So, how lucky am I to be able to road test free jeans? I got to pick from a great selection, but hands down the winner was Paige. (Paper Denim & Cloth was close behind, but they didn't have my size.) The natural looking fade (not patchy) caught my eye right away.

The comfortable stretch, but not too thin and flimsy, is great. I am not usually a fan of fancy pockets, but they did theirs just right, with leather trim and all. They were a little long, so I would normally get them shortened, but I discovered that this type of denim, nice and stiff, is good for cuff rolling.

This style jean with a bell is great for a small cuff (1-2 inches); some of my other jeans (Miss Sixty) are made from much thinner denim and those I would make a big fat cuff up to the knee. These jeans are great with a cute chunky heel -- nothing too pointy and dressed-up -- and a good pair of striped socks. Stripes and denim are a classic casual look -- could be the ‘40s, ‘80s or now.

My style and taste in clothes (or anything else) has to fit that timeless bill. My favorite items that work casually or a little classy are almost all vintage, with the exception of huge collection of my friend Michelle Mason’s clothes. She makes vintage romantic clothes, but in comfortable stretch fabrics. She’s probably what I wear the most of regularly, besides vintage. In a world and time of way too many fancy, complicated and new jeans, I look for something classic. Something that fits just right for my type of female curves, something not everybody has, and..... free!

I own 20-25 pair of jeans. The only other really comfortable, regularly worn jeans I have are: Miss Sixty jeans and corduroys (a few years old however; the newer styles haven't worked as well for me) and a great pair of Paper Denim & Cloth jeans with a slight stretch and a nice natural fade. However, I must admit, my days of wearing jeans every day have now turned to more mid-length skirts. I have some amazing denim skirts, great vintage Levi knee length skirts with buttons down the front; great for all day, every day.

I had a great time in these jeans today; they’re great for daily comfort wear. I went on a bike ride to my mother’s (and they were comfortable for that), for a Vietnamese lunch with by best friend Steve, and now I am at home with a cup of tea, doing my denim homework.

~Melissa Auf der Maur

Shopping List:

Music:
Auf der Maur has recently relocated to her hometown of Montreal, Canada, where she’s hard at work on her second solo album for Capitol Records. Until then, get “Auf Der Maur,” Melissa’s first solo album, $14.99, amazon.com

Melissa Auf der Maur Offical Site aufdermaur.com

Michelle Mason, 738 E. 3d St., Los Angeles; 213.621.9270
Paige jeans, $170-270, bergdorfgoodman.com

A Film by The Belles of the Black Diamond Field directed by Sarah Sophie Flicker, Maximilla Lukacs. thebellesoftheblackdiamondfield.com