Women's fashion can be so expensive. Tops, skirts, coats, shoes and accessories ? if someone told you what you'd paid for the contents of your wardrobe, you'd probably have a heart attack. And imagine what your accountant would say! It's lucky that there's one piece of affordable apparel that needn't cost much, that lasts forever, and that never seems to go out of style: the humble pair of jeans. From brunches to lunches, dates to days away, jeans are comfortable, stylish, and go with almost anything. They can be dressed up or down, and (for some jobs) they can even be appropriate work wear.

While jeans have been an enduring affordable apparel fashion favorite for men and women alike since the 1950s, one thing that does change is the popular fit of the day. Like skirt lengths, tie widths, and lapels, every few years there is a seismic shift in the world of jeans to a new favorite fit. Here we present three of the best and most popular fits of the past ten years:

#1 Affordable apparel: Boot-cut jeans

Boot-cut jeans are cut to fit closely around the hips and thighs, but flare out from the knee down. Originally of course, this cut was invented to accommodate the wearer's (cowboy) boots, as the name implies. But recent times have seen them worn more often with grungy or retro sneakers, such as Adidas or Converse.

Boot-cut was the fit of choice from princesses to paupers in the early 'noughties', and every denim designed jumped on board. One reason for their popularity among women is that they're flattering to almost any body shape, including those who are not so long-legged. Many of us were very sad to see them go!

#2 Affordable apparel: Skinny-leg jeans

First popularized by stars and fashion luminaries such as Sienna Miller, skinny-leg jeans have been hot hot hot for a good few years now. Skinny-leg jeans fit tightly all over, and they are often cut low in the waist as well.

Interestingly enough, it is actually skinny-leg, and not boot-cut jeans that look best with boots, though of course with the boots worn over rather than under the jeans. We think a high riding boot in tan or chocolate looks best.

Unfortunately for those of not blessed with Ms Miller's behind, skinny-leg jeans are highly revealing of a less-then-perfect lower half, so as fashionable as they are, they are perhaps best avoided by some.

#3 Affordable apparel: 'The Carrot'

Of the three entrants on our list, the fit known only as The Carrot is by far the most recent. Inspired by underground Tokyo fashion, they have a cut that is generous in the seat and thighs, and narrows only towards the ankle. Currently in vogue, but not yet adopted wholesale by the fashion-buying masses, will carrot jeans become the new #1 in jeans? Only time will tell, but we advise you to watch this space!