When it comes to picking up wardrobe staples, there is rarely anything better than picking up a well-fitting pair of jeans.
The right pair will be comfortable, flattering and easy-to-wear. It might not seem like a massive checklist of needs, but it can often be hard to find the right ones that fit the criteria.
Of course, you can always purchase a pair of trusty Levi's, but they can be rather pricey. That's why BirminghamLive reporter Emily Collis headed out to the high-street with the aim of finding a good quality pair of jeans that won't break the bank.
Grabbing a pair from two iconic retailers - M&S and Primark - the reporter found that only one pair managed to fit all the criteria that she was looking for.
Here is what Emily said about her jeans test.
M&S Sienna Jeans
M&S' Sienna Straight Leg Jeans With Stretch, priced at £22.50, are currently one of the retailer's bestselling pair of jeans. With more than4,000 five-star reviews online, they have been a hit with shoppers who say they are "comfortable and flattering."
Available in nine different colours including black, white and varying shades of blue, Emily decided to see what all the fuss was about.
Emily said: "I was impressed to see that Marks' jeans came in sizes 6 to 24 and in petite, regular and long, as well as extra short and extra long. I'm 5 ft 10 and it can be a nightmare trying to find jeans that fit, so it was refreshing to see a big name store catering for a range of heights and body shapes."
Despite being described as faded online, she found the black mix jeans were a solid black colour when purchased. The denim was also found to be stretchier than imagined and good quality, with stitching and detailing that made them look more expensive than they cost.
The reporter said that the size was perfect around the waist, with the jeans sitting comfortable above the hips and flattering the bum. The straight fit cut also made the jeans loose but not baggy, meaning you could dress them however you want.
Emily added: "I was surprised by how long the jeans were and they bunched up around my ankles. Thankfully, I actually preferred the way they looked rolled up. I tested them out at an Elton John concert and found them to be super comfortable. I even got compliments on them from a couple friends."
Primark Stretch Mom Jeans
After initially being impressed with the huge jeans section in her local Primark store, Emily was left a little disappointed after finding that there were no tall/petite sections.
She eventually chose the Stretch Mom Jeans after she could not find a pair of stretchy straight leg jeans. Priced at a much cheaper £13, the bargain pair's fabric and stretch was described as feeling similar to M&S' £22.50 pair.
The retailer's jeans are available in UK sizes 4-20, which led Emily to picking up a size 16 after finding that the size 14 looked a little small. Once she tried them on, she was surprised at the sizing between the two different sizes.
Emily said: "When I tried the jeans on at home, I was surprised to find they were actually a little snug around my waist. When I held them against the M&S pair (size 14), the waistband on Primark's size 16 pair was actually slightly smaller. I couldn't believe it."
The jeans looked okay and flattering on the hips and bum when stood still. However, the fabric began "scrunching in places and riding up", which meant she had to keep pulling the fabric down.
Emily further said of the jeans: "As expected, they were too short on me. I'm taller than most, but these ended almost halfway up my calf, so anyone over 5 ft 6 would probably struggle with them. I ended up taking them back."
Overall thoughts
In the end, it was not a difficult choice on which were the best pair. Due to the obvious sizing issues, Primark's budget pair just didn't hit the mark. Add on the lack of petite/tall ranges, it was not a great experience for Emily who said that it "put her off shopping there for jeans in the future."
M&S' £22.50 Sienna Jeans, however, managed to fit all the criteria she was looking for. Flattering and super comfortable, Emily said that she would definitely be purchasing them in more colours in the future.
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