denim

Forbes has the scoop on the most expensive jeans. They cite trends towards custom-fitted denim and lots of added detailing, including embroidery and crystals, as major reasons that prices were driven upwards, but not every pair on their list has these features. The single most expensive pair was 115-year old Vintage Levis sold on eBay for $60,000, followed by the significantly newer Ernest Sewn custom jeans, which cost up to $1,000 per pair.

Other pairs we liked this year included Levis iPod Jeans and Denim for Immortality Jeans, though we also liked the opportunity to make our own from Denim Design Lab.

Soft, made of very cottony denim, the Core Denim Satchel from Marc by Marc Jacobs is a lovely casual handbag that is as comfortable to carry around as it looks. The denim is embossed with the scrambled letters in "Marc Jacobs" and features a contrasting trim in rich suede. It has a zip top closure and a floral cotton lining with several interior pockets, as well as one exterior side pocket and a transparent ID window. It measures 13" x 7.5" x 7.5" and has a 10" drop from the shoulder. Price: $258.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, so many retailers have special-edition products and are donating all or a portion of the proceeds from their sale to various breast cancer charities. This pair of Denim for Immortality Jeans are adorned with pink Swarovski crystals on the back pockets, a subtle touch that sets the apart from other jeans, and fifty percent of the purchase price will go to the Young Survival Coalition. Of course, donating money directly to the charity might be a more effective way of supporting the cause, but if you're going to be shopping for jeans anyway, it's nice to be able to do something for others at the same time. Price: $229.

If you want to explore your inner designer, the Denim Design Lab Kit will allow you to finish and distress jeans to your own specifications. Only 200 units of each of the limited edition kits, available in three different case styles, were produced and each includes a complete set of design tools and a handbook to guide you through the process. Is it worth getting a kit to customize your jeans rather than just buying a pair you like in the first place? It depends on how much you enjoy doing it, but if you get good enough, people might start coming to you instead of heading to the store. Price: £180 (about $340).

We knew about the launch of the iPod Jeans from Levi Strauss a few months ago, but thanks to Engadget, we finally know what they look like. The jeans have an iPod docking link attached to a red ribbon wire that is hidden in a side pocket, and a small control unit is built into a higher, hip-height pocket, offering the only real advantage over simply putting your iPod into a pocket of jeans you already own. A retractable - and hopefully detachable - headphone unit is included. Each pair is said to be €199.99 ( $257), but our guess is that you'll have to pay extra for dry cleaning and other special treatment, since these are probably no washing machine friendly.

No sooner were the words about wanting to see more denim out of my mouth than I came across a few more denim finds! In the spirit of Memorial Day weekend, I'm bypassing the denim Fendi Spy in favor of the Sweet Canvas Tote from Marc by Marc Jacobs. The handbag certainly is sweet, with its pink contrast topstitching and pink-and-blue flower detail. The body of the bad is done in a muted teal blue canvas with navy trim and is topped off with a navy drawstring closure. It has front pockets to tuck away your cell phone and the directions to the beach. Cotton lining won't scratch the lenses on your sunglasses and at 10x17x6-in., you'll have more than enough room for your iPod, a book and a bottle of Evian. Price: $198.

Denim doesn't seem to be a material that bags are showing up in very much these days. It's a shame because it's a lovely material that's easy to accessorize and great for casual, day use. Dior's Embroidered Denim Bag is the perfect example. They took a simple, light denim and edged it in a warm, toffee-colored leather, with a logo "D" dangling charm. Shimmering blue floral embroidery almost blends in with the fabric and adds a touch of grace to it. The purse itself is structured, with protective metal feet and magnetic snaps to close it. Pair this bag with the matching embroidered wedges, fitted trousers and a white top. Price: $990.

Sienna Miller, the actress and ex of Jude Law, is taking her fashion sense to the masses - and by masses, we mean Pepe Jeans. The 24 year old up-and-coming style icon has been seen not only in the gossip pages, but on the cover of Vogue. She has a contract with Pepe to be the "face and body" of their jeans, and her super-skinny frame fits the style of the moment. Unfortunately, a fashion insider told the Mirror that the "jeans will be her own unique designs and ... even though she is ultra-skinny, her jeans will be made to flatter most sizes." Don't they know that is precisely what got Jessica into trouble with her Princy line?

And in a related similarity with the Jessica Simpson story, Sienna may have been photographed wearing rival LoFLi jeans....

Jessica Simpson is being sued for $100 million by the Tarrant Apparel Group, the clothing company that put out Jessica Simpson's lines of clothing: JS by Jessica Simpson and Princy. According to their deal, Jessica was supposed to promote her own brand by wearing the jeans, though she refused to be photographed in them and, when asked what her favorite brand was by the press, said "True Religion."

True Religion jeans sell for approximately four times more than the Princy line, which retailed for around $60. It seems unlikely that  the Princy line will stick around in light of the lawsuit, but perhaps True Religion will pick Jessica up as a spokesperson. True Religion 'Joey' Miss Groovy jeans, $286.00.