Back in January, after reading an interesting New York Times feature on the intentional – and successful – tactics of niche oriented retailers (i.e., those who cater to particular age/style demographics versus trying to cater to all), the chances of me stepping into a teen (or early 20’s at best) store like American Eagle decreased exponentially. But this morning, emboldened by a favorable AE denim pitch I recalled seeing in a non-teen source, and the need for new denim (not to mention an adventure that would get us out of the house but shield us from the wind), I stopped in with Laurel.

The experience reminded me not to judge a book by its cover. The staffers were friendly and extremely sweet towards Laurel, and I did in fact pick up a terrific pair of jeans. Check out the AE Hipster Jean; it’s got a stylishly low (but not too low) rise and boot cut similar to my beloved Lucky’s, but at a fraction of the price ($29.50). The Sunfaded Wash is particularly fresh for spring, and the back pockets feature flattering signature stitching.