25+ Most Recommended Jeans from my Instagram Followers

I asked, you answered, I ordered––and there was one clear stand out.

The Internet can be a vile, lawless place. Occasionally, though, it redeems. Like with Boaty McBoatface, animal rescue videos, and the time I asked my Instagram followers for advice on their favorite jeans. WOW. Y’all. I asked. You delivered.

I’ve been wearing Madewell jeans for probably six years now. I like that they aren’t terribly expensive and they also go on sale. I like how you can trade in an old pair for money off your new pair, and that the old pair gets reused as housing insulation. I used to like the way they fit. But I have Madewell denim fatigue. I recently went into a store and tried on no less than eight pairs of jeans and every single one of them was wrong. The weight of the fabric, the washes, the fits, none of it was working for me. So I did the only thing I know to do in this modern age, and that’s: Ask The Internet.

Within minutes, recommendations were rolling in like something akin to an early morning at the New York Stock Exchange. These! Those! They’re expensive but they’re worth it! People have opinions about denim and I am here for it. Several of you also asked for the results of this little poll.

But I couldn’t just share the deets without doing a little field research of my own. So I tried on some jeans. I went to a Bloomingdale’s. (Side rant: Update your sizing on the floor, B’dales. There was nary a jean above a size 28. Some of us have hips, ok!) I ordered jeans online. I kept some, I sent some back. I actually found a couple of pairs that I like and one day when there is more money flowing from the money tree, I will buy additional pairs.

For now, here’s a list of the top-recommended jeans—those I tried and those I didn’t.

MOST RECOMMENDED

MOTHER DENIM
Hands down, Mother Denim was the top-recommended denim from my poll. One person called out mid-rise styles with a crop, another called out the Tomcat Roller Style, but most people agreed that “all of them” were great. One friend pointed out that sizing is all over the place and you really have to try them on. Everyone also noted their price tag, but also agreed they were worth it.

This response was affirming, because I’ve been getting served ads for Mother Denim for months, and because I only have an average amount of willpower and even less money, I clicked through but never purchased. I’ve wondered, “Do they live up to the hype?” Apparently, yes. I tried on The Roller. They were a nice weight (as in, substantial but not heavy), had a wee bit of stretch, and were soft and worn enough to make you want to pull them on every day.

MOTHER DENIM The Roller in Riding The Cliffside wash

AGOLDE
The second most consistently recommended jeans were AGOLDE. The Riley High Rise was one of the specifics.

ZARA
To my surprise, there were multiple to votes for Zara denim, specifically for the TRF mid-rise tapered style. I have personal doubts that this style of zoot suit–adjacent silhouette would work for me because a.) I am not 1990’s-era waif Kate Moss and b.) I am not 16. But I’d give Zara denim a try next time I pop in.

LEVI’S
Several votes rolled in for the Levi’s Ribcage Straight Ankle jeans. But I got the Ribcage Bootcut Cropped. I generally enjoy a Levi’s situation and I am not a millionaire, so I could actually afford to buy (and keep) these jeans should they fit. (They did and I am quite happy with them.)

Levi’s Ribcage Bootcut Cropped in Charmed; I’m sorry you have to look at my bare feet and whatever stains are on this full-length mirror but I have a toddler so nothing is perfect, OK.

ARITZIA DENIM FORUM
Several people (mostly younger girls cooler than me) recommended Aritzia Denim Forum. Someone specifically called out the Joni High Rise Loose style.

EVERLANE
This one got me. At first I thought, “Everlane makes jeans? Who knew?!” Apparently everyone but me. I gotta tell you, they’re one of my favorites. I ordered both The Way High Jean in Vintage Indigo and The Super-Soft Relaxed Jean in Vintage Dark Blue. I liked both, but only kept The Way High because I am trying to be a responsible money person and I liked them the best.

EVERLANE The Way High Jean. Ignore whatever dust is on my right leg, it’s probably child residue of some sort.

THE ONE-OFFS

Here I leave you to continue your research. The below brands and specific styles were recommended by one or two folks, and often with a pretty convincing letter of support. Best of luck Denim-ing!

FRAME

UNIVERSAL STANDARD

LIVERPOOL CHLOE JEAN

ABERCROMBIE HIGH RISE 90S RELAXED FIT
This reco always comes with a “hear me out.” A friend recommend it during my denim poll, but I follow

Hi Everyone with Hillary Kerr

and she, too, recommended Abercrombie jeans in her eternal search for a good pair of jeans. I didn’t yet try them on, but they’re on my list. (Weird fact: When I was 23, I worked The Denim Bar at the Abercrombie & Fitch on 5th Avenue in Manhattan. Yes, someone ran through the store several times a day spraying cologne in the air to make it smell that way.)

AYR KICK FLARE

GOOD AMERICAN
The caveat here was “Yes, this is the Kardashian’s denim brand” but “they make my butt look amazing.”

LOFT
This one surprised me, but I had to go into a LOFT with my sister-in-law the day of our Bloomingdale’s run, and who knew this longstanding fashion retailer for sophisticated 30–60 years old women had such a robust denim collection?! If I’d had more time, I’d have seen what the buzz was all about.

ARMED ANGELS

RUDY JUDE

JESSE KAMM

DL1961
A girlfriend at work was wearing a pair of DL1961s a few weeks ago and I took notice. So on my shopping trip, I test drove a pair, and I wasn’t mad about it. (Did I love them enough to pay $220? No. But they were objectively a good jean.) Soft, comfy, easy, etc.

GRLFRND

CITIZENS OF HUMANITY

RE/DONE

NYDJ BARBARA CUT & SHERI SLIM
Confession: I thought only ladies of a certain age wore these jeans because NYDJ stands for “Not Your Daughter’s Jeans” and it’s usually only someone’s sassy grandma that wants to remind you that she’s still hot and spicy without wearing her silly daughter’s jeans. But women I trust (and whom are in my age bracket) recommended these to me, so I was wrong. No shade, NYDJ.

LOUP

MOTT + BOW

GAP
Yeah, people still love Gap. Same.