Stacked Skinny Vortex Distressed Jean vs SERENEDE Midnight Black Jeans

The Stacked Skinny Vortex is the pick for a casual, on-trend look with heavy distressing and a stacked ankle. The SERENEDE Midnight Black is the better-built jean: 4-way stretch, extra-deep pockets, a leather waistband patch and branded hardware, and 576 ratings averaging 4.8 back up its true-to-size fit. Owners of the SERENEDE praise the stretch and say it is skinny but not extremely tight; the main complaints are slow shipping and damaged packaging. The Vortex is 99% cotton with only 1% elastane, so it holds shape but gives less, and its stacked cut runs long.

• Choose the Stacked Skinny Vortex if you want a heavily distressed, stacked-ankle skinny in a medium blue wash and plus sizes, and you prefer a mostly cotton denim that holds its shape.
• Choose the SERENEDE Midnight Black if you want a jet-black skinny with 4-way stretch, extra-deep pockets and a fit owners call true to size.