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High-waisted, super black, skinny-fit jeans have been my go-to for about a decade. I’ve made the rounds through J Brand, American Apparel, and Rag & Bone, with Cheap Monday as a common refrain (mostly because they are the cheapest at around $75 per pair).
This past summer, I branched out: I’ve been wearing a pair of cropped denim culottes to death alongside a couple pairs of baggy vintage jeans, and I couldn’t be happier with them.
But all allow for way too much airflow now that temperatures are consistently dipping below 40 degrees. And suddenly, it’s like I have no pants. I don’t know what happened, but none of my former go-tos fit the same way — the Rag & Bones are somehow too saggy at the waist and too tight at the ankles, the American Apparel hot pants are way past their prime, and the Cheap Mondays are a little too cropped for all my ankle boots (whoops, my fault, I got them tailored at the dry cleaner).
Rather than settle for feeling super “meh” about what I’m wearing most days, I’ve been in the market for a new pair of perfect high-waisted super black skinny jeans. Preferably for under $75.
Thank god I remembered Just Black. I've been listening to the owner of one of my favorite vintage stores (Known to Man, or formerly Dolly G's for any locals), Giselle Carrera, sell this LA-based denim brand to other customers for years. "They're a little bit thicker than normal skinny jeans, and super high-rise,” I’ve heard her tell probably seven or eight separate customers of varying shapes and sizes, and then watched them all fall in love with the brand in the dressing room. “And they hold their shape. They're the only thing I wear.”
At any rate, Carrera loves them enough that the jeans are the only new item carried by the store, unless you count jewelry or tarot cards.
While I've eyed them every time I go in, I've never tried the jeans on before last week, I guess because I was never in the market. And guess what? They fit just like she said they would (though I recommend sizing down).
But the best part by far is the price: $68 for a pair of flattering, wear-with-everything jeans — that’s even cheaper than my Cheap Mondays! Pretty damn good deal, if you ask me. I’ve definitely found my new go-to.
Though the name is Just Black, the brand makes a ton of other colors and styles, too. It only operates as a wholesaler (and Dolly’s doesn’t sell online, unfortunately), but if you’re curious about the brand’s other styles, Shoptiques has you pretty well covered.