JESSICA BIBER
Staff Writer
Stepping into the world of Pepperdine is an eye-opening experience for those unaccustomed to designer clothing. People will spend more money for a t-shirt than for what some people pay for a prom dress.
Take jeans, for example: an American classic. Gap can make them just as well as designer brands like True Religion or Seven for all Mankind. But consumers are left to wonder if the fit, quality or appearance condone the price of high-end jeans.
Many Pepperdine students believe there is a distinct difference in style between designer jeans and brand jeans. After all, designers were the first to advertise the ripped and worn-in look, as well as the skinny jean.
“I wear designer jeans just because I think they are cuter,” said freshman Kristen Hoffman, who pays about $140 per pair. Not everyone is convinced that fashion pardons higher prices. While designer jeans exhibit embellishments or signature back-pocket embroideries, senior Adrianne Thomas said paying for style has a price limit.
“I like couture,” Thomas said, “but I do not condone paying that much money for a pair that will look like this. I am not saying it is wrong. It’s just that I don’t have the money for it, and even if I did, I wouldn’t buy jeans. I would pay for rent.”
Along with style, shoppers must also consider the fit of a pair of denim. Though fit may seem like a long-lost factor in an era that accepts the slogan “beauty equals pain,” senior Emeshea Petty says fit is her top consideration when choosing the perfect pair.
“My problem with jeans is that none of them fit,” Petty said. “It doesn’t matter what the brand is. If they fit, I’ll wear them. I mean, there is a cost limit, but fit is definitely what I go by.”
Almost every Web site that advertises designer denim promotes the fit of brands like Seven or Rock and Republic. These sites claim designer jeans fit better because they are not mass-produced the way other brands are. Such individual attention gives manufacturers a chance to perfect the wash and cut of each pair of jeans. An example of this is the popular skinny jean, which tapers tightly down the legs.
Sophomore Yana Saakyan says her decision all boils down to quality. “I prefer designer jeans just because of the quality, but I mean if you can find good quality elsewhere than that’s fine too,” Saakyan said.
But even with style, fit and quality all playing into the game of price, some people are unwilling to fork out more cash just to display a designer brand. Freshman Matt Hurdle laughs at the prospect of paying so much money for an everyday clothing item.
“I think designer jeans are basically a waste of money because I don’t care about being in style. If you have the money, go ahead and spend it on clothes… if that’s what you really want to spend your money on,” Hurdle said. “But for me, good old Levi’s work just fine.”
Freshman Hami Yoon agrees. “I just prefer regular jeans. It’s about what works for your body, and they work for me,” Yoon said. “Why spend more money on something else?” With that in mind, the choice between designer jeans and brand jeans comes down to what students are willing to pay and what they are able to find. Though a brand can’t claim anything better quality and fit, a simple pair of Levi’s does the trick for millions of Americans. While quality may be easier to spot along the walls of designer stores, some hard work could find the same quality for a cheaper price.
04-05-2007