Shopping by color is the most powerful tool in the speed-shopper’s arsenal. Knowing what color you are looking for facilitates scanning the rack quickly for the few items worth trying on. The general guideline is this:
if your legs are greater than or equal to 1/2 your total body length, your jeans can be lighter
if your legs are less than 1/2 your total body length, your jeans should be darker
For some pictures illustrating this principle, see this previously-published article: Color Value Placement.
In some communities, thrift stores may not have the best selection of inexpensive jeans. Scanning the racks quickly for color can be implemented in any store with a wide variety of styles organized by size: thrift stores, consignment or resale shops, discounters such as TJMaxx and The Rack. Btw, did you notice you can now shop The Rack via my sidebar?
*measures*
….That explains why I can never work darkwash jeans.
I totally use colour scanning, and not just for jeans. It makes shopping so much easier.
lol
I think I’ve been on facebook too much: I wanted to “like” both of your comments!
IMO dark (blue) jeans are a better buy b/c you can wear them for casual and also for business casual.
I speed shop for pants in thrift stores by visually scanning the bottoms of the legs – if they aren’t boot cut or another variation of a wider leg opening, I pass it by.
I do the same thing with the men’s pants, on the rare occasion I’m looking for something for the hero. If it doesn’t touch the floor, it isn’t going to work for him. lol
Another scan which I will sometimes use is to go through the jeans backwards; that is, looking at the back pocket side first. 🙂