Part 1: Designer jeans confusion
I've been steadfast about luxe jeans for several years now. I couldn't possibly spend a few HUNDRED dollars on jeans. Then one by one, my most austere friends broke down. Even the New York City girlfriend getting by on a teacher's salary managed to upgrade to a perfect curve-loving fit. I've been thinking ... maybe I'm missing out.
I own two pairs of Lucky Brand jeans, but neither is a great fit. One was a freebie from a friend, who had splurged on a skinny day only to realize that she'd never fit into them again. They're comfy, but one size too big on me for Baby's Got Back mojo. I scored the other pair on a clearance rack at Ross. The price was right at $30, but they don't maximize the junk in my trunk.
So I took the plunge this weekend ... and tried on a pair of 7 for All Mankind denim. They were kind of a deal at $130, after 30 percent off during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. I was in such foreign territory that I had to ask a sales clerk where to find the premium jeans (between teeny-boppers and women's clothing, in a section appropriately named TBD).
The first pair I tried on hugged me in all the right ways around the hipster. So this is how Jennifer Aniston does it! I also was loving view from the gluteus maximus, as Coach Nelson taught me to call that posterier muscle in fifth-grade PE class. But my happy groove came crashing down around the feet. I had four inches of pant-leg mopping the dressing room floor!
Now I'm often mistaken for taller than my five feet, seven inches. I have long legs. I'm blessed with the ability to wear clothing without alterations. So if the Seven jeans didn't fit me, how many Amazon chicks are out there who can pull them off? Or are legions of women shelling out $200 for jeans -- and then taking them to be hemmed?
I've probably just given up my street cred to write about fashion with this post, but I'm clueless here. Can anyone help a girl out and explain the Sevens phenomenon?
~ Deal Diva Letitia clearly needs help .... Come back at noon, when Deal Diva Colleen will dish out the secrets to a designer denim splurge.
(Photos: Top, Sevens from Nordstrom, $125.90 during sale, $191 after. Bottom, Lucky Brand, Sunset Fit N Flare, $130.)
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Katie Sanders foolishly spurned pretty dresses and shoes as a child, tossing new clothes over her shoulder at birthday parties with a totally rude "no, thank you." Her drab days of monocolor outfits are over now, and she certainly knows better than to turn down free stuff. Her wardrobe mixes classic with quirk. Think blazers with statement necklaces, and lots of patterned ballet flats. She can be reached at 850) 224-7263 or 
Kameel Stanley has never encountered a thrift store she didn’t like. Her mother taught her that the true value of clothes isn’t how much they cost, but how many outfits one can create from them. Having grown up in Michigan, she was delighted to learn upon moving to Florida that she almost never needed to wear socks or boots again. There’s a lot of turnover in her closet, and she’s obsessed with dresses, necklaces and wedge heels. She can be reached at (727) 893-8643 or 
A disciple of the little black dress classics school, Letitia Stein stretches her budget by looking for styles with staying power. She lives for 80 percent off shoes at DSW, floral sundresses and bohemian chic tops. She confesses to being a bit of a snob when it comes to handbags and jewelry. She can be reached at (813) 226-3400 or 
From camo pants and construction boots to sundresses, sweaters and sling backs, Keyonna Summers knows how to make all of it rock -- at rock bottom prices. A Detroit native, Keyonna delves into her urban roots to find fashion pairings that give a nod to street fashion while maintaining the class of the modern, professional woman. She believes in searching for affordable clothes that look expensive and can easily be dressed up or down. You won't find plaid shirts or fleece jackets in her closet; the only hiking Keyonna does is to the bargain basement. She can be reached at (727) 445-4153 or 
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