I wanna know what makes you scream
Be your 20 million dollar fantasy
Treat you real good
Expensive jeans
Hollywood freaks on the Hollywood scene
– Beck, “Hollywood Freaks”

Whether you choose to rock jeans that cost $185 or $19, it’s helpful to know how to get them to look as good as possible. Denim fit is an art and a science. Once you’ve found that perfect pair, make sure they’re breaking at the right place. Try them on with different shoes. I always have at least one pair of jeans for flats and one for heeled shoes (I favor boots in winter and wedges in summer).

If you find that you need to take off a few inches, fear not. For the best finish, consider doing a hem that retains the original hem of the jeans. That way, you won’t drive yourself crazy trying to find matching thread to use for top stitching. Plus, you retain that nice, worn-in hem that’s been distressed to perfection.

How? I followed this simple tutorial from Dacia Ray. She said the tutorial is a rework of one that was previously featured on the Z. Cavaricci site. Whatever the origin, it’s a gem. This is the same alteration that is offered for premium denim at Nordstrom. I have perfectly altered jeans with the original hem that break perfectly and hang a scant half-inch above the floor, just the way I like ‘em.