GRLFRND Jeans: A Guide to the Best Denim

I will say it plainly: I have a drawer of almost-right jeans, which is why the GRLFRND premise gets me. The label arrived in spring 2016, conceived in-house and designed and made in Los Angeles, with Raissa Gerona as brand officer. The brief is a relatable one, vintage-inspired denim that still fits like it was made for you. The name is meant to feel like a friend who knows your taste and lives in your rotation. If you want to keep going, Barrel Jeans Are The Denim Shape Everyone's Wearing is the one I would read next.

The first collection nodded to the 1990s supermodels Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista, with fits named for its muses. The range soon stretched past jeans into jackets, shorts and even a flight suit. I like that it makes the right pair less about chasing a trend and more about finding your own shape. Start with the fit problem, then try a few cuts.

GRLFRND's sweet spot is a familiar silhouette with just enough detail to feel personal. The Bella Low Rise Boyfriend and Jordan Low Rise Frayed Waist Boyfriend Jeans are the relaxed end of the rack, while Austen High Rise Curve, x Sophia Kelly Austen Low Rise Curve and Vintage Slim are three different takes on shape. The x Sophia Kelly Camille Low Rise Skinny and x Sophia Kelly Graham Low Rise Straight widen the choices, and Harvey sits quietly with the rest.

The x Sophia Kelly Amari Leather Moto takes the denim story into outerwear, the Annika Suede Lace Up Jacket is the softer counterpoint, and the Ringer Tee and Merino Wool Turtleneck Sweater are the useful layers. Picture her walking out for a late coffee in the Bella Low Rise Boyfriend with the Ringer Tee and a worn leather jacket. In my fashion dreams she swaps to the Vintage Slim, a neat knit and loafers for a low-key dinner. My tip: choose the rise and leg shape you already reach for, then compare the length with your favorite pair.

GRLFRND began with the stubborn little question of why a beloved pair of jeans rarely fits just right. That still gives the label its center: lived-in denim references, shape-first cuts and a few layers that turn the jeans into a whole outfit. I would build around a fit I already know, not chase every new silhouette. When good jeans do their job, the rest of the closet gets easier to use. Although I will probably still try the leather moto. I went deeper on a related idea in Agolde Jeans: Rigid Denim in Every Leg Shape.