I recently went shopping for jeans in an actual store.
I don’t even remember the last time that I did such a thing.
Ever since moving from a small town to a much bigger city, I’ve been enthralled with the in-store shopping experience, but I admittedly haven’t done a ton of it. And when I have? It was for a more specific purpose, like putting together a holiday outfit or seeking out a perfect gift.
So, I recently made sure to carve out some time to simply explore the mall, without time constraints and with the promise of a good mall treat (I’m a sucker for a pretzel).
Although I did get lost (uhm, like, a lot), I eventually began having fun lapping in and out of all my favorite stores, and I found myself zeroing in on all of the latest jeans available.
Exploring New Jeans Styles Ft. MOTHER, AGOLDE & More: My Winter Nordstrom Try-On
I’m never afraid to try out new jeans styles, but naturally, I have my go-to pairs.
When I stumbled into Nordstrom, I wanted to use it as an opportunity to find styles of denim I’ve never experienced in real life — you know, not on a computer screen — or jeans I wouldn’t naturally gravitate toward when simply ordering online.
This particular Nordstrom had almost all of the denim in one consolidated area, making it really easy to get a feel for what was available at the moment: straight-legs (lots and lots of this), a good amount of loose + wide-leg options, and just a smidge of flares and bootcuts (but hardly any).
My goal was to find darker blue or black non-distressed washes for winter and, if at all possible, full length — which turned out to be mostly impossible. This mall experience taught me that my preferred inseams are scarce for in-store shopping, and many styles are still being designed with pretty significant crop hems (score one for the internet, where the options are more inclusive).
What did I end up in the dressing room with? Six pairs of jeans that are all over the map. If you don’t have time to scroll, I went home with another pair of straight-leg jeans from my fave brand, as well as a vintage-style straight-leg to test out with my closet (more sizes of the latter here).
1. Citizens of Humanity Charlotte High-Waist Straight-Leg Jeans
Arguably the tightest pants I’ve put on in years, these Citizens of Humanity Charlotte jeans are technically straight-legs… but they kinda look like skinny jeans, no?
selling fast! here’s more stock/washes: Revolve | Shopbop | Bloomingdale’s
The bottom hem is structured like straight-leg jeans — looser, not tight against my skin, and easy to pull on and off — but the rest of the jeans is quite skinny-jeans-feeling.
They are tight.
And while I currently loathe the feeling of proper skinny jeans, a sensation I liken to being encased like a sausage (or so I imagine), the fact that these do still have a little extra room from the knee down make this pair…interesting.
Perhaps these vintage-inspired, high-waist, straight-leg jeans are the best of both worlds: all of the body-hugging goodness that often only a skinny jean can provide (none of the full-blown rage that is induced when trying to take off skinny jeans), with every bit of ease of a straight leg.
Finding myself intrigued, albeit a little concerned about the length, these came home with me to try on with the entirety of my closet. TBD.
Fit Notes: My “true size” has shifted slightly, teetering between a 27 and 28, and I like a 27 in the waist for these. Before leaving the dressing room, I Googled to see if they came in a longer inseam, but since I couldn’t find any, I deemed this 28-inch inseam good enough.
2. PAIGE Leenah Ripped Wide-Leg Jeans
Slim wide-leg jeans? That feels promising.
At first impression, I was disappointed to find a hole above my knee once I had on the Leenah Slim Wide-Leg jeans from PAIGE. I somehow missed that when pulling them from the rack. But apart from the distressing, these jeans are extremely comfortable.
These wide-leg jeans sit midrise on me, below the belly button. The booty is fitted and almost has a rounded, lifting effect prompted by the shape of the back pockets (which is shocking, considering I don’t have much for a bum).
With a 34½-inch inseam, these jeans are perfect for long legs, platform shoes or heels of any kind!
Ultimately, they remind me of pairs I already own, but I’m very impressed with the denim — especially because it was my first time trying something from PAIGE.
Fit Notes: Wearing a size 28 for an ideal comfort fit.
3. AG Alexxis High-Waist Bootcut Jeans
I mean, honestly, these AG jeans solidified why I don’t wear a bootcut style.
I often talk about how when jeans with a flare (slight or flamboyant) stop too short on my leg, it cuts off my height, instead of the promising lengthening effect. These jeans are a perfect example.
Even as someone who is considered taller than average, I am never trying to make myself look shorter. The goal, still, is to elongate my legs and to show off my height. For this to happen, any jean with a flare needs to reach the ground for the correct lengthening proportions.
This look is simply unflattering on moi. NEXT!
Fit Notes: AG jeans tend to run small for me, so I sized up to a 29 for these. I wouldn’t recommend this style for someone with long legs and/or is around my height (5’9”).
4. MOTHER Rider Skimp High-Waist Straight-Leg Jeans
Once upon a time, I tried on this style of MOTHER jeans in a different wash, took a few mirror selfies, but ultimately returned them. And every time I turn back to those photos or see a new wash appear online, I regret not keeping the jeans.
So, when I found the Rider Skimp jeans from Mother at Nordstrom, I immediately scooped them up for the dressing room. But, uh, as it turns out, there was a reason I returned them.
First off, WTH is a “Rider Skimp” style? Classic high-waist, straight-leg jeans (with a fancy name, I guess).
While the Rider Skimp jeans photograph well, I immediately disliked the way the waist and thighs look in real life. I feel like the jeans make me feel wider and even more boxy-shaped than I already am. Not to mention, they look like a completely different pair on me than the model.
These are the jeans I want to love, but I love the photos of this style of jeans more than the actual jeans themselves. Lesson learned.
Fit Notes: I prefer a size 28 in these MOTHER jeans, and despite not liking the fit, I SUPER-appreciated the full length!
5. MOTHER Spinner Skimp High-Waist Wide-Leg Jeans
Immediately no.
First of all, these MOTHER Spinner Skimp High-Waist Wide-Leg Jeans are huge (and not in a dark wash, but I was curious). I tried on a 27 and was swimming in the waist. I initially assumed this is because they’re supposed to be worn lower — perhaps as a baggy mid- or low-rise, which would explain how short the inseam is — but…nope. I triple-checked the tag and read “high waist” every time.
Nordstrom even describes these wide-leg jeans online as having a “super” high waist.
Sitting as high-waist jeans would, these became almost cropped for my height (in the photos I have them lower, where they naturally fell on me). The description gives them a 29-inch inseam, which would be a slightly cropped pair of denim on me. I could see this being ideal if you’re shorter than me and wanting a loose, baggy pair of jeans.
But to be honest? There’s nothing special about these MOTHER Spinner jeans. And for the price tag, there needs to be a little special-ness.
Fit Notes: It’s important to note that I’m very straight in my frame, void of curves or a booty, which could simply mean these were made for a different body type.
6. AGOLDE ’90s Pinch High-Waist Straight-Leg Jeans
Call it cheating, but I ended up grabbing a pair of jeans from my favorite, go-to denim brand. Maybe it was a subconscious safety net going into the dressing room — maybe it was just good proof that these jeans are, well, better than the rest.
In a roundup of my favorite jeans for 2022, I mentioned how AGOLDE takes the cake (specifically, these loose jeans were my most-worn of the year).
I most recently fell in love with the ’90s Pinch-Waist jeans when I scooped up a dark-blue wash a few months back. The style is a slightly more fitted version of my beloved looser, most-worn pair, and I was so excited to find a non-distressed black wash.
Pulling these on in the dressing room after trying out different styles was like coming home. AGOLDE fits my straight frame like a glove. I’m immediately more confident than I am in any of the others, solidifying AGOLDE’s status as my favorite.
Fit Notes: Slightly tighter than AGOLDE’s ’90s Loose style, these Pinch-Waist jeans give a more snatched appearance in the waist and bum. I still prefer a size 27 as I do in most AGOLDE jeans, especially because I know they bag out pretty significantly with wear. I’ve read many reviews from people saying they like to size up in these for a more casual, looser fit, but again keep in mind that they loosen with wear!
Xx,
Amy
Let’s be friends on Instagram! Sharing life from a California beach town, daily style, makeup favorites, Gilmore Girl binge-athons and endless cups of coffee — all with a good dose of adorable toddler content too.
Hey, Pinners…
 at Nordstrom to wear this winter.){kind=link}