections and Thread Lounge in Chicago I saw a large selection of high-end jeans including Joe’s, Citizens and Sevens.
- Designer Consigner, Glenview
- Selections, Chicago
Off-Price Retailers
Shop any of the stores listed below to find premium denim straight from the runway. I have often seen Citizens of Humanity jeans at these locations at up to 50 percent off department store prices.
- Loehmann’s, Morton Grove, Northbrook
- Neiman Marcus Last Call
- Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th Outlet
- Nordstrom Rack
Online Sample Sales
Visit online sample sales to get jeans at wholesale prices: HauteLook, ideeli, Beyond the Rack, Rue La La and Gilt. These upscale online sample stores all sell cheap designer jeans for less, and each offers weekly deals on luxury clothing items. Get on their mailing lists and then pay them a visit when your favorite jeans go on sale.
Now that you’ve got those hot jeans, chances are you’ll need to get them shortened. Where do you go to preserve that hem? Check out our MIB-approved list of tailors.
