First of all, let me welcome my first readers from Ireland and India! Thank you to my growing/continued readership in the United States, as well! (Even though I don't see subscriptions, I know some of you are my personal friends because you tell me you checked out my blog-- Hi!)
Once again, Refinery 29 comes out with a great little piece about fashion, jeans in particular! I had a sneaky suspicion about the subject matter because of the title: All the Differences Between $200 & $20 Ones, but reading their flow sheet from top dollar to bottom confirmed it; R29 is talking my language. In finding a good pair of classics, author Alden Wicker asks us to consider workers' wages, environmental impacts, and how to find a quality finished product.
Ironically in this case, the "Buy it to last" option (pictured below) and the "Fair Trade/Sustainable" route may be one in the same. I think it should be stated, however, that this isn't always the case. In the United States, we don't have certain trade regulations, so someone can sell $20-quality for $500, and if you choose to pay for it, that's what makes them $500 jeans. So looking out for physical signs of high quality helps immensely, as does a little research.
As for me, I usually only own two pair at the most. (A trend I've noticed in myself since I was in the 7th grade.) My eye has been on the lookout for the boyfriend style forever and ever. Among the handy options on the flow sheet my sister shared with me was the question "Does it need to be new?"
No, it does not! They're boyfriend jeans; they'd be great even with a hole in the knee! So I scored mine from the men's section of a secondhand shop. I also got two great chambray tops. Who knows what you'll find if you give it a shot. The layers of "Win" also pile up because my local secondhand shop donates regularly to local charities.
Whichever way you choose to go about it, happy hunting, and thanks for reading!
