I’m an Agolde Jeans Hoarder—Here Are 3 Pairs That Are *Totally* Worth the Investment

• Value: 19/20
• Functionality/Fit: 17/20
• Quality: 19/20
• Aesthetics: 18/20
• Comfort: 20/20

TOTAL: 93/100

By far my favorite pair of the bunch (don’t tell the others), these loose-fitting jeans are what I consistently gravitate towards, whether I’m running to grab a chai latte at Zinc Café in the Arts District or I’m on my way to a dinner date with my sister. I’ve owned these babies for nearly four years now, give or take, and it’s safe to say they’ve been places and seen some things, yet still look just as good as the day I bought them. Before I owned this light wash, I owned the same pair in an elevated dark wash (Hooked), but that mysteriously disappeared at the laundromat way back when. When I originally purchased these, I took ‘loose’ literally, and opted for a size 27, which fit me better in the butt a few years back, but now live up to their name and sit baggy on me without feeling ill-fitting.

I go long bouts without washing any of my jeans because, hey, I want to preserve the longevity of the denim, so they will stretch and loosen even more between washes. I find that when this happens, the butt can look borderline saggy (yikes), which plays into the whole loose and ‘lax vibe, but sometimes I just want a snatched bum, you know? On the flip side, I can run, bend and even lunge—though I don’t know why I’d be doing that in jeans, but I digress—without feeling an ounce of restriction. Believe it or not, I’ve worn these on a five-hour flight from California to New York…ya, they’re that comfy. And while I love how relaxed and roomy it is on me, I lost a bit of weight over the past two years (naturally altering its fit), so if I were to buy them today, I’d opt for a size 26.

My biggest qualm with Agolde denim: I find their jeans run quite short for tall women. Petites, rejoice. A 5’7” gal myself, the 29-inch inseam is nearly there, just not quite, and I made the impatient mistake of tossing the 100 percent cotton into the dryer because I just had to wear them. (*Cue the self-pity.*) Spoiler: I suffered the shrinking consequences, and that 29-inch inseam is now around a measly 28/28.5. Nevertheless, I rock the 90’s denim with my most comfortable sneakers like my life depends on it, but I find I look and feel my best in them when I pair it with sandals, booties or—my favorite—kitten heels.

• Value: 19/20
• Functionality/Fit: 16/20
• Quality: 19/20
• Aesthetics: 18/20
• Comfort: 19/20

TOTAL: 91/100

So nice, I bought ‘em twice. Truth be told, I didn’t think this was the same style as the previous jean in the three or so years I’ve owned them, and I’ll tell you why. First, the Fall Out colorway is a light wash boasting a slightly darker tint and a vintage-esque speckled grain to it than the Snapshot wash. Second, these are a size 25, a whopping two sizes smaller than my classic ‘90s. What exactly was running through my mind when I opted for this size, I couldn’t tell you—I think I wanted it to fit snug and assumed the loose style ran oversize—but I oddly don’t regret it. To put it plainly, these are my standing jeans. If you’re not familiar with ‘standing jeans,’ here’s a funny TikTok that demonstrates just how unfortunate it is to sit down in them.

Remember when I wanted a snatched butt? As Ariana Grande says, “I want it, I got it.” The smaller fit seamlessly hugs my waist, butt and thighs, creating the juiciest streamlined figure a girl could ask for. These are my ‘going out’ jeans reserved for bars, parties or events, both because I know my butt looks damn good in them, and because I’ll likely be standing for the majority of the time. And oops, I did it again and ran it through the dryer, so, yes, they’re short on me. I may be able to get away with its shrunken inseam in the aforementioned ‘90s jeans; however, since this style features distressed rips along the jeans, it’s a bit easier to tell that the jeans are, indeed, one size too small and I am, indeed, a tad too tall. If I bought them today, I’d opt for my current size 26 for a true, comfortable fit. Regardless, they’re my second favorite pair of jeans.

• Value: 19/20
• Functionality/Fit: 19/20
• Quality: 19/20
• Aesthetics: 19/20
• Comfort: 19/20

TOTAL: 95/100

OK, I finally stepped out of my comfort zone and splurged on Agolde’s Criss Cross Upsized jeans, which features an uber-cool crisscross (surprise) detailing at the waist and asymmetrical button fly closure. They’re the ideal relaxed, street style pants I didn’t need but wanted as an extra addition in my closet. They have an overall relaxed and roomy fit around the waist and leg that I find comfortable, and the 18-inch width at the knee tapers to 16 inches around the ankle, creating the subtlest straight-leg meets balloon effect.

I purchased my Agolde Criss Cross jeans about a year ago and ultimately opted for the size 26, my correct size. (Hallelujah!) The fit is intended to be oversize, so I’d suggest opting for one size smaller if you want a closer fit or one size larger if you want a baggier drape. Crafted from the brand’s signature Weightless Cotton—a 100 percent regenerative cotton from Citizens of Humanity Group’s Regenerative Cotton Program—these jeans have zero stretch but will loosen, give and soften after a couple of wears between washes.

Agolde jeans are pricey, with most styles costing on average $200 or more, and this $238 pair wasn’t necessary by any means, yet I felt ready to add to my collection having already found the classic straight-leg denim for my capsule wardrobe. Want to hear the best part? These boast a 30-inch inseam and pool around the tops of my feet, so I am one happy 5’7” person.