THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 19, 1996 TAG: 9604190055
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KIM WADSWORTH, SPECIAL TO THE DAILY BREAK
LENGTH: Medium: 99 lines
IT'S BEEN A hard day's night, and we've been searching like a dog.
If you think finding a good pair of jeans that fits is easy, think again.
Like a band of gypsies, my high school comrades and I went to Lynnhaven Mall desperately seeking dream jeans.
This wasn't an ordinary shopping spree. This was going to be one of those bona fide compare-and-contrast, step-in-and-step-out, suck-in-the-stomach experiences.
Every ad assures that the ultimate pair of jeans is out there.
Lee Jeans is quick to remind us that jeans mean no rules, no dress code, just basic, ageless, timeless, enduring, legendary, long-lasting classics.
Levi's and other companies offer a ``core'' collection with basic styles and finishes that are available for up to a couple of years before they change.
Wrangler is making sure that students get the fit they need with their newest line, Hero, offering sizes to cover all the bases - relaxed, loose and everything in between. With a graduated inseam in four sizes that corresponds to length, even kids who are at the short or the tall end can get a good fit.
But what is fit?
We soon found out that fit comes in every way, shape and form.
According to most manufacturers, jeans change with the seasons - four times a year. That means the jeans you bought last summer and loved probably won't be there this year.
Jeans follow the same changes as any other garment. After all, they are a part of fashion, and that's what it's all about. From now until June, you'll find a huge selection of summer jeans and jean shorts in differ
ent shades of light blue and natural denim with a few pastels thrown in. Watch for white jeans too. From June through September, jeans for fall arrive. In October, the winter blues come in. And from December through February, spring jeans are on the racks again.
Our first stop was Hecht's, where Calvin Klein, Guess and Levi's are the jeans of the moment in the junior department. Each student shopper had a different need because of fit and personal preference.
Christie Barnes, 17, of Western Branch High, got excited when she saw the Calvin Klein selection.
``CK jeans are my favorite jeans,'' Christie said. ``Every girl in my school has a pair. They're a little expensive ($52), but they're really comfortable.''
Christie examined the five different styles but claimed that for her slim size, a straight-legged, low-riser jean that showed off her belly and fit tight was the best. Jeans are allowed at her school as long as mid-riffs don't show, so it's a standard uniform for her.
According to Kristin Kelso, Hecht's area sales manager for juniors, getting the kind of fit Christie likes means comparing jean sizes.
There's an inch difference between Levi's and Calvin Klein's in the rise. CK is cut shorter, which is ideal for the girl who wants a guy fit. So for Shanna Crockett, 17, of Norfolk Collegiate School, buying CK jeans was not in the cards. For starters, Shanna needed a 36-inch length, and CK goes up to only 34.
``And there's my hips,'' she sighs.
Levi's Original 501s are suggested. But the fit is so slim that it requires going up two or three sizes, and the waist size stops at 34. Guess jeans are made the same way. If, for example, you wear a size 7 (which means a 27-inch waist), you really need to go up to a 28 or 29 or the fit is too snug.
Because all jeans shrink,you never want a perfect fit at the store.
We find a pair of Guess Bare Basics, $48, a less expensive jean with a lighter weight denim in either loose or fitted. Loose works for Shanna because she needs the extra fabric to balance the long inseam. Zippp. She's in! Because there's a dress code at Norfolk Collegiate, jeans are allowed only on Jeans Day, sponsored once a month by a group in the school.
When we arrive at the County Seat, manager Scott Hoffman gestures to the endless sea of blue.
``We cater to ages 12 to 50,'' he said. ``The older customer wants a slimmer, relaxed jean, but our teen clientele wants them loose and baggy. They want a wider leg opening and the more distressed the jean, the better.''
Hoffman confesses that it is common for teens to come in asking for a 28-inch waist jean and leave with a 34, against their parents' wishes.
As Joey Zaret, 18, of Maury High School scans the selection he remarks, ``I don't like tight jeans, but I don't want them real baggy. Calvin Klein and Levi's give me the best fit.''
We decide, however, to check out Tommy Hilfiger's jean line. The Freedom jean has too much fabric for Joey, but the Classic is more his style, offering a slimmer leg. Surprise! The size he wears in other jeans is a perfect fit in Hilfiger.
Taking a break to sip root beer floats, we realize that each one of us wants something different from our jeans. Feeling true blue to this American icon of fashion, we're willing to search through the hundreds of styles available at a single mall until we find the right fit. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photos]
HUY NGUYEN
The Virginian-Pilot
by CNB