Kourtney Brumfield

Money is not an issue when it comes to selecting the right pair of jeans, says senior John Botkin. He owns expensive name-brand jeans such as Seven For All Mankind and True Religion, which he gets tailored to fit at Nordstrom.

Kristen Chocek
Staff Writer

In a society filled with pricey Seven jeans and True Religions, it’s difficult for college students to keep up with the trend of owning designer jeans and looking good in them.

Today, spending more than $100 for a pair of jeans is becoming more and more common. But are these brands really worth it?
“We underestimate the power of pants these days,” said senior liberal arts major Danielle Davison.

Jeans are not just pants anymore; they are fashion and status symbols. Some men and women will pay anywhere from $100 to $500 a pair.

“The most expensive jeans I ever bought were my Diesel jeans which were $220 at Nordstrom,” said junior business major Chris Skraba. “One hundred dollars is not enough for jeans anymore. All of my jeans are over $100.”

With prices soaring through the roof, it’s no surprise that the U.S. denim market brings in an estimated $11 billion a year.

“The washes, designs and quality of the designer denim helps you have a unique look, which helps you stand out,” Skraba said.

Both men and women agree that these designer styles are much more flattering on their body types.

“Expensive jeans just make me look hot,” said senior economics major
Pamela Levy.

Many women who have thighs and butts, or lack them, have to depend on a well-cut pair of jeans to make them look good.

The same jean philosophy applies to men.

“I think designer jeans are worth it if they are comfortable and if chicks like my butt in them,” said senior business major Doug Green.

But is looking good in a pair of jeans really what motivates these designer jean spenders or is it the label?

Today, brand-name jeans such as Seven for All Mankind, True Religion, Chip and Pepper, Citizens, Rock ‘N Republic, Energie, Mavi, Adriano Goldschmied, Blue Cult, Guess, Antik, Joe’s, Paper Denim, Diesel, Miss Sixty, Yunik, Grass and Earl Jeans can be found on the behinds of many ULV students.

Brikaju, La Verne’s newest Third Street boutique, has been known for selling some of today’s hottest brands. Many of the students are finding great bargains when it comes to these designer labels.

“Here at Brikaju we try to carry a variety of price points for jeans,” said Brikaju owner Terry Rivas. “We carry Joe’s, Yunik, and Miss Me jeans, and all three are great brands.

Rivas said the Miss Me jeans are “just like True Religions.”

However, they are half the price, retailing at $75 to $90 a pair.

But with Joe’s jeans retailing from $130 to $160, and Yunik at $145 a pop, how are students affording to stay on top of this trend?

“My parents buy my jeans,” said senior psychology and broadcasting major Alexis Moreno.

For students not so fortunate, there are ways to find quality jeans at lower costs.

As for senior television broadcasting major Ben de Ayora, buying designer denim online has been his trick.

“The most expensive pair of jeans I bought were my Lucky and they were only $80 on eBay,” de Ayora said. “There’s a Lucky wholesaler on there who hooks it up if you buy more than one pair.”

Other popular online retailers besides eBay include www.jeansandcompany.com and www.bluefly.com. These sites have helped many save on today’s biggest name brand jeans. Unfortunately, sitting and searching online to find a great hit can be time consuming.

This designer denim craze looks like it is going to last, or at least until stores like Gap and Old Navy can learn a thing or two from the qualities and cuts that these huge designers are incorporating into their jeans.

Hopefully prices will drop and great jeans will be found everywhere at a reasonable price.

Until then, keep saving your money and cut back on meals if you want to be able to afford those hot jeans.

Kristen Chocek can be reached at kristenchocek@aol.com.