History

• In the realm of designer jeans, Gloria Vanderbilt was a pioneer. Her 1970s decadent image included jeans that looked as if they had been glued to the body and back pockets that sported tags with the Vanderbilt name. A few years later, television viewers were treated to the image of teenager Brooke Shields upside down and murmuring, "You know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing." The other early names in designer denim were Sassoon, Bonjour (because anything with a French name implied sexy sophistication), Chic, Jordache, Dickies, Guess, Calvin Klein, Sergio Valente, Joujou and Ditto, remembered for its horseshoe-shaped seam across the rear end.
  
  

Expert Insight

• In the article "The Secret Language of Jeans: Why Some People Are Willing to Shell Out for Designer Denim," Louisa Thomas observes that the brand Seven for All Mankind--typically shorthanded to the name Seven--broke the price barrier for designer jeans. In the year 2000, the brand released styles starting at $130, and everyone from Hollywood stars to Brooklyn artists to London punks snapped them up. The first half of the decade saw designer denim become a billion-dollar industry.
  
  

Types

• Designer jeans come in all manner of cuts and styles, but many favor the long legs and artfully placed pockets that first made premium denim so popular. The Blue Cult brand has gone so far as to name styles after the celebrities that love them, so the Gwyneth, named for actress Gwyneth Paltrow, sports cargo pockets while the Angelina, named for Angelina Jolie, comes in a boot cut. Madonna was among the stars that made embellished denim popular, and designer styles may feature ornate stitching, rhinestones, elaborate pockets, trim, artful ripping, vintage washes and other features.
  
  

Misconceptions

• Budget-conscious consumers may poo-poo the notion of designer denim on the grounds that it's not worth it to shell out over $100 for a label. The fact is, many brands of designer jeans do actually offer a better grade of denim, not to mention a more flattering fit. The denim is typically of a finer weave and styled to make the leg look longer, the bum look higher and the waist look leaner.
  
  

Considerations

• If all the brouhaha over designer jeans has you confused about what to buy, consult an expert, such as The Designer Jeans Guide (see Resources below). Not only does this guide keep up-to-the-minute details about what is hot (Diesel, almost always) and what is not (fake Diesel), but it also offers guidance to burning issues such as how to authenticate Rock & Republic jeans, Citizens of Humanity washing instructions and the True Religion style guide and how to measure jeans. The site also maintains a list of reputable eBay sellers of jeans and trustworthy online stores, such as eLuxury, Revolve Clothing and Shopbop.