FOR A LITTLE GREEN
Not tempted -- or willing -- to sink $200 into a new pair of premium denim jeans? These bargain brands may not boast the cachet or quality of a William Rast or Acne. But they make it cheap and easy to stock your wardrobe with jeans in every cool color, wash and silhouette for fall.
Delia’s
This online teen retailer (that grown-up girls love too) boasts an astoundingly wide array of trendy jeans in sizes 00-19/20, all around $50. Need peach-colored skinny jeans in a Size 3 with a 36-inch inseam? They’re here. “Buy one, get one half-off” through August.
www.delias.com
American Eagle Outfitters
Perhaps no other mall chain has nailed the women’s “premium” look better than this bastion of collegiate fashion. Clean-wash skinnies, shredded boyfriends and bleached-out boot cuts are all on the menu for fall, priced between $29.50 and $49.50 in sizes 00-18. The selection isn’t massive, but it’s so trend-right, it doesn’t need to be.
www.ae.com
Alloy
Don’t be put off by the Tiger Beat energy spilling off the screen on this ‘tween-friendly website. Beyond the gushy celeb gossip is a cache of cute jeans for girls of all ages. Jet-black denim leggings, ripped-and-torn skinnies and bleached denim trousers are only a few of the current styles -- all selling from $29 to $44. Most styles range in size from 1 to 25.
www.alloy.com
Forever 21
If a skinny, edgy look is what you’re after, Forever 21 is your denim seller. The fast-fashion chain features an online Jean Shop brimming with skinny styles in trendy washes -- stone-washed gray and bright teal among them. Most shocking are the prices, which range from $19.80 to $29.80. Jeans come in waist sizes 24-30 (roughly 1-13 in women’s sizes), though the retailer’s plus-size line, For Love 21 -- also online -- stocks a few basic skinny models in sizes 12-16 for $15.80 to $17.80.
www.forever21.com
Hollister
Abercrombie & Fitch’s lower-priced little brother, Hollister, offers a tight selection of cheap denim for men and women, including trend-right men’s jeans for guys who lean toward classic, rugged looks. There are three silhouettes for guys: boot cut, slim boot cut and slim straight leg, all available in premium-style vintage and distressed washes, sizes 28-36. Prices range from $49.50 to $59.50.
www.hollisterco.com
Urban Outfitters
Teen guys and men looking for trendy narrow-leg jeans would do well to check out Urban Outfitters’ sprawling online selection from brands including BDG, Levi’s and Cheap Monday. Skinnies and straight-legs are the house silhouettes, available in almost every wash under the sun -- including bright red, distressed indigo, black and blotchy tie-dyed. Sizes vary, but generally run 28 to 34. And with core prices $29.99 to $68 (a few premium G-Star styles cap out at $180), dudes can look dope without busting the budget.
www.urbanoutfitters.com
-- Emili Vesilind
