 "Photo: Nic Myers")
 "Photo: Nic Myers")
USD grad student Jenna Robbennolt swears by them, Grammy award-winning group The Black Eyed Peas sing about them and if you flip through any celebrity gossip magazine, you'll likely read about the hottest Hollywood stars wearing them.
What are they? Designer jeans.
While they have been popular since the late 70s, they have created a lot of hype in recent years.
Brands such as Diesel, True Religion, Paige, Rock and Republic, Citizens of Humanity, People's Liberations, 7 for all Mankind and Hudson are among the most popular, while a few of the older brands like Jordache, Sergio Valente and Calvin Klein are also coming back with the designs that first made them popular in the late 70s to early 80s.
The kicker, however, is that those designer jeans will cost you $200 for midrange jeans and more than $500 for higher-end denim. Ouch.
Millions of women swear by them, despite the hefty price tag. Why? Class, comfort and style. Not to mention, the flattering fit and how they lengthen the line of the leg.
"The reason I love designer jeans is because they fit so much better and they are softer and more comfortable," Robbennolt said. "They are definitely worth the money. I buy them when I travel to Chicago to see my brother. I almost always get a pair at the Diesel store; it's become a ritual."
Designer jeans are jeans that are marketed as fashion and status symbols. They are cut for women and men, available in many sizes and often worn skin-tight. They typically feature designer names or logos on the back pockets and on the right front coin pocket.
"The name of our department that sells designer jeans is Contemporary Teens," Jessa Garrow said, a sales representative at Saks Fifth Avenue in Chicago. "We sell to older teens and younger adults. Usually, ages 19 and up. We also only offer sizes 26 to 32 (waist sizes). Sometimes 24 and 25, but rarely. Sizes 26 to 32 are comparative to 4 to 12 in normal sizes."
"I started buying them at the end of my freshman year in high school," sophomore Katey Gillis said. "I can't even remember the last time I wore other jeans. They just fit so much better and the quality of each pair is amazing."
Gillis said her favorite place to shop is Nordstrom's because they have great customer service. After getting a hole in one of her jeans, Gillis said Nordstrom replaced the pair for free.
"They last much longer than other jeans. There is also more time taken in each pair of jeans," she said. "The denim is usually hand-selected, and each pair can be unique in its own way."
That uniqueness is a big reason why Gillis hasn't bought a pair of nondesigner jeans in over five years.
"Most people won't have the same jeans as you, which is big for me," she said.
Robbennolt said her obsession stemmed as a result of those around her.
"I started purchasing them in high school because my friends wore them," Robbennolt said. "I have always been into fashion and I like having items that others don't."
According to Saks Fifth Avenue in Chicago, skinny jeans, crop and capri pants, straight leg, boyfriend fit, high waisted and wide leg jeans are styles that are popular for the spring season.
Gillis said lately she has been buying the skinny jeans, but she is very careful to make sure they are a good fit for her body before buying them.
"The last pair I bought was a pair of Earnest Sewn's," Gillis said. "Whenever I buy skinny jeans, I make sure that they are not so tight around the ankles that they are unflattering."
But if skinny jeans aren't your style, Gillis said many other options are available for spring.
"A lot of styles for the spring are the skinny jeans, but some jean designers are coming back out with an extra wide leg," she said.
Although it may be hard to find designer jeans near Vermillion, there are several places within a few hours drive to shop.
Omaha has several stores and boutiques that sell designer wear. For designer jeans, go to Von Maur or Post and Nickel.
In Minneapolis, numerous places are available to shop for designer clothing. A great place to search is the Mall of America. Stores like Nordstrom', Bloomingdales, Von Maur and Neiman Marcus are all upscale department stores that carry designer brands.
If designer jeans sound like a perfect fit for you, Gillis said there are a few things to take into consideration in the fitting room.
"When you first try them on, you need to buy them very tight," she said. "You never want to buy them if they fit comfortably the first time you put them on because they all stretch out. It may sound weird, but it makes your jeans fit better in the long run."
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