My 7 Must Have Premium Skinny Jeans – I Live In Them!
When it comes to denim, I’ve been working with it since I was about 18 (almost 12 years). I have written about my back story and how I got into jeans and premium denim in the first place (read it here), and even though I own The Jeans Blog, which is where I publish everything denim related, including my denim reviews, I thought it might be nice to share something jeans related here too!
I know a lot of you aren’t always interested in my other blog as it’s not personal, therefore missing my reviews etc, so I’ve decided to put together my Top 7 Premium Skinny Jeans that are a must have! These are skinny jeans that I live in and have found myself reaching for at all times. I own over 400 pairs of jeans in my collection, so narrowing it down to the final 6 was actually easier than I thought. I’ve got a lot of jeans that I love, some that are sentimental, and some that are collectors pieces, so I went for the jeans that I constantly wear and that go with most of my outfits. These are my staples and they’re in no particular order either – they’re all of value in different ways!
– Click the large title name for each pair of jeans to buy them.
GRLFRND Candice Skinny Jeans in Love Hangover
I own two pairs of the GRLFRND Candice Skinny Jeans in Love Hangover. I own the full length version and the petite version (seen above) and I love them. I was introduced to these a couple of years ago when I found out about the brand and these were my first pair from them. The petite version is much more suited to my shorter frame and they hit at my ankles, making them the perfect length at 27″. The rise is a mid to high rise as you can see as well, so they fit incredibly well. The back pocket placement is ideal for lifting and making the butt look fantastic and the washed black wash is stunning, especially with the ripped knee holes!
The best part though? They are SO comfortable! I’m so fussy with my denim now and I refuse to wear anything without a lot of stretch and comfort, and these fit the requirements perfectly. They have a legging stretch to them that’s so comfortable you can wear them all day. Plus, with their fit and look, they are also unisex! Adam has the same pair in full length and lives in them too (you can read our joint review here). They get a 10/10 from me. I wear them often and regular readers will notice that!
Citizens of Humanity Rocket Crop in Aura
The Citizens of Humanity Rocket Crop Jeans in Aura are a pair that I’ve had since 2014 and have probably worn the most out of any pair of jeans! I actually own two pairs of them because I was afraid they would sell out and never be available again, so I had back up. They’re not as stretchy as other jeans I have, but they really are so comfortable and soft! I’ve probably worn them over 50 times so they are really moulded to my body.
I love them because the Rocket Crop is the perfect fit for my body. The ankle length is full length on me without bunching (26″), but I can also roll them too so they are cropped. The high rise is flattering, the back pockets are amazing, and the wash… wow. The Aura wash is what made me love them in the first place. It’s an authentic looking blue with whiskering and fading, but it’s one of those blue’s that goes with everything! I just can’t ever get enough of it! There’s only a few sizes left now, but they are definitely worth it! I’m sure you’ve noticed I live in them! There’s other Rocket Crops available here too if you want them. They truly get a 10/10 from me.
J Brand Maria Skinny Jeans in Dove
These J Brand Maria Skinny Jeans in Dove I got back in 2015 and they have been my go to grey pair of skinny jeans since. Grey is a very hard colour to get right when it comes to denim as it can be too flat in appearance, too dark, too light… the list goes on. With the Dove wash though, they’re literally perfect. They’re a mid grey with lighter areas on the thighs and butt, and they go with everything. Since grey is so hard to get right though, I give these a 9/10.
The reason I knock a point off is because they have a 30″ inseam and they are a bit long for me so I need to tuck them under to fit, plus the back pockets are a little high and aren’t as flattering. However, that doesn’t really detract from how gorgeous they are! The wash alone is what makes these jeans one of the best grey jeans I have ever seen! I love them and have worn them loads.
Hudson Barbara Skinny Jeans in Hideaway
Now the Hudson Barbara High Rise Skinny Jeans in Hideaway are literally my most comfortable jeans that I own! They have tencel in them and are a really lightweight, thin denim that’s ideal for summertime as they keep you cooler, but the amount of stretch they have is extreme! They’re like a denim legging and that is amazing! You can dance or do yoga in them if you wanted, so it’s no secret that I’ve lived in them since last year when I got them!
Like the J Brand Maria, the inseam on these is around 30″, so they are a bit long for me and I do tuck them under, but the back pockets and the light mid blue wash are so good that the length doesn’t even bother me. I know Adam owns these too and he actually owns two pairs as they’re one of his favourites (see them on him here), so they can be worn as unisex jeans too! The Barbara in Hideaway is sold out though as they are over a year old, so when the summer comes around, there’s hopefully more to choose from with the lightweight tencel denim! These get a 10/10.
Citizens of Humanity Rocket Skinny Jeans in Leatherette Black
Now these are my oldest jeans out of this top 7 selection. These are the Citizens of Humanity Rocket in Black Leatherette that I got in 2012. Almost 6 years ago! And the fact that I still love them as much now is proof how amazing they are (check out my first outfit here). The Rocket is a fantastic cut and unlike the cropped version, these are the original full length, so they’re slightly longer, but that works with the coated style!
These are SO stretchy, they’re like a legging jean, and the coating they have on them is literally the best leatherette style waxing I have ever seen. I’ve seen and worn many coated jeans and they don’t even come close to the amazing coating that these have. It’s thick, shiny, and stretchy, so it moves with the denim and isn’t stiff or restricting at all. I don’t know how Citizens of Humanity did it, but it’s amazing! So much so, they’re still in stock and available after 6 years! I’ve worn these with literally everything and I can never get enough of them. The sheen and leather look is nice for jazzing up black denim. They definitely get a 10/10.
AG The Farrah Ankle Jeans in 13 Years Daybreak Destroyed
These AG The Farrah Ankle Jeans in 13 Years Daybreak Destroyed are newer as I got them in the summer, but I quickly fell in love with them from the moment I tried them on. They’re so stretchy and comfortable that they feel like you’re wearing nothing. You can live in them!
The best thing about AG though is the fact that they own their own wash house and they literally have it perfected when it comes to making authentic and vintage inspired washes that look real. These are no different as they’re a mid washed blue with fading, but the rips on the knees actually hit my knees! The whiskering around the lap area is also nicely done, and the back pockets are so flattering that they really enhance the butt. The hems on these are undone and raw, but I like to wear them rolled up sometimes so they’re a bit shorter on me. They’re so nice though I’ve even been wearing them when it’s cold outside because I love them that much. These also get a 10/10.
Citizens of Humanity Sculpt Rocket Crop in Spritz
Finally, the Citizens of Humanity Rocket Sculpt Crop in Spritz. These are a couple of years old and are the same fit as the Rocket Crop in Aura, however they’re made from the brands Sculpt denim. This has a multiway stretch that fits like a legging, but never stretches out or gets baggy. They’re just really stretchy and clingy, while always holding their shape. The fit is what I explained earlier as I love the way they enhance and mould to my body, but the Spritz wash is what I also love. It’s a mid to dark blue that has faded thighs and slight whiskering around the lap area so it does look worn in and vintage inspired, but it’s got an undertone to it that pairs with anything you want! These are actually still available in some places and they’re part of the original Sculpt collection, which was much better than the new versions as I have some new ones and they don’t feel as nice.
Shop The Jeans
Final conclusion – I’ve noticed that I am extremely fond of the Citizens of Humanity Rocket cut, especially in the cropped version, but it’s very evident how much I need my skinny jeans to be full of stretch and comfort otherwise I don’t want to wear them. I’ve got all of the staples here as I have light blue, a mid to light blue, a mid to dark blue, grey, washed black, and coated black. These colours make up a full denim wardrobe in my opinion, so if you’re looking for staples, these are definitely 7 jeans that fit that bill! I’m not sure I could choose one favourite pair out of them all as I love them all for different reasons… But if you would like anymore denim advice from me or if you have any questions about my top 7 premium denim jeans that are a must have for me, comment below and let me know! What are your favourite jeans? Lorna xx.
I love seeing you in skinny jeans Lorna! x
Author
Glad you like them!
You look awesome in any jeans…
What the hell, you’d look awesome dressed in a bin liner!
😉
Author
Ha ha, I wore one once as part of a Halloween costume 🙂
I’m petite too and it can be such a chore finding jeans the right length that I’ll often stick to brands or styles I know and love! Really love your picks though and some of these brands I haven’t heard of so will check them out.
Jaz xoxo
http://www.thelifeofasocialbutterfly.co.uk
P.S. still lusting after your rainbow knit!
Author
You never know, one might pop up on eBay since it was a while ago now! But yeah, I seem to want to stick to the jeans brands I know and love best now!
We have a widow, 70ish, around the shop who can actually wear skinny jeans, and does so several days a week. (Never have seen any properly distressed or otherwise ripped jeans on here, though.)
Author
That’s cool! I’m pretty sure I’m going to be wearing them well into my 90’s if I get there!
Here’s hoping. (By then, of course, fashion bloggers will all be using holographic illustrations, so we can feel the fabrics.)
Author
Now can you imagine how cool that would be?!
We have the same taste in skinny jeans. Totally have to check out your picks!
Liv
http://livforstyle.net
Author
Oh I’m glad!
I’m so envious of your denim collection! I’ve been downsizing my wardrobe and have nowhere near as many as I used to, but I’ll always have a lot of skinny jeans in my wardrobe I think – they go with everything! I don’t quite have the range you have here but I like the few I do have 🙂
Hope you’re having a great weekend! I’m excited it’s nearly Christmas! With most of the wrapping done and just waiting for the last gifts to arrive in the mail, we are trying to have a relaxing weekend as next week will be so busy.
Away From The Blue Blog
Author
Jeans are my life! Since I live in them daily, it makes sense I have lots, ha ha 😀 You have an amazing collection of RM bags though! And that sounds like you’re almost all set for Christmas! That’s exciting!!!!
I didn’t know you had a denim blog as well! That is so cool. I don’t know anything about premium denim but this was an interesting post to read. Maybe one day I’ll invest in a pair but we’ll see when that ever actually happens! haha
Lee – leethrifts.com
Author
Oh yeah I do, I used to have 4 actually but commit my time to these 2 only now. I just didn’t have enough hours in the day!
I wear jeans almost every day so I loved this post! Sounds like you have an incredible collection of jeans, that’s awesome! The ones you picked look gorgeous on you, I loved their unique shades of blue and grey, and the cut seems impeccable <3 Thanks for sharing, lovely!
xx
http://www.stylebydeb.com
Author
Really glad you think so! Thank you for stopping by!
this look very glam and chic my dear, love belt and bag
New outfit on my blog <<< Roberta di Camerino bags collection 2018-2018 >>>
have an happy start of week
kisses
Author
Thank you!
I use to live in my J brand and Hudson jeans, then I could fit them. Goals for 2018 for sure…
http://www.comfycozyup.com
Author
They do make some amazing jeans! I’m still in love with your GAP ones though!
They all look great on you! 🙂 xx
Author
Thank you 🙂
Dear Lorna, I read once a post where you said you had 400 pairs of jeans, so I can imagine how hard it was to decide for these pairs, as favourites! I also understand that you keep some pairs for sentimental reasons and also, collector’s pieces are very important! I am not skinny since 2012, but till then I liked to wear skinny jeans! You look always fabulous, the way you paired the jeans with booties, high heels and trainers, very beautiful! I love Citizens of Humanity, but my favourite pair here is Grlfrnd Candice skinny jeans in love Hangover, with the beautiful Gucci belt 🙂 Hope you have an amazing evening!
DenisesPlanet.com
Author
Thank you so much, Denise 🙂 So happy you love them! I don’t think you need to be skinny to wear skinny jeans either!
All seven of your selections suit you fabulously… I like them all. If pushed though, I think it’s a coin flip between the Aura and the Spritz as to which of these jeans suit you the absolute best – very difficult indeed to choose between those two.
I still find the 400 pairs of jeans statistic quite amazing – and as impressive as it is amazing too. You must be forever rediscovering jeans that you forgot that you even have. I think I would need a spreadsheets and/or databases to cope with a collection like that.
I have 45 pairs of jeans in my wardrobe and they are just stacked on top of each other as a leaning tower of denim! LOL I tend to keep my favourites near the top of the pile and the rest get a bit neglected. 😀 I like my 9 pairs of Levis 519s (7 are various different blues, 1 is black and one is grey) best… But I also have 3 pairs of Levis 510s which I’ve, of course, had much longer. One of those 3 is certainly the pair that I’ve worn the most often. If I had to pick a favourite it’s probably the grey Levis 519s… Popaganda, I think, is what the wash is called. I’m not good at remembering the names though.
Author
Aura and Spritz are so similar in terms of cut, but because of the washes, so different at the same time. It’s funny how two things can be so alike, but not. If that even makes sense.
I have a lot of them in storage so I don’t come across all of them on a regular basis, but if I were to go through the bottom piles (like you), then I would find the neglected ones I am sure!
All of yours sound great though, you actually have an extensive denim collection for a guy! Most women would think 45 pairs of jeans is a huge amount anyway, so I’m glad you have loads, makes me feel better 😀 LOL!
45 might seem a lot to some people but most of them were reasonably inexpensive. 🙂 Mind you, 9 of them were purchased within the last year… that’s quite big spending by my standards but after getting my first Levi 519s I had to keep getting the same style in other colours and washes (and, in 2 cases, leg lengths too for a turn-up option). 🙂
Author
Ha ha, that’s what I do! Multiple pairs! I even have a pair of the Rocket Aura that I made shorter with a raw hem for different boots!
i rely love all of them!love your boots!
have u seen my styling video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j0SxTKmym8&t=1s
or visit my blog for a new post https://highheelpoodl.blogspot.rs/
Author
Thanks! Glad you like them!
I am amazed that you managed to narrow it down to this few! I know you have hundreds of jeans so these much be really special!
Shireen⎜Reflection of Sanity
Author
It was easier than I thought when basing it off all the elements!
What a fabulous collection of skinny jeans! I”m still looking for jeans I like…
Author
Well I definitely recommend any of these!
wow absolutely perfact dear all jeans look stunning on you & love your photos you look so cute..
Author
Thank you!
the skinny jean looks so good on you!
http://www.prettyinleather.net
Author
Thank you!
Really handy tips you got here dear. Gorgeous outfits too. My faves would be the 3rd and 4th. Both are really effortlessly chic.
Jessica | notjessfashion.com
Author
Thank you!
Wow Lorna! This is a very comprehensive denim guide! I remember the different outfit posts, and each pair of jeans look very flattering on you. I also like the range of colours you’ve shown here. It’s great that you find all of your jeans comfortable and stretchy too, as it’s very hard to manage all day in jeans that feel restrictive, however good they look! Thank you for your round-up!
I have a pair of jeans that is starting to get threadbare and the denim is quite worn in one area. As I don’t like ripped denim on myself and want to keep them in tact, I wondered if you know of any way to prevent them from getting a hole? I hope to salvage them, as it’s hard to find another pair like them.
Any advice would be appreciated!
Lots of love Saba xx
http://www.trulymadlydeeplyfashion.blogspot.com
Author
Hi Saba! Unfortunately with wear, that happens on jeans. The cotton gets worn down. There are some places that stitch them though and fix them, you could have some thread sewn over the areas to make it tougher, or perhaps stick some denim or cotton patches on the inside of the jeans where it’s wearing and this might keep it intact for a while longer! Might be the best option as it wont show them on the outside. Glad you liked all my jeans though!