The Item I Wear to Death: Mavi's Vintage Fringe Skinny Jeans

In our biweekly series, our editors will be sharing "the item they wear to death," whether it be a basic white tee or a super-trendy jumpsuit. Prepare yourself (and your credit card) for some guilt-free shopping.

I'm not a jeans person. Ask any of my friends, and they'll tell you that—until very recently—they've seen me in jeans once, maybe twice. (Wait, you're wearing jeans today? But you never wear jeans!) So when I finally found a pair that spoke to my soul (and my butt because, yes, I have one), I wholeheartedly took full advantage of them.

Before I dive into why Mavi's high-rise fringe skinny jeans (opens in new tab) are the most underrated pair of pants in existence, you have to know this: Jeans were my worst nightmare growing up. While my friends were buying sizes 0 and 2 in Hollister and Abercrombie jeans, there I was at American Eagle checking out a size 6 or 8. When you're trying to build a solid wardrobe while simultaneously figuring out who you are as a person, size, inevitably, starts to creep into your identity. (I wish I could go back and tell myself to stop giving a fuck.) When every pair of jeans I tried on felt a little too tight or the rise was a little too low, I gave up on buying them. Anything was better than going a size up.

Today, I officially define my life in two phases: before Mavi jeans and after. As an editor who frequently covers fashion and lifestyle, I'm often sent new styles to try out. You can imagine how I felt when one of those packages included a pair of jeans (the horror!). After unfolding them, however, I became completely obsessed with the distressed fringe at the bottom (I love some good fringe). I decided to give them a shot. When I tried them on later that night, I couldn't believe 1) I didn't have to do the wiggle dance to put them on...they just slid up. Crazy! 2) They reached just above my belly button, allowing me to live that adult crop top life (see photo above) 3) They flattered my legs more than any other pair of pants I've worn in the last 23 years of life and 4) They simply made me feel good.

It's been a little over two months since I first tried on the jeans and I have no shame admitting that I wear them once (twice?) a week. The Mavi bottoms have made appearances at a Jets game, a Rangers game, at my favorite bar, and at the office. They're so comfy, I've even worn them on a plane. The eye-catching fringe detail doesn't make it particularly easy to disguise how frequently I wear them, but I can't be bothered—I've finally found jeans that I want and feel comfortable enough to wear. Younger me would be thrilled.

Grab a pair for yourself: