ELLE Loves: 12 Pairs of Black Jeans Our Editors Swear by
Take the stress out of denim shopping with these can't-live-without suggestions.
Fall weather is officially here to stay, which means it's time to pick up a fresh pair (or two!) of black jeans. Here, 12 options the editors at ELLE can't live without.
DL1961 Nina High Rise
"They're stretchy enough that I can bend and move easily enough in them, but suck me in at the same time. The rise hits right below the belly button meaning no plumber's crack and the proportions look great when I tuck in my tops."—Nikki Ogunnaike, Senior Fashion Editor
DL1961 Nina High Rise Jean, $178, dl1961.com
Gap 1969 destructed resolution true skinny high-rise
"The high-rise on these is perfect, the distressing is just enough to look cool but not so much that it looks sloppy, and they don't stretch out on me after one wear. Plus, they're not so expensive that I can't buy them in every other wash, too."—Gena Kaufman, Social Media Manager
Gap 1969 Destructed Resolution True Skinny High-Rise Jeans, $80; gap.com
Rag & Bone Equestrian
"I love how Rag & Bone jeans fit me. They're long enough (which is not always the case!), comfortable, and wear really well."—Sally Holmes, Senior News Editor
Rag & Bone Equestrian Jean, $265; rag-bone.com
MiH Bodycon
"I get compliments every single time I wear these. They have a high rise that hides any bloat and lifts the booty. Plus, they keep their fit (no stretching or sagging) even after hundreds of wears."—Kristina Rodulfo, Associate Editor
Bodycon 5 Pocket Jean High Rise, £195.00; mih-jeans.com
Acne Skin 5 Black
"A friend recently sent a Survey Monkey survey to me full of denim-clad butts, requesting I choose the most butt-flattering back pockets. Unfortunately, I was too distracted by the stitching on each to make an unbiased choice, thus reminding me of my obsession with Acne's nondescript, mid-rise skinnies. They're tight without veering into legging territory, they make the best of my rectangle butt, they stretch to accomodate weight fluctuations, and like most black jeans, they're neutral enough to wear over and over again."— Julie Schott, Senior Beauty and Fitness Editor
Acne Skin Black 5, $200; acnestudios.com
AYR The Ciggy
"I've never had a pair of pants— let alone black jeans—that I've loved more than my AYR Jet Black "The Ciggy." They're the perfect length, slightly cropped with a tiny kick flare, and don't lose their deep black shade in the wash. They're comfortable enough to wear all the time, but look dressy enough to wear to work, which for me, is the mark of a truly great black jean. Oh, and they're $165, which, I mean, WINNING!" Ruthie Friedlander, Deputy Editor
AYR The Ciggy, $165; ayr.com
J Brand 811 Mid Rise Skinny
"These are an older purchase (my Gmail life locker tells me I ordered them online in January 2013), but they still play an integral part of my everyday life. Simply put, they're just a great-fitting, timeless pair of jetblack skinnies."— Justine Harman, Senior Entertainment Editor
811 Mid Rise Skinny Leg, $145; jbrandjeans.com
Topshop Moto Black Ripped Jamie
"As someone who loves jeans but is barely 5'2", finding a pair that skims the ankle is virtually impossible. These jet-black Topshop jeans (in petite) are the one and only pair that have ever been the perfect length, no hemming required. The cool slits on both knees, comfy fit, and $75 dollar price tag are added bonuses."— Danielle Kleinmen, Intern
Topshop Moto Black Ripped Jamie Jean, $75; topshop.com
AYR The Ciggy
"As is the case with most purchases I've made over the last two years, I bought these jeans after I saw Ruthie wearing them. They're the perfect pair of black pants: comfortable, versatile, they make your ass look great (essential for any decent pair of jeans). But what really makes these jeans stand out is the dainty kick flare and the crop: there's something about that subtle flare and the crop just above the ankle that is perfection."— Leah Chernikoff, Editorial Director
AYR The Ciggy, $165; ayr.com
MiH Paris
"They're aggressively cropped in the perfect French gamine sort of way."—Natalie Matthews, Senior Editor
MiH Paris Jean, $195; mih-jeans.com
James Jeans High Class
"I bought these jeans, or a close cousin of them, when I was recovering from the birth of baby number one. I needed some pants that were relatively high-rise (was not in the mood to bare anything), but that stayed far away from "mom." With their slight shine, these fit the bill."—Chloe Schama, Executive Editor
High Class Skinny, $180; jamesjeans.us
J Brand Maria
"I love the high-rise on the Maria jeans, plus the black never seems to fade no matter how many times I wash them!"— Shilpa Prabhakar Nadella, Fashion Market Editor
J Brand Maria Jeans, $198; jbrandjeans.com
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