Everlane Rigid Way High Jeans review: Are these $161 jeans worth the price?
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Finding the perfect pair of jeans is no easy feat — especially if you're as picky as I am. For more than a year, I've been searching for my ideal jeans: High-waisted, straight-leg, medium wash — and 100 per cent cotton.
It seems like a relatively simple ask, but let me assure you it is not. I've searched far and wide for rigid jeans (stretch denim is not for me — plus it has a more detrimental environmental impact) that are fitted in the waist, relaxed, but not too baggy in the legs, and don't overwhelm my 5'5" frame.
I recently came across the Everlane Rigid Way-High Jeans, Everlane's newest iteration of their popular Way-High style, and snapped them up in two colours to put to the test. Read on to check out my honest Everlane Rigid Way-High Jeans review, as well as my thoughts on whether they're worth the money.
Everlane Rigid Way-High Jeans in Worn-In Blue
The details
These jeans are touted as Everlane's highest rise (a belly button-hiding 12.5" rise) and are made with 100 per cent organic rigid cotton. They feature a button fly, a wide straight leg and come in four colourways.
The Rigid Way-High Jeans are available in two lengths: Regular (which at 5'5", I tried) and long.
First impressions
I wasn't sure which wash I would like most, so I actually got two: Rich Indigo and Worn-In Blue. The Indigo wash is definitely darker, but if you're looking for an ultra-dark pair of jeans, these aren't for you — I still found the Indigo to be a mid-dark denim.
The Worn-In Blue is a slightly more, well, worn in version of your traditional blue jeans — featuring some subtle whiskering, but not in a way that makes them look too distressed.
These jeans are made from thick 13 oz. organic cotton — and I was impressed by how sturdy they felt. I can't speak to the lighter blue shade or the black denim, but I did find that the Indigo felt a bit softer than the Worn-In Blue — however that could just be a one-off.
Size and fit
In my opinion, Everlane typically runs big — I usually size down. For example, I wear a 25 in most Levi's styles, but size down to a 24 in Everlane styles, which I did for the Rigid Way-High Jeans as well. I found them a bit snug throughout the bum on first wear, but after a few wears, they have already relaxed significantly. I find that this is true with all Everlane cotton styles I own, so I would still suggest sizing down.
Cut-wise, these really might be the ultimate straight-leg jeans. They definitely live up to their highest rise claim, and I find the cut really flattering. They skim the butt and hips and relax a bit in the leg, creating a perfect straight leg silhouette without being too wide.
I'm 5'5" and these hit me right at the top of my ankle. While I could wear them with socks and sneakers or boots, I prefer to wear a straight-leg silhouette with flats, so I'm looking forward to wearing these more frequently as the weather warms up.
One thing to note is that if you're looking for full-length pants, you may want to go for the "long" length , even if you're not particularly tall. I found the "regular" cut to be more of an ankle length. I can also see these being a bit too short for shoppers who are 5'9" or taller, depending on what silhouette you're looking for.
What others are saying
While the latest version of Everlane's Way-High Jeans have only racked up a handful of reviews, shoppers are praising the rigid denim's fit and comfort.
"I love that Everlane makes denim with no stretch, so hard to find these days," says one reviewer.
This pair of jeans has absolutely become my new favourite of all time! I love the rigidness of the fabric, yet it sculpts to my body perfectly," adds another. "Will be buying in every colourway."
Everlane Rigid Way-High Jeans in Vintage Light Wash
"These are by far my favourite pair of jeans," says another shopper. "I'd been looking for a true straight leg for a while, and this is it for me. Good fit on the butt, but still roomy on the full leg."
However, some reviewers cautioned that if you're curvier, the straight-cut fit of these might not work for you.
"Love the look of these, but they aren’t made for people with hips," writes a reviewer. "I’m a 29-30, ordered these in 30 and could barley get them buttoned. If you have a straight shape these will work great."
Are the Everlane Rigid Way-High jeans worth the price?
At $161 CAD ($108 USD), the Everlane Rigid Way-High Jeans aren't cheap — however, they're comparably priced to other 100% cotton jeans I've purchased at stores like Aritzia or Free People, so I didn't find the price point to be a dealbreaker. One of the things I love about 100% cotton jeans is that they continue to mold to your body over time, and look just as good broken in as they do when you bought them — if not better.
As someone who cares about sustainable clothing, the fact that these are made with organic cotton, and without elastane or any other synthetic materials, also makes the cost more justifiable.
However, while these jeans work well for me, some shoppers have cautioned that if you're taller or curvier, these might not be the ideal fit for you.
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