Okay so for weeks my Instagram feed was all about these Wow flare jeans from Old Navy. Everyone was talking about how cheap and flattering they were. Honestly? I got sucked into the hype. I really needed some new jeans that didn’t cost an arm and a leg, so I decided “Why not? Let’s try ‘em.”
Hunting Them Down In Store
I drove over to my local Old Navy – figured it’s best to try jeans on, right? Right off the bat, the price tag caught my eye. Seriously impressed by how affordable they were compared to other brands. I grabbed my usual size and a couple others nearby, just in case, and headed for the dressing room.
The first thing I noticed putting them on was the fabric. It felt… okay. Not super soft or luxurious, but decent for the price. Denim was medium weight, not too thin or thick. The flare itself looked good – a nice shape right out of the gate.
The Fit Check Drama
Okay, standing still? They looked great. But when I sat down? Oh boy. Instantly felt super stiff around the waist and hips. Like, seriously uncomfortable. And that non-stretch denim? It didn’t give an inch. Walking and bending felt awkward.
The waistband kept digging in weirdly while the hips felt loose. Like, how does that even happen? I tried another size up – way too big everywhere, especially the waist, but still stiff. Size down? Forget it, couldn’t even button them properly! Serious frustration happening in that tiny room.
Taking a Chance Anyway
Despite the fit being kinda meh while sitting, I really liked how they looked standing. And that price was just too good to pass up. So, against my better judgment, I bought a pair. I figured maybe they’d loosen up a bit after washing?
The Real World Test
Wore them out for half a day doing normal stuff: errands, grabbing coffee, sitting in the car. Here’s the real tea:
- Waistband is the Enemy: Kept riding up and digging in. Had to constantly yank them down. So annoying!
- Comfort? What Comfort? They felt stiff the whole time. Zero give. Never really relaxed like you hope jeans will.
- Shape Shifters (Not in a Good Way): Within a couple of hours, weird gaps started appearing around the waist and hips while the knees started to bag out. Seriously, the knees looked like floppy sacks already!
- Pockets are Actually Good: Gotta give credit where it’s due. The back pockets were nicely placed and actually functional. A legit win.
The Verdict After Wash & Wear
Threw them in the wash (cold, gentle cycle, hung dry). After? Even worse. More bagging at the knees, the fabric felt even rougher, and they seemed to lose whatever shape they started with faster. The waist was still annoying. After just a few wears, they looked and felt frumpy.
So, are Wow flares from Old Navy worth it? For me? Nope. The super low price is tempting, I get it. But cheap only matters if they actually work. The fit issues, especially that waistband digging in and the instant knee bagging, plus the stiff fabric, just killed it. They look okay maybe once or twice, but fall apart fast in terms of shape and comfort. Save your cash or spend a bit more somewhere else for flares that actually feel good and last more than one season. Honestly, not worth the hype for me.
