Everlane jeans review: does Meghan Markle’s go-to basics brand live up to the hype?

We put Everlane's jeans through their paces to find out whether this A List-approved basics brand lives up to its hype. 

Looking for a pair of failsafe, fashion-forward jeans that can be styled with just about anything? Us too. Which is why we've set our sights on finding the very best denim the fashion industry has to offer. 

We know from experience that finding the perfect pair of jeans is an arduous undertaking at the best of times, but finding the perfect pair of jeans online is more difficult still. Which is why we've done the hard work for you, and put the best jeans through their paces, so you can find your perfect fit the first time around. 

Next to undergo the woman&home fit test? Everlane's flattering, minimalist denim that's beloved by the A-List. 

What's special about Everlane jeans?

You'd be forgiven for thinking that Everlane is a new name on the denim scene, but the brand has actually been offering some of the best jeans around for the past decade. 

A startup that began by selling simple cotton t-shirts, Everlane's ethos is that of 'Radical Transparency' – informing customers of pricing markups, the factories from which their garments are sourced, and their impact on the planet. 

Their denim is no different. Ethically made in what the brand has touted as 'the world's cleanest denim factory,' Everlane's jeans are made with 98% recycled water using renewable energy. Additionally, the brand's denim factory has reduced their CO2 emissions by almost 80% – making this one brilliant brand for taking care to monitor their carbon footprint.

Which is probably why Everlane's jeans have found their way into the closets of Jennifer Lawrence, Gal Gadot, and Meghan Markle. (To name just a famous few.)

The brand does tend to boycott any faddish clothing trends, but their classic denim silhouettes have just the right amount of contemporary twist to make them fashion-forward. 

Unlike Wrangler jeans or a pair of trusty Levi's jeans, Everlane doesn't have a signature style. Instead, they have three core silhouettes: Straight, Skinny, and Arc – each of which we've reviewed below. 

How much do Everlane jeans cost?

Everlane jeans start retailing for around $60, rising to $98 for their most expensive style, making them a great value for the price considering their quality. In fact, we'd go as far as saying that they look significantly more expensive than their price tag. 

Like all the best skinny jeans, Everlane's The Way-High skinnies are just elasticated enough to be perfectly figure-hugging without losing their stretch after just a few washes. Similarly, their tapered-leg styles serve as amazing dupes for high-end luxury brands like Rachel Comey and Frame jeans. 

What are they made from?

Everlane's straight-leg styles are made from majority organic cotton (98%), with a hint of elastane for a small hint of stretch (2%). However, their ’90s Cheeky Straight Jean – a classic high-waisted mom jean style – is cut from 100% cotton, so if you're looking for a more old-school rigid fit, they might be a better option. 

Everlane also throws their hat into the ring of best jeans for curvy women in the form of their Curvy Authentic Stretch High-Rise jeans – a cotton, modal, elastane, and polyester blend that are form-fitting as well as flattering.

As for their signature skinnies, they're crafted from organic cotton (55%), with viscose, recycled polyester, and elastane. Like their classic straight-legs, though, their elastane composition is just 2% – so no need to worry about their stretch going after just a few washes.

Are Everlane jeans sustainable?

It's no secret that denim takes a heavy toll on the environment. It can actually take up to 20,000 liters of water to make a single pair of jeans – a stat that Everlane is actively working against with their own denim. 

All of Everlane's jeans are made at Saitex, a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) approved factory that recycles 98% of its water, uses renewable energy produced onsite, and repurposes the toxic byproducts created by denim manufacturing into bricks that will go on to make affordable homes. 

Which Everlane jeans are best? 

We've put Everlane's most popular styles through their paces to see if this beloved by the A-List basics brand lives up to its hype. Here's the woman&home verdict. 

The brand's highest rise yet, Everlane's Way-High jeans give that enviable supermodel-small-waist-long-leg look – so they're a great choice for more petite women. (Note that they might come up slightly too long if you're under 5'4. Because they're raw hem, it shouldn't be difficult to take some extra length off the leg with a good pair of  scissors.) 

Crafted from premium organic cotton – with just a dash of stretch – they fit snugly around the hips and waist while still being comfortable enough for everyday wear. Available in five chic colors, we especially love coal – a dark charcoal/black wash that can just as easily be dressed up with a great pair of heels as they can down with a pair of box-fresh sneakers. (Though if you're stuck for inspiration, be sure to check out our what to wear with black jeans style file.)

High-rise, stretchy and pocketless for a bulk-free fit, Everlane's The Way-High Skinny jeans feel like leggings masquerading as denim. Though they're designed with a sleek front panel for a seamless silhouette, we love that these staple skinnies still have that quality cotton feel – without being restrictive. 

Crafted from a super-soft blend of organic cotton and ECOVERO™ (a sustainable viscose), as well as recycled polyester and a small hint of elastane for stretch, if you're looking for skinnies that fit well, wash well, and age well, these are well worth an investment. Consider them a capsule wardrobe staple. 

90's nostalgia is alive and well in fashion at the moment (see scrunchies, Dior Saddle Bags, and leather blazers), and while the jury's still out on some of the era's more questionable trends (read: Buffalo Boots), we're fully on board with these easy fit, extra high-rise jeans. 

Made from premium non-stretch Japanese denim, Everlane's The ’90s Cheeky Jean lengthen the leg and hug the hips, waist, and bum for a classic denim fit that will go with virtually anything. Also available in Curvy (with sizes going up to a 33), if you're looking to nail the white jeans outfits trend, consider these your first port of call. 

We'd definitely put Everlane's The Curvy Cheeky Straight Jean up there with the best jeans for curvy women. Designed to give you a gorgeous hourglass silhouette, these timeless straight legs have a raised back hook seam and adjusted hip-to-waist ratio for a truly faultless fit. 

Form hugging and flattering thanks to their small hint of elastane, they also feature Everlane's specially engineered Happy Pockets – back pockets set higher and closer together to ensure your butt looks pert and lifted. Available in a choice of regular and ankle lengths, we'd advise going against the conventional wisdom of sizing up with these, as they can run a little large. 

Everlane jeans verdict 

If you're looking for a chic, minimalist denim with a designer feel without the associated price tag, Everlane's denim definitely stands up to the challenge. The brand doesn't really opt for trend-led denim styles, but if it's everyday comfort with a faultless fit you're looking for, their jeans are definitely worth parting with your hard-earned pennies for.