I remember when premium denim was all the rage (e.g., 7 For All Mankind and Citizens of Humanity), but now I feel like you can wear whatever you want, with the exception that they must be flattering. In order to help you navigate through the difficult task of finding great denim, I have compiled a list of my favorites.

The Best Denim Brands I’ve Found So Far

AG denim. Denim at its finest! Perfectly distressed and aged to perfection.

I can still remember my first pair of AGs. They were a distressed pair of boyfriend jeans that I wore so much the holes became too large and were no longer acceptable to be seen in public.

Another style that I liked was The Stilt Cigarette Leg jean, a traditional straight-legged jean. I wore this style for several years before the skinny came around. I was obsessed! The only reason I started to look for other options was because the leg opening was a little too large when I tried to roll them the way I wanted.

I eventually replaced my Stilts with The Legging Super Skinny. If you’re on the lookout for a great pair of distressed denim, this is the only pair you need. They are super soft and don’t stretch out. The holes also hit me at the knee instead of above or below like some others do.

A pair of AGs will set you back but are worth every penny. I recommend putting away some cash for these ones – you will not be disappointed!

J.Crew Toothpick. I’ve always been a big fan of the toothpick jean. The cut is fitted through the hips and thigh with a super skinny leg. I have large calves so the leg can be a little tight at first but not unbearably so. The inseam is my favorite; it’s very Audrey Hepburn-like with a cropped ankle. This style also comes in a variety of colors and prints, not just the standard blue denim wash.

Loft Modern Skinny (super cute distressed pair). This jean might be my absolute favorite and is affordable too, especially with Loft’s weekly promotions! The quality is a little lacking though and I’ve worn through a lot of pairs. I usually wear them out in the thigh, but will admit that I’m grabbing for these multiple times a week. They come in a lot of great colors and are great for work.

Runners Up

• Banana Republic: cute styles with a moderate price point.
• Gap: love their skinny denim but they do stretch out.
• Madewell: their skinny fits similar to J.Crew, but I still like J.Crew’s better. They also have a hint of stretch and are longer in length.
• Old Navy: the Rockstar is awesome and super affordable but does fade quickly in the wash and the material is very thin.

Fashion Tip: another great place to find denim is at your local thrift store. They usually have a large variety of gently used denim at a great price point.

What are your favorite denim brands?

Sweater: Marshalls (similar) | Jeans: Jag c/o (similar) | Earrings: Ann Taylor (similar) | Bracelet: J.Crew (similar) | Ring: Madewell | Purse: Old Navy (similar) | Shoes: Paul Green | Lipstick: Wet n Wild (Smokin Hot Pink)

📷’s by Luba Kochubey Portraits