K/R: NAS Kut Stevie Straights

I got two pairs of jeans at Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. This is one of them: Kut from the Kloth Stevie straight leg. On me they are more like a skinny jean. My idea is to replace my Paige Skyline straight legs (also like a skinny jean on me), which I wore a lot--they were a real workhorse pair--but now are tighter than I want.

Now that I have the jeans home, I realize that they may be duplicating the Lucky Sweet Jean straight legs that were already in my closet. I bought the Luckys last fall a size up from my usual size--to serve as a slightly roomy but not quite boyfriend fit. They now fit me pretty similarly to the new Kut Stevie. When the Luckys had a more relaxed fit, they actually felt kind of frumpy; they weren't a favorite pair for that reason.

Photos 1-2: the new Kut Stevie straight legs. These are keep or return.

Photos 3-4: Lucky Sweet Jean straight legs, for comparison. (These are the ones that were already in my closet).

First thoughts: The Kuts felt amazing on, in the dressing room. Still do feel great. They were an immediate "yes" in the store. The fabric is thick and feels nice. I really like the wash, and the length and leg opening are great for all purposes (flats, heels, tucking into boots).

Second thoughts: a) I wonder about the back pocket design, though. Flattering or no? (Do they look like built-in panty lines??!)
b) I wonder if I'm being ridiculous to keep them, when the Luckys seem so similar. The Kuts somehow feel better, but in the photos I can't see why.

Third thoughts: I am willing to entertain keeping them even if they're duplicates.

What do you say, YLF wise ones?

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25 Comments

  • Quietgirl replied 9 years ago

    They seem just fine! No the pockets don't look like panty lines! LOL

  • UmmLila (Lisa) replied 9 years ago

    I don't see a lot of difference between them ... Both are very flattering, and that's a great, yet simple outfit. However, if you're big in jeans in the cooler weather, it never hurts to have multiple pairs. It's not like having two flattering evening gowns.

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    Wow, this is a toughie. 

    First of all, you look amazing in both pair of jeans! (You look great in jeans, period, but these are real WOW jeans -- no frump in sight!) Also, I LOVE your sweater and belt. 

    Okay. FWIW. Have you owned Kuts before? I find them an interesting maker. I have the Kut Diana skinnies in white.  I bought them three years ago. They are holding up like absolute iron. They do stretch out some. They're skinnies....that end up feeling like slim BFs at times. Which is fine, for my purposes. 

    Others have had Kut jeans with no stretch at all. It may depend on how snug they are to begin with -- mine do fit quite snug just out of the wash. 

    Anyway...all of that said...mine have that same pocket detail, and when I showed them on the forum some people thought I had VPL when actually, it was the pockets! It may be more confusing with white because the stitching is also white. On these -- I see why you are asking the question, but the stitching announces itself as such and so really, it's obvious that it's not your underwear. Still, that begs the question of whether or not this is flattering. 

    On your slim build, I actually think it is. So for me, this would not be an issue. 

    In the photos, it looks as if there is a small degree of whiskering or fade in the Luckys that is not there in the Kuts. That makes them different, to my mind, but different enough? Not sure. 

    I'm not sure that adds any info for you. I do think Kut makes a good and durable jean for the cost. 

  • Peri replied 9 years ago

    Kerplonk! Peri falls over in envy. 

    I think keep. And what I'm seeing is the pockets on the new ones are supremely flattering. The rear view of the old pair shows a lot of bunching up under the behind and a more smooshed flat look. (Oh don't you love YLF, I'm checking out another woman's butt! And she asked me to!)

    The front view of the new ones looks better too, although it's less obvious why. Keep keep keep. If I looked like that in a pair of jeans (and didn't have nerve pain on the attempt) nothing could make me give them up.

  • Joyce B replied 9 years ago

    I think both look great on you.

  • Suja replied 9 years ago

    I would keep the Kuts. If they feel better, even if you can't pinpoint why, that makes them a keep. Plus, most people will wear a good looking, well fitting pair of jeans. No risk of it becoming a closet orphan.

  • Thistle replied 9 years ago

    So, if you are okay with a bit of duplication, I would keep both.

    Yes, the KUTs do duplicate the Luckys. They both look extremely similar to me except for the pocket detailing. That is about the only difference I can see on my monitor.

    That said, the KUTs may stretch out a bit and give you a slim boyfriend vibe. Hard to know until you wear them a bit. I love my KUTs, so I am biased. They have worn very well, are very comfy, and still look nice for work on Fridays.

  • rabbit replied 9 years ago

    I agree with Peri that your figure and jeans are a match made in heaven.  That said, I don't see a significant difference (at least in this light), and the new jeans are probably going to change fit very slightly through wearing them,  maybe not a lot, but it's hard to predict in my experience.  

    If you wear jeans a lot you might want to keep the new ones too.  For me I wear jeans about 1/3 of the time at most and having two jeans in the same cut and same color/wash and same fit wouldn't make sense for me.  By the time I wore one pair out I might want a different silhouette.   But I would (personally) look for the same jean in another wash I wanted if I loved the fit and cut.   Either that or if I really preferred the new ones, pass on the old pair somehow.

  • Susie replied 9 years ago

    Yes rabbit said what I was thinking- how about the Kuts in a different wash? They do look great on you!

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 9 years ago

    Thanks, Quietgirl!

    Ummlila, good point! Not even priced like an evening gown, either. I do wear jeans a lot, and particularly skinny/straight legs.

    Suz, I have had Kuts before, but it was several years ago. I just bought the Kut Catherine boyfriend jean, sized up. It's been too hot to wear them yet. But usually I've found the Kut jeans just didn't fit me all that well, so I haven't bought them. (I do have some Diana corduroys.) The whiskering you mention may be part of what I find different and not as flattering about the Luckys; I especially like the way the Kuts look from the front.

    Peri, I'm laughing at your comments, while also appreciating your wisdom. That's pretty much how I felt in the dressing room: "These are coming home with me!" Then the second thoughts come traipsing in. I appreciate your studied opinion on the rear view! ;) (Yes, YLF is a unique community!)

    Thanks, Joyce B, and Suja, that's a good insight.

    Thistle, it's great to hear your positive experience with the brand.

    rabbit, thanks for your thoughtful response. I wonder if I will actually wear the Luckys more or not, now that they fit differently. I want to wear the Kuts now (but it's too hot), and come to think of it, I don't feel the same about the Luckys. Not sure if it's just because the Kuts are new. You and Susie have an interesting idea of seeking out a different wash. I don't see one on the Nordstrom site.

  • JayS replied 9 years ago

    All I'm gonna say is that I hadn't considered these jeans before, but after seeing them on you, I'm gonna try some 'em!

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 9 years ago

    JayS, how's that for enabling? Too funny!

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    JayS sort of said what I was thinking. And I don't even need another pair of jeans! So yeah...keep the Kuts. Decide about the older Luckys later. 

  • Joy replied 9 years ago

    Please keep the Kuts. I have both Lucky and Kut jeans ( Diana skinny and Catherine boyfriends). I find the Kuts to be more comfortable and they have worn well. You look fantastic in jeans, but I like the look of the Kuts best on you.

  • SarahTheWhite replied 9 years ago

    I am with Peri. If I looked like that in any jeans, you would never get them off of me!! Wow. As for duplication, they look very similar to me, but how they feel is worth just as much in my book. If they feel wonderful, you will wear them, and the Luckys will end up being your backup. PLEASE keep them. Do it for the pear shaped women of the world to admire... :-)

  • carter replied 9 years ago

    I agree with Peri. The back view of the new jeans is pretty much perfect. Seriously jealous. Keep the new jeans and walk backwards!

  • Gracie replied 9 years ago

    Keep, keep, they are SO flattering. So you will have two flattering pairs of jeans and they are somehow different. I love the pockets on the Kuts and I don't remotely see any vpl insinuation in the stitching.

  • CocoLion replied 9 years ago

    This is such an interesting topic to me today because I am going through the exact same thought process with my black gaucho pants/basketball shorts.

    I like the Alice and Olivia the best but they seem redundant to the Just Female basketball shorts I already have.  So tonight I wore the basketball shorts out to dinner and decided I'm not in love with them any more.  The length and shape are ok but after experiencing the Alice + Olivias I now see how much better this kind of short can be.

    I think the Kuts are better than the Luckys on you.  I like their fit better on the lower leg, they seem more skinny cigarette than straight legged jean to me.  The back pockets are fine, I think a busy design actually hides VPL better than the currently popular blank pocket design.

    Now to conclude my point, which perhaps isn't a point but a question. Is it ok to find a better version of a wardrobe workhorse and move on?  Do you keep a duplicate?  Do you donate or sell or consign the item that is being replaced?  I know in my case, I wear a clean pair of jeans every day so an extra pair is good.  But in the case of culottes, not necessary!  So I'm working on feeling ok with having purchased the basketball shorts at full price that I wore once to the opera and the second time tonight for an hour and a half for sushi.

  • Karie replied 9 years ago

    Ha! I'm still laughing at Peri's comments. Seems like I've been viewing a lot of butts around here lately; in fact, I've begun to check out my own more often - and it's not as riveting as I'd hoped :0

    They're very similar, but I'd keep both because both look fantastic! I don't see any panty lines. 

  • SarahTheWhite replied 9 years ago

    LOL @ Carter!!

  • amiable replied 9 years ago

    Wow - they are perfect on you!

  • kellygirl replied 9 years ago

    Love the new Kuts! You were made for jeans! Keep them both!

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 9 years ago

    Suz, yes, I can decide about the Luckys later, can't I?
    SarahTheWhite, good idea--backups are sometimes helpful. I don't do laundry that often. And I bet there are jeans that look awesome on you.
    Carter, ha ha ha ha! And thank you.
    Gracie, thanks. Right, they're not literally duplicates, are they?
    Cocolion, you've hit on the crux of the dilemma for me. I have something serviceable but like the new thing better, and there's a little bit of guilt over that. I really appreciate your discerning eye, too, picking up on elements in the two styles I couldn't quite figure out.
    Thanks, Karie, Amiable, and Kelly!
    Joy, thanks for your endorsement of the Kuts and your opinion. I appreciate your eye.

    I'm thinking I'm going to keep the Kuts. Thanks, everyone! I can decide whether to hang on to the Luckys later on.

  • Angie replied 9 years ago

    Killer

    Don't you dare return them. xo

  • Gigi replied 9 years ago

    Haven't read all the responses yet, but I have to say that I think the rear view on the Kuts is extremely flattering (I would never have imagined the imaginary VPLs!), even more flattering than on the Luckys. If you are OK with duplication, I would keep. (As viewed from the front, the two jeans to me look practically identical.)

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