5 Tips For Buying High-Quality Jeans

Opt for Heavier Fabrics

Whenever you can, head out to shop for your jeans in person so you can get your hands on the actual fabric. High-quality jeans usually have a heavier weight of denim, as the stronger fabric feels more luxurious and is more likely to last.

Apart from styles designed for summer, lightweight denim (less than 12 ounces) might signal a subpar quality. If you can't find this weight information on the label, ask a salesperson to see if they have this info. When shopping for jeans online, you can also check if the fabric weight ("light," "medium," or "heavy") is listed in the detailed product description.

Look for Durable Stitching

One of the best details to examine when trying to determine jeans' quality is the stitching around the hems, pockets, and side seams. The best stitching is visibly heavy so it's less likely to pull, split, or unravel under stress. Double-stitching (two rows of stitches placed close together) and chain stitching (a looped stitch resembling chain links) are both good signs that some extra TLC went into making the jeans. Still, a single row of stitches is fine, too, as long as the thread is thick and durable.

To see if a pair of jeans has what it takes, gently stretch it at the seams to check for durability. If you see or hear threads pulling apart, that's a telltale sign of poor construction that will likely lead to rips during everyday wear—leading you to either have to get the jeans repaired or purchase a new pair. When browsing for denim online, use the zoom feature (if available) to inspect stitching details.

Consider the Stretch Factor

If form-fitting comfort is your priority when it comes to jeans, then bring on the stretch denim—just pay attention to the composition to ensure you're getting a pair that will look and feel great for many seasons to come. To do this, check the label for the percentage of lycra or spandex in the fabric: two percent or less is ideal. While stretch jeans are designed to pull and give, they should only stretch so far (unless they're jeggings, that is).

As a general rule, one percent will give just a hint of stretch for comfort, while two percent means the fabric has a solid amount of give. Any more than that, and you can expect the jeans to wear out or become baggy over time. Since stretch jeans should fit snugly, if you're between sizes, size down since this fabric may become looser after multiple wears. 

Check the Design Details

Sometimes, certain design features and materials can help you figure out if a pair of jeans seems set to last. For instance, copper buttons and rivets are usually indicators that the brand has invested in the construction of its denim, resulting in a higher-quality piece you can enjoy for years.

Still, some knockoff labels have been perfecting their craft to mimic the styling of designer brands and other high-quality denim, so proceed with caution. The best denim brands and their imitators can both have jeans with contoured back pockets, for example, so it's best to also check the material of a given pair of jeans rather than rely on design details alone. If you can't find this info on the label or website, that's often a red flag. Typically, when a brand uses high-quality materials for its jeans, they're also happy to be transparent about it.

If you're interested in certain design details for either aesthetic or practical reasons, consider ordering a pair of custom jeans. This process makes buying your jeans both more transparent and likely to be your best fit.

Use Designer Jeans as a Comparison

While we all want to get the best deals possible, the truth is that the most high-quality jeans are usually an investment. That being said, we know that designer brands aren't always realistic for your budget.

If that's the case for you, we recommend using them as an example to compare more accessible options to, even if you aren't actually buying them. If you head to the store and try on a few pairs of designer jeans, you can get an idea of the look and feel of high-quality denim and take that into the rest of your shopping. While this can be dangerous– because you'll no doubt feel the temptation to splurge on a pair that fits particularly well– it can be helpful as a point of reference to find quality in more mid-range brands. For budget-friendly denim that's built to last, consider some classic Levi's or an eco-conscious design from Everlane.