When I first wrote this review, in early-2019, we were like a year into mom jeans being super mainstream.
Trends come and go, but one trend has unfortunately held on…
Our jeans are still destroying the environment.
Think of all those toxic chemicals used to dye and thousands of gallons of wasted water… just so that we can buy another pair of jeans (that if we’re being honest with ourselves, we probably don’t need).
Grim, right? Yeah, but don’t click away.
While I waffle if I like Reformation or not, one thing is undeniable: they are trying to reform ethical fashion (while still producing high-quantities /s)… and that includes with their jeans.
Ref’s denim is either created from reworked surplus denim or a mix of recycled cotton, organic cotton, and Tencel.
This means that we can buy as many pairs of jeans as our little hearts desire, guilt free.
They might be guilt free, but are they still worth it?
Reformation Jean Sizing
For reference, I’m 5’5.75” and weigh 115-117 lbs.
And before we get into each individual pair, here’s a rundown on my sizes in other denim brands for comparison…
–Acne Studios denim shorts, size 25
–APC jeans, size 26
–Levi’s, size 25
–MOTHER denim, size 24-26
–Rag & Bone jeans, size 24-26 and a size 25 for denim shorts
–Re/Done Original jeans, size 25 (sometimes a 26)
Cynthia High Rise Straight Cropped Jeans Sizing
These Cynthia cropped jeans, in Vana (a dark charcoal/almost black), are a size 26.
These Cynthia jeans have zero stretch.
… which is why I sized up.
I thought I should, since 4 years ago, they were tight around the waist.
Sizing up does fixed being tight around the waist, only now they’re insanely baggy around the front and the bum.
Hard pass on this fit.
Cynthia Stretch High Rise Straight Jeans
In the Cynthia stretch jeans, in Manitoba, I took a size 25.
Aha, that 2% stretch comes in to save the day.
While still a little loose in the, caboose (hate myself for saying that), they’re infinitely better than the regular non-stretch Cynthia jeans.
There’s also zero-pinching anywhere (like the crotch).
… so they’re super comfortable tbh.
Liza Ultra High Rise Straight Cropped Jeans
For the Liza straight cropped jeans, in Black, I tried a size 25.
As you can see, while they are supposed to have some stretch (they’re 68% Organic Cotton, 30% Tencel/Lyocell, and 2% EcoLycra), they are still insanely tight and cause my cup sides to spilleth over.
In black they hid the v-line that happens with too-tight jeans, but it was still there.
I definitely thought about keeping them, mainly because my bum looked pretty OK in them, but ultimately decided to return because they were just a bit too tight in a size 25.
Previous Ref Jeans sizing info from 2018…
Serena High Skinny Jean
My Serena high rise skinny jeans are a size 25 vs. the Ref’s model wore a size 24 in the photo.
Size 25 fits tight everywhere (which is a good thing). A size bigger would be too baggy.
The Ref’s Serena jeans run true to size.
IMPRESSIONS
Serena’s description says “do your ass a favor.”
I agree, do your ass a favor and get these. I kept them.
Denim Feels… thinner than regular skinny jeans, but heavier than a denim legging.
Julia High Cigarette Jean
My Julia High Cigarette Jeans were a size 25 vs. the Ref’s model wore a size 25 in the photo.
Size 25 fits pretty tight around the waist and is more fitted as your leg goes on.
There’s less camel toe than the Cynthia jeans (coming up next), but still a little camel-y.
As a result, I’d say the Julia High Cigarette jeans run true to size.
IMPRESSIONS
The Reformation says “these are the sustainable jeans your butt prefers.”
I could be silly and say “‘yeah, my boyfriend prefers my butt in them too,” but I’m a professional.
Instead, I’ll just say that while my butt does indeed prefer this jeans, my eyes do not like the wash (“Teton”).
I returned these.
Cynthia High Relaxed Jean
My Cynthia High Relaxed Jeans were a size 25 vs. the Ref’s model wore a size 25 in the photo.
Size 25 fits pretty tight around the waist, but loose everywhere else, including the thighs.
As a result, the Cynthia High Relaxed jeans run a bit funny.
If you have a small waist and a big bum, these are the jeans of your dreams.
IMPRESSIONS
The Reformation says that these are “smart ass jeans.”
I could be silly and say “‘smart ass jeans?, more like dumb ass jeans — they don’t fit well!…” but I’m a professional.
Instead, I’ll just say that these jeans made my ass look great… but with a great ass comes great camel toe. Like the kind of camel toe you haven’t seen since 2005 on Perez Hilton.
I returned these.
Reformation Returns & Customer Service
Online returns are super easy.
Just login to your account and select what you want to return.
You can either return for a refund on your credit card in 5-7 business days or for “Instant RefCredit” (i.e. credit to spend at Reformation that’s given on the spot).
Reformation’s return policy:
You have 30 days to return your item in unused condition (obviously).
Returns are free, but only if you keep at least one item from your order or if you return at a Reformation store.
Otherwise it’ll set you back $8 USD if you’re in the USA or more for other countries.
You’re supposed to mail it back in the same box, but I just stuck mine in a mailer.
I sent my stuff back and got my refund back around ~2 weeks after I shipped it.
It took so long because you need to account for the shipping time and then processing of the item — it’s not like Shopbop where as soon as you drop off your return (they also carry Reformation, just FYI), you get your refund.
Like Reformation’s other clothes, I want to love their denim. They do everything on paper right…
-Ethics
-Style
-Price (under $200 for jeans is pretty competitive)
-Customer service
… but the fit just trips me up.
The TLDR of Reformation denim, is the same as their dresses, sweaters, and shoes: cool cuts, better for the environment, but not necessarily amazing.
At that point you’re left asking yourself, “is it better to invest in one slightly more expensive, but more quality pair of timeless jeans?”
Only you can answer that.
Reformation jeans are available from $148 USD at Net-A-Porter, Nordstrom, Reformation (duh), Shopbop, or SSENSE.
Note: newinspired uses affiliate links which costs you nothing… but means a lot to me. When you use these links, the money newinspired earns gets reinvested in blog content. Absolutely nothing on newinspired is “gifted” or sponsored, I purchase each item with my own money. Affiliate commissions are used to purchase new items to honestly & thoroughly review. If you found this review helpful, consider using them to support newinspired.
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