Getting new clothes is always a treat, especially when it’s your new favorite pair of jeans. And if those jeans happen to have a low-price tag, it’s even better yet. But holy cow, it can be so dang daunting to find that great-fitting new pair of jeans. I haven’t deliberately shopped for jeans in a long time, but all my old favorites have become too big on me since I started getting in shape with Burn Fat and Feast. Now that I’m down 20 pounds, my old jeans just aren’t cutting it and it was time to dive head-first into shopping mode. I asked our Instagram followers for great budget-friendly denim options in my Instagram Stories a few weeks back and the overwhelming recommendation from our readers was to check out Old Navy. I grabbed my debit card, filled up an online shopping cart, and got to work on my Old Navy summer denim try-on. At the end of the day, I was exhausted! Fortunately, my suffering can be your gain because I took all the guesswork out of summer jean shopping. You get the benefit of seeing twelve different pairs of jeans on an actual body from several different angles, along with all of my notes about fit and sizing recommendations.
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I did my best to make the jean shopping process as painless (and hopefully fun) as possible for you. When I started shopping, I honestly had no idea what size to order. I just sort of guessed that I was either a 4 or 6 and ordered half of my jeans in a size 4 and the other half in a size 6. As it turns out, Old Navy jeans can be inconsistent with their sizing and it was helpful to have an array of jeans to try on between those two sizes. I made sure to be extra thorough about sizing and fit information for each pair of jeans that I tried on and even provided a quick-shopping guide at the bottom of the post. I think you’ll find it all to be super helpful!
For reference, I am 5’6″ and weigh 120 pounds. For consistency, I tried every pair of jeans on with my white Converse sneakers and my favorite striped Old Navy t-shirt. Now, are you ready to virtually shop with me?
Power Slim Straight High Rise
I had high expectations for the Power Slim Straight High Rise with Secret Slim Pockets ($49.99) and started my Old Navy denim try-on with this pair. The product name had so much going for it and I loved the idea of a high-rise, slim fit, straight leg jean, since it would be a change from my go-to skinny jean silhouette. Unfortunately, this pair just wasn’t working. The size 6 I had ordered was too big on me and the proportions just fell off. Despite the sizing issues, these jeans were quite comfortable and I just wish they had a bit more of a slim cut. I would be willing to try them on again, but next time I’ll be sure to order a size 4.
Pop Icon Skinny Mid-Rise
The Pop Icon Mid-Rise Skinny Jean ($34.99) was a good, basic pair of jeans. I ordered a size 4 and they fit pretty well. The jeans didn’t offer much stretch and had average softness, but they were comfortable enough without being too tight. They were also flattering on my body. These probably won’t be your all-time favorite pair of jeans, but are a great basic denim option for anyone on a budget.
Pop Icon High-Waisted Distressed Skinny Jean
Let’s let the Pop Icon Skinny Jeans have a moment and continue with this little try-on. I also ordered the Pop Icon High-Waisted Distressed Skinny Jean ($49.99), this time in a size 6. Honestly, these jeans were just ok. They were a little roomy and the fit seemed too boxy for a skinny jean. The wash was a nice color and I appreciated that the holes offered a little distressed visual appeal without being too crazy, but I just didn’t love the fit. I recommend sizing down if you want to try these for yourself.
Super Skinny Black Pull-On Jeggings
If you’ve been reading the blog for a while, you probably already know how much I love my Liverpool pull-on jeans. I actually got the jeans from Stitch Fix while I was pregnant with Dessa (check out that review here). They got me through several weeks in the first trimester when my regular jeans didn’t fit, but I wasn’t ready for maternity pants. I adore my Liverpool jeans and actually own them in two sizes, but even the smaller size has been getting pretty saggy these days from my recent weight loss. When I saw that Old Navy offered Super Skinny Pull-On Jeggings ($29.99), I had to give them a try. I ordered a black pair in a size 6 and had mixed reviews. The jeans had great fit in the legs with a tailored skinny fit that wasn’t too tight, but they were big in the waist. The top of the band visibly stuck out from my belly and there was no way I could ever wear a shirt that was fitted. The jeans weren’t smooth or soft and had a slightly scratchy feel to them. So this pair wasn’t exactly great, but they did have really fantastic stretch and would be great for chasing kids around the yard.
Rockstar Super Skinny High Rise
I’m always on the lookout for a great pair of skinny jeans and was excited for the Rockstar Super Skinny High Rise with Built-In Sculpt ($49.99) in my Old Navy denim try-on. These jeans had a darker wash that wasn’t too dark and I loved the raw edge along the hemline. These jeans were cute, but the size 4 I tried on was tight. I technically fit into them but wasn’t comfortable at all. If you are between sizes, I highly recommend sizing up.
Rockstar Super Skinny Extra High Rise
Next up was another pair of size 4 Rockstar Super Skinny Extra High Rise Jeans ($49.99) in a light wash with lots of distressed features. I loved the look of these jeans and could tell right away that they were much softer than several other pairs that I had tried on, but they were also very tight. I would have loved to try them in a 6 and might do so in the future. If you want to order these for yourself, make sure you size up.
Rockstar High-Waisted Super Skinny Jean
If you’re looking for a fun pair of black distressed denim, you just might love the High-Waisted Rockstar Super Skinny Jeans ($49.99). These were also a size 4 and they were on the tight side, but were very flattering and didn’t feel too tight. The distressed denim was edgier than my usual conservative look and I suddenly felt like a cool mom when I tried them on. Rob and I haven’t really gone anywhere for people to see us in the past year, but now that we are both fully vaccinated, the possibility of patio dining date nights is on the horizon and I was so tempted to keep these jeans. I decided at the last minute to send them back to Old Navy simply because I decided to keep two other pairs of jeans and there are a few cute dresses in my closet that suddenly fit again and would be equally perfect to wear on a summer date night.
High-Waisted Rockstar Super Skinny
My Old Navy denim try-on kept rolling along with a pair of Rockstar Super Skinny High Rise Jeans ($44.99). I tried a size 6 for this pair, which didn’t have any holes or distressing. Before I tried them on, I couldn’t help but notice that the “Uma” wash was considerably lighter than it looked online – which was fine by me, but definitely worth noting. These jeans were comfortable in the legs, but a bit large in the waist. They also had fantastic stretch. The high waist helped to keep the jeans in place and minimize any sagging while I tried them on, but I knew a size 4 would fit better. This is the ultimate pair of cute, basic, functional, comfortable, and well-fitting jeans with a price tag under $50. I loved them so much, I ordered sized down and ordered a smaller pair for curbside pickup at my local Old Navy. These are photos of the original size 6 that I tried on. The smaller pair that I purchased is slightly more fitted.
Rockstar Super Skinny Extra High Rise
I also ordered the Rockstar Super Skinny Extra High Rise ($44.99) in a size 6 and was pleasantly surprised at how well they fit. These jeans were more fitted for a size 6 and weren’t too big on me. Even better, these jeans were cute and flattering. The lighter wash is perfect for summer and I loved the light distressing with just a few ripped holes. These were definite keepers!
Rockstar Super Skinny High Rise
I tried on one last pair of High-Waisted Rockstar jeans in a size 6 – this time it was the Distressed Rockstar Super Skinny Jeans ($49.99). These were cute and a great fit throughout the waist and legs. I was tempted to keep them, but I didn’t love them quite as much as some other pairs that I had tried on, so the smart thing to do was send them back.
Rockstar Super Skinny Mid Rise
I took a break from all the high-rise jeans and tried on a size 6 pair of Rockstar Super Skinny Mid Rise Jeans ($34.99) next. These jeans had 1,200 mostly glowing reviews on the Old Navy website, so I was excited to try them on, but I must have missed something because these were not my favorite. I really liked the wash of these jeans and the way they fit in the legs, but there were a few issues. You can’t really tell in the photos, but there was a little too much fabric in the crotch area, which made the jeans look sort of oversized and frumpy in that area. The fabric was also less-than-great. Very few of the jeans I tried on felt particularly soft, but these were especially lacking. This pair was definitely going back to Old Navy.
Rockstar Super Skinny Mid Rise
I was starting to think that only high-rise Rockstar jeans would fit me in a size 6, but I tried on a different pair of size 6 Rockstar Super Skinny Mid Rise Jeans ($44.99) and was surprised at how much better they fit. These jeans were flattering and comfortable. Yes, they were a bit large in the waist, but they didn’t seem to sag so easily. The only issue this time was the holes. They just seemed so big and so bold on a darker wash of jeans. It wasn’t my taste, so these were going back.
Hits and Misses from my Old Navy Denim Try-On
Phew! That was a lot of jeans and a ton of information to keep track of. To simplify your shopping experience from my Old Navy denim try-on, I added easy shopping links below with my size information and a quick recap of the fit and style. For reference, I am 5’6″ and weigh about 120 pounds. I tend to be between sizes 4 and 6 for Old Navy jeans.
If you scrolled down this far and are still reading, THANK YOU! I can’t begin to express how appreciative I am for your interest and support of the blog and the content we create. I’ve had a lot of fun trying on budget-friendly style options (like Amazon activewear) and today’s Old Navy denim post. What type of budget-friendly fashion would you like to see me try on next?
I can’t tell you how helpful this article is! You just saved me a month’s worth of ordering and reordering! Side note for anyone else who might wander in here–I’m 5’3″ 125lb and I also wear either a 4 or 6 (short) at Old Navy.