When 7 For All Mankind Jeans first hit tipped the scale of supply and demand, I wasn't sold on the hype. I've never been one to run out and get something just because Jessica Alba is wearing it or Jennifer Lopez attempted her fate at a clothing line to build her empire. No, I'm far harder to persuade than that, but we all cave in at some point. My day was when I decided to let go of my pride and resistance to trendy must haves and actually try a pair on for myself.


I took in only two brands into the dressing room, a pair of black denim 7 jeans and the Joey Super T jeans from True Religion, which were recommended by the denim expert for my size and body shape. I was ready to be thoroughly depressed, already envisioning myself stampeding out of the dressing room vowing to loose those last 5 stubborn pounds and heading straight home to laugh my sorrows away with a bowl of chocolate ice cream and reruns of Sex in the City. Vindicated that I was right to bypass trends and stick to my standbys.


Well, I have never been more pleasantly surprised in my whole shopping life. My dilemma was not that neither jean looked good, but that both looked fantastic. Only budgeting for one pair, I had a to make the choice between them. This was a first in my own shopping experience. I love shopping for other people because the pain of shopping is removed. But when it comes to my own wardrobe, my expertise gets the best of me and finding those items that are just right is much easier for my clients than myself.


Since that day, I've embraced designer jeans and realized that the higher costs are not just a matter of economics, but there is a difference in quality, feel and manufacturing. The seams are straighter and the hardware is top of the line. No stuck zippers here. The best part is the denim itself. Whatever the brand, the common thread among all the high-end designer jeans is the refined fabrics used and the flattering fit provided by them. My hips and thighs look smoother, leaner and more toned in my True Religion jeans. I'm not sure why or how, but they do. Many of today's top brands use Italian or Japanese fabrics, giving them that super soft, sleek and sexy feel.