Dabble in secondhand jeans you can try in-store

This is sadly not the quick and easy route, but I’ve had the most success with trying on a bunch of pairs from consignment/thrift shops. 1) stakes feel lower as they’re cheaper, 2) often pre-shrunk, 3) lets you test out new-to-you brands and styles. Nothing is more annoying to me than online shopping & returns, or buying expensive new jeans that were great in the store but then stretch out to the point of uselessness. I scored the famous sweatpant jeans this way, and even got a cute pair from my neighbor for $5 at a garage sale. Both have been extensively complimented by the youths!